Chapter Five

“You can’t even apologize? That’s not why you’re here?”

“Nick, why should I apologize?”

“Why the fuck are you here then, Kevin, you want to throw one more blow? Screw me up just a little more?”

“I’m not the one who’s screwing you up, kiddo, look around you.”

My hands are shaking.

“You have choices Nicky.”

If I’m not careful I will drop the coffee.

And Nick will run to my side.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“That’s because you don’t listen, Nick.”

“I’m listening, but it’s hard to understand when you’re talking out your ass.”

Black coffee. The way Nick likes it. Black. Bitter. Simple.

Kevin’s voice lowers, but I can still hear him. “I’m just looking out for you.”

“You’re looking out for shit, Kevin. You don’t even know what’s going on. I love her.”

“She’s not what you think.”

“She’s not what you think.”

No sugar in his coffee. No cream or milk. He likes it black.

“I’m just looking out for you.”

“I’m looking out for me too.

He’ll need some breakfast too. He’ll get a stomachache if he doesn’t have something in his stomach.

“Obviously.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“You’re not looking out for the rest of us. You are such a little selfish kid. It’s all about Nick, isn’t it?”

“Fuck you.”

“What?”

“You heard what I said. Fuck. You.”

He hates toast. It gets stuck in his throat. Maybe some cereal.

“That’s what I thought you said.”

Nick will have Rice Krispies and black coffee. The milk is in the refrigerator. He probably has a new box of Rice Krispies in his cupboard. He loves Rice Krispies.

“I don’t need to deal with this, Kevin. I have a job. And I do my job. That job has nothing to do with Amber.”

White liquid all over the floor.

Crash.

Shit.

Nick is standing over me. “Kevin, I think you better go now.”

“But...”

“Get out of my house.”

The man with the dark hair and eyes leaves.

It’s just me and Nick.