Page 9

Kiki

I’m washing dishes with Tina, and I can’t get my mind to settle. All I’ve done is think about Locke and how he kissed me. The way he looked at me. The fire in his eyes after he saw what Spike did to me. I didn’t tell him anything more. I couldn’t.

But that doesn’t stop me from thinking about him.

“Do you know when the guys are coming back?” I ask Tina. She smiles over at me, and I can see the questions in her eyes.

“Soon. I heard they found what they were looking for and handled it. No signs of Spike, though. Let me ask you something. You have a thing for Locke? I mean, I see the way that man has been looking at you since you got here. Is there something going on with you two?”

“What? No.” She walks closer and rests her hand on my back, causing me to flinch. She notices and pulls her hand away quickly. I’m not used to anyone touching them. I mean, obviously, my dad hugs me, but he doesn’t know what’s under there, and I’d like to keep it that way.

“You know you can talk to me, right? I’m here for you, Kiki.”

“I appreciate that. I just … I don’t know. I feel things when he’s around and I don’t like it. I felt the same things for Spike, and look what happened with that.”

“I don’t know what happened with Spike. What I can tell you is Locke is a good guy. He may not seem like it, but the more you get to know him, the more you’ll realize he is. He has a past, like most of the guys here. He doesn’t talk about it, and no one asks. From what I’ve overheard, he was engaged once. She was pregnant, had an abortion, and eventually died from an overdose. That really set Locke off from what I hear. That’s just talk between the girls. I don’t know how true it is. But I think he’s worth a shot,” she tells me. I smile at her, unsure what to think at this point. I’ve only been back a few months, and that’s not long enough to know how you feel about someone.

“Oh my God. That had to be horrible for him,” I say as I rest my hand over my chest. What a horrible way to die. And what a horrible situation he was in. No wonder he’s the way he is.

“Yeah. That’s what I’m told.” Tina dries her hands and turns to leave the kitchen as I follow behind her. We step out into the main room when I see Duke stumbling around drunk. I smile and shake my head as Trey, another of the members, walks over to me. He’s as drunk as the rest of them by the smell wafting off him.

“Hey, Kiki.”

“Hey, you. What are you doing?”

“I think I’m drunk,” he slurs.

“I think I agree.”

“Where’s my girl at?” His girl? I didn’t realize he had one.

“I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

“Tina. She hates me, but I love her. You get it, right?” I laugh now and nod my head.

“I don’t know about all that, but she’s over there,” I say, pointing in her direction. She rolls her eyes when she sees me as I mouth the word sorry to her. She flips me off as a drunken Trey walks her way.

“He’s a mess,” my dad says. I turn my head to look up at him and nod.

“He’s drunk.”

“As usual. Come walk with me. I wanna talk to you,” he says. I nod my head as he offers me his arm. I slide mine through, and we walk out the side door together before he stops, pulls a cigarette out of his pocket, and lights it up.

“What’s going on?”

“Listen. I know I’m not your real dad, but you’re my daughter in every way that counts. In fact, I don’t see you any differently than I see Hodge. You know that, right?”

“I know. What’s this about?”

“Kiki, I see the way you look at him. I see how he looks at you. It’s the same way your mom and I were back in the day. Now, I’m not tellin’ you what you can and can’t do. You’re an adult. But he has a past, Kiki. One, not many know about. It fucked him up. Made him who he is today. Now, I’m not sayin’ I don’t trust him because I do. I trust him with my life and yours. What I’m sayin’ is be careful with him. He’s a loose cannon, and there’s a point in every man’s life where we snap, and there’s no tellin’ when that’s gonna be with him. He’s wound too tight, Kiki. You get what I’m sayin’?”

“I get it. He’s not the only one with a shit past, you know?”

“I still wanna know about that, but I’m a patient man, Kiki. I will wait until you’re ready to talk, and then we’ll talk this out.”

“Thank you,” I tell him wrapping my arms around his waist and holding tight. I’m glad he understands me, and I’m glad he allows me to make my own decisions and my own mistakes.

“For what?”

“Letting me be me. Loving me. Taking care of me. I know I don’t say it enough, but I love you, Dad.”

“I love you too, Kiki. Now get inside and have some fun.” I laugh a little as I pull back and smile up at the man who’s always taken care of me. I couldn’t have asked for a better man than him.

We both turn and head back inside when I see Tina dancing in the middle of the room. I walk over and step up next to her, grabbing her hand in mine. We dance to the music and laugh. It’s the best feeling in the world to be back home.

Tina and I are drunk as hell and still dancing hours later when Trey walks over.

“You ladies havin’ fun?”

“The best time! You want to join?” Tina asks him. I widen my eyes and glance at her. I didn’t realize she really had a thing for him.

“I don’t know about that.”

“I want babies. Can you make babies?” The drunken girl asks. I burst into laughter as he looks between us.

“Both of you or just one?”

“I don’t think I need babies.”

“Yeah, you do. Babies are adorable. Have a baby with me, Kiki,” Tina whines.

“Who’s going to be the daddy?” I ask through my laughter.

“I got that part covered. Come on, dance with me,” he says, pulling both of us up against him. We all dance together, laughing and having a good time. A few of the club girls try to get in the way, but Trey waves them off.

“Don’t touch my baby maker,” Tina yells as I laugh harder. Trey just smiles and shakes his head but keeps us dancing to the music.

“Let’s go smoke a joint in the room,” he says. Tina agrees, and I shrug, figuring what the hell. I might as well have a little fun.

We walk from the middle of the room and down the hall to his room, where he ushers us inside. We all drop onto the bed as he lights the joint and passes it around.

I’m feeling good. Really good. I forget all about Spike, which is a plus as I sit back and lean against Trey’s chest. The room is buzzing with energy, but we’re all just laughing and having a good time.

At some point, a bottle of Jack is introduced into the mix. I don’t mind, I love Jack. We pass the bottle around while Trey tells drunken stories, making us all laugh.

At some point, I doze off.