Read Online Never Say Never by Victoria Christopher Murray - Free Book Online Page B

“He’s . . . black.”
    I blinked a couple of times, because that was not what I’d expected. “And your point is?”
    â€œHe’s black, Emily!”
    â€œWhat is it with you guys?” I asked. “Michellelee said the same thing, that Jamal is black. As if I couldn’t see that for myself.”
    â€œWell, if we both told you—”
    â€œI know what color he is. But I also know that he’s really cool and I want to get to know him.”
    â€œWhat about your boyfriend?”
    â€œBoyfriend?” She must’ve known something that I didn’t because I didn’t have a boyfriend, not even a casual one.
    Miriam said, “You know, Waldorf Astoria.”
    â€œClarkson’s not my boyfriend.”
    â€œHe calls you all the time.”
    â€œHe calls me from Mississippi, so what? He’s the guy that my parents want me to marry, but I haven’t been interested in him since kindergarten, and you know that.”
    â€œMaybe you need to give him another try. He might make a good husband.”
    â€œHusband? I’m not looking for a husband!” I shouted. “I don’t want to marry Clarkson or Jamal. I’m just trying to talk to him.”
    The way Miriam tucked her chin to her chest and folded her arms tighter let me know that she was buckling down. She was not about to be moved. “I don’t think you should talk or do anything with Jamal.”
    Even though we’d been going back and forth for a couple of minutes, I couldn’t get my best friend’s words to compute in my mind. Slowly, I sat down on her bed. “Really?” I whispered. “You don’t think I’m good enough to see Jamal?”
    â€œIt’s not that.” She loosened her arms and softened her voice. “Okay, let me give it to you real, let me give it to you straight. Have you ever read the book or seen the movie Waiting to Exhale ?”
    â€œNo,” I said, wondering what in the heck a movie had to do with our conversation.
    â€œWell, you should see it. ’Cause this brother leaves his wife . . . for a white woman.”
    At first, I pressed my lips together. “And?”
    â€œAnd? It was awful and terrible and I hated reading and watching every second of that.”
    â€œWait a minute.” I paused. “Is Jamal married?”
    â€œNo!” she said, as if I’d asked the stupidest question.
    â€œThen what does this have to do with—”
    â€œLook,” Miriam said, not letting me finish. “There aren’t enoughbrothers out there. Do you know the ratio of black men to black women?”
    I shook my head.
    â€œWell, neither do I, but that’s not the point. Whatever the ratio is,” Miriam said, “the fact is, there are not enough black men to go around. So many sistahs don’t have a man, and will never have a man because our men are either in prison or are batting for the other team, or”—she paused, as if she was going in for the big finish—“they’re hooking up with white women.”
    I couldn’t even get the word out of my mouth, but finally it came. “Wow!” I stood up and moved toward her bedroom door, but I couldn’t leave like this. When I turned around, the heat of my anger was already flashing beneath my skin. “So, you’re saying that you’re going to help the cause by keeping me away from Jamal?”
    She hesitated, and spoke even softer this time. “Something like that.”
    â€œBecause I’m white.”
    I felt like I’d hit a three-pointer with those three words, because Miriam slid down in the bed a little. Maybe I made her feel bad, and that was good, because my feelings were so hurt. But I didn’t make her feel bad enough, because after a few seconds, she nodded.
    All I could do was shake my head. “I thought we were friends.”
    â€œDon’t go there, Em. You