Page 26 of The Aries Alliance (BLP Signs of Love #14)
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Warrick Redmond was the pile of shit I thought he was.
When I sat my behind on his front steps like a kid in detention, I held in silent tears, wanting to fall into the earth.
By the time I was seconds away from collapsing, Val rolled onto War’s freshly mowed lawn, running over a bush in the process.
War swung open his screen door and stepped out, eyes wide.
“Hey, Val. You good?” His voice was steady despite his shoulders tensing up like he had on football pads.
“Who would be good rolling out of the house after hours without knowing what’s going on?” She frowned at War and perused the quiet neighborhood.
Fortunately, we hadn’t awakened anyone who didn’t need to be in the middle of our business.
Val moved toward me, wide-eyed, in a black satin headscarf, looking like an urban pirate in her striped pajamas and flip-flops. She snatched my bags and threw them in the back seat of her Prius.
I rushed to the passenger’s seat without acknowledging War.
Like the tornado she was when she pulled up on War’s property, Val left War’s driveway and screeched down the road.
At the first stoplight, she turned halfway toward me.
“Make all this make sense, girlfriend.”
“He said a news story is going to break about me being some kind of racist.”
“You mean that somebody’s going to believe that bat shit crazy bitch that’s been coming for you since the day you came on campus?”
“I don’t know. He thinks she’s working with the president of the university to take me down.”
“You think her crusty rusty ass is sleeping with that snoozer? I don’t know how he could keep it up when he can’t even stay awake in meetings.”
“Folks do stupid mess when they’re desperate.”
“If she’s as off as you said, nobody will take her seriously.”
“Maybe, but the media picked it up. A lot of fools believe anything that comes across their TVs.”
Val reached over and patted my knee.
“I don’t know what’s going on anymore. Warrick and I were supposed to go to the media first. I’ve become a damn martyr.”
“What’s that your grandma always said? To whom much is given, much is required. The mantle is heavy on your back, sis.”
“It’s too damn heavy.” I took a deep breath and collapsed in Val’s leather car seat. She reached for my hand and held it as I cried like a baby.
“How am I going to survive this? Dang.”
By 7:00 a.m., Val got me settled into my home with all the tissues and streaming movies I could watch. As soon as I opened my laptop to watch Hunger Games, a reporter from the Ember Falls Gazette emailed me at my work email. Did people in this town sleep?
We’re preparing a story about claims that you’re a racist. Would you like to provide a comment or clarification before publication?
I had never returned a library book late, yet here I was, being accused of being discriminatory against a couple of white women. My life had turned into a real-life soap opera. I felt nauseous and held my stomach as it twisted and turned.
I picked up my phone to call my supervisor, Henry, not caring how early it was. The call went straight to voicemail.
I then texted my diversity officer friend and explained my situation. He gave me the name of a high-profile attorney who specialized in higher education law. I shot the guy a quick email and collapsed in my bed.
Me:
Call Mom and let her know what’s going on. I can’t deal with her drama.
Val:
Got you.
I gripped my sheets so hard my knuckles became pale. As I tried to control my breathing, Val called.
“Why are you up? Turn off all media, sis.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“It should be with the never-ending hell they put you through. What you need is time off so that hellhole can burn to the ground.”
“The diversity officer I spoke with thinks it will probably blow over by the weekend.”
“I can see that. People in these parts have the attention span of a gnat. What I need you to do is get your groove on somewhere. Let the people who care most for you handle everything.”
I chuckled.
“Who’s gonna care for me, boo?”
“Me, your peeps, and War. He wouldn’t have called me if he didn’t care. Remember that.”
By the time I said goodbye to Val, Henry still hadn’t called me back.
I threw my phone onto my comforter and fell back onto my king-sized pillows, letting out a scream from the depths of my belly.
Although the morning sun beamed through my window and landed on my bed like it was the happiest of days, today was one of the darkest days of my life.
I rubbed my temples and closed my eyes, willing this mess to go away. Although I’d never been one to back out of a fight, Val was right. I needed to take my own advice. It was time for me to put my oxygen mask on and breathe.