Page 107 of Until Nalia

“Hey, Dad.” He crashes into me and gives me a hug.

“Hey, bud, put your stuff in the Jeep and grab your bike.”

“’Kay,” he mutters as Mom comes outside.

“Hey, honey.”

“Hey, Ma.” I walk up and kiss her cheek. “Was he okay?”

“You know he was, he’s just been worried about Zuri.”

“She’s alright,” I assure her, then explain about the call from the school.

“But they didn’t tell you who it was who pushed her?”

“Nope.”

“I hate bullies,” she mutters, then plasters a smile on her face when Coop runs up to give her a hug.

“Love you, Gigi.”

“Love you too, and make sure you give Zuri and Billie their cookies.”

“I will,” he promises.

After saying goodbye to Ma, I help Coop get his bike on the back of the jeep, then get in behind the wheel while he gets into the front seat.

After turning around to give Dozer a head rub, he faces the front windshield. “Is Zur okay?” He asks as I pull onto the street.

“Yeah, she and Nalia are meeting us at home.” I glance over at him. “Did you see what happened to her at recess?”

“No, I was playing basketball with my friends, but someone said that Matthew pushed her.” He gets quiet, then asks. “Did he?”

“I don’t know, bud.”

“He’s a jerk, so he probably did.”

“If it was him, the school will handle it.”

“Sure,” he mutters, looking out the window. His lack of faith in the system doesn’t surprise me, especially after getting suspended himself, and Matthew not even getting a slap on the wrist for the role he played in what happened between them. I just really fucking hope that this time, if it was Matthew, that things are different, and he has to face some consequences.

When we pull up to the house, Nalia’s Bronco is parked in the driveway with her and Zuri already inside using the key I gave her a couple weeks ago.

I pull up next to her and behind Billie so that she’ll have the space to get out later, despite how much I want to block her in so she can’t leave. If I had my way, Zuri would be sleeping upstairs in the room next to Billie’s, and all of Nalia’s shit would be mixed in with mine. It’s something I’ve thought about bringing up more than once, I just don’t think she’s ready for that step, not yet anyways. But with them sleeping over on Saturdays, we’re making progress.

After I park, Coop runs into the house with his bag and the container of cookies he held on his lap during the drive and I get Dozer out of the back seat, then unload the bike. While I’m putting it in the garage, the door into the house opens and Nalia comes down the steps. Dozer waddles up to greet her with his rump wagging.

“The school called,” she tells me with her head tipped back as she squats to pet Dozer. “They left a message, and I called back and talked to the principal.”

“I spoke to her, too. She called me when she couldn’t get a hold of you. She didn’t tell me much, just that it was obvious that what happened was done on purpose, and the kid responsible was getting suspended.”

“It was Matthew.” My jaw clenches. “I guess from the video, it looked like he came out of nowhere and shoved her off the top of the platform near the edge of the slide. The principal and vice principal are meeting with his parents in the morning, and he’s getting suspended for four days.”

“Four days?”

“I know.” She gets to get feet. “I think it should be longer, but considering what happened before, I’m relieved he’s being held accountable at all.”

“Me too,” I mutter, taking her hand and dragging her into my arms. “I’m just glad she’s alright.”