Audre & Bash Are Just Friends(91)

“Okay, you need to sit back down,” he said through a nervous chuckle. “I need to tell you something. But I can’t focus if you… when you’re close to me. You smell so good and look so pretty and you’re… so… so beautiful it hurts. You gotta sit over there.”

If it were possible for humans to melt, Audre would’ve been a puddle. With a giddy smile she couldn’t hide, she sat back on the bench. What was this all about?

Bash swallowed, hard. And then he pulled out a folded-up piece of paper from his pocket. “I handwrote this on real paper instead of my notes app. Shane said I’d feel more creative that way.”

Audre thought she’d misheard him. “Shane said? Excuse me?”

He nodded, fiddling with his cufflinks. “Well, after we had to, you know, break up? I wasn’t doing great. I missed you and just felt kinda lost. Pointless. Everything I was scared about happening—ruining another life, hurting you—it happened. Honestly, I just needed help. And Shane told me that if I ever wanted to talk to anyone, he had a mentorship group for dudes my age. So, I went to one of the meetings. And it was cool. It is cool. The other kids have issues like mine, broken families and whatever. And Shane just lets everybody talk. And there are doughnuts involved.” He smiled.

Just then, she saw Shane and Eva rushing over (she’d gathered up her skirts in her hands, her white Jordans looking crispy as hell). When they reached Bash, Shane gave him a pound, and Eva hoisted Baby Alice up on her hip. And then she looked Bash up and down, nodding with approval.

“You clean up nice, Bash,” said Eva, smiling. “Thanks for coming.”

Am I having a stroke? thought Audre.

“What the hell is going on?” she demanded. “Mom, why are you suddenly cool with him?”

“I’m not suddenly cool. It took a while. When Shane told me Bash joined the group, I was resistant at first. But your stepdad told me I was being an asshole. And he was right. How can I say that I’ve accepted my past if I’m so haunted by it that I’m keeping you from enjoying your present? Bash isn’t Shane, and you aren’t me. It’s a dangerous game, making you two pay for crimes Shane and I committed a thousand years ago.” Eva raised her chin in Bash’s direction, looking luminous in her wedding gown. “Last night I reached out to Bash and invited him to the wedding. Hardest surprise I think I’ve ever had to keep!”

“Eva doesn’t get all the credit,” said Shane. “I lent him the tux. Sharp, right?”

Bash smiled softly, watching the scene play out from the sidelines.

Stunned by what she was hearing, Audre turned to Shane. “I—I can’t believe this. Shane, did you, like, hypnotize my mom? How did you convince her?”

“Easily. I’m the man of the house,” joked Shane. (They all knew Eva ran the show.)

Still holding Alice, Eva pulled Audre into a one-armed hug. “I hate your tattoo. But I love you.”

As Audre hugged her mom and Baby Alice, months of anguish seemed to melt away. She felt lighter somehow. And also more mature. And downright euphoric that Eva had accepted Bash. Over her mom’s shoulder, she mouthed thank you to Shane. He responded with a nod and a wink, his eyes twinkling.

“Anyway, y’all talk,” said Shane, grabbing Eva’s hand and leading her away. “We’re gonna pass Alice to the babysitter and get back to our party. When you’re done here, can you ask Reshma and Clio to get a room, please?”

“It’s upsetting the lead singer,” said Eva, “and his vocals are pitchy enough as it is.”

And they headed back into the rowdy, boisterous crowd, looking like wedding-cake toppers—and happier than ever. Audre turned to face Bash, who’d watched all that go down in respectful silence.

He was chewing on his bottom lip, looking both radiantly handsome… and nervous.

“Tell me what you wanted to say,” said Audre softly as she sat down, her silk gown draping across the bench.

“Right. So, at Shane’s mentorship group, he gave us all an assignment. We had to make a list of goals to accomplish by the end of the year. And I thought, this could be my own Experience Challenge. And, if you’re down, I’d like you to help me with it. You know, be my funsultant.”

Audre blinked, a lump forming in her throat.

“Wanna hear the list?”

She nodded. “Badly.”

“Okay.” He unfolded the paper and cleared his throat.

1. Find a cheap apartment in Brooklyn. Bed-Stuy would be perfect, because that’s where I’ll be working, starting in September. King’s Angel Tattoo Parlor. Hi, I’m Bash Henry, apprentice technician.’



Audre yelped with excitement and happiness, bursting into applause. “Oh my God, oh my God…”

“Please, no interrupting,” said Bash.

“My bad. Go.”

2. Work with the construction team to help Audre Mercy-Moore set up her bedroom. Shane and Eva’s schedules are too crazy to do this, and time’s up on the couch-surfing. Plus, working with your hands is good for depression. I learned that in group.

3. Practice my public speaking skills. Learning how to speak confidently about my craft will come in handy for my new job. Hopefully, I can find someone with elite public speaking skills to teach me. Any suggestions?