Page 38 of Absolute Fulfillment
“Rennix. Whose gonna take care of you then?”
“Caya got me. She went to nursing school.”
G immediately looked at Caya for a response.
“Um, Rennix. I told you I dropped out of nursing school.” She shook her head, probably regretting that she told me.
“Exactly, so you staying your ass here and sis can gladly stay with you.” Dimitri spoke to me like I was a kid and I wasn’t feeling that shit.
“Just stay. I’ll stay with you and even pull this uncomfortable ass couch closer to you.” She looked hopeful that I’d stay.
“Hell nah. You sleeping in this fucking bed if I stay in here,” I grumbled.
“Renn—fine. And don’t be looking at me like that.” The look I gave her forced her to concede.
My brother laughed, but I could tell he was relieved that I was staying tonight.
“I’m going home tomorrow. Don’t be too fucking relieved.”
He shook his head. “A bridge we’ll cross tomorrow.”
“I need to go call my sister and let her know I’m staying here. Can I get my hand back, Rennix?”
I was reluctant to let her hand go. When I did, I didn’t like the feeling, so I watched her out the door while she stood in the hall.
“You know who shot you?”
“Nope, but the body is in the parking lot of my club. I was on my way to check on things when I heard the shot and felt it.” I looked down at my side before my eyes went back to Caya standing in the hall.
“Why the fuck didn’t you lead with that?” He had his phone to his ear within seconds.
I shrugged, eyes still on Caya. I was so stuck on this woman, so obsessed with everything about her. I talked shit about the type of man I was becoming. Something inside of me broke and that wall I kept reinforced for years was crumbling.
I didn’t know who my brother called, but when he got off the phone, he was staring at me seriously before he spoke. “Ain’t no body in your parking lot.”
“No shit, they probably moved it.”
“No yellow tape or anything, Rennix. Who you got beef with?” he asked. I could feel his eyes while mine remained on Caya.
“Hell if I know. Now you know why I shouldn’t be staying here tonight.” I cut my eyes back to him.
“Then you ain’t,” he muttered, then turned to leave the room. Seconds later, my baby reentered.
“Y’all are intense.”
“That ain’t me. That be him and Rem. Ol’ angry asses. I’m cool.”
“For somebody who just got shot, you are.” Sadness settled into her features, making me feel like shit. I didn’t know why but I had never feared death. I welcomed it with the mindset of if it was my time, then it was my time. Tonight though, something happened. Tonight I realized that in death I wouldn’t have her, and that rocked me to my core.
“Yo, stop worrying about it. I’m good. Now what did Cylah say about keeping Adonis?”
“That she already intended to keep him and I didn’t have to rush back.”
I nodded and looked up just in time to see G walking back into the hospital room, seemingly deep in thought.
“Aight, they’re gonna release you, but you can’t do shit strenuous and you gotta take all of those fucking meds. Don’t filter anything out because you need all of it.”
“Come over here with me.”I looked up from the couch at Caya standing in front of the window, looking out at the sun setting.
