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After dinner, I head upstairs to Bruce’s room, where we’ll be sleeping together. I wanted a different room, but Bruce wouldn’t hear of it. It was nice meeting his dad, but shocking to find out he knew my mom, and quite well. With the number of people in the world, Bruce’s dad had to know my mom.
He didn’t mention knowing my dad or anything about him, so my secret is still safe.
I shower and change into my leggings and T-shirt. I take my meds. Bruce has assured me that I’m safe here and no one will come into the room while I’m sleeping.
He didn’t want me to take my meds, but I also didn’t want to suddenly wake up and not find him by my side, which would mean I might interrupt his time with his dad.
After taking my meds, I text him, and he comes up to lie next to me.
“You know, Dad doesn’t mind if you interrupt us.”
“It’s fine. This way I get to sleep and not bother you two.”
“I still think it’s crazy that he knows your mom.”
“Me too. Such a big and small world. A white man in Indiana is old friends with a Black woman in London. I didn’t see that one coming from across oceans.”
“Me neither. And you look a lot like her.”
“Dad used to joke whenever my mom and I fought. He would say I was rebelling because I’m her double. Mom didn’t like it. As far as she was concerned, I was being rebellious like Dad, not her,” I say. I feel the meds kicking in.
“Bruce?”
“Yeah?”
“Kiss me, Bruce.” I say, I feel myself drifting off
I hear him chuckle before he kisses me deeply.
“Goodnight, Jola. Dream of me.”
Chapter thirty-six
Bruce
I kiss her goodnight the moment she falls asleep. She’s going to sleep throughout the night. I head back down to speak with my dad and Ice. They’ve moved from the dining table where the puzzle was set up.
Ice gets up once I get to them. “I’ll be heading out,” he says.
“You sure?”
“Yeah, I’m good. I’ll see you in two days.”
“She won’t like that,” I remind him. Jola likes having him around. I can sense her calm whenever we are both around her. “Fine, I’ll go to my usual spot and see you in the morning.”
“Alright. Thanks, buddy.” We shake and I walk him out.
As soon as the door shuts, I inhale the crisp air, accompanied by the rhythmic chirping of crickets. “There’s a lot to unpack about your dad and Lexi’s mom,” he whispers.
“I know.” All evening, I watched my dad get giddy over my girl. It’s like he’s seeing her mom and not her. I need to know the whole story.
“Goodnight,” he says, and gets into his car before driving off. I watch his taillights till I can’t see them and head back inside.
“Dad,” I call out. “In here,” he answers. I find him in his favorite spot, with a bottle of beer. I take my seat next to him.
“Are you going to tell me how you know Jola’s mom?”
“Do you love her?” he asks in return, which surprises me, and I fucking dislike when he asks a question instead of answering one. I shift for a moment in my seat. Jola and I are a complicated situation that I force my mind to not dwell on daily.
