“Just try it… Next time he’s on top, you know, just creep your foot up there. If he lets you then he's into it, if he turns away, no harm, no foul,” she shrugged.
“He isnotgon’ let me sneak my toes in his mouth,” I chuckled.
“If that nigga loves you, he’ll be suckin’ your damn toes off the bone,” she laughed. “Trust me. I didn’t think I would like it either, butgirl.”
“Yeah, okay!” I laughed, rolling my eyes. Her and Tahmir weretoofreaked out for me. When my daddy came to the door to playfully scold us for our loud giggling, we decided to call it a night and went to bed.
CHAPTER 21
EKIN
I heldmy breath as I stepped off the elevator. Dread made my limbs feel like they weighed a ton each, but I thugged it out, continuing my walk to the nurses’ station.
“Hi, how can I help you?” The young nurse said, eyes scanning me from head to toe as she bit her lip. I rolled my eyes, not giving her any kinda play. People were dying all around us and there she was, trying to get fucked.
“I’m here to see Chanel King,” I answered, jaw tight at the mere mention of her name.
“Oh,” she frowned as she typed into her computer. “It looks like this patient is on high security lockdown.”
“Yeah, I’m sure I’m on her list of approved visitors, Chase Andrews.”
“Ohhhhh,” she said. “Room 812.”
“Thank you,” I said, giving her a nod before I set off to my destination. When I got to the door, I had to pause to prepare myself mentally. On my way over, I was able to find out that Chanel ended up in a coma after taking some pills that were laced with something, and that caused her blood pressure to drop to nearly fatal levels.
When I hit her open door, I was greeted with the welcomed sight of her alert face, as she sat up in the hospital bed. She lookedlike she had been awake for ten days straight instead of in a coma. Her normally vibrant brown skin looked ashen and dry, like her lips and hair, but she was alive. That was all that mattered to me.
“Chase!” Her face brightened to a smile. “You came!”
Honestly, I could have turned around and left right then, hopped on a flight, and went right back to my baby. All I needed to know was that she was alive. With her mom not giving a fuck, I would have hated for her to have died alone in some hospital bed, with no one who really knew her even caring.
“I just needed to make sure you were okay,” I said in a soft tone as I pulled a chair next to her bed. She held out her hand for me to hold, but I just looked at it, leaned away from it even. A look of hurt flashed over her face before she masked it with a fake smile.
“So, I see you’re still mad,” she said sheepishly.
“That don’t even matter right now… Are you okay?”
“I am now that you’re here,” she said, holding that hand out again. Once again, I just looked at it. My woman was a lil’ crazy and if I even thought about holding Chanel’s hand, I felt like she would probably hop a flight and bust in this bitch like the Kool-Aid man.
“Chanel… Once again, that’s not what this is.”
“So…” She pouted as the waterworks immediately started up again. “Y-You really don’t love me anymore?” I took a deep breath before addressing her again.
“I’m not trying to upset you, but Ionlycame here to make sure you were okay. If you keep up with this shit, then I can leave right now. This is not romantic at all.”
“After all ofthis,you still don’t love me, Chase?” she cried.
“Chanel…pleasedon’t tell me that you did all of this as a means to get me back. Iknowthat’s not what the fuck you’re saying to me.”
“I just love yousomuch, baby! I can’t do this without you. If I hadn’t been so stressed out with the case and the media, I never would have done this!” she wailed. When she reached for me, Idamn near flipped the chair over trying to get away. It was that moment when I realized that I had been doing more harm than good in trying to protect her feelings and image, especially when she was working overtime to fuck up mine.
“Yeah, I’m out. Chanel, for your sake, Ireallyhope you get the help you need. But I need you to know that if you even think of breaking that court order, I plan to pursue any and all legal action to make sure you wish you never fuckin’ met me. Have a nice life.” I didn’t give her a chance to reply before hurrying to my feet and stomping out the door. When I hit the end of her private hallway, I ran straight into Toby, her longtime manager who I was almost positive was in love with her.
“Oh, Chase… You’re here,” he said with so much disappointment that any doubts I had about his feelings for her immediately disappeared.
“I’m on my way out man. Trust me, you ain’t got shit to worry about. Listen, if there’s anybody who can get through to her, it’s gon’ have to be you. I’m done. I thought maybe I could be on some friendly shit with her, but she’s impossible. I truly hope she can get her shit together, but I’m not gonna be around to find out.” He rubbed his hand over his face as his shoulders slumped in relief.
“That might be for the best. She needs help, and I’m really hoping this is her true wakeup call,” he paused, contemplating whether to share more. “Her label reached out. They told her if she doesn’t complete at least one hundred-twenty days in rehab and start regularly seeing a therapist, they’re dropping her.”
