Page 33 of Unbreakable Bond
I blinked, noticing Hailo still lying next to me. “Damn, you’re really still here?” I yawned, stretching my arms.
“Just waiting on you.”
“Girl, go home. I know your man has called by now.”
“Why that tone for my man. What did he do?” Hailo asked, pinching me in the arm.
“Oww! Bitch that hurts!”
“It will keep hurting if you don’t start talking.”
“Fine, I’ve been seeing Quest!” I blurted out.
Hailo blinked, ensuring she heard me correctly. “Quest? Quest Cassidy?” Hailo asked with so much disdain that I second-guessed, confirming.
Hailo had been the president of the Free Solana campaign, encouraging me to use my voice and live my own life. If I couldn’t win her over, how the fuck was I ever going to tell anybody else about us? Sky had already given me her stamp of approval, so everybody else needed to get on board.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, watching her stare at my headboard. “Say something, Lo.”
“You don’t want me to say anything,” Hailo warned, causing me to suck my teeth.
“I feel awful about what happened to Sky, too, but it wasn’t his fault. She understands that.” I reasoned.
“Wait a minute! You told Sky before me?”
“I had to. She covered for me on New Year’s, so I could spend it with Quest.”
Hailo shifted, propping herself up against the headboard. “I should’ve known. He was too damn giddy last night, grinning in your face.”
The only thing Quest was guilty of was being loyal to his family. Mine had done plenty of horrible things and weren’t exactly in the position to judge. Nobody would see it that way. They simply justified their actions by claiming it was for the greater good.
“Oh my God! You love him!” Hailo yelped as if she could read my thoughts.
“Is that such a bad thing?”
First, she rolled her eyes, likely screaming yes in her head. Hailo was new to this sisterly thing but was trying, so she placed her arm around me like I was Renni.
“No, it’s not.”
“He’s so sweet. Not in a pushover kind of way, but he cares about me. I feel free with Quest. He’s respectful, patient, and thoughtful—all the things you said a man should be. Everything Gi is to you,” I explained.
“So, how did Quest sweep you off your feet?”
“One night, Daddy and I got into it, so I went to the casino. Quest was there, and he asked me what I was doing alone. Initially, I was confused about why he was even talking to me, but the more he talked, the more he seemed cool.”
“And?”
“And he asked for my number, and I felt defiant that night, so I gave it to him. Then, fast-forward, I’m in love with the last person I’m supposed to be with,” I admitted.
“You’re right about that.”
“Thanks a lot, Hailo.”
“I can still support you and be honest. You think today was bad. They’re going to flip when they find out.”
“How will they find out?” I asked, sitting up.
“Don’t be naïve Solana. There are only two ways this ends. You telling everybody or losing the man you love.”