Chapter 43

I thought we were sitting in that car for hours. I began laughing at stupid stuff and then I was hungry. He took me to Jack in the Box, and we ate in the car.

It was only 2:15 a.m. when he dropped me off. I was happy I’d spent what felt like an eternity with him, and I was pumped.

I walked to the house and opened the front door as quietly as I could. The room was dark, and the television was lighting up the living room. Mr. Lopez was still on the couch. I saw him move his hand and bring something up and then sit it down. He was drinking as usual. He seem to drink but never be drunk.

I walked by him, and he asked, “Where’s Vicky?”

I didn’t know, and I had no idea what to say. We didn’t talk about what I was supposed to tell Mr. Lopez.

So I chose the truth.

“We saw different movies. I asked to come home; I think she’s done gone to Frisco to drop off Amekia with Russell.”

Okay, sort of the truth.

“How was it?” he asked.

I was so high. I sat down on the couch across from him and sat my box down.

“Fun, I had fun,” I said relaxing.

My eyelids were heavy, and my words felt far away, like they were coming from someone else.

“Here,” he said handing me his beer.

I didn’t know what to say or do. I ended up grabbing it and sitting back and heard another top pop on another beer. The one I had was almost full. I took a sip, and the bitterness hit quick. I held onto my box of memories which sat in my lap.

“I miss them, Scheyenne, and I can only imagine how you feel.”

I took another sip. He was bringing me down with this shit.

“Mr. Lopez,” I sighed. I didn’t know what I was going to say.

“What?”

He was like a father to me and so I said something I hadn’t said in a long time to anyone. Not even Vicky.

“I love you.”

The words hung, and there was more silence.

“I love you too, Scheyenne,” he said, and we grew quiet.

The T.V. blared and I lay my head back listening to the razor commercial, and soon I was out.