Page 118 of The Crowned Garza

Argh! Goddamn stalker.

I pelt my phone across the room.

~

Me:You knew, didn’t you?

Fraud:Context?

Me:Sunny and Tripp!

A full bladder woke me in the middle of the night last night. After leaving the bathroom, I went to Sunny’s room to check if she was back from the house party she’d gone to without me because I’d been too tired from my shift.

Finding her room empty, I figured she was still out and turned to leave. But stopped when voices rode in on the wind through the open balcony doors.

I crossed the room to the balcony that overlooks the courtyard, peeked through the curtains, and…there they were. All over each other on a lounge chair in the middle of the damn yard.

My best friend and my brother.

Denial had me backing away, returning to bed, and convincing myself that I was sleepwalking and what I saw wasn’t real.

Now, I’m staring at my phone screen, waiting for Saint to confirm it isn’t the case. But when a full five minutes pass and he doesn’t respond…

Me:OMG! It’s true, isn’t it?

Me: How could you not tell me this?

Fraud:Because that’s narc behavior? Aren’t you hiding something too? What if the roles were reversed?

Me: We’re only a secret because you’re a chicken shit. I’ve BEEN ready for us to NOT be a secret.

Fraud: Have you been?

Me:Giving me a heads-up on this isn’t snitching. It’s you and me here. Tillie and Saint. We’re US.

Fraud:Are we?

Me:Wow...

Me: I guess not. Thanks. Message received. Loud and clear.

In the next instant, my phone’s ringing.

I reject his call, power off the phone, then press my face into the pillow and scream.

~

AS THE DAYSgo by, my indignation festers.

Unable to even look at my brother and friend anymore without the pressing urge to fly off the handle, I pack a bag and head to Mom’s.

She takes one look at me and asks, “What’s wrong, baby?”

“I just can’t look at their ugly, lying faces anymore,” I grind out.

“Okay…” She eyes me carefully. “Why don’t I make you a cup of tea and you can tell me what has you so riled up.”

While Mom brews my tea, I pace the length of the room and rant about what I saw.