Page 72 of Dare You to Run

And waited.

Now it’s ten o’clock and I still have yet to hear from him. I don’t want to be that girl, but I’m growing worried that something horrible could have happened to him. Deciding I can’t wait any longer, I call up Kinsley.

“Hey sister. I miss you already. Please come back.”

“I miss you too, Kins. I have a question that hopefully you can help me out with. Have you, uh,” I blow out a big breath. “Have you heard from Hendrix? He said he would call me when he got home and I don’t want to seem like a jealous girlfriend –because I am so not– but I’m kind of worried.”

“I haven’t. Did you try callin’ him?”

“No.”

“And why not?” The rumble of her truck blares, almost drowning out her voice.

“I don’t want to seem needy. What if he just told me he wanted to be with me, but really didn’t mean it?”

“Wait. Hold up a doggone minute. Henny said he wanted to be with you? Like boyfriend and girlfriend?” I nod my head. “Your silence makes me assume you’re nodding your head. All I have to say to that is, eeeekkk! Oh my gosh. I am so happy. Y’all are gonna have babies and live happily ever after and we’ll all be the best of friends.”

“Just hold off on buying neighboring houses. I still need to find out if this is real or not.” I roll over on my back and stare up at the ceiling fan that spins round and round, much like the nerves in my belly.

“Well I haven’t heard a thing. Did you try King? I mean Mal?” I still want to know the story behind the nickname King, but we’ll leave that for another day.

“No. I don’t have his number. Do you think you could call him for me?”

“Sure thing buttercup. You just sit tight. We’ll find out what’s going on.” She hangs up and I chew on the inside of my cheek, forcing my tears to stay at bay.

It must be twenty minutes before my phone rings, the caller is one I do not recognize.

“He-hello?” I answer, apprehensively.

“Day? It’s Malik.”

My nose stings and my heart hurts thinking Hendrix has sent Malik to tell me it’s over.

“Hey. Um, Kins said you were waiting for Henny to call you when he landed?”

“Yeah,” I choke out.

“Well he’s home. But…” he wars with his words before finally blurting it out. “He got arrested for fighting with Danté on the side of the road. Disorderly conduct.”

“What?” I shout, jack knifing up from my bed. “Are you serious?”

“As serious as a heart attack. I’m actually waiting to bond them out. I don’t know if it’s a good idea to take them both home since they can’t seem to keep their hands to themselves, but they need to work it out somehow. They’re brothers. I don’t know what the hell they’re fighting about, but this shit has got to stop.”

My door bursts open and Mom practically falls in. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?” She sounds out of breath from running up the stairs.

I must have been loud enough for her to hear me down the stairs and come running.

“Nothing Mom. I’m fine.”

“That was not the screech of someone who is fine. Cough it up.”

I sigh and tell Malik, “Will you let me know when he’s home?”

“Sure thing Day. Don’t worry, okay. They’ll figure it out. See ya, tart.” I hit end and look at Mom who stands in the doorway with her arms folded across her chest.

She arches a brow and purses her lips waiting for me to explain.

“That was Hendrix’s brother, Malik. I was worried that he hadn’t called me since landing so I reached out to Kinsley –my new friend– who called Malik who called me.”