End Game

Finding The Source

I couldn't even respond when Noah interjected.

"Hey, man! Thanks for letting me replace you for the day. We've been wanting to watch that play in forever!"

Replace who?

"Ahem... I'm glad y'all had fun."

"Do you mind if Noah stays back for another hour? I already offered, not knowing you'd be home so early." Olivia asked.

"Uhm... yeah, sure. I've got to head back out anyways."

"Where?" She asked.

She sounded a bit bothered but I was too engrossed in my negative feelings to truly mind.

"Darnell's place, for a bit. Let me know when you are done."

I nodded my head at Noah and kissed Liv's cheek before leaving. I was not expected at my house, so hanging out with Darnell and Maï was going to be my evening plan. Maï was leaving in a few days anyways, so I wanted to spend some time with her before that.

"Yo! What are you doing here?"

I walked past Darnell and into the house, with my face draped in confusion. Way to be unwelcome everywhere.

"What? I can leave if you want." I replied.

"No, it's fine Spencer. What he meant was that we weren't expecting you tonight. Do you want something to eat?" Maï asked me.

"No, I'm good thanks. Yeah, I was supposed to be at the gym but I went home early to surprise Liv."

"So, how come you're here without her?" Maï questioned as we sat down.

The two of them appeared a little awkward, not even looking at one another. I could tell that I had interrupted an important conversation.

"Ahem, she went to the theater to watch a play."

"Isn't the theater closed at this time?" Darnell interjected, checking his watch.

"Yeah, she's home now." I simply said.

Both stopped talking for a minute.

"And why are you here again?" My brother asked again.

"She had company so I didn't want to interrupt."

"Who?"

I understood why they were both curious about it, but all I wanted to do was to stop talking about it. And the only way to do that was to tell them everything right away.

"Noah."

I quickly explained what had transpired at the Beach House and was quite frankly certain that they were going to understand and sympathize with me, but none of that happened.

"Bro, you're trippin'! If Noah threatens your relationship, why are you letting him spend alone time with Liv? At your house, on top of that! I don't get it. There's no way some dude would spend an entire day with my girl knowing that I'm free."

"How did she react when you left?" Maï asked.

"I don't know... she didn't seem too happy."

"Do you want my advice as someone who only knows your love story from what I have been told?"

I nodded my head at her, grateful for the fresh perspective.

"You'd better grab your keys and go back home to your woman. No matter how irritated you are, you both have decided not to run away from problems anymore... And that's what you did tonight." She gave me a straight-up.

I looked over at Darnell to see if he felt the same way and for the first time since I got to their place, I could sense their usual unity.

Heaving the deepest sigh, I stood up, grabbed my keys, and hugged Maï goodbye, before Darnell walked me to my car.