• • •

I glanced at the girl sitting in front of me, then back to Josh who seemed oblivious to the fact that she didn't like me.

It was still a mystery to me as to how I ended up going for food with the both of them.

Josh texted me, asking if I wanted to go out to eat. Since Jaxon hadn't come over or responded to my messages, I accepted.

He failed to mention that his girlfriend would be joining us. Hell, he failed to mention he even had a girlfriend.

"Kyser what's the name of those lil' cheese jalapeño things you get?" He asked while flipping through the menu, "Or we just gone share 'em like last time?"

I just don't understand how men are so stupid.

"Uh, it's the cheddar peppers." I replied, "But I don't want any."

Maria, his girlfriend, sighed, "Why did we come here anyway? It's a thousand better restaurants."

"Them thousand other restaurants cost a thousand dollars too. I'm poor baby, all of us can eat here for like $40, $60 max."

Whenever we came to eat, Josh paid for my food. Of course I could've paid for it myself but he always insisted. It wasn't like we ate out a lot together, maybe once a month.

I laughed at his statement but Maria didn't seem to find anything funny, "It's $40 for just us to eat here?"

The shade was quite clear, but just like a man, he didn't catch it, "Well it ain't even that forreal. Me and Ky get the 2 for 20 and that shit slap."

Once Josh helped me with a paper and I thought he was kind of smart.

Now I see he has the intelligence of a fish.

• • •

Nasir stood beside me, watching me study the packages of steak for tonight.

"Ky in all the years we've been friends, you've never cooked me a damn steak."

"Do you sling bbc?" I asked nonchalantly while picking up a pack that I thought looked the best.

"I do actually. Just not for you."

"Well tell them to make you a steak."

Jaxon had officially submitted his final assignments for his Master's degree.

To celebrate, I was making us dinner tonight. Nothing fancy, just grilled steak and lobster. I was also making Nas stay with his mom tonight so we'd have my apartment to ourselves.

I'd gotten him a gift, a signed painting by his favorite artist. I'm sure he could've gotten it himself but he never did, just always showing me the different drawings and paintings.

As I stopped in front of the wine, Nasir snorted, "Who's buying the wine for you ms. underage?"

"My bestfriend."

"Nah don't come with that bestfriend shit now. You putting me out for some dick and lobster."

I was still laughing when I heard my name being called.

Turning around, I saw Heidi standing there with a friendly smile.

I hadn't seen her since Ava's new years party when she refused to tell me what the joke between she and Jaxon was.

"Hi Kyser."

Nas looked at me but said nothing as I spoke back, "Hey Heidi. How are you?"

"I'm fine." She smiled, "I haven't seen or heard from you in a while."

I wanted to ask her why she thought she would've heard from me since we weren't friends, but Heidi had never been rude to me so I decided against it.

"Yeah. You know, school."

She nodded, "I was expecting to see you at Harry's the other week. I was surprised when you didn't show."

Jaxon hasn't said anything about Harry hosting another party but I didn't want her to know that.

I was in the process of lying about still being busy when my phone rang.

"Hi." I answered.

The silence on the phone should've prompted me to hang up.

"I'm sorry." Were the first words out of his mouth.

Yet another cancellation.

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong this time?" I demanded, forgetting Heidi was still there.

Jaxon sighed, "A family member of mine was in the hospital. I've been staying with them since they came home."

"Oh no." I responded blandly, "What's wrong?"

"Suicide attempt."

His words were almost whispered, as if he were in the room with them at that moment.

I felt bad now for assuming that he was cancelling for no reason. At the same time though, he could've just told me that from the beginning.

Nas and Heidi had started a conversation about wine as I asked Jaxon if there was anything he needed.

"No." He replied, "Thank you for understanding."

Who wouldn't be understanding about an attempted suicide?

"I love you." I said, not noticing Heidi's eyes flash to me.

"I love you too."

As soon as I hung up, her conversation with Nasir was forgotten, "Was that Jaxon?"

I just felt like she was about to start one of her cryptic games, so I ignored her question, "It was nice talking to you, but we're kind of in a hurry."

"Wait." She called, "Are you busy tomorrow night?"

I shrugged, honestly not knowing the answer, "I'm not sure. What's up?"

Heidi seemed to be having a debate with herself before looking at me with an expression of resolve, "I'm hosting a party and would like for you to come."

"A party or a party?"

She laughed slightly, "Just a party. If you give me your number I'll send you details."

After exchanging numbers, she looked down at the floor, "Please try to make it."

Nas watched her walk away, "She must be about to kill you at that damn party?"

We continued through the store, coming up with theories for why I was wanted at the party.

________

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