Page 14 of A King’s Obsession

Ashlynn's laughter had finally disappeared by the time I picked my phone back up.

“Jru?” she asked carefully. “What are you doing?”

“I'm leaving,” I answered, yanking open another dresser drawer.

“Like tonight?”

I stopped packing long enough to stare at the phone as though she could somehow see the expression on my face.

“No, Ashlynn. Next fucking Christmas.”

“Bitch, I was just asking!” she snapped, sounding offended.

I sucked my teeth and pulled the drawer harder than necessary. The cheap plastic knob popped off in my hand and bounced across the floor.

I didn't even bother picking it up.

Fuck the knob.

Fuck the dresser.

At this point, fuck everything in this apartment that couldn't fit inside my duffel.

“Yes, tonight,” I told her, grabbing another handful of clothes. “Come get me.”

Saying those words out loud made me stop.

A pair of jeans hung halfway out of the bag as the reality of what I'd just decided settled into my chest.

I was leaving.

Not threatening to leave. Not fantasizing about starting over after another terrible day.

Actually leaving.

“I'm serious, Ashlynn,” I said, my voice quieter this time. “Come get me tonight. I'm going with you.”

There was a brief silence on the other end before her voice changed.

“Wait. You mean with me *with me*? Out of state?”

I looked around my bedroom, taking in the chipped dresser, the pile of clothes I'd been meaning to wash, and the little things I'd collected over the years that made this room feel like mine. I didn't have a job waiting for me wherever Ashlynn was going. I didn't know anybody besides her, and I damn sure didn't know Chi beyond whatever ridiculous stories she'd told me about her mysterious sponsor.

And I had $24 to my name.

But for the first time that night, the thought of leaving scared me less than the thought of staying.

“Yes,” I answered.

“OH SHIT!”

“Don't fucking 'oh shit' me!” I snapped, although I could already feel a reluctant smile pulling at my mouth. “Ain't this what you been begging me to do?”

“Yes! Damn!” Ashlynn laughed, sounding wide awake now. “I just didn't know Montae was gonna have to fuck yo mama to get some sense into you.”

I froze.

Then I laughed.