The conviction in his voice made it impossible to argue. He wasn’t trying to take responsibility for Sam’s death. He was taking responsibility for me, and somehow, that hit a lot harder than I expected.
“And until I figure out who killed Sam and know your life ain’t in danger, I’m not leaving you out here to deal with it by yourself.”
His answer was so simple that I didn’t know what to say to it.
I still remembered Sam’s blood on my hands. The way I’d kept talking to him even when I wasn’t sure he could hear me. The way I’d wanted him to hold on long enough to make in the hospital.
“I couldn’t save him,” I said just above a whisper.
Vice didn’t respond right away and when he did, he assured me with, “That wasn’t on you.”
“I know.”
“You sure you know that?” My eyes moved back to his. I wanted to say yes, but the answer wouldn’t come as easily as it should have. Vice studied me for a minute before saying, “You did more for him in those last few minutes than most people would’ve done. Don’t carry what happened to him like you had something to do with it.”
Something about hearing that fromhimhit different.
He was Sam’s cousin. He had every reason to wish I’d done more, yet he wasn’t blaming me.
I slowly nodded. “Okay.”
“A’ight.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Will you stop saying, a’ight, to everything. I feel like you’re doing that on purpose.”
“Maybe.”
I shook my head, but I couldn’t stop myself from smiling a little. Somehow, the conversation had gone from me questioning why he was doing so much for me to him getting on my nerves again, and I was starting to realize that might just be who he was.
My phone vibrated on the table again, pulling my attention away from him. I reached for it, and the smile disappeared from my face the second I saw the message.
Evan:I know you’re back in Atlanta. We need to talk.
I stared at the screen with my stomach tightening.
I should’ve known the flowers weren’t going to be the end of it.
After ten years together, Evan knew Atlanta was home. My sister was here. My aunt. My nieces. Even if I hadn’t told him I was moving back, it was only a matter of time before he found out. Whether somebody mentioned seeing me or he simply started asking questions, I had no doubt he’d eventually put the pieces together.
I just hadn’t expected him to care... or pretend he did.
As far as I was concerned, Evan had already said everything he needed to say the moment I found out he was marrying someone else.
“You good?”
Vice’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. I locked my phone and set it back facedown on the table.
“Yeah.”
His eyes moved to the phone before coming back to me. “Evan?”
I sighed. “You said you didn’t care.”
“I asked if you were good.”
“I’m fine.”
Vice looked at me long enough to let me know he didn’t believe me, but he didn’t push. I appreciated that more than I wanted to admit. For a man who seemed determined to take over every other part of my life, he somehow knew when to leave something alone.