Page 17 of Aug
“Ninety-eight. Ninety-nine. One hundred.”
I fell flat on the ground. My focus was lost. Thoughts of Tiana and those tears running down her pretty cheeks had my heart in an uproar. Her feelings were hurt. And, I’d hurt them.
I found the nearest clock. Sweat dripped down my forehead, blurring my vision. A quick swipe with the towel in front of me cleared it.
2:22a
Fuck it.
I hadn’t slept and doubted I’d be able to sleep until all was right in Tiana’s world. Because until her world was at ease, there would be commotion in mine.
I used my upper-body strength to lift myself from the floor. On my feet, I stood as tall as my 6’4 frame would allow andgravitated toward the bathroom. The shower was begging for my presence.
Inside, I cleansed my body and considered a hundred ways to say I was sorry to Ti. As sucker as this shit felt, I was enlightened and understood my wrongs. It didn’t matter that shit had gotten hectic over the last two days, if I’d just communicated with her then all would be well.
Instead, I left her alone in her bed to wonder. To overthink. To process her feelings. To think all the wrong things. When, truly, I was counting down the seconds until I was near her again. I didn’t want to be away, I had to be.
Say that next time, nigga. A note. A text. A call. A message through Balle. Something.
I chastised as I exited the shower and well into the act of dressing. Deliriously, I wandered into Balle’s garden. Her rose garden was a large section of the garden. She was proud of it and often harvested roses to show her love for those around her.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
“Fuck,” I hissed.
Thorns pierced my fingers as I detached one stem at a time.
“Shit.”
The brush had a method to its madness, and I was hardly complaining. I deserved each prick.
“Son of a bi–” Sighing, I saw the mission through.
When I had what looked like enough in my hand, I headed back inside. A rubber band secured them, and a paper bag from the farmer’s market made them look like more than an eyesore.
My white top was partially ruined. Blood from my fingers stained it. I didn’t bother changing before I hopped into my whipand sped toward the gate. Koen might not have been visible, but I knew he was around.
Watching.
Waiting.
Plotting.
The gate parted, confirming my suspicions. I didn’t waste a second leaving them behind. I had somewhere to be, and I wouldn’t allow sunrise to meet me before I made it there. Tiana didn’t deserve another hour of sorrow. Not when I could make it all better. Make her all better.
The elevator doors slid apart,prompting me to step forward. Numbered steps led me to the door of my destination. I pounded my knuckles against the black paint.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
