Page 41 of Rue

“Eat,” Geo spoke again, nudging Sailor.

She looked down at the food, then put the fork down and cuddled back into him to go back to sleep.

“Nah, nah, Rue, you need ‘a sit up here ‘n eat! Come on,” Geo huffed in frustration, trying to get her to sit up. “You heard what that ole lady said! You need ‘a gain weight! Come on!” he growled, stabbing into the pasta with a fork and holding it to her lips.

Sailor grimaced at the smell but chewed it and swallowed, gripping his wrist. He tried to press another bite to her lips, but she turned away. “Please? Please, Geo, can I go to bed? My head hurts so bad! My body aches… I just want to lay back down, please?”

“You eat more, then you can sleep more. A few more bites,” Geo coaxed.

Sailor sighed but ate the bite he was pressing to her lips. Her eyes closed, and leaning into him heavily, she let him feed her as she hid her eyes.

“Dated me a girl that tiny once,” a man spoke up. “That bitch could fuckin’ eat! She’d put away some fuckin’ ribs, man! Never saw nothin’ like it. Had a fuckin’ mouth on her, though.”

“They always do,” another man snorted. “Smaller the chick, bigger the attitude. Always. My grams was like 4’8”, no joke, Tiny ass woman, and you did NOT fuck with grams. She had my gramps walkin’ small all the time, and my pops didn’t step a toe outta line. That shit was crazy! I loved the shit outta her, and she could fuckin’ cook, but man, I was terrified of that woman as a kid, even after I outgrew her!”

“Shit, my gramma is all smiles and sweetness, I cain’t imagine a stern bone in her body.”

“Bet she ain’t tiny either!”

“Naw,” the man laughed. “Guess she ain’t! She a tall, skinny ole bird.”

Sailor turned away from the next bite, hiding her face again and trying to tune out the men talking.

“Want me to take her up to bed?”

Sailor recognized Davon’s voice.

Geo snorted. “Yeah. Aight.”

“Same room?”

“Yeah. You, fool, what the fucks your name?”

“Justin?”

“Go with ‘m,” Geo demanded as Davon lifted Sailor off the couch, still wrapped in the blankets.

She whimpered, shaking her head, not releasing Geo’s arm as he pulled her away.

“Nah,” Geo spoke up, his hand closing around her wrist as she clung to his arm. “My bed. Across the hall.”

“Sure,” Davon agreed, prying her fingers off Geo’s arm. “I’m putting you to bed, Say. Let go, okay?”

Sailor let go with a sigh, not liking the new smell. The cologne was more cloying and too sweet. Darkness made her relax slightly, and then she was laid out on a soft bed, more blankets being tucked in around her. The smell wasn’t as strong, but it was still clinging.

“Say?” Davon asked softly, his face near hers. “I’m sorry. Okay? I’m sorry. I tried to tell him not to show you…”

“Let’s go back down, man,” Justin interrupted quickly. “Before he gets pissed at you again.”

“He called me right back in ‘cause he knew I was right! It may’ve pissed him off, but he knew I was right, and he wants that! Someone who speaks truth even if he don't like it. Just hold on a second, okay? Wait at the door. Say? Say, you awake? You hearin’ me?”

She didn’t answer, not wanting to acknowledge him ortry to speak. She wanted oblivion.

Chapter 22

Jerking, she gasped as her world seemed to shift.

“Easy,” Geo rumbled, moving close to her in the bed. “It’s just me. Go back to sleep, Rue.”

---