Page 58 of Love me Like XO

“So hop up on that dick and do a full split.” She finished the Weezy lyric for me.

“Don’t threaten me with a good time. Neither one of us will get shit done today.” Then he looked out at Em’s shop. “Where is Em’s ass anyway?” we pulled up to the shop a few minutes ago.

“She should be on her way, bitch is probably still sleep. I have my key though.”

I threw my head forward.

“Anyway, have you put any thought into a shop instead of the suite?”

I sighed, “Not you too, shorty.”

“Yes, me too. You brought it up, and I think it’s a good idea.” She had this giddy expression on her face.

“I’m not saying it ain’t, but it’s too much responsibility. Too much a?—”

“Access. You said that the other night in bed. But you also said you’d think about it.”

“Same way you said you’d think about letting me tattoo my name on you. Did you think about it or say that just for me to shut the fuck up?”

“At first I did, but then I thought it would be cute to get your name tattooed right here.” She extended her bottom lip on some funny shit.

“You really think you’re funny.”

“Well, you smiled. Just think about it.” Now she used that same bottom lip to pout.

“Fine. But you’ll fuck around and be my receptionist. Hope you can ride dick and have two jobs.”

“You’re fucking sick.”

I shrugged. “I’m serious as fuck.”

“I know you are and that’s what worries me.”

EMPRESS

I woke up this morning tired. Not only did my head hurt, but I had this overwhelming need to pee. How was I supposed to get some pain relief in my head of I couldn’t sleep? I was supposed to be meeting my sister at the shop, but every time I tried to escape Zero’s bed my head thumped worse, and I told myself fifteen more minutes. When I finally did get up it was eleven and I knew I had to run out because I had a client at twelve-forty-five. What made it even worse was the fact that Zero’s place wasn’t nearly in the vicinity of the shop, nor did I have my car. He told me to take his car, but I had never been comfortabledriving anybody’s stuff, because I could barely drive my own. He insisted and when I should’ve gotten up for him to just take me, I was too tired. So, I slept through his moving around to get ready, and even when he told me where the car keys were. I had to call him when I finally woke up.

When I left the house, my only thought was getting to work, what I didn’t see was the black Navigator following me until he was next to me and veering into my lane.

I honked the horn a few times, attempting to get the attention of the driver whose windows were tinted. They didn’t stop though, they kept going, kept pushing and nearly hit me. So, I sped up trying to just get away from them.

Reaching for my phone to call Zero, I almost had it, but I was hit from behind. The car had picked up its own speed and was ramming the back of the car with enough force to knock me off the road. My phone flew across the car, and before I knew it, I lost control of the car and began spinning out-of-control into oncoming traffic. I tried to escape, but I was pinned in by my leg before the first car hit and I was dizzy. Immediately the sounds around me became overwhelming and everything began to blur and darken.

Chapter 10

Heaven

ZERO

In disbelief I stared at the machines all hooked to her body, all keeping her here on this plane and all I could do was stand here helpless while she and my babies both hung in the balance. The doctor said if she hadn’t already lost the babies, that they might soon pass due to the severities of her accident. Why the fuck was I calling it an accident? It was anything but, somebody had intentionally drove her off the road, trying to kill her. Trying to take her from me and the other people in this world that loved her.

“What did they say?” Malik’s voice alerted me to his presence in the room.

“That she might lose them. That it’s touch and go.” It felt like it was breaking me in two to say those words and still look at her in this state.

“She ain’t going nowhere, shit sis’ is a fighter.” Malik’s hand was on my shoulder for reassurance. “All three of them.”

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. I was too fixated on her and the scene in front of me. She was here like this, and I blamed myself because I didn’t know what the fuck had happened. She was finewhen I left this morning, and even better when I talked to her. Now I was here, and she was there, fighting for hers and my kids’ lives.

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