Page 45 of Tension

“Oh, so you’ve got a new boo already?” she added, slipping into a fake blaccent her pale ass could never pull off.

“You move on fast. Didn’t you just leave that no-good man you've been with for years?”

There it was.

That little switch she always flipped, like she was joking, but pushing too far.

She was always listening, even when you didn’t realize it.

“Why are you always in my business?” I snapped, turning to face her.

“I never shared anything with you, yet here you are in my face. I knew y’all gossiped around here, but keep my name out of it.”

Her eyes widened a little, but she recovered fast.

“Girl, I was just trying to be nice. You deserved someone who could really love you,” she said, stepping closer like she was trying to comfort me, like we were friends.

We weren’t friends.

“Like, I hate seeing women waste their time.”

She was close enough now for me to smell her overpowering perfume. She was always trying too hard, like she wanted to be noticed.

“Thanks for the advice, but next time keep it to yourself,” I said, walking off before I said something that got me written up.

Malisa had been cool when I first started working here. I was new and didn't know the vibe yet. She helped me find supplies, gave me the gossip, and even invited me out once.

But over time, she started crossing lines, asking personal questions, and telling people we were closer than we really were.

I’d catch her watching me sometimes, like she was waiting for me to acknowledge her.

That was why I kept my circle small and my distance bigger.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

Vel.

“Hello?”

“Hey. I would take credit, but naw, I ain’t send you no ugly-ass flowers.”

I paused, my heartbeat slowing.

If it wasn’t Vel…

“You think it was Brian’s bitch ass trying to get back in?” he asked.

He was thinking the same thing I was.

“That’s the only other person I could think of. I’ll just give them to one of the patients.”

Vel was quiet for a second.

“I’m in town. I’ll be outside when you get off. Make sure that nigga don’t try to pop up.”

“You don’t have to⁠—”

“Already done, Honey. Don’t argue with me. Have a good rest of your shift.”