Page 4 of Dissolving Prejudice

“You’re shitting me, right?” Andrei shrugged Chief off before he began walking toward me, his anger only growing by the second until he was in my face. Then, for probably the third time since we knew each other, he punched me. It hurt like a motherfucker, but I deserved it.

As I rubbed my jaw, I heard Chief reassuring the doctor it was all right and that Andrei and I were family. The fact he still used that damn word stung because I knew my ungrateful ass didn’t deserve it. I took a deep breath and then straightened up to meet Andrei’s hurt expression.

“Hey,” I said and watched his brows pull together.

“Hey?” he hissed, the veins on his neck bulging. “Four fucking years, and you say hey?”

He was absolutely furious and had every right to be, but one glance over Andrei’s shoulder to see Chief utterly lost reminded me of why we were here in the first place.

Clearing my throat, I spoke. “I know you’re pissed, but can we talk about it later?” I scratched my neck, finding it hard to hold his gaze. “Now’s not the time with Soren still being in surgery.”

“Fuck you.” Andrei shoved at my chest. “You don’t get to tell us now’s not the fucking time, asshole. Why are you even here?”

Words seemed to escape me, and I had no idea what to say when Chief cleared his throat. “He’s right, Andrei. Now’s not the time.”

Splitting his attention between us, Andrei seemed half-hearted about letting go of his anger before he turned away from me and walked back to Chief.

Well, fuck.

I knew reuniting would suck, but I never imagined it would suck this bad. But then again, they both had every right to hate me. The last time I saw them, I was a total asshole, to say the least, and said some nasty shit about wanting to leave them all behind and start over. I also spat crap, saying we were never a family to begin with. It was a complete lie that I hoped would push them away from me. Okay, so maybe there were times I felt like they weren’t my family, especially with the fight I had with Chief over Shay-Lee, but it all seemed so pointless now. That man, Chief, fought for my innocence for months. He earned my respect for that. What was more, the last four years of my life proved to me how much I fucking missed them. But I’d fucked it all up, and now, they looked at me like the scum I was.

I’d been here for hours, sitting on a bench in the hall while waiting to hear news about Soren. Chief and Andrei were still in the waiting room, but understanding I had no right to be there with them, I stepped outside and had sat there ever since. I felt like crap for suddenly showing up at the worst of times, probably giving them more anxiety on top of everything. Chief might lose his partner today, and there I was, coming back with a pathetic “hey” after four years of dead silence.

The door leading to the waiting room opened, and I raised my head to see Andrei stepping out. He didn’t acknowledge me and walked straight to the vending machine at the end of the hall. Averting my eyes from him, I focused on the floor, feeling incredibly shitty. It was so quiet here that I heard him sliding coins into the machine, the sound dancing on my nerves. Thus far, this day had been a total shitshow. And while meeting Andrei and Chief without a second’s warning sucked balls, I was thankful it was just them in here because I had no fucking idea what I’d do if the others were here. Others like—

“Here.”

I glanced up, shocked to see Andrei standing before me while offering me a can of soda.

“Come on.” He nudged it, and the drops sliding down the cold can made my mouth water.

Sitting here for hours like a damn soldier, I didn’t even bother to think about drinking or eating. Now, my mouth was dry like a fucking desert, and I couldn’t wait to drown my thirst with a sip of soda.

“Thanks.”

I took the cold can from him. Without saying a word, Andrei sat beside me on the bench while I flicked the tab open. Enjoying the satisfying hissing sound the can made, I licked my lips and then took a long gulp. It tasted so good, and I wiped my mouth with my hand before placing the half-empty can on the floor beside me.

Andrei still hadn’t opened his drink and instead played with the can. I watched him as he did, low-key wondering what he was thinking about while also studying how he’d changed over the past few years. He was still a handsome bro, the type of dude you’d want to bring home to your parents. He’d also gained a bit of weight, although it looked like pure muscle, and it suited him, making him look stronger.

“Soren’s finally out of surgery. Chief’s with him,” Andrei said, breaking the silence that had followed him ever since he sat beside me. As if knowing the question standing on the tip of my tongue, he went on. “He’s going to be fine.”

Good.

I gnawed at the inside of my cheek, relief washing over me. “That’s good.”

“It is,” Andrei said, voice cold.

With him angry and me having no clue what to say, we sank back into silence. It was so uncomfortable, like a funeral for the friendship we used to have. Andrei’s cold reaction only confirmed what I already knew—I hurt him.

What about Shay-Lee? Was he also this hurt? Probably more.

“I’m sorry for punching you,” he suddenly said, catching me off guard.

Turning to look at him, I shook my head. “Don’t. I deserved it.”

“Nah.” He tsked and leaned his back against the wall behind us. “It wasn’t cool… I was just shocked.” He twisted his lips before glancing at me, eyes narrowed. “What were you doing with Soren?”

“He was with my boss,” I said, hoping it would be good enough to satisfy him.