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Tai then tore Ashe’s pants from crotch to ankle and exposed the gunshot wound to the world.
I felt lightheaded.
“Ford, for fuck’s sake. Sit down,” Ashe ordered.
“I’m fine,” I lied.
She scoffed. “You’re not fine. You’re about to pass out.”
I agreed. I was about to pass out.
I sat down and leaned my back against the wall, staring at her with horror in my eyes.
“I can’t believe that you were shot,” I found myself saying.
“Where the hell did she even get a gun from?” she asked.
“That would be mine,” the father said, sounding sickened. “I forgot to take it out of my briefcase when I came in today.”
Son of a bitch.
“Wonderful,” Luke said. “Just fucking wonderful.” He looked at me. “What the hell am I going to tell her mother?”
“Hey, Ford?” Ashe said, sounding tired. “Can I have your jacket? I’m freezing my ass off down here.”
I didn’t even hesitate to give her the jacket. Even though I had a suspicion that she’d be keeping that one, too, if I wasn’t careful.
***
I was rubbing my face, trying to get my shit together, when I heard the frantic calls of my parents and Ashe’s as they spoke urgently to someone at the nurses’ station.
I walked around the corner upon hearing their voices and called out to them.
“She’s over here.”
Tru made it to me so fast that I blinked.
And when her eyes were spilling over with tears, I couldn’t help myself.
“She’s okay,” I promised, pulling her into my arms.
Tru’s arms went around me so hard that I was a bit stunned at the strength behind her.
Torren came up next, offering me his hand.
“Tell us what happened,” he ordered.
I did, telling them exactly what happened from the moment that we left their place.
“And this girl who shot her,” Torren growled. “Is she in this hospital, too?”
“Under arrest now,” I said. “Though, they’re going to evaluate her mental state now after everything that just happened.”
Torren sighed.
“That’s just fucking perfect.” Torren ran his hands down over his face. “That phone call took about two years off of my life.”
“You should’ve tried seeing her get shot,” I said, rubbing my chest where it continued to ache. “I think I might’ve suffered a mini heart attack. It literally still hurts.”
My mother curled her arms around my waist and squeezed me tight, making me feel marginally better.
“Where is she?” Torren asked.
I gestured to a room that was beyond where we were standing.
“I was asked to step out so they could do a portable X-ray,” I told them when they all started forward at once.
Just as I said that, the woman that’d asked me to step out came backing out of the room pulling her machine, leaving the door open behind her.
That’s when my parents descended.
“Trance!” Ashe said happily from inside the room. “Did you bring my puppy?”
There was a moment of stunned silence and then my father said, “I, ahh, might’ve forgotten that I promised I’d bring it the next time I came down. I have to admit, my mind was on other things when I left.”
Ashe sighed, long and loud.
“I got shot through the fat,” she told them all just as I came into the room. “I’ll have to take about a week off of work while it heals, but luckily it didn’t hit anything vital. It was through and through. It’ll heal quite nicely, the plastic surgeon said.”
There was a moment of silence and then Torren said, “If the chick that shot you wasn’t in police custody right now…”
“I’m fine, Dad,” Ashe promised. “But I can admit that it hurts to get shot. I don’t ever want to do it again.”
My lips twitched.
“Also, Ford said that we were getting married. He gave me a ring.”
My mouth fell open. “I didn’t say any such thing.”
She held up the ring that had been in the jacket pocket and I groaned.
“I…” I started to say but couldn’t figure out the words that wanted to come out.
“In case anyone wants to know, I’ve said yes.” She fluttered her fingers out in front of her. “I love the ring, Viddy. Are you sure you want to part with it?”
My mother snorted. “Yes, dear. I’m sure.”
“Cool.” She stared at the ring. “I love it.”
“I’m glad,” Viddy snickered.
“Did y’all hear that I’m having a baby?” Ashe suddenly asked.
“What’s wrong with her? Did she hit her head?” Torren asked.
“No,” I said. “They shot her up with pain medication. And some dumbass touched her with latex gloves, so she had to have some Benadryl. And I think the combination of the two meds she’s had have affected her.”
“They’ve affected me all right.” She squinted at me. “Did you know that I’m having a Chevy of my own?”
My lips quirked. “Yes.”
“I really am naming him Chevy. The only thing is, I’ll have to stop calling you that if I do,” she paused. “I still have Kia, though.”
