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“I’m going to miss you,” she murmurs, stroking my hair.
“I’ll miss you guys too,” I respond, willing myself not to get emotional. This isn’t goodbye, just a see you later. I will not cry like some baby. “You’ll make sure Eastern doesn’t get into too much trouble without me, won’t you?”
She laughs into my hair, giving me one last tight squeeze before letting me go. “He’s a good boy, he looks after the ones he loves,” she says, and we both know that she can’t promise he won’t get into any trouble, only that he’ll do anything to take care of them both. Including drug running it would seem.
“Give Braydon a kiss for me, okay?” I say, avoiding the sadness in her eyes. Instead, I run my finger over my barb wire tattoo that sits just beneath the hem of my skirt. I had it done when I turned fifteen. It represents my need for everyone to stay the fuck away. I only have room for a handful of people in my life and even then, I’m careful. I loved my mother and she fucked off and left me for drugs. Since then, I’ve found it hard to let anyone in. Eastern, Tracy, Braydon and my little brothers are literally all I have room for and that’s only because I’d already opened my heart to them before my mother died. I don’t think I have it in me to let another person in so that they can just disappoint me.
“Why don’t you come in and give him a kiss yourself?” Tracy suggests, cocking her head to the side as she looks at me.
I shake my head. “I’d rather not.”
She pats me on the arm gently, her warm smile filled with understanding. “That’s okay. I’m guessing too many goodbyes in one night is a bit much, yeah?”
“Maybe,” I mumble.
“Go on, go enjoy yourself, and make sure that son of mine lets Sasha down gently. He can be a bit of an arse with the ladies… excluding you, of course. Where you’re concerned, he’s the perfect gentleman,” Tracy says, her eyes flicking to the entrance door of the flats and the street beyond where Eastern is patiently waiting for me.
My cheeks colour as I sneak a look at her. Thankfully she doesn’t seem to have any clue about how our friendship has moved into uncertain territory. Eastern’s kiss wasn’t gentlemanly at all. In fact, it was downright sinful, but I’m not about to tell her that.
“I’ll make sure to tell him. Bye, Tracy,” I say, striding off before the tears welling in her eyes begin to fall.
“Bye, love. Take care,” she chokes out before I hear the door clicking shut.
Outside, leaning against the wall with one foot propped against the brick, Eastern waits for me. He turns when I stride through the door, the dark scowl on his face replaced with a sudden grin the moment he spots me. I’m pretty sure he’s plastering on the fake smile for my sake. Usually I’d ask what’s up, but we both know he hates the fact I’m going away to Oceanside as much as I do.
“Ready to party, Asia?” he asks, offering me a pre-rolled joint as he pushes off the wall.
“Too fucking right,” I respond, taking the joint and lighting it. “Let’s get out of here.”
Eastern smirks. “Last blowout for a while, eh?”
“Yeah, so let’s make it count.”
“I’m down with that.”
Taking his proffered arm, we stride towards the bus stop with purpose, knowing that in a couple of days I’ll be seventy miles away from the only home I’ve ever known and the only family I’ve ever loved. It may as well be the other side of the world.
