Running behind her, no longer concerned of the stinging sensation radiating from his cheek, Drew appeared. Catching the door just as she swung it open, he stopped her. He needed her to hear him out. Hating the way she looked at him, he was willing to do whatever it took to make things right. Deep down, he knew things would never be the same. They would never be again. With tears streaming down her face, Brix held onto the doorknob with a trembling hand.
“Please don’t leave like this. You’re too upset to drive. Just chill until you calm down,” Drew tried reasoning.
Looking at him like he was the devil himself, she clenched her jaw. Too upset? How could she not be? She was feeling what words couldn’t describe even if she tried to speak them.
“The same way he was too drunk to drive,” she spat, trying to force the door open with sweaty hands.
She needed to get away from him and quick. Her breathing was becoming labored and the slow blinking of her eyes was a sure sign that she was about to pass out. Trying to keep her emotions together, just until she was in her own space, she coached herself to calm down.
Dropping his chin to his chest, Drew shook his head. He truly felt like shit and knew Brix felt the same way or stronger. The truth was out now and all he had to do was let her go. There was no chance in hell there was going to be any working things out, ever. That day, two years ago had haunted him for long enough. He and Nine had miraculously fled the scene and state staying under the radar and he was glad about that. As much as he didn’t want to go to jail back then, he honestly didn’t care what happened to him now.
Taking an innocent life due to his careless ways, then running from it was some straight coward shit and he knew it. He thought having his cousins back was what mattered the most, but he was wrong. Especially with a situation like this. Knowing that he would never snitch on his folks, he did the next best thing that came to mind. Who would have thought one drunken night would lead to this.
“I know I fucked up alright. There was no way I could continue to live here knowing I was a part of taking someone’s life. I didn’t know what to do Brix; you have to believe me. Either way it went, you were still going to hate me. I just wish it was for a different reason,” he said.
With her hand still on the knob, Brix just stared at him. This was the man she had loved with everything in her soul. She had shared her dreams, fears, and life goals with him. When he was down, she was there to pick him up. Brix had his back through any and everything. They didn’t keep secrets, there were no lies, no other females she had to deal with, no cheating or any of that.
Now that she thought about it, maybe he was too good to be true. None of that mattered now though. Not one of those things could compare to this pain. How he expected her not to hate him was beyond her. Hate was a word she hardly used, but it was fitting for this occasion. Taking a deep breath, Brix removed her hand. What she was about to say was going to be the last words she prayed, she ever had to utter to him.
“I don’t know what to believe. I do know one thing though. It’ll be a cold day in hell before I ever forgive you. The pain you caused my family and I was almost unbearable, but we stuck together. We stuck together like people who love each other do, regardless of the circumstances. For you to up and leave, shows me you are not the man you claimed to be. No real man would have pulled the shit you did and Nine is no better. You took the cowardly way out and should be ashamed of yourself.”
Stopping, Brix stepped closer. Shoving her finger in his chest, she began again.
“You and me will never be. If this was the shit you needed to get off your chest to feel better, congratulations. You could have kept that secret to yourself and stayed wherever the hell you were. Coming here was a bad decision and you better pray to God himself or whoever it is you worship to save you. You have the audacity to come back here after you basically murdered my father? Ha, you are dumber than you look right now.”
With a light push to his chest, Brix pulled the door back and walked out. Looking on remorsefully, Drew dropped his head with a shake. He knew shit wasn’t going to end well, but not like this. He had really thought she would see his side of things and forgive him. With it being over two years to have dealt with the pain, he figured they could heal together, but Brix wanted no dealings with him.
She wanted her words to hurt him, just as bad as he had hurt but knew they would never compare. Drew had taken something from her that every girl cherishes with her heart. Her daddy was the first man she ever loved. To have the second man who happened to capture her heart, play a lead role in his death shattered her to pieces. Backing out of the driveway after securing her safety belt, she pulled to the stop lot and placed her car in park. Banging on the steering wheel, she let her tears fall from her eyes once more.