Page 17 of Nobody Praying for Me

She spun toward me and tossed her shirt at me. I ducked it with a chuckle. “Well, I didn’t have the patience for that. It was eating at me, so I took matters into my own hands.” She crossed the distance between us, titties bouncing and chest heaving. I smirked when her little finger dug into my chest. She was so angry it looked like her heart tattoo was on fire.

“I’m the one who holds Oasis’s hand when she’s going through her treatments. I am the one she trusts and confides in. I know her fears.” Her voice cracked, and the tears began to race down her puffy cheeks. “To hear someone would say that to her really hurt me, so I could only imagine how she felt. Instead of speaking life into her, they were cursing her to a premature death. Knowing the things I do, I couldn’t sit back and do nothing. I had to make them feel me because I am riding with that girl until the world blows.”

All I could do was stare at her because her words pierced my heart and injected me with her fiery passion. “Shh. Come here,” I whispered, snatching her into my chest by the back of her neck. “I didn’t see it from your perspective, but I get it now, and I appreciate you. I am used to being the only one my brother and sister have in their corner.” I pressed my lips into her forehead, feeling all my anger bubble into respect. “Thank you for loving my sister as much as I do. She needs all the love she can get.”

She gripped my shirt into a tight ball. Slowly, her head lifted, and she rested her chin on my chest. “After what happened with Bry, I didn’t think I would ever be able to trust someone again, but you . . . you gave me freedom and a family. I’ve always been on my own. I thought I had someone like you in my corner, but he was a fraud. I expected to live the rest of my life only worried about myself. Then you gave me a little sister to care for and protect.”

“And what about me?” I asked, brushing my nose against hers.

“You? I’d shoot planets out of the sky for you,” she whispered hoarsely.

The fire in her eyes was still ablaze, but I knew it was for a different reason now. It was the same fire I could feel racing beneath my skin, looking for a place to call home. She strummed her fingers over my facial hair.

“You are the first man to ever have my heart, Kalm. Without you, I wouldn’t know what heaven feels like. I pray for you, and I prayed for you.”

I swallowed whatever else she was about to say when my lips crashed into hers. Hiking her around my waist, I carried her over to the bed without ever taking my lips off hers. Gently lying her down, I made space for myself between her legs. “I fucking love your crazy ass. You my lil’ pretty gangsta, and I will never switch up on you.”

“Look what came in the mail today,” Pretty said, coming back from the door with a package in her hand.

I’d gotten home from training not too long ago, and Charisma had me soaking my feet. At first, I was against it, but I couldn’t lie and say it wasn’t relaxing. Coupled with the heating pad behind me, I was in a cocoon of warmth and damn near on my way to sleep.

Training had been intense over the last few days, but I was just happy my next match had been scheduled. I’d finally found a lawyer willing to take on Kaos’s case too. The payout for winning the match would secure his freedom, by the grace of God.

Through sleepy eyes, I looked up to see Charisma showing Oasis the wig she’d bought for her. She was telling her all the facts about it, but I didn’t really understand any of it. She set up a chair in the living room, and Sissy plopped down in it, ready to let Pretty play in her head.

The entire time Charisma applied the wig to her head, she spoke life into Sissy. I never knew this woman would become so special to not only me but my sister. Kaos had yet to meet her, but I knew he would love her too. She was so genuine and had a big fucking heart—the kind of girl who you’d think was made hard by the battles she’d fought alone, when really there was still softness beneath the surface of her coldness.

“When you finish with chemotherapy, we’re going to find the best products to make sure your hair grows back healthy and full,” Charisma assured her while plucking the lace on her wig.

“I didn’t think I would be so excited to go bald, but literally, all the styles you’ve shown me are so cute.”

Charisma smiled widely. “Even if you never grew back another strand of hair, you would still put all these little hos to shame. Face card alone, you are a ten, and you better never forget it. I bet you that was why Tiffany was mad. She knows you can have anyone you want.”

Sissy snickered, lifting her hand to cover her mouth. “Honestly, the boy she was talking about has been trying to be my boyfriend for months,” my sister admitted.

Charisma gasped dramatically, fully invested in the teenage gossip. “Ouu, you’re nicer than me, Sissy. I would’ve been like your crush wants me, so cancer ain’t stopping nothing. Me and him could fall in love tomorrow. I promise you that would’ve shut her little ass up for the rest of the school year.”

While my sister couldn’t stop laughing, I glared at my girl, who was dead-ass serious. “Charisma,” I warned with a stern voice. “You better not say no shit like that, Sissy, before you be fighting next. Don’t listen to her. She’s pretty, but she’s crazy too.”

She glanced at me over her shoulder with wide eyes. “Aw shit. I forgot you were even in here.” Her laugh was light and airy. “Why you back there being so quiet for?” she fussed, trying to change the topic.

Pointing at her, I said, “Watch your mouth before I pop you in it.”

“I wish you would,” she retorted quickly.

Removing my feet from the foot basin, I dried them on the towel then stood up. Creeping up behind her, I reached around and popped her ass right in the mouth. Then I shot off like a rocket toward my bedroom. She was cursing me out as she chased me down the hall. I quickly locked myself in the bathroom before I doubled over in laughter.

“Scary ass!” Charisma vented from the other side of the door.

“Gon’ now. I was just playing, Pretty. I don’t want no smoke with your crazy ass.”

“That’s what I thought!” she yelled before I heard her footsteps fade the further she got away.

Turning toward the mirror, I took note of the big-ass smile on my face. Only Charisma could bring this playfulness out of me. I was even surprised she let me off the hook so easily because she was a little crazy. Walking toward the toilet, I relieved myself then washed my hands. Opening the door, I got ready to go lay down in bed, but before my foot could cross the threshold, something wet smacked me in the face.

It took a second to realize Charisma was spraying me with crazy string spray. “I always get my lick back!” she hollered out before popping me in the mouth.

Before she could take off running, I snatched her ass up and slammed her on the bed. Snatching the spray from her hand, I turned it on her. “Kalm, stop! Don’t get it in my hair,” she pleaded to deaf ears.