Reel (Hollywood Renaissance 1)
* * *
CAL
I was talking with the editorial staff at The Defender. They love my expat report from Paris. If we did go home to see your mama in Alabama, maybe I could send them some photos and stories on the boycott.
* * *
DESSI
That would be so good, Cal. Who knows how we could help while we’re there?
* * *
Cal turns and holds Dessi, kissing her cheek.
* * *
CAL
When your people need you, you go. Maybe you’re right, but can we talk about it after tonight’s show? We ’bout to be late.
* * *
DESSI
That’s all I ask.
* * *
CAL (CHUCKLING)
All you ask my foot. You always asking for the world, Odessa.
* * *
DESSI
And you the man who gives it to me.
67
Neevah
I walk up the hall to my sister’s hospital room with a divided heart. On one hand, I’m elated. I’m getting a new kidney, and potentially, a new lease on life. I can’t even adequately express my gratitude to Terry for this sacrifice, but there are things that remain unsaid between us. I fully anticipate that we’ll both be fine. Our surgeries are straightforward, but not without potential complications and risks. We’ve done a few family counseling sessions by video, and we’ve made progress repairing the breach. Things are getting better between us than they’ve been in years, but I can’t say we’ve forgiven each other. And I won’t go under until I’ve at least told her she has that from me.
I poke my head in, glad to find her alone in the room. Soon all the preparations will begin. Her surgery occurs first, obviously, to remove her kidney, and then they’ll transplant it into me. Any minute, the nurses and doctors will come. I have to get back to my room up the hall for preparation, too, but this won’t take long.
“Hey.” I fix a smile on my face, which feels unnatural because there have been too few smiles between us since I left home.
She glances up, and I see myself in her. In the heart-shaped face and the coppery skin. The tilt of our eyes. I recognize the fear, too. As much of a blessing as this is, it’s scary for us both.
“Hey,” she says, her smile looking as forced as mine feels. “They let you out?”
I nod, stepping all the way in, letting the door close behind me, and approach the bed.
“One of the ladies from church called,” she says. “So Mama stepped out to take it. She’ll be back, if you’re looking for her.”
“I came to see you,” I say, holding her guarded gaze. “I only have a few minutes. I’m sure my warden will be looking for me soon.”
“You mean your nurse or your man? Because I think this is the first time I’ve seen you without Canon glued to your side.”
I chuckle, my forced smile easing into the real thing. “He’s intense and concerned. He’s in one of the waiting rooms finishing a call with the studio and wanted to get it over with before the surgery starts.”
“He loves you and it’s obvious you got it bad for him.”
“I do.” I nod, my insides melting at the thought of how supportive and protective and unwavering Canon has been. “I had no idea he would be . . . who he is. I guess you never know where your heart will lead you.”
“Brand and Quianna ran down to grab something to eat,” she says abruptly, the softened lines of her face stiffening to wax. “If you want to avoid him, you should make this quick.”
“I don’t need to avoid him. This does have to be quick, but only because we both need to prepare.” I haul in a deep breath and dive in. “I couldn’t go into surgery, let you do this without—”
“Let me just stop you right there, Neev.” A deep swallow moves her throat and she bites her bottom lip, glancing down at the hands in her lap. “You don’t have to thank me or whatever this is. I should have been the one walking up the hall. I’ve been thinking about it all morning, knowing you were down there. I’ve been . . .” She closes her eyes and a single tear streaks down her cheek. “I’ve been ashamed of what I did, of what we did, since that day in the living room all those years ago. I was young and stupid and insecure and jealous.”
She huffs a rough laugh, a wry grin tipping her mouth. “I did like him, you know.”
I take a few steps closer until my hip butts up against the hospital bed. “Brandon?”
“I liked him as soon as I saw him in freshman orientation, but he was the only boy in our class who wasn’t after me. That’s probably why I wanted him, because he wasn’t interested.” She looks up, the last dregs of resentment there. “And then you came. A freshman, and you were the one he wanted. I hated that. I guess I hated you a little. One more thing you hadn’t even tried to get and got anyway.”