This past month has gone by fast. Gregory has returned to Chicago and has been busy with work, but we make time to talk every night, no matter how late he gets home.

Trai had been a mess since she showed up on our doorstep with a black eye and split lip courtesy of an asshole tourist. However, Trai got her vengeance with the help of Gregory.

Trai and I talked on the beach after work, waiting for Gregory to walk me home. Since Trai's attack, Gregory has been coming to get me after work.

As he was approaching us, Trai's face went pale. When I asked her what was wrong, she pointed at a group of men playing football on the beach.

It didn't take me long to figure out that one of those men was Tom, the one who had attacked Trai. I quickly pulled her into the beach bar to keep him from seeing her.

"What's going on? Are we having a cocktail before going home?" Gregory questioned with his eyebrows furrowed as he followed us into the bar.

It was then he got a look at Trai's pale face and the tears that were escaping her eyes. "What's wrong, Trai? Are you alright?"

I told him that she had pointed to a group of men playing football on the beach, and I was sure one of them had hurt Trai.

With the men out of her sight, she slowly regained her composure and relaxed her stiff shoulders. She described Tom to Gregory, and he immediately left the bar, making a beeline towards the men before I could stop him.

We watched as he approached the group of men. When he began to talk, the four men got closer to Gregory. We saw the other three men look at Tom, whom Trai pointed out, shaking their heads and glaring at him. The next moment, the other three left Tom alone with Gregory. After what looked like a heated argument between the two, Gregory punched Tom in the face, knocking him unconscious, and left him there to return to us.

Trai and my brows raised, and our jaws dropped in surprise at what we had just witnessed.

When we asked Gregory what he said to the group and Tom before knocking him out, he said, "I asked his friends if they knew what kind of person that piece of shit was, then explained to them what the guy did to Trai after she refused to have sex with him. They were disgusted and told me whatever occurred between Tom and me was our business and left us alone. I told Tom what an asshole he was, and he tried to deny it till I told him that Trai showed up at our house after what he did, then I punched the fucker in the face."

We all look back towards Tom, who is still lying there. His friends had resumed throwing football, and those around Tom had heard enough of what Gregory had said to keep them from helping Tom.

With tears running down her cheeks, Trai hugged Gregory and thanked him for being her knight in shining armor.

After having a beer, we escorted Trai to her car before going home. Watching Gregory defend my friend's honor was hot, so I thanked him in the bedroom when we got home.

Now he's been gone for two weeks.

I'm changing in the break room when Trai enters. She's been finishing her work after me, which is very unlike her.

"Hi, Trai. Rough day?"

Shrugging her shoulders, she opens her locker and begins to change. I sigh because I miss my bubbly, outgoing friend.

"I'd love to have you over for dinner, so I don't have to eat alone," I say, hoping she'll take me up on my offer.

"Sure," she replies, getting her purse out of the locker.

"Great. How about we drive over in your car so it will be at my house when you're ready to go home," I suggest.

She agrees.

Upon entering the house, something doesn't feel right.

"I have a weird feeling that someone is watching us," I admit to Trai as a shiver goes down my spine and my flesh breaks into bumps.

Trai looks around and then at me like I have three heads. "I don't feel or see anything."

I attempt to laugh it off. "It's probably my imagination playing tricks on me since Gregory is gone. I was so used to having him here that the house feels empty."

We go into the kitchen, and Trai sits on a stool while I grab a bottle of wine from the wine rack and two glasses and place them on the island.

"You pour, I'll get dinner going."

She twists, opens the top, and pours a glass for each of us. "What are we having?" she asks, handing me my glass.

"Muma's specialty, jerk chicken."

Trai squeals with delight, and I smile. It feels good to see a glimpse of the pre-attack Trai.

Grabbing the chicken from the fridge and the bags of black beans, rice, and spices from the cupboard, I begin to assemble the meal. I want to ask Trai how she's doing, but every time I bring up the subject of her and her mental well-being, she tells me she's okay. Her mood and actions say otherwise, so I bite my tongue and begin to cook dinner.

After I have everything on simmer till the beans and rice get soft, I sit next to Trai as she empties the bottle of wine into her glass. I'm still on my first glass, so I get back up and get another bottle out of the cabinet, open it, and pour the delectable nectar into my glass.

We sit in silence, drinking our wine and listening to the sizzling and bubbling sound of the food cooking when Trai takes a deep breath.

"I'm done," she states matter-of-factly.

My eyes drop to the drink she just filled moments ago, and the glass is half full, so my eyes gravitate to her face, which is downcast, staring at her glass.

My face scrunched up in confusion. "What?"

She forces a smile as her eyes meet mine. "I'm done partying and hooking up with random guys."

"Okay..." I say, wanting her to continue.

She starts to play with the rim of her glass. "The incident with Tom opened my eyes to my carelessness. I don't want to take a chance of getting into that kind of situation again."

I place my hand on hers. "You know that what happened with Tom wasn't your fault."

"Wasn't it?" she says defensively, pulling her hand away from mine. "If I weren't there drinking, dancing with a man I didn't know, and leading him on, it would have never happened."

"Trai, you're not responsible for that man's behavior; no means no. There is no excuse for his actions. I understand his disappointment or anger for not getting what he thought was coming his way, but he needed to walk away, not attack you."

She waves her hand, dismissing my comment. "Regardless, I won't put myself in that situation again."

While I'm pleased that Trai is finally opening up about her feelings, I'm not happy that she's blaming herself for the conduct of that asshole.

I pat her hand before getting up to check on dinner. Trying to lighten the mood, I question, "You'll still party with me, right? I can't lose my dancing partner."

"You have Gregory for that. You don't need me," she huffs.

Immediately turning around at her comment and walking over to where she's sitting, I place my arms around her from the back and speak close to ear, "Gregory can't replace my best friend, my sister, my partner in crime. I will always need you. No matter where we are in this world or where we are in life. We've been here for each other through thick and thin since we were kids, and nothing will ever change our friendship."

At this, she loses her resolve, and her shoulders shake as she lets her emotions fall like rain from her eyes. I hold her tighter and just let her cry.

We stay like that for several moments until her shoulders relax and her tears subside.

"I was so fucking scared, Ama. You have no idea."

While embracing her, I don't say a word so she can speak freely.

"What I don't understand," she says wistfully, "is that no one even tried to stop him as he aggressively pulled me out of the club or threw me into the car. If only I had screamed or grabbed someone's arm as we passed them. Maybe it wouldn't have escalated, but I was in shock, frozen, unable to comprehend what was happening until we got to the beach. It's all a blur now, and I don't know how I had the fortitude to do what I did to get away. All my mind could think of was where we were on the beach, which was only about a half mile to your house, and my main focus was to get to you, my safe place."

"Oh, Trai." My heart aches for her, wishing I could take away the pain and the memories of that night.

She wipes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "Ama, I think I smell something burning."

"Shit!" I exclaim while releasing Trai and running over to the stove to remove the pan from the hot burner.

After getting the silverware and plates from the cabinet, I dish out our servings, careful to avoid the bottom of the burnt pan. I place everything on the bar in front of Trai and my seat.

"Can I get you anything else," I ask Trai before taking my seat.

"Hot sauce, if you don't mind."

"I don't mind, but you might want to taste it first. It's pretty spicy," I say, grabbing the hot sauce from the cabinet.

She tastes it, then reaches for the hot sauce, and I chuckle.

Dinner goes by without any more discussion about Trai's attack. Instead, we focus on safe subjects like work, news around the island, and family.

Trai hugs me tightly after she grabs her purse. 'Thank you."

"For what? Burning your dinner?" I laugh.

She squeezes me, "No, dinner was delicious. I want to thank you for not pushing me to talk and just being here whenever I need you."

A lump forms in my throat. "Anytime, Trai."

I walk her to her car and watch as she drives off. Returning to the house, I get that uncomfortable feeling again. My steps quicken, and once inside, I lock the door before hearing my phone ring. I'm surprised when I see that it's Gregory because earlier he had texted me and said he was heading to bed.

"Hi, Babe. Is everything okay?" I ask, unable to keep the huge grin spreading across my face.

"Everything is fine. I slept an hour or two and woke up thinking of you. I miss you, Ama," he says and yawns.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

My heart swells. "I miss you too, Gregory. What time's your flight tomorrow?"

"10:00, and I can't wait till you're back where you belong, in my arms."

The corners of my mouth lift at his remark, but don't say anything back to him.

When I get quiet, he notices, "Ama, what's going on?"

"I don't want to worry you," I say, knowing I must tell him now.

"Ama..." he growls.

"It's stupid, really," I say, trying to downplay the situation.

He calmly replies, "Nothing you say is stupid."

His sweet comment brings a smile to my face and the fluttering butterflies to my stomach.

"I had Trai over for dinner, and when we got here, I had a strange feeling that someone was watching me. I felt it again when I walked Trai to her car."

He swears under his breath. "I hate that I'm not there with you. Are all of the doors and windows locked?"

"I locked the door right away when I came into the house. Let me check the remaining doors and windows."

I go around the house checking the locks to ensure everything is locked and secure, assuring him everything is fine and it was just my imagination.

We talk till we both begin to yawn. Looking at the clock, I see that it's past midnight.

"I have to work tomorrow and you have your flight, so we should get to bed," I tell him, knowing that neither of us wants to hang up. "Goodnight, Gregory. See you tomorrow."

"Goodnight, Ama. I love you," he says right before disconnecting our call.

My mouth hangs open, thinking that I heard him wrong.

Total Words: 27,548