Read Online Criminal by Terra Elan McVoy - Free Book Online

counter gave me a smile but was still curious since it was pretty clear I was no gym regular. I told him I was looking for my boyfriend.
    â€œWhat’s his name?” The guy had a name tag—Steve. “I can page him.”
    â€œOh no. If it’s okay, I’ll just walk through.”
    He nodded and smiled again, then went back to his computer. He wasn’t interested in me at all, or who I was looking for.
    I found Dee upstairs, sitting on a weight bench, talking to a monstrous guy made up of muscley ridges. Dee had a towel around his neck, tattooed hands clenching either end. He was glistening with sweat, and his ribbed tank top clung to his chest. A smile went over me just seeing him. I wanted to be invisiblethen so I could watch him like this—easy and relaxed, chatting with a friend.
    But he must’ve seen me from the corner of his eye, because he turned and stood up before I even got near.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?”
    Close up, I could smell him—his man smell. Sweat, and more. Strength. I started to cry with relief.
    â€œI just had to talk to you and I didn’t know what else.”
    â€œYou’ve got to cut this out.” He was annoyed at first, mean like he gets. But then, softer, “I need you to be strong.”
    He took me by the elbow and guided me down the wide stairs, the chrome railings gleaming past us. All I felt was his hand, tight and safe around my elbow. I wanted to sink into the feeling. I didn’t care where he was pushing me.
    Outside, the heat from the asphalt curled up around our legs. I had to squint to look at him, but my vision was blurred from tears anyway.
    â€œDee, they came to Bird’s house. They searched her—”
    â€œLook, I’m trying to act as normal as I can here, but you’re starting to mess all that up. What did I tell you? Just keep your mouth shut and quit freaking out.”
    â€œBut, Dee, they’re going to question her grandma.”
    â€œAnd she’s gonna say Bird was with her, and, hell, they’ll go to the outlets and see her on their fucking tapes if they need to,and she’ll be fine. Why’re you worrying about her anyway? You think the cops didn’t come to my house too? You think they’re not watching me, even when I’m at work?”
    â€œAre you okay?”
    He laughed. “They can’t do shit to me, baby. They ain’t got nothing. I’m telling you, we just got to ride this out. They can fuss all they want. We sit tight, act cool, it’ll fizzle out.”
    â€œI don’t know if I can without you.”
    I put my arms around his waist and pressed myself as close to him as I could. My head against the hard muscle of his chest. His heart, loud and strong. But he curled himself out of my arms.
    â€œListen, you can’t be coming around like this. To my gym. To my house. We need to take a break. It’s better if we don’t see each other for a while. And I mean, at all.”
    â€œBut why? If everything is okay like you say—”
    â€œYou don’t hear me talking to you?”
    I put my hand on his forearm, trying to be calm in spite of how mad he was. “I hear you, Dee, I just don’t understand.”
    He cursed and spit, shook his head, staring at his feet.
    I tried again: “Bird made me go to my momma’s.”
    A scowl crawled over his face. “What do you expect me to do about that?”
    â€œI don’t know, Dee. I just—I really miss you. I don’t think I can—”
    â€œYou can and you will.” His voice was sharp. Then he sighed, and his hand was back on my arm, rubbing up and down, like I might be cold. “Why did you think I wanted you with me, baby, huh? Because I knew you could do what I needed you to. Whatever I asked.”
    My eyes went to the place on his chest where his tattoo was. Though it was covered by his tank, I could still see it in my mind. I still needed