Infamous Like Us (Like Us 10)

I frown. “What?”

“Yeah.” She smiles like she stole something. “They nicknamed you Nine because you were born at nine-oh-nine, and my dad didn’t think that was good enough to confuse an evil spirit. They must’ve really loved the name Nine. My dad said you were doomed.”

I laugh, then nod. “Maybe he was right.”

“Kits,” Sulli says. “You’re not fucking doomed. If you are, then we all are.”

“Amen,” Banks agrees.

If I was fated for something bad, I shouldn’t want to drag them with me—but I’m at a place where I know we’re all going down together if we ever go.

“My dad was wrong,” Frog says to me. “You own a security firm that protects famous people and you own a gym—and you’re about to marry Sullivan Meadows.”

Sulli smiles.

It’s hard not to smile back. And I look to Banks; he nods to me—and to say I’m glad he’s here is the biggest understatement of the century.

Their love guides me, and I reach for the letter on the table. Not thinking, just feeling, and I swear they all cage breath as I rip open the envelope.

It’s just a simple white sheet of paper, folded into threes. I unfurl the letter, my mom’s beautiful handwriting staring back at me.

Still without thinking, I read the letter out loud. “Dear Nine,” I say, my throat already swelling. “I’m sorry that we couldn’t say a proper goodbye, but I thought this would be easier…I’ve never wanted to be a burden on you…” Shit. I pinch the bridge of my nose, eyes shut. Trying not to lose it.

I can’t speak.

So silently, I read the rest. The letter clenched between my fingers.

You’re my strong, unbreakable son. And your dad always said your future was brighter than the stars in the sky. I knew it too. You are our greatest gift to this Earth, Nine. Before I left, there was something I needed you to have.

I know how much family you’ve lost. From growing up in Philly. From your father’s death. And inevitably mine. But she needs you as much as you need her. Hold on to Frog.

Hold on to each other. And know that you may have lost me, but you’re not alone. You both have memories to share and stories to tell. You’ll keep the ones you love alive.

And just like your father, I will love you forever. Even after I’m gone.

Love, Mom

Now I’m crying, and I put the letter into Frog’s hand while I tell Banks and Sulli, “She wanted me and Frog to have each other. That’s why she really sent her here.”

Sulli starts crying, and Banks curses in shock.

The minute Frog stops reading, she hugs me. I feel her tears soak my chest. My mom knew Frog grew up without family. Like I did.

“She’s a legend,” Frog manages to say.

Without a doubt.

My anger starts dissipating off my body. My grief will come and go, I’m sure, just like with my dad. But I think it’ll be different too. She made sure that my memories of her were limited, maybe to shelter me from the pain.

It’s a gift she tried to give me.

I’ll always remember that.

62

BANKS MORETTI

Life is short.

I’ve known that since my brother died, but hell, it keeps slamming into all of us. Over and over. “I’m sick of losing people,” I tell them.

Early morning, the three of us are naked in Sulli’s large soup-bowl bathtub. Where Sulli lost her virginity. Bubbles pile high above the warm water, the cedar and pine scent soaking our bare skin, and Sulli lies back against my chest. Her legs opened around Akara.

“Me too,” Akara says.

“Me three.” Sulli draws a finger through the bubbles, creating swirls.

Akara pushes his hair back with a wet hand. “But it doesn’t really end. People die. People leave. It’s the story of life, man.” A couple days have passed since the funeral, and he’s been doing better. Talking more. The letter from his mom helped, giving Akara enough closure to stop bottling that kind of anger. The kind I’ve been letting go too.

With my arms extended over the lip of tub, I crack a crooked smile, biting a toothpick. “This must be the emo-punk side of you coming out now that you’ve joined The Carraways.”

He gives me a pointed look. “That was a one-time thing.”

Sulli snorts. “You loved it.”

“He did,” I agree.

He blows bubbles in Sulli’s face. “I love being your bodyguard more, Sul.”

She swats the bubbles away. “Kits.”

I drop my arms around her frame and palm her breasts under the water.

“Banks.” My name comes out with a moan.

Akara smiles more. “Hey, I’m not trying to bring us down. We’re the Life Brigade, remember?”

“I remember,” I say into a smile. There’s no one I’d rather live life with than them. So I say, “When we die, then we can become the Death Brigade, kickin’ it in heaven.”