ADDICTED TO HIM II (16 page)

Shaking my thoughts of the past away before I got pissed off all over again, I realized that it’s been two hours. “Hey Candy, where did Rashard go?” Rashard’s aunt Jennifer asked as he was coming out.

“He had to make a run somewhere, he said he would be back,” I half lied as she shook her head. “Can you tell me something about Tamia? She’s one of the patients that got shot but they got it all wrong,” I said as low as I could, so the other staff members couldn’t hear us talking.

“She’s fine and I’ve gotten everything taken care of. She’s no longer under arrest and they will be prosecuting the officer that shot her then assaulted her,” she said and shocked the fuck out of me.

“She was assaulted too? Dang,” I said and sat down, feeling sorry for Tamia.

It’s bad enough someone is after her trying to kill her! Hell, you shouldn’t have to worry about the people that get paid to protect us, killing us! Whichever officer shot her better hope I don’t get to him before he’s prosecuted or it’s gone be some hood justice going on. “You ok?” Jennifer asked me.

“Yes ma’am, I just want to see her,” I said with my head low.

Tamia and I bonded from the moment we met. I was so use to bitches seeing me and hating me instantly, but the feeling was so different with her. Not on no gay shit but we connected in a sisterly way instantly. We talked and would be laughing and then snapping, then back laughing. It’s a real friendship and those are hard to come by. “C’mon,” Jennifer said and grabbed my hand.

I followed her through the doors and down the hall. Before the doors closed all the way, a lady came running through behind us. “Excuse me! Nurse!” she yelled which caused Jennifer to stop and turning around. “I’m Lisa Cunningham! Someone called me about my daughter Amiria and her daddy Amere. Can I see them?” she asked and I could tell she had been crying.

“Her room is right there, go on in,” Jennifer said to me before leading the girl down the hallway.

When I opened the door to Tamia’s room, everything hit me at once. I fell down to my knees in shame, crying and asking God to forgive me. Tamia was already looking buck eyed when I walked in, so I know she’s confused right now and I promise I’m going to tell her everything.

Tamia

I’m so thankful to have people like Nurse Jennifer in my life! If it wasn’t for her talking to the police about me and taking them to the old lady, who I now know name is Ruby, I’d be locked the fuck up after leaving here! I have less than a month left before I graduate, so I can’t afford a bullshit ass case to ruin anything for me. I’ve definitely come too far to go out like that. As far as Officer James, the paramedic Jeff, and Michelle goes, they gone all feel me long before they see me. I don’t even care that they won’t know I’m the reason they will all die, as long as they die! I’m so tired of people coming for me and lately it seems like everyone is against me. Before I put my back against the wall, I’d knock the mufuckers out that are in my way. It’s going to be on and popping when I heal from these fuck ass gunshots.

Ms. Jennifer assured me that I wouldn’t have to come to work for two weeks but she would still do reports on me, so I can graduate on time. Since she left out my room, I’ve been wondering if anyone came to see me. When Armani and I moved to Detroit, I knew it was just her and I. I just found out she’s ok, I don’t have my phone and I’m sure she doesn’t have one either, so I have no way of contacting her so I know she’s not out there waiting. I could go to the apartment and hope she shows up but the way Steve showed up at the club and then Candy’s house, I don’t feel safe any damn where and I’m for damn sure not going to go back to our apartment making it easier for him.

“Excuse me! Nurse!” I heard a familiar voice yell outside of my room door. It was the voice of the bitch that had a baby by my first love while he and I were together. “I’m Lisa Cunningham! Someone called me about my daughter Amiria and her daddy Amere. Can I see them?” I heard Lisa ask and I felt my heart drop down in my stomach. I’ve been listening to the buzz about three gunshot victims being here at once. I know I’m one and Amere and his daughter must be the others. I can’t begin to imagine the feeling Lisa must be feeling at this moment.

A few seconds later, Candy came bursting in my room looking like she saw her puppy get ran over. Before I could respond to her, she dropped down onto the floor and cried uncontrollable. It hurt like hell to move anything but Candy needed me. I didn’t know if she’s crying because I look disfigured or what. I climbed out of bed slowly before walking towards my IV to bring the whole pole with me. I was in so much pain as I kneeled down on the floor in front of Candy. I didn’t say anything to her because I’m not good with stuff like this. I just hugged her as she cried harder, kind of how she did for me.

She cried for so long that when she stood up to help me up, both of my legs were asleep. “Damn bitch, don’t cry that damn long no more. I can’t feel my legs,” I said, which caused her to laugh as she continued to wipe the tears from her face. She helped me climb back into bed and get situated before she pulled a chair close to my bed. I wanted to ask her so bad what all of that was about but I figured she would tell me when she was ready.

We sat around in silence for about ten minutes. “I fucked up Tamia,” Candy said without looking at me, so I knew it was serious.

“How?” I asked her.

“When I left in your car to go to work, I overheard. Never mind. Forget it,” she said and I looked at her. I thought we were better than that but I guess not. I’m not going to lie, I thought Candy was my friend but if she doesn’t trust me then we aren’t friends. I didn’t say anything to her for about thirty minutes and she didn’t say anything at all.

“Rashard know I’m here?” I asked, half scared of the answer.

“Yeah, he had to make a run,” Candy said like it was nothing. If him being with Chardae the night the man tried to grab me wasn’t enough for me to leave him alone, then surely the fact that I’m laid up in a hospital and he is nowhere to be found is enough for damn sure.

“Don’t be like that,” Candy said, taking up for Rashard as always.

“Do you know that bitch Michelle came in here squeezing my damn shoulders on top of the bullet hole because of a nigga that don’t give a fuck about neither one of us?!” I snapped at Candy. I understood she and Rashard were close but damn, don’t try to make a bitch stupid just so he can have his cake, pie, tea, and cookies! When I looked at Candy, her face was red so I knew she was pissed off.

“How that bitch know you were here?” she asked like I knew.

“I don’t fucking know! All I know is the bitch was dressed like a nurse and when I see her again, she gone feel me!” I said before facing forward. My shoulders were starting to hurt again but I didn’t want to take any pain medicine.

They kept me overnight for observation and Candy stayed all night. It was a long quiet night with both of us probably lost in our own thoughts. You know Rashard’s ass didn’t come back at all!
Niggas ain’t shit
, I thought to myself.

“Good morning, are you ready to get out of here?” a nurse asked without introducing herself.

“Yes,” I said, knowing I couldn’t act a fool because I had to come back here and work when I’m better.

“Here’s your discharge papers and prescriptions. Take it easy. Do not lift anything over ten pounds. If you have any problems, come back and see us,” she said. I didn’t say anything about her not introducing herself because I’m ready to go somewhere. I know I can’t go home but I don’t know if Candy will mind me crashing with her or not.

“I guess you’re moving in huh?” Candy asked and shocked me.

“I guess so,” I said and smiled. We headed to my old apartment, so I could pack a few things up. It took us hours to pack everything I needed, mainly because we are both neat freaks and everything had to be perfect so I could unpack easier.

“So, are you going to give Rashard a real shot?” Candy asked as we sat in the living room taking a break. We were sitting around chilling as we waited for Deuce and Brandon to come with the truck to load my things.

“Is Rashard going to give himself a real shot?” I asked her because honestly we aren’t together because of his actions. In all honesty, if he would have asked me to be his girlfriend before the Chardae thing, I would have said yes but now I can’t. The thing was, I had no idea what they had going on and I didn’t want to play the fool. We had been kicking it real heavy and the only thing that was missing was the title, now I don’t really even want to kick it how I was.

“What that mean?” she asked.

“It means Rashard ain’t shit! He’s not ready to be in a relationship and if I can tell, I know you can tell too,” I said as I looked at her. She looked away, which let me know that she knows he’s not ready for all of that either. We sat around updating each other on our upbringing for about an hour before there was a knock at the door.

Remembering to pay attention to my surroundings, instead of just opening a door like last time, I stood to my feet and headed towards the door. “Girl, that’s Deuce, what you doing?” Candy said and laughed at me.

Shit, I’d rather be safe than sorry
, I thought to myself. “Come in, it’s open!” Candy yelled. As soon as the door opened, a scream got caught in my throat as a man I never seen before rushed in and knocked me to the ground. I tried to push him off of me but the sharp pains that were going through both shoulders prevented that from happening. Thinking fast, I kneed him in his nuts but that didn’t stop him. I think it angered him more.
Whap!
He hit me so hard, my head hit the floor and bounced back up.
Whap!
He hit me again and I started to get dizzy. I had no energy to fight and no energy to scream. I was tired.

“Oh shit!” I heard Candy say before the guy was no longer on top of me. I tried to sit up but I couldn’t. The pain was far too intense. I watched in horror as the guy picked Candy up and slammed her on her back on the floor. I could tell he knocked the wind out of her but she was still trying to fight. Somehow I managed to roll over on my stomach.

“Fuck!” I said to myself as I got on my knees. Another pain shot straight down my back and froze me in place. I slowly made my way to the kitchen so I could get a knife to help Candy.

As soon as I made it to the kitchen, I felt a hand cover my mouth before scooping me up. Adrenaline finally kicked in as I began to kick and scream. My screams were muffled by his hand pressed firmly over my mouth. I bit down as hard as I could before I reached up to grab his face. He dropped me and another pain went through my shoulder. “Candy!” I yelled once I saw her lying down. “Please God, let her be ok.” I said out loud, completely distracted from the guy. I tried crawling to her but was yanked back aggressively. I flipped my body over and started kicking. He slammed his foot into my stomach before punching me in my face. He scooped my body up and tossed me over his shoulder. I saw Candy stirring but I couldn’t let him know she was waking up. Call me stupid but I didn’t want her getting hurt anymore for my mess. We made eye contact as he walked out the door with me over his shoulder. I could see the tears falling as I placed my finger over her mouth signaling her to remain quiet.

Rashard

Man, I been on a rampage all night searching and asking questions about this Steve guy that’s trying to kill Tamia. Even Geek came up short and that’s a first for him. Granted, I didn’t have much to give him to go on but damn! I needed this nigga dead like yesterday before I ruined my own damn life trying to save hers. I hadn’t been to practice or class. I got my sister Myra to go to the school and get my lesson, then I paid her to do it so I wouldn’t be behind. With less than a month left for graduation, I couldn’t afford anything to get in my way.

Chardae had been blowing me up all night saying she needed me, which is why I never went back to the hospital to check on Tamia. I knew that as long as she was in the hospital, she would be safe so I wasn’t worried about her right now. Right now, I needed to make sure my unborn was ok and if that meant tending to Chardae, then that’s what I had to do. Crazy thing is, I kind of like the idea of this family shit, plus that’s unlimited pussy for the next eight months!

When I pulled up to
Dead Man Zone,
Tiffany was the first person I saw. She was standing in the road waving her hands like a fucking maniac. “What?” I asked as I pulled over in front of her house.

“I been missing you,” she said seductively and leaned into the car. “I got some information you need to know but I’ll only tell you after I suck my monster,” she said as she reached in and grabbed my dick. I knew I couldn’t go inside her house or park outside of her house, being that Chardae lived so close so I unlocked my doors so she could get in.

I hit a U-turn and headed out of
Dead Man Zone
until I came up on an abandoned building. I pulled over and watched as Tiffany got out of the car and walked around the front, making her ass bounce the entire way. If her pussy wasn’t dry, I’d be tempted to bend her over the car right now but all she’s good for is head. She climbed in the passenger seat without saying word. I reclined my seat and gave her better access as she pulled my dick out. Tiffany wasted no time as she took all of me in her mouth. This bitch be making me feel like a bitch when she’s sucking my dick. I could feel my toes curling every time she took me all the way in. I tried hard as fuck not to moan but I lost. Hearing me moan must have sent her in overdrive because the bitch started deep throating me faster and faster! I could feel my leg shake, well more like a twitch, right before I released my load in her mouth.

She sat up, swallowed, and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “What’s been up?” she asked, smiling with nut on the corner of her mouth.

“Man, wipe yo damn mouth!” I snapped, completely disgusted with her. I waited until she wiped all the nut from her mouth before wiping my frown off my face. “What you need to tell me?” I asked as I checked my surroundings.

“It’s about Michelle,” she said and I almost rolled my eyes like a bitch.

“Man, fuck Michelle!” I snapped and cranked my car up.

“No wait! You don’t understand! Michelle is crazy. She hears voices,” Tiffany said, sounding crazy. I was with Michelle for years and she was damn near perfect. Tiffany’s ass just wanted to sit in my damn car longer.

I turned the music up to drown Tiffany’s lies out as I drove her back to her house. “Get out,” I said without looking at her.

“But-” she started but I cut her off telling her to get out again. “Ask her what happened to her daddy,” Tiffany said before getting out the car. I sped off and into Chardae’s driveway, completely ignoring Tiffany because I already know what happened to her daddy. Like I said, I was with her for years! Her mom and dad argued a lot and that’s really all Michelle remembered, other than the night she caught him moving out and he said she couldn’t come with him. She never saw him again after that.

*****

Being with Chardae felt right, as in it felt like what I should be doing as a man and a father. Being with Tamia feels right whenever I’m near her, it’s like I’m home. With Chardae, the sex is crazy, even though she doesn’t suck dick. It’s fine because she for damn sure rides it! We don’t talk much because we end up arguing but I want my kid to have something I didn’t have. A two parent household.

“Why you not talking to me?” Chardae asked and threw her feet in my lap.

“Just thinking,” I responded.

“I know you not in my shit thinkin’ bouta bitch!” she snapped and stood up. She shocked the fuck out of me because she had never mentioned another bitch! I’d always known that she knew I had always messed with her and someone else, so it’s confusing me as to why she decided to do this shit now. “Now the cat got ya tongue huh? I heard about you flaunting her at Carte Blanche,” she said and let me know she was talking about Tamia.

“That’s my girl,” I said calmly and her hands flew to her mouth. Tears started falling from her eyes at a rapid pace.

“Yo girl?” she croaked out with her hand over her chest.

“Yea,” I said, not really knowing why she asked me what I just told her.

She walked away and came back with a lamp and threw it at me. “Get out!” she yelled and grabbed the iron from the kitchen counter. I stood up and walked to the door. I’m glad I looked at her because the bitch had done threw the damn iron at me! I ducked just in time for it to get stuck in the wall. I opened the door and shook my head before stepping outside. “Noooo!” she screamed. “Don’t leave me! I love you!” she continued screaming as I made my way to my car.

As I was passing Tiffany’s house, I noticed she was outside laughing so hard that I thought she would rock right off of her porch. Undoubtedly, she got an ear full and thought the shit was funny. Knowing her messy ass, she’s going to call and tell Michelle too and then her emotional ass gone be crying too. I swear I don’t know what to do with these bitches.

*****

“Ma, I need to talk to you,” I said as I stormed in my mom’s house. Luckily for me, nobody was there but her and she was knitting, which was the perfect time to talk to her.

“What’s up love?” she asked and patted the seat next to her. Knowing I was about to tell her some shit that would piss her off, I opted to sit on the other couch. You know? Out of arm’s reach. “That bad huh?” she said, knowing exactly what I was doing.

“All bad ma. I don’t know what to do,” I said, putting my head in my hands.

“What’s going on?” she asked and I could tell she was getting aggravated by me briefly beating around the bush.

“I fell in love ma,” I said and looked up at her.

“Boy, that’s good! When do I get some grandchildren?” she asked before I could continue.

“Eight months,” I said and looked away from her. Her smile vanished, her head tilted, and her bottom lip quivered right before I was hit in the head with the Cableone remote. I didn’t even see her grab it!

“Don’t you think you’re moving too fast? How long have you known her?” she asked as she squinted her eyes at me.

“Which one?” I asked, knowing that question would piss her off but I needed to know who she was referring to.

“What you mean which one, nigga?!” she snapped and stood up. I knew better than to stand but I did anyway, in case I needed to move away from her. She called me a nigga, so I know she’s pissed. I watched her clench and unclench her fist as she made her way to me. “What.you.mean.which.one.nigga?!” she said through gritted teeth.

I stood as still as possible because you never know which move was a good move when you’re dealing with my mom. If I walked away, she would hit me again and if I looked at her, she would swear I think I’m tough and hit me any damn way. Weighing my options, I decided to just sit back down. I sighed heavily while rubbing my hand over my face.
Whap!
She slapped me upside my head before placing her hands on her hips. “I fell in love with someone then found out someone else is pregnant,” I said, dodging a lick that didn’t come. Well, not until I stopped dodging it.

After she slapped me again, she sat back in her spot. “What are you going to do?” my mom asked.

“I have to be with the mother so the child can have us both,” I said and shook my head.

“No baby. You can be a father without being miserable. The biggest mistake you will make is being with her solely for the baby. You won’t be happy and she won’t be either. All the child will see is neither mommy or daddy are happy,” she said, which made me think about it in a way I hadn’t thought about it yet.

“So, what do I do about Tamia?” I asked her, still confused. Shit, I’m happy I came to talk to her because I did not want to be with Chardae. I just felt like I was supposed to.

“Tamia? The nursing student?” she asked, causing me to look at her crazy.

“Yes ma’am,” I said slowly.

This crazy woman started shouting and dancing all over the living room. “You know her?” I asked her.

“Naw but Jennifer has done nothing but boast and brag about the young girl that has been through so much and overcame all odds!” she said all excited and what not.

“So, Aunt Jennifer knows her?” I asked.

“Yes boy! They work together at the hospital! Jennifer loves that lil girl! That’s the girl she was going to try to hook you up with and you done hooked yourself up!” she said smiling then her smile faded. “Leave her alone,” my mom said as she walked closer to me.

“What? Ma, no,” I said, not expecting to hear her say that.

“That girl done been through enough shit to last her a lifetime. You need to leave her alone,” she said with so much base in her voice, I had to do a double take.

I didn’t respond to her and I don’t care what Tamia has been through, I’m not leaving her alone! Fuck the dumb shit! It’s life, hell, shit happens! It already happened to her so she can get over it and live her life with me. She’s such a good person, I know she would be an awesome stepmom.

Since I was thinking about her, I called her phone but it rang to voicemail so I called Candy. “Can’t talk right now we’re in pursuit!” she said and disconnected the call.

Lisa

I’ll never forget the pain I felt receiving a phone call telling me that my only child had been shot, along with the love of my life, and I was needed at the hospital. I began to replay the last conversation I had with Amere. It had to have been right before this happened.  

“What’s up?” I answered, walking through the front door. The only reason I answered is because the truck wasn’t here so that meant they were gone somewhere. I had been hanging out with my new boo, Andre. We kind of had something in common. Well, someone, I should say. Tamia. According to Andre, she fucked his uncle over and now him, his dad, and uncle are out to make her pay! I didn’t care to know any details, as long as she hurts bad! I want her to hurt because she causes me to hurt daily because I’m with a man that can’t love me because he still loves her!

“What the fuck you mean, what’s up? Where the hell you been?” Amere yelled in my ear. I almost got mad and started arguing with him until I thought about all the nights I blew his phone up, and he would never answer. He would simply come back home when he got ready and didn’t have a single excuse about his disappearing acts. When I found out he had been back and forth between here and back home before we moved here, it made me want to find Tamia. So, imagine my surprise when I found out that bitch moved here! I’m not dumb so it took me no time at all to figure out he was coming to see her!  

“Don’t get mad when I pull a you on you!” I snapped at him, thinking about all the flights he took to see that bitch!

“Bitch, you can’t do that shit when you have a child! Anything could have happened dummy!” he snapped right back at me. He was right but he was not about to make me feel bad for shit!

“If it was that important, you would have left a message or sent a text message but you did neither one,” I said after calming down. I had to think about that good dick Andre put on me that got me walking like I’m bow legged.

“Bitch, wait til I see you!” he said, hanging up in my face.

I didn’t try to call back or explain. I took my trifling ass in the bathroom to wash my side nigga’s scent off of me. I wasn’t worried about telling him I love him or that I’m sorry because I was still floating from that orgasm I just had. Now I’m sitting in the family waiting room of the ER waiting on them to let me see my baby or my man. The nurse I stopped when I first ran inside the ER hasn’t left my side since I got here, so I know it’s all bad.

“When will they let me see her?” I asked, fighting back tears.

“Right after the doctor talks to you,” she explained. “He needs to finish his assessment, so he can explain everything to you so you know what to expect when you walk in the room,” she continued.

About two hours later, the doctor came in and the nurse stood to leave but I grabbed her arm lightly, pulling her back towards me. Catching the hint, she sat down and held my hand. “I’m Doctor Smith, one of the doctors working on your daughter Amiria,” he explained and grasped his clipboard tightly. My heart began to pound in my chest as a lump formed in my throat. My leg began to shake uncontrollably as I waited for the doctor to continue. “Amiria was shot once. Amere dove on top of her taking the rest of the bullets, which is the only reason she is alive right now. She was shot on her right side and we were able to remove the bullet. There was a lot of internal bleeding and we had to place her in a medically induced coma to stop it. The problem now is she needs a blood transfusion,” he said pausing, which allowed me to take everything in. The tears were falling from my eyes so rapidly that I didn’t realize I was crying. I heard everything he said and I understood it but I don’t understand this!