Page 89 of When The Noise Stops

Tiny came around the corner.

He was wearing a black tee, jeans, and boots. His eyes were tired.

But when he saw me, his whole face changed.

"Lila," he yelled.

He crossed the room in three steps and picked me up. Just lifted me off the ground like I weighed nothing. Squeezed me so tight I couldn't breathe.

"We missed you," he said into my hair.

"You could have said something before you left."

"I know," my voice was muffled against his shoulder.

"I needed time. I needed Ronny."

He set me down. Kept his hands on my shoulders. Looked at me like he was checking for damage.

"You look good," he said.

"Tired. But good."

He paused.

"Grizz misses you."

"I miss Grizz too."

Tiny watched me.

"Then why haven't you called him?"

I looked away.

"Because I needed a minute."

"Three months is a long-ass minute."

"I had a lot of shit to think about. And I can't start needing him all the time. He has enough shit on his plate with Maggie and Gabby now."

Tiny repositioned me, and I realized he was still holding me. I laughed. "Let me go."

He nearly dropped me, I laughed.

I grabbed his hand and batted my eyes at him.

"Since you came, we gotta entertain you."

Chapter 37

We went on a bar crawl.

Ronny knew a spot. Then another spot. Then another. D.C. bars were different from Florida bars—smaller, more expensive. But the alcohol was just as good.

Tiny told stories. Ronny told stories. I laughed more in those few hours than I had in three months.

We danced.