Chapter 9
Jasmine
Hov’s aunt Tracy and Amir were in Crew’s guest bathroom for two and a half hours while the rest of us sat in the nearby kitchen, pretending not to listen. Every now and then, the subtle wincing of pain and sucking of teeth cut through the quiet, making everybody shift uncomfortably in their seats.
Amir was taking whatever pain he was going through a lot better than I would have.
Getting shot already sounded scary enough, but not going to the hospital immediately after sounded like death to me.
Every time he let out a low grunt, my stomach tightened, and I glanced toward the hallway like I expected him to come stumbling out any second.
That and the fact that his grunts were making me think of something else because they sounded so sexy.
The bathroom door finally opened, and Tracy stepped out first, peeling off a pair of bloody gloves. There was a faint smear of red on the cuff of her sleeve, and she exhaled like she’d been holding her breath the entire time she had been in there.
“What’s the update, Doc?” Hov asked.
“The bullet went through a shallow piece of his arm, so I was able to stitch it up and stop the bleeding. I gave him some of the Vicodin I got from my friend at the pharmacy, and he just took one of them for the pain. He should be out like a light soon if his tolerance for medicine is low.”
“Appreciate that, Aunty,” Hov replied, pulling Tracy in for a hug, kissing her on the forehead. She gathered her supplies, and he helped her carry them to the door, and they both disappeared down the hallway for a moment.
Hov’s gentleness with the ones he loved had always been attractive to me, the way his voice softened when he talked to them, and the way his hands moved carefully when touching them.
But I can say now, for the first time in a long while, it wasn’t just his presence I wanted to be wrapped up in.
It was the presence in the nearby bathroom that was also drawing my attention.
I didn’t even have to turn my head to know when he came out.
It was just something I felt in my gut. Then, of course, his scent hit me, and I knew it was him.
That mix of his cologne, and the alcohol Tracy had used on him.
Since he walked out of the restroom, I knew he was fine and that took a little stress off of me. If Amir had died protecting us, I'm sure I would've felt a way.
“If you guys are hungry, I made spaghetti and garlic bread for me and Hov earlier. I can go and fix a couple plates and then bring them back here if y’all would like,” Ciara spoke up, standing so close to Hov I’m sure they could breathe with the same lungs.
She was always inches away from that man anytime he was around.
I mean, I get it, that’s her husband, but damn, have some strength of your own.
I don’t get completely putting your trust in a man that way.
Even Pernelle seemed like she could stand on her own if Crew wasn’t around.
Ciara just seemed way more dependent on him, and I know that’s not just me hating.
“How about everyone just comes to the house, and we can eat there in the dining room, so we don’t have to carry all that shit back over here. Does that sound like a plan, mama?”
“Yeah, I mean, if they want to. Faith is downstairs with Grandma, asleep, where she will probably be for the night, so we don’t have to worry about waking her up. P, what you think?”
“It’s cool with me, babe you ready to go?” Pernelle asked Crew.
“I’m just ready to eat. There is something about running for my life that always makes me hungry as shit,” Crew added, rubbing his hands together.
“Amir, you’re more than welcome to relax here, and we can bring you back food if you’d like,” Pernelle offered Amir, who had been quietly standing against the fridge.
“Nah, I’m good on the food,” he replied, voice steady.
“I’ll just chill here and rest off that strong-ass pill Tracy gave me, if y’all don’t mind.”
“Of course, we don’t mind. You helped save my family not once but twice, so your ass has no choice but to be family.” Crew replied, and Amir touched his chest and nodded his head.
Everyone started filing out of the room, chairs scraping lightly against the floor and conversation trailing toward the front door. Pernelle paused when she noticed I hadn’t moved out of my seat.
“You’re not hungry, sis?”
“Not at all, actually. My adrenaline is still high, so I can’t even think about eating right now. I will just stay here too and grab a bag of chips or something if I get hungry.”
“Okay, call us if you need anything or decide you want food,” Pernelle replied, before stepping out behind the others.
Amir walked into the nearby living room, moving slowly now that nobody was watching. I got up from the stool too and followed him in there, watching as he eased himself down onto the couch with a low grunt that he didn’t bother hiding this time since the men weren’t around.
I was unsure of what I planned to say, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to lie down and sleep tonight if I didn’t say anything. I was never a worry about something tomorrow, or an " I’ll sleep on it type of person. If something was on my mind, it needed to be addressed right then.
I let my presence be known as he stretched out slightly.
“What’s up? You good?” he asked once he settled.
“Of course I’m good, but are you?”
“Yeah, I’ll make it. This time ain’t nothing compared to the last time I got shot. This shit feels like nothing.”
“Oh, you’re so tough,” I said, rolling my eyes with a soft laugh.
“But for real, though, Amir, thank you. You really saved my life out there. Had you not tackled me.” I paused
“I would be on my way to the morgue right now.”
“Yeah, a lot of people freeze once bullets start flying through the air. It’s second nature to most.”
“What made you come to my rescue, though?”
He looked up at me, pausing for a moment before answering.
“I guess, instincts.”
“Really? You had instincts to protect me?”
“I have instincts to protect any woman. That’s just who I am.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen that.”
I sat down on the couch opposite of him, the space between us feeling smaller than it actually was, and I felt kind of nervous being around him now. The testosterone he was putting out could be felt by him just sitting there, bleeding into a bandage, but not crying or making any loud noises.
“Do you need anything? Water? A blanket?”
“Nah, Nurse Jas,mine but I appreciate it.”
He smiled, and I felt my own smile come out softer than I intended, almost shy.
“Well, I guess I’ll go into the room and try to calm myself down. You can yell if you need something.”
“I will, thanks.” He replied, staring into my eyes so long I felt the tension wrap around me. I got up to walk away, and then Amir called me from behind.
“Jasmine.”
“Yeah?”
“You should stay in here and watch television with me until we both pass out. I know you're shook up right now, and you're not about to go to sleep in a dark, silent room. You need a distraction.”
My heart sped up even more because I felt like I knew where he was going with this.
“What kind of distraction. You trying to fuck me?”
He laughed.
“Trust when I am, I'll let you know.” I know I had mentioned that, but his reply caught me completely off guard. I guess I didn’t expect him to feed me back with that energy. And why did I fuckin like it?
“But, I was talking about a funny show or movie to watch or some shit.”
“Okay, what are your suggestions?”
“Uh, do you like the movie Menace to Society? It’s one of my favorites.”
“I’ve never seen that before.”
“Well, good. Sit down and enjoy the action with a side of comedy, too. Well, it may only be funny to some, but shit, I laugh at it.”
“Okay, I’m with it.”
I sat down, grabbing the folded blanket from over the back of the couch to wrap myself in.
My phone was connected to the television, so I opened the remote app and typed the movie's name into Prime Video.
After getting comfortable on the couch, I started the movie, and before the opening credits could start, I saw that Amir had already drifted off to sleep.
That was okay, because I was going to sit right here and see what was so good about this movie.
For some reason, I felt like I was at peace right now.
This was only a feeling I felt at times that I was snuggled up with my son and a cold Dr. Pepper on the nightstand.
The movie started, and I was enjoying it so much, laughing and following the different emotions in the scenes. When the sex scene between the two main characters came up, it was hot, steamy, and put a mood over me. One that always got me in trouble. Especially when a man is anywhere near me.