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“I’m Meyah,” I said, finally finding my voice. “I got picked on a lot during high school. My mom’s only just told me who my dad is. The guy I’ve been in love with for the past year basically broke me. And I’m sick of people telling me I’m too young or trying to control what I do. I’m ready to stand up for myself… and I could really use a friend who will fight for me… or at the very least, with me.” I laid it all out there, and for a few brief seconds, as Dakota took it all in, I felt incredibly exposed. Like at any moment she was gonna take something I said and laugh. It was painful, but Dakota seemed like she was so empowered and so ‘fuck the world, watch me take charge of my life,’ and that’s what I needed.
“Well, Meyah, who’s ready to stand up for herself and be in control of her own destiny,” Dakota announced with a smirk, one that I was already totally in love with. “I hear there’s a nightclub downtown looking for workers over the summer.”
My brain screamed… uh, no! Being around people? Uncomfortable. Nervous. Blah, blah, blah. So instead of listening to my mind I focused on my heart—well, what was left of it—and cleared my throat. “Let’s do it!”
Just before we reached the classroom, I felt my cell begin to buzz in my pocket. I thought about ignoring it. I’d been doing a lot of that lately, mostly because I was scared I’d burst into tears and they would figure out exactly how much I missed them.
It was kind of sad considering my conversations consisted of—Mom constantly on at me about looking after myself. Uncle Leo continuously asking me if I was okay. And then there was Emma who would shut down completely when I asked her anything about the club.
Or about him…
“You gonna get that?” Dakota asked me, pointing to the incessant noise with her eyebrow raised. “It sounds like you have a vibrator going off in your pants.”
Rolling my eyes, I finally ripped my phone from my jeans and sighed, seeing my uncle’s scowling face light up the screen. He didn’t like photos, none of the guys in the club really did. Pictures were evidence, evidence could be used against them. “I’ll be in soon,” I told Dakota, stepping backward, my thumb hovering over the green button to answer.
She offered me a supportive smile before tearing the classroom door open and walking through the door like a model making her way onto a runway at fashion week.
Did I mention she loved to make an entrance?
Breathing out, I finally flicked my thumb across the screen and moved the cell to my ear as I stepped away from the classroom door, walking a few steps away to a bench and dumping my bag onto it before taking a seat. “Hey, Uncle Leo.”
“Hey, girl,” he replied, his voice gentle but with a gruffness that warmed me, reminding me of home. It instantly made me well up, and this was exactly why I didn’t like to talk to anyone. “You going to class today?”
“Yeah, I’m sitting outside right now about to go in.”
“Good. I won’t keep you long then,” he drawled. “Your mama really misses you. So does the club. Was hoping you might come home next weekend. We’re having a… party.”
My brows knitted together. “A party for what?”
“Since when do we need an excuse to party?”
I snorted. “Since all you boys started popping out kids and spending more time making bottles than making drinks.”
His deep chuckle brought a smile to my face, and I relaxed back onto the bench, suddenly not feeling so stiff and defensive. Uncle Leo had been around as long as I could remember. I knew my mom didn’t like him much when he started dating Aunt Kim, but I loved him instantly. There was a connection with us. There always had been since the moment he walked into our lives and never walked out.
“Just bring that smart mouth back home, will ya?” he finally answered with a heavy sigh. “Creed is growing so damn fast. And if Macy has to wait until her birthday to see you, she’ll fucking combust, and I’ll start losing my hair.”
“Start?”
“Meyah…”
I laughed softly and ran my fingers through my hair, pulling the purple strands back from my face. They were a new addition, one I loved, and that made me feel like this was indeed a new start for me. A new start which I needed. Where I could be who I wanted to be. Where I could find who I was, and where I could piece together my heart without anyone having to know how broken I was and how stupid I’d been and looking at me in pity.
“I’ll see what happens. I’m meant to be working.” I picked uncomfortably at the threads on one of the rips in my jeans.
“I’ve put the money for the plane ticket in your bank account. Oh, and Macy’s already drawing out plans for your welcome home cake,” he stated, completely unashamed of how he knew that would make me feel bad. I should have known better. These guys, they didn’t mess around. When they wanted something, they would do what they had to do in order to make it happen. Even using my five-year-old cousin as guilt tactics.
I groaned and took a deep breath. “You can’t do that.”
He scoffed loudly. “I can do what the fuck I like. And I will do, in order to get you back here so you can be with your family… even if it’s only for the weekend.”
“Meyah!” Dakota hissed from a crack in the classroom door. “Come on, it’s starting.”
“I gotta go, Uncle Leo.” I jumped to my feet and hiked my backpack up onto my shoulder.
“Work hard,” he ordered, but I could hear his smile. “And I can’t wait to see you.”
“Same,” I whispered softly before hanging up.
It was the truth.
I missed him like crazy—I missed them all like crazy.
Even the one I shouldn’t.
The one who I hadn’t heard from, and that no one had spoken of since I walked out. I don’t know if that made it hurt more or less.
I just knew that things weren’t done.
I could feel it in my gut, and maybe I needed to face him now rather than later so I could move on and really find the new me.
