Page 90 of Red Hot Harmony

“Being married to him doesn’t mean shit. You never fucking knew him. Because if you did, he wouldn’t be in this mess right now.”

“Oh, look who's talking.”

She rolled her eyes.

She actually rolled her fucking eyes.

“He needs to hear it, darlin’. From you. Make it right, Shanice.”

Part of me thought she'd continue to push back, but this time, she was quiet. Her nostrils flared and the thin vein on the side of her neck throbbed, but she didn’t utter a single word.

We stared at each other for a moment, our eyes engaging in a silent battle.

Eventually, Shanice surrendered, and I could see the resolve in her gaze. “Wait here.” Jaw working, she motioned at the row of chairs by the window and I obediently followed her command and sat down.

Time stretched and flickered and screamed and I was completely lost in it while she was in Malik’s room.

I checked my pockets and fished out another lollipop. The sweetness bursting in my mouth wasn’t as good as a nicotine fix, but it distracted me for a few seconds.

The wait felt like it lasted a goddamned eternity, but in reality, only several minutes passed before Shanice appeared in front of me with her purse slung across her shoulder.

“He’s all yours. And you better fucking take care of him, Dante,” she said and walked off.

Still not quite believing what had just transpired, I rose to my feet and watched her turn the corner.

And then the realization hit me. It slammed me with such force that I nearly tripped over nothing on the way to the room.

Malik stood with his back to the door, his muscles balled into tight knots underneath his T-shirt, hands grasping the edge of the hospital bed, knuckles white. The sheets stretched and crumpled between his fingers.

“Hey, man,” I said.

He didn’t react.

“You okay?”

I knew it was a stupid question, but I couldn’t force my brain cells to work. I had nothing better to offer, because all of a sudden, my head was empty and my body froze.

Behavioral changes as well as impaired ability to reason, organize, and analyze items are absolutely normal after a stroke, Dante.

Oh, fuck, no!

Did I misjudge the situation?

Did I make it worse?

Doubt crept up my spine and slipped into my chest cavity, worrying the tissue inside like a worm would worry the earth.

Seconds ticked by.

I stepped forward. Rested my hand on his shoulder. Gave it a squeeze.

His breathing changed. Got louder. There was a heavy drag of air between his teeth and then...silence.

Dead, terrifying silence.

And I could almost feel the wheels in his mind turning.

“I’m good,” Malik blurted out at some point and shifted to look at me.

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