Page 45 of Make Me Forget

“A nurse will come to get you in a little bit.”

I stood from my seat, ready to get home and sleep. Cassie had a class in the morning. It was her last week of the semester, and I was grateful. She would have a test on Thursday and another on Friday, then she would be done until fall, if she chose to go back.

We kissed everyone goodbye, and I promised to come check on Jacob in the morning. I also needed to get home to check on the women. Nearly every Henderson man was here except Uncle Jasper. Royal and Crew had said he told them to report back to him on how Jacob was doing. Aunt Chas was sick with COVID, and Ashanni had gotten it too. I could imagine how tired he probably was from taking care of the two of them.

When we walked out, Cassie said, “I would hate to get on the Hendersons bad side. Jess looks like she could kill somebody with her bare hands.”

“I wouldn’t doubt that shit. Her, Aunt Tiff, and those twins rowdy as fuck. I’ve never seen the twins in action, but Jess and Aunt Tiff? Shiiiid, I wouldn’t wanna take them blows. Jess beat that chick’s ass about eight months ago for fucking with Jacob. Apparently, she still didn’t catch the hint that she was playing with danger.”

“Well, she ain’t here to play no more.”

“No, but with all this bullshit she stirred up, it sure in the hell feels like she is.”

I kissed her hand, and before we could get to the car, I saw her biological mother. I did my best to block her view of Cassie, but she smiled and walked right over anyway. “Hello, Cassie.”

I looked at her like she was crazy. She approached her like all was well in their world. The last time they’d seen one another, Cassie knocked the shit out of her. Cassie didn’t respond to her. She kept walking until Shayla said, “So your new family got my cousin in a pine box. That’s the kind of people you want to be associated with?”

She turned to her. “Don’t talk shit you don’t know. Your entire family is some crazy ass, drug-addicted shit starters. Y’all hate to see someone doing better than you. If you can’t figure out how to get a piece of what they have, you do your best to discredit them and ruin their reputations. You aren’t fooling me by far. My family is ten times better than yours, and I’m thankful Daddy didn’t leave me to you to raise. I would have turned out just as messed up as all of y’all.”

I could see Shayla’s lip twitching like she wanted to say or do something. The anger looked like it was seeping from her pores. Cassie was ready for her ass too. She was no longer holding my hand, and she had slightly widened her stance, making sure her feet were planted. Cassie tilted her head as if silently taunting her.

Shayla finally said, “Fuck you, girl. I don’t know why I try to continue to talk to yo’ ass. From this moment, you are dead to me.”

“Good. Make sure you don’t resurrect me. You’ve been dead to me. I have a mother. You should remember since you signed away your parental rights and gave her permission to adopt me. Get the fuck outta here.”

Shayla was as red as a fire truck. She was light complexioned like me, so it wasn’t hard to notice. She turned and walked away as she shot her the middle finger and mumbled, “Bitch.”

I grabbed Cassie’s hand because she looked like she wanted to go get her. Just as we were about to walk away, though, we saw Shayla meeting a man. She kissed his lips then looked back at us. Cassie’s breathing had gotten out of control, and I literally had to wrap my arms around her waist and pick her up to keep her from going to fuck Shayla up.

We watched her grab Mesani’s hand and walk inside the hospital.

CHAPTER 16

CASSIE

Ishould be sitting in a jail cell waiting to be arraigned in the morning. I would have probably done time this time. Every nerve in my body was on go when I saw Shayla kissing the man I once gave my all to. She had never met him, but she definitely knew who he was. She followed me on social media and had probably seen multiple pictures of us together.

I wanted to get at their asses so bad, because I was pretty sure she told Mesani who she was. But if that muthafucka could press charges on me for something he started, dating my mother was no big deal. I was quiet on the drive home, doing my best to contain my anger. It was like God was trying to test me with those two, and I didn’t understand why. Whatever the reason, I wished He would reveal it to me so I could handle it a little better.

If I knew the blessings that could possibly lie ahead, then I could probably smile in Shayla’s face and do that lil Usher thing. Watch this.

When Kendrall pulled into Jack in the Box’s drive-through, I gave him a slight smile. When we were younger, I used to talk about how much I loved their curly fries and those greasy ass tacos. He smiled back and asked, “How many tacos you want?”

“Three. Are you getting any?”

“Hell naw. That shit give me gas. I’ll run yo’ ass right out of the bedroom when I get cranked up. Years ago, when you said how good they were, I tried them, and they tore my stomach up. I was a teenager then, so I know good and got damn well my stomach can’t handle that shit now.”

I hollered with laughter. This man of mine. He always knew what to say or do to get me in a better mood. “Well, in that case, please don’t get any.”

“They were good though. So I may test the waters. Who knows? I may be able to handle it.”

“Kendrall, I swear, if you start farting, I’m going to sleep in another room. You will not be choking me to death with that lethal ass gas coming out of you. That shit is so bad. I still remember what it smells like. I swear your ass needs a laxative.”

He laughed so hard. He thought that shit was funny back in the day, because I would damn near pass out when I caught wind of that shit. That was something I wasn’t looking forward to in our marriage. It was definitely bound to happen. Marriage. This was really happening. In three weeks, we would be Mr. and Mrs. Kendrall Dominique Henderson, Junior.

When he got to the intercom, that fool said, “Let me get three of those greasy-ass shit starters… I mean tacos and a medium order of curly fries.”

The girl on the intercom died laughing. “Man! You ain’t lying. I have to stay away from those tacos. Anything to drink?”

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