Chapter 9
NINE
Amir
It was after ten that next morning when I made it home to shower and change.
Learah decided to stay at the hospital with her mom to be there when her dad woke up.
The surgery was a success but took six hours.
I was exhausted but wasn’t gonna rest until I knew she was good.
It was why I only planned on being here long enough to shower, put on fresh clothes, and pack a few things for Learah to freshen up with.
She was in a better place now that her dad had come out of surgery to the good but he still had a long road ahead of him.
The doctors made it clear that without life changes he wouldn’t be so lucky next time.
That news, along with the tension between her and her mother, had Learah wound tightly.
It was another reason I hadn’t planned on being gone long.
Her mother’s attention was on her husband, which meant that she was playing it cool with Learah for now, but that could go left at any time and I wasn’t about to leave my baby unprotected.
When I entered the bedroom, noticing all of Learah’s things all over the place from our trip to clean out her old spot, I smiled.
It was yet another sign that I would have total access to her.
I needed total access because she was it for me.
I hadn’t been completely sure how I felt until the day I had been shot with her standing in my hospital room threatening to end what we had and the panic of her leaving me for good settled in.
I physically felt the disruption it would leave in my heart and that didn’t have a damn thing to do with the bullet that could have pierced through it.
Learah had me on some love type shit. It was new and still had to grow but the feelings were damn sure there.
I wasn’t even mad about it because she was damn sure worth the marathon.
After collecting my things, I tossed them onto the bed, groaning under my breath because I really wanted to climb right up in that bitch. I couldn’t because I had to see about my baby, so instead I headed to the bathroom to take a leak and shower.
After less than an hour of being home, I was dressed and on my way out of the door. Asim hit my line as soon as I locked up and headed to the elevator.
“Yo, where are you? I just got word you missed a pickup.”
“Shit, my bad, bruh. Long night. I’ve been at the hospital?—”
“The fuck you at the hospital for?” I smirked at my brother’s overprotective ass. He was always on ten.
“Not me, bruh. Learah’s pops had a heart attack and bypass surgery. We’ve been there all night with her mom and I’m on my way back now. Just came home to clean up a little and grab things for Lear because she wanted to stay.”
“Oh word, damn. She aight?”
“Surviving. Her mom is with her but she’s a piece of work. She doesn’t like me too much either. It’s like she already has me figured out as far as she’s concerned.” I chuckled, stepping off the elevator and surveying the area. After getting shot, my guard was always up.
“I’m sure but don’t be up there showing yo’ ass. I know how you can be. Just curb that shit and keep your mouth shut.”
I grinned, sliding into the driver’s seat of my truck, tossing the bag I had for Learah on the passenger side.
“Shit, I’m gucci. I wouldn’t run out like that. At least not with her dad being in the position he’s in but I did fuck her mom’s whole mind up when I told her I was gonna marry Lear.”
“Marry? Did I hear you correctly or is there a bad connection?”
I laughed as I pulled out of the garage. “Bruh you heard me correct. I’m gonna marry her when it’s time.”
“Ahh shit now. Baby bruh found his one.”
“I’m not alone either. Don’t think I don’t know what Ky’s getting for her birthday.”
Asim chuckled. “You don’t know shit.”
“I know Ollie hit my line talking about the custom platinum band came in early, so he would be able to finish the ring ahead of schedule. That isn’t your style unless you got another shorty you’re buying engagement rings; then I know some shit, bruh.”
“How the hell Ollie fuck that up?”
“Same way he always does. I keep telling you his ass is getting old. He called me talking about a damn ring and I almost cursed his ass out until I realized he thought he had you on the line.” I laughed at the thought.
The jeweler we both used was legit as hell but old as shit.
His son was taking over more with the business but with some stuff Ollie refused.
“You’re right but don’t say shit. Not even to Learah. I need it to be a surprise.”
“I’m not a fucking snitch and I don’t pillow talk like Kane.”
“Yeah aight, just make sure you don’t switch up on me and start.”
“Nah you’re straight but you really ready for all that? Marriage is big.”
“It is but I’m ready. Some things are just that simple. Ky makes me happy, she’s damn sure worth the commitment, so what else is there?”
“Unlimited pussy for one.”
Asim laughed hard. “I get that, just with the same woman, and you better hope Lear doesn’t have your shit tapped or that’s yo’ ass.”
The thought had me paranoid as hell for a brief moment but eventually I smiled.
“Nah, she isn’t like that; I don’t think.
But you’re right. I can see it with Learah, I just need to make sure her head is in the game.
She’s on the fence with a lot of things.
So until I know for sure she can handle me and everything that comes with me, then I’m moving accordingly. ”
“But it’s what you want though, right?”
“Yeah, I can get with it.”
“That’s all that matters then. I’mma get with you though. Let me hit Kane up so he can pick up. I don’t want to leave that type of cash in-house.”
“Aight, bet. I’ll hit you later.”
“Send my love to Lear.”
“Hell nah, I’ll tell her you said chin up. The fuck?”
Asim chuckled. “What the fuck ever. Just make sure you tell her something.”
He hung up on me and I grinned, processing the conversation.
The first thought I had was my mother. She would be smiling big knowing both of her boys were on the right track to finding the love she never got to experience.
That shit had me happy but in my feelings at the same time.
My mother deserved better but she refused to demand it.
There wasn’t really anything I could do about it so I had to accept that her life was what she allowed it to be.
I just knew I wanted more and my more was Learah.
When I made it back to the hospital and checked at the nurses’ station for Learah, they told me she was in with her father and I could go in.
I was hesitant but decided to just roll with it.
After knocking a few times, I pushed the door open and found her seated next to the bed holding her father’s hand.
He was awake but looked ghostly while still connected to a bunch of machines with a tube down his throat.
He was alert as hell though because the second she stood to hug me, his eyes were hard and his face was tight.
After I pecked her lips, she smiled softly, turning to face him but keeping one arm around my waist.
“Daddy, this is Amir.”
He just had surgery so I was on the fence about a typical greeting. I didn’t know if I should shake his hand, so instead I offered a nod. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Marshall. I hate that it’s like this though but I’m glad to see you’re okay.”
His eyes darted over to Learah then back to me before the muscles around them loosened some. They shared a look, which let me know they had discussed me at some point.
“Ay, I have a few things here for you. I’ll wait outside while you change.” I kissed her forehead and her father grunted something we couldn’t understand. When we turned to him, he lifted a hand and pointed to me, followed by the chair Learah had been in.
“He wants you to stay.” She glanced at him to be sure and he nodded to the best of his ability.
“I’m gonna go shower and change. My mom’s at the cafeteria. She just left so she’ll be a while. You okay?”
“I’m straight, go ahead.”
She nodded before her regard landed on her father.
Learah smiled then took the bag from me, heading to the bathroom.
Her father and I both watched Lear leave the room before he pointed to the chair again.
Even without him voicing it, the gesture felt like a command, which I wasn’t feeling, but I decided to play nice.
When I sat, he lifted his hand to the side of his face and made a motion like a phone then motioned like he was writing.
I frowned until he did it again and pointed to my pocket.
“You want my phone?”
He nodded slightly and did the hand motion again, like he was writing.
I was pretty sharp and assumed that meant he wanted to communicate with me, so I removed my phone and pulled up notes before handing it over to him.
I waited while he slowly pecked my screen then held it up for me to see.
Leaning forward in my chair, I read the message ,having no idea where this was going but quickly being filled in.
Wife said you are a drug dealer
My face was tight, expression hard when our eyes met again. I shook my head and laughed arrogantly.
“Did she?”
He began typing and I was already over this shit but decided to see where it was going. After I read the next message, I raked my hand down my face.
You know how her sister died?
I did, so I answered honestly. “Overdose. Lear told me.”
For a long time, he just stared my way, the muscles around his eyes tight before he glanced at the bathroom door, pecking away on my phone. It took him a minute before holding it up for me to see.
She’s all I have left, but that’s my fault. I messed up, I won’t do that again
Damn.
“I’m never gonna cause her any harm, no matter what I do. You don’t know me but as a man I give you my word. That part of my life won’t touch her. Not like that.”
His eyes were on me with a hard stare before they rolled over to the bathroom door and he began typing again.
It was taking a long ass time, so I knew for sure he was typing for me to leave his baby girl alone and get the hell out of his hospital room.
I was surprised as hell when I read the message.
She cares about you. She told me when I asked. I want her to be happy. You make her happy but you have to do better than that. Make her safe. She won’t let me because she’s still angry. Keep my baby safe. Love her enough for all of us until she lets us back in again. Promise me.
“I promise, and if nothing else, I’m a man of my word.”
He nodded just a little and extended my phone back to me, leaving his arm up with an open hand, which I shook.
By the time Learah had changed, her mother was back and fussing with the nurses over her husband’s care so she didn’t have time to worry about me.
She kept herself busy, only engaging in conversation with me when she was forced, but that was cool.
Her husband was on my side and that was good enough, I would win her over in due time, and even if I never did, it damn sure wouldn’t change things between Learah and me.
She was mine; I was gonna be in her life and she was slowly becoming my world.
I could feel the tension she felt from being around her parents, but at least she was trying.
My job was to replace everything they drained from her and I was damn sure up for the challenge. No matter what, she would be good.
As the day moved on, my baby was barely holding on.
She was exhausted and needed to rest but I didn’t want to push.
I suggested that we head out to grab food so she could rest. Her mother actually agreed and offered me a smile that wasn’t forced.
Maybe she was coming around. We said our goodbyes and left the hospital to head home.
Most of the ride, Learah remained quiet but I expected that.
She had been through a lot in the past few hours and needed to process, but she seemed okay, which was all I was concerned with.
“That was hard.” Her voice was soft when she spoke, which had my eyes on her quickly. Her expression was solemn but she didn’t appear to be sad.
“You did good though.” My hand found hers, interlocking our fingers. Learah smiled, then turned to face the window.
“You told my mother that you’re going to marry me.”
“Because I am.”
When I had her attention, she stared at me blankly, like what I was saying didn’t make sense. I was sure she didn’t know how to respond. Not once had we discussed long-term with us but the thought had to at least occur to Learah at some point.
“You’re gonna marry me?”
I laughed at the uncertainty in her voice which had her eyes narrowed. “Stop looking like you want to punch me in the chest. I’m gonna marry you, Lear. We’re just not there yet. We both have doubts to work through and…”
“You have doubts about me?” The panicked look in her eyes made me smile.
“I have doubts about me. This type of shit is new in my life. I know what I’m capable of, but after what went down before, I don’t want to fuck up with you again.
I need to learn a few things about making the right decisions for us.
I’m man enough to admit that, but where you’re concerned?
Nah, I don’t have doubts about wanting you or being with you, no matter what your title is. ”
Her bright ass blushed and grinned like a child.
“I don’t have doubts about wanting you or being with you. I’m just scared sometimes.”
“I know, baby, and that’s cool. As long as you’re honest and don’t get back on that holding out on me bullshit then we’ll be aight.
” I smirked but I was deadass. I would fuck up again.
That was inevitable. She could be mad all she wanted as long as we were under the same roof and sleeping in the same bed.
“I can do that.”
“So can I.” I winked and she laughed, shaking her head.
“I hate you sometimes.”
“Why?”
“Because you make it so easy to love you.”
I laughed at the thought but agreed with a nod because I totally understood.
“That’s a good thing, though.”
“Maybe.”
“So we gonna talk about Melvin?”
She sucked her teeth and cut her eyes at me. “He’s my ex. We didn’t work out and I don’t give two fucks about him ,but apparently my mother does. Hell, maybe they’re fucking.”
“Yo, don’t say shit like that.” I laughed at the thought but could tell she was half serious.
“They might be. I wouldn’t put it past her.” She shrugged and I laughed under my breath.
“Long as you don’t have anything with him, then Melvin gets to keep breathing.”
Lear rolled her eyes again but she knew the deal. I wasn’t about to play those types of games, not when it came to her. I put that on God.