Page 14 of He Thugged Me First

“We were kids, but yes, he did.” I nodded.

“Then try to channel those moments when you speak with him from now on.”

It’s safe to say my session with Kenya left me with more questions than I went in with. I was right though. I didn’t know who I was. The only thing that made me smile most days was my accomplishments and where I thought I was going with my life. Sadly, I was tired and I knew it. It wasn’t a physical tired or any of that; this was a tired soul. My soul was exhausted, and I didn’t have the slightest clue on how to replenish it. Once I left Kenya’s studio office, I made my way to the hospital. She was right down the street from it, so I was elated to walk while I pulled my phones from my purse, powering them both back on. I made it a habit of turning my devices off anytime I needed a moment. I mean, what was the worst that could happen? The hospital would be fine because I had a second in command, and my personal life wasn’t missing shit. The only people that called me were my grandmother, Nadeen, Autumn, and sometimes Chase. However, he and I weren’t talking as of right now. I didn’t remember why, but I couldn’t care less because it meant lessforced conversations and more silence. It also meant he wasn’t home often because he was avoiding me.

“Lemme get this straight. You can’t answer ya phone and discharge ya patient, but you can walk the streets like yeen got a care in the world?”

His voice and closeness made me turn around. Mazzier was standing behind me smelling delightful and looking even better. One wouldn’t even know he was shot and almost lost his life a week prior.

“You shouldn’t have been discharged, but I see some things never change.” I was referring to his bull headedness.

He laughed. “You know me now? I’m not Mr. Carson?”

I giggled. “What is it that you want, Mazzier?”

“For you to get in the car.” He gestured toward the expensive Lamborghini truck double parked in the street.

“And why would I do that?” I pursed my lips and tilted my head to the side. It took everything in me not to lick my lips in admiration of him. Mazz had always been easy on the eyes, and that much hadn’t changed. He was freaking beautiful in the most masculine way possible. He stood about six feet three with the build of a well-played athlete. His cocoa skin was blemish free, as it had always been, because he took care of it. I even tried to ignore the handsome hint of irritation in his auburn irises. I remembered when we were younger, any time he would get mad, they’d look like a fire was blazing in them. Then on top of that, he still had the smoothest two-tone full lips. The top was slightly darker than the bottom, but still smooth.

“Because I asked nicely, and I know for sure you ’ont wanna stitch me back up if I have to pick ya thick ass up and put you in the fucking car. So you tell me why you’d do that.”

I laughed. “We aren’t kids anymore. I’m not?—”

“What you wanna do, G?”

I glanced around before nodding and walking over to his car. I damn sure wasn’t expecting him to open the door for me, but he did. He even waited until I got in to close the door.

Once he walked around and got in, I crossed my hands and looked ahead, no matter how good he looked or smelled. “What do you need, Mazz?” I asked.

“Don’t ask me that. I might tell you something yeen ready for.”

The sexual undertone in his sentence caused me to tighten my legs. “What was so urgent that I needed to get into the car with you?” I had to catch myself because this was definitely the same nigga that had my head in the clouds while he embarrassed the fuck out of me when I was younger.

“Why weren’t you at the hospital?” he asked as if he cared.

“Today is my off day. I was just going in to do some paperwork and run a seminar.” I shrugged.

He nodded.

“I’m proud of you.” He licked his lips and glanced over at me as he man handled the steering wheel with one hand.

I nodded. “Thank you. Now why?—”

“Don’t ruin it, G. I just wanna catch up with you. Can I do that?”

Shaking my head, I still looked ahead. “I mean, do I even have a choice?”

“You do, but I don’t give a fuck about it at this moment.”

I cut my eyes at him, and he was smirking before his face grew serious out of nowhere. “You still love Thai?”

I smirked. This nigga was definitely kissing up. “Yeah. Why?”

He nodded and turned the music up and focused on driving. He drove for about twenty more minutes and we pulled into Canez.

I glanced over at him as he parked. “What are we doing here?”

“Stop asking so many questions and get out of the car, G.” He got out and slammed the door behind himself.

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