Page 138 of Bitter’s Sweet

Trust.

She let me be rough with her because she knew rough did not mean I would stop listening. She trusted me enough to hand me control because she believed I would give it back the second she asked.

This morning I proved I only respected her choices until the club needed something more.

“I know.”

“No, I don’t think you do.”

“I do.”

“Then you knew exactly what you were breaking.”

Nothing in me has an answer for that because she is right.

I didn’t misunderstand. I didn’t forget. I didn’t think the promise meant something different.

I knew.

Sweet wipes angrily beneath one eye before the tear can fall.

I hate that more than anything Razor has done.

“I need to go to class.”

“Sweet.”

“No.”

One word.

A boundary.

Yesterday I respected it.

Today I broke something bigger.

So I make myself stand there while she turns away.

Mercy goes with her.

At the school door, Sweet stops but does not look back.

“My mama’s picture is still upstairs.”

“I know.”

“Leave it there.”

My ribs tighten. “For now?” I ask before I can stop myself.

She looks over her shoulder then.

Whatever she sees on my face does not soften hers.

“I don’t know.”

Then she walks inside.