Chapter 10
Chapter 10: The Weight of Words
The morning after Dre's visit, Javier struggles with the tension of waiting. Dre begins spreading rumors in town, causing Nia's nail clients to cancel and Isaiah to face questions at school. Javier wants to confront Dre violently, but Nia insists he handle it differently. With Rafael's help, Javier finds Dre at a diner and calmly tells him his threats won't work. Dre warns that more people from California are coming. That evening, a car with California plates appears near Nia's house, raising new stakes.
The sun came up like it didn't know what had happened. Javier sat on the edge of Nia's porch, a cup of coffee gone cold in his hands, watching the chickens peck at the dirt. His back ached from a night spent on the couch—Nia had offered her bed, but he couldn't sleep. Every sound outside had been a car pulling up, a threat arriving.
Nothing came. Just the dark and the quiet and his own thoughts.
The screen door squeaked. Nia stepped out, still in her robe, her hair wrapped in a scarf. She sat down beside him without a word, her shoulder brushing his.
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