Page 114 of Grown

Derrick bites into a juicy cheeseburger deluxe. Gab loved the burgers here too. The thought of her makes me lose my appetite, our memories playing on repeat. Who could make up a laugh like hers? Her smile? I want to walk around to every person we ever met to sayDon’t you remember her?But I don’t have one picture to prove she’s real.

“Everyone thinks I’m crazy.”

“Well, are you?” he asks.

I stir my milkshake. “I keep having these moments... where I’ll remember things so clearly and know exactly what I’m talking about, only for people to tell me I’m wrong.”

Derrick gives me a faint smile. “Reminds me of this picture my mom has in her office. It’s fire. Maybe I’ll show you someday.”

“Don’t think your dad would like it if I came to your house.”

Derrick’s face goes dark. “Well. He ain’t living with us right now.”

“Why?”

“Can’t keep his dick in his pants. Ever.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

“It’s whatever. He still comes by to get his shit every now and then. Still gotta be nice to him, ’cause he’s really my only shot at breaking into the business after college.”

Reminds me of Korey. How I felt there was no way I couldmake a name for myself without him. Now I have a name, but not the one I wanted.

“I bet you can find another way,” I offer.

“He came over after he found out what happened, all broken up and shaking. He was just with Korey that day,” he says, eyeing his burger before glancing at the TV. “Speak of the devil.”

On the screen, Richie is onstage, dressed in a dark gray suit with black glasses, giving some kind of speech. I can’t tell since it’s on mute. I almost turn away when the light hits his wrist at a certain angle...

“Oh my God,” I gasp.

“What?”

I jump to my feet, moving closer, and I’m right. It’s his watch. It’s Korey’s watch.

“What’s up?” Derrick asks. “What’s wrong?”

My mind runs full throttle, remembering Korey’s words.

“There’s only one like it...”

Derrick is by my side, worry in his eyes. But I can’t tell him. As mad as he is... I’m not sure where his loyalty lies.

“Um, it’s nothing.”

When Richie steps off stage, he sits next to Jessica. And something strange passes between them. They clasp hands for a few seconds too long before releasing.

I look to see if Derrick notices. “What do you know about Jessica?”

He shrugs, paying the bill. “Jessica has probably been around the longest. She used to sing. My dad found her atsome talent contest in Texas and introduced her to Korey. Always says he would do anything for her.”

Derrick doesn’t know.

Outside, the rain lets up, but the clouds remain, dark and threatening.

Chapter 80

There’s Only One Like It