36. Love
LOVE
Me and auntie was still sitting by the bedside when my phone rang. Any other time, I wouldn’t bother to answer it, but when I saw it was Trey, I quickly got up.
“I’ll be back,” I stated on my way out the door.
“Tell me something good, Trey,” I answered as soon as I got into the hallway.
He sighed. “Love, it’s not looking too good for him. You were right, that camera ain’t catch shit. Even before he shot them out, he moved out of the line of sight. He clearly knew what he was doing and wanted V to take the fall.”
Damn it! I figured it was something like that when Valentine mentioned Tank standing behind him.
“So, what you saying? My brother just gone go down for this and he ain’t the one who pulled the trigger?”
People got locked up like this all the time, but I was finding it hard to believe my brother was gonna be one of them. I understood he was there, but this was a hard pill to swallow.
“Actually, no. Not yet. The owner next door spotted them two running out, and claimed your brother was not the one holding the gun in his hand.” That news made me breathe more easily.
“So, there’s hope. The police are out looking for the other suspect as we speak,” he added.
“Keep your head up, Love, and we’ll figure this out. I already signed on to represent him.”
A nigga happy as hell to hear that, knowing now, my brother had somebody that’s gone really fight for him.
“I appreciate you, man.” A weight got lifted off my shoulders, and this gave me some time to focus on mama’s situation. I heard something beep on his end.
“My wife is on the other line, Love.” I didn’t even know his ass was married. “But I’m on my way to see him now. If everything goes well, he’ll be calling you soon.”
He disconnected the call.
Instead of going back into the room, I went to the waiting room to check on Baby.
A nigga felt bad for leaving her alone, wish her ass would’ve just came with me.
As soon as I turned the corner, I saw her asleep in the chair.
She looked so cute the way she was curled in a ball.
I was assuming she was cold, so I picked her up bridal style to sit in my lap.
“Huh,” she murmured, one eye open.
“It’s me, beautiful. Go back to sleep.” I caressed my hand across her cheek. She snuggled up against me, and goosebumps rose under her skin. With her this close, I caught the smell of vanilla on her skin.
“I’m up now. How’s your mama?” She squirmed in my arms and wrapped her fingers around the back of my neck.
“Still asleep, she gone be straight though. We still waiting on the doctor to tell us how the test went.” I knew what the nurse told me, but I still wanted to hear it from him.
We locked eyes.
“My bad for leaving you for so long.” Rubbing my hand up and down her back, I watched her facial expressions.
“It’s okay. I could’ve came with you when you wanted me to.” She shrugged, biting into her bottom lip. “I saw Tank on the TV earlier. Did you know it was a manhunt for him?”
I nodded. “Trey just called and told me. It doesn’t change shit though,” I admitted.
My eyes cut towards the hallways when someone walked past the opened door.
“My brother in jail regardless. Now, I know he ain’t the sharpest tool in the shed…” She giggled softly. “But Valentine scary as hell, ain’t no way he gone shoot somebody.”
“I just don’t want you getting yourself in trouble doing something stupid.” She scanned my face in worry. “He’s your twin brother, I get that. I just...” she zoned out, licking her lips. I wanted her to say what she was gone say.
“You just, what?” I asked, gaze locked on her mouth. Every fiber in me wanted to lean in and kiss her. Her body moved closer, leaving no space between us.
“I just got you. Don’t do something that’ll take you away from me,” she whispered softly, but I heard every word.
“I ain’t never gone leave you,” I vowed truthfully. I’d be a damn fool to let her slip through the cracks again.
“You promise?” I nodded. She took her hand from my neck, holding out her pinky finger. I knew she didn’t want me to wrap mine around hers.
“Ma, a nigga ain’t doing all shit,” I said, giving her a pointed look. Her pout almost took me out.
“You tripping.” I looked towards the hallway.
She batted her eyelashes innocently, and I sucked my teeth, looking between her and the door multiple times.
“Alright, man. Just keep this shit between us.” I gave in, sliding mine around her small one.
“Who I’m gone tell, Love?” I tilted my head sideways. We both knew she told her cousin everything going on in her life.
“Jayda,” I stated, intertwining our hands together. Being with her like this felt natural, nothing between us was forced.
After a moment, she huffed out a breath. “Fine, I won’t tell her.”
I chuckled at the look on her face.
“Gimme a kiss to make it official.” I touched my mouth.
Giggling, she leaned in a little bit and I met her the rest of the way.
I ran my tongue across her bottom lip until she opened for me.
My dick grew hard as soon as her tongue touched mine.
The kiss became more passionate, and for a second, I forgot where we were until more people walked in. We both jumped away from each other.
Baby gasped, burying her head in the crook of my neck. She was embarrassed by that, but I just wanted to pull her ass in for another one. Chuckling, I peeked down at her.
“Why you tryna hide? They ain’t even looking over here.” It was a white couple who came in, going straight to the other side of the room.
“Shut up.” She pinched my arm. After she realized we weren’t being watched, she sat up. I stared at her with a grin on my face.
Her eyes moved around the room to avoid my gaze. “What?”
“Nothing.” I could tell I made her nervous but, hell, sometimes she did the same thing to me.
Her cheeks turned red as she blushed. “I think I know a way to deal with Lauren.”
Kissing her forehead, I lifted her chin higher to look her in the eyes. “I’m listening, beautiful.”