Chapter 12
Bending over in front of the mirror, I made sure I could clap my ass in the bodysuit I decided to wear. Drey was in the bathroom finishing up her makeup. I was ready to go, so I picked up the bottle of Black Sade to pour us more shots. When she came out of the bathroom to see me holding them up, she groaned.
“Oh, you trying to get white girl wasted tonight huh?” I nodded happily, already feeling the effects of the first four shots we’d taken. Her perfectly arched brow lifted as she came closer to take the shot. “Okay. What’s the occasion?”
“Being single for life.”
She frowned with a shake of her head.
“I am not drinking to that. Bitch, I wanna get married and start a family one day.”
Instead of replying, I took my shot despite feeling Drey’s eyes on me.
“Something happened with Mr. Sexy Caramel? I’m actually shocked you’re not up under him tonight.”
I burped trying to keep the liquor I drank down.
“I lied and told him I was sick.” I blabbered unintentionally.
Drey’s mouth popped open in shock. “Um. Why would you say such a thing? Are you sick?”
I walked over to my purse and picked it up after sliding my phone inside.
“It doesn’t even matter. Let’s go, I’m ready.”
I knew she wanted to say more, but I didn’t give her a chance because I walked out of my bedroom and headed down the hall. By the time I made it to the front door, I heard her shuffling up behind me. Tonight was not about Romani. It was about me and getting back to my space.
I felt a little bad about Lovie being sick and wanted to help her feel better. Anytime I was sick, I wouldn’t even leave bed. I couldn’t imagine what she was going through. The desire to help pulled me from the comfort of my home to the store to grab her some things then head over there.
We pulled on her street in time to see her come stumbling out of the house with Drey following behind her. I inched my window down to get a better look. By the tight-fitting outfit and heels they both wore, I knew they were on their way to party. I slouched down in my seat, wondering why she’d lie about being sick to get drunk and party with her cousin.
“What you want me to do?” Austin asked, having seen them slide into the back of an Uber too.
I tapped my fingers on my knee debating on what to do. Trouble obviously had better things she’d rather be doing, things that reminded me too much of my mother. She chose to party over me too. Lovie had let it be known she was a party girl plenty of times, but seeing it in live-action made my stomach turn.
“Just take me back to the crib,” I ordered in a monotone voice.
My body felt rigid and hot all over. I couldn’t lie like my feelings weren’t hurt. I’d become a different man to pursue Lovie, and what did she do? Spit in my face like women often did and play with my feelings like I was some lame ass nigga to be played with. Nah, if she’d rather get drunk and be a hoodrat with her cousin than be with me, I was going to let her do just that. This fight wasn’t worth it when I was the only one willing to get in the ring.
By the time we made it out of her neighborhood, I’d shut my feelings off. The emotions were coming too fast and strong to keep my composure. I had no choice but to retract to the darkness to keep myself from crashing out and ruining her night.
* * *
My phone wouldn’t stop vibrating on my nightstand to the point it was interrupting my sleep. I slapped my hand all over the top looking for it. When I picked it up it, stopped ringing. I peeled my eyes open to see it was nearly 2:00 a.m., and I had missed multiple calls from Lovie.
I scoffed. I was about to toss the phone back on my dresser when it started to ring again. While everything in me screamed not to pick up, there was this quiet voice that urged me to, so I did.
“Hello,” I answered, sounding as sleepy as I felt. I coughed to clear my airways.
“I know it’s late, but I need your help.”
Almost immediately, I realized it wasn’t Lovie speaking.
“Audrey?” I called her name to confirm.
“Yes. It’s me. I tried calling Mercy first, but he wasn’t picking up either. I don’t know what to do.”
Her voice began to panic, which sent my covers flying off my legs as I kicked them onto the floor.
“Talk to me. What’s going on?” I was in my closet, searching for clothes to throw on by the time she started talking.
“We were out at the club, and I think Lovie got drugged or something. She won’t stay awake. I’m trying to get her to the car, but she’s basically dead weight, and I don’t feel safe because I’m pretty sure there’s a man following us.”
My heart began to race for multiple reasons. I was worried about Lovie and pissed that a nigga would take advantage of them.
“Stay on the phone and go back inside. I’m coming.”
“Okay. We’re at Seven.”
I moved in record time, getting dressed and out of my bedroom. I made a pit stop at my safe to grab the Ruger I kept in there for protection. I didn’t have a reason to use it until now, and if a nigga laid one finger on them, I was emptying the clip then turning myself in.
I raced through the city in my white Dodge Challenger, driving like an expert, even though I didn’t do it often. In ten minutes, I was pulling up in front of Seven. Long strides carried me to the door quickly. I pulled it open to find Drey and Lovie not too far from the entryway. Lovie was slumped over as Drey attempted to hold her up.
“I’m here,” I announced.
Walking up on them, I peeled Lovie’s eyes open to find they were dilated. Having dealt with a mother who frequently abused all kinds of drugs, I knew she was definitely on something. The question eating away at my insides was whether it was intentional or not.
“I got her. Is the man who was following y’all still here?”
She shook her head. “He didn’t come back inside.”
Drey sighed in relief when I scooped Lovie up in my arms with ease. I tipped my head for her to walk in front of me.
“If you see him when we get outside, let me know.”
Both our heads were on a swivel as we headed to my car. I laid Lovie across the back seat. Drey slid in after her, laying her head on her lap. I saw fear in her eyes as she cradled her cousin close.
“She’ll be okay,” I assured her.
When she looked up at me, I saw tears in her eyes. Her bottom lip quivered, but she nodded. I closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side. Throwing the car in drive, I sped away from the club.
“I knew we shouldn’t have gone out tonight,” Drey whispered in the silence.
I opted not to respond, because what could I even say? I technically wasn’t even fucking with Lovie no more, yet here I was coming to her rescue after she lied to me and ultimately landed herself in this predicament. Despite her questionable actions, someone drugging her was not cool at all. I wish the nigga was still out there. I would’ve sent him to the morgue without remorse.
“Where are we going?” Drey asked out of nowhere.
“To my house. My sister is a doctor and has experience with girls who are high out of their mind. We’ll make sure she’s okay. You can stay if you want, or I can call you a ride.”
“I’ll stay,” she replied.
I expected nothing less. Lovie let it be known Drey was the sister she wished she had. The older ones never got her, but her cousin undoubtedly did. I could see the joy they brought each other when they were together, so I knew she was worried out of her mind. She would be up all night just like me to make sure Lovie was good.
Once we made it back to my house, I grabbed Lovie from the back and gave Drey the key to let us inside. I carried Lovie to my bedroom and laid her down. Turning to Drey, I prepared her for what was to come.
“We need to keep an eye on her to make sure she’s breathing until my sister gets here. She’s going to check her out and get her right.”
Tears were falling fast from her eyes. I sympathized with her. This was a scary situation, but I had faith everything would be fine. I’d been here many times before comforting my sister then my brother after he was born.
“Shh, shh. Calm down. It’s going to be okay. We both know Lovie is a fighter. Nothing can defeat her.”
My words seemed to calm her for the time being. She climbed into bed with Lovie while I stepped out to wait on Robyn. Unable to go too far away, I stayed right outside the door pacing back and forth. I didn’t know what to make of the situation and couldn’t lie like it didn’t hurt me to see Lovie so helpless like that. My mother shared with us countless times how men took advantage of her when she was her weakest. The thought of a man doing that to Lovie sent my fist crashing into the wall before I could stop it. Drey came rushing out of the room with extra blown eyes.
“What happened? Are you okay?” I forgot all about her being here for a minute. I nodded without turning away from the wall. “Romani, what is it?”
I opened my mouth to reply but became choked up. I took a few deep breaths to steady my breathing. Turning around, I slid to the floor and dropped my head in my hands.
“This situation is just very triggering for me,” I shared after a while. “I’m good though.”
“It’s okay if you’re not.”
Before I could respond, the doorbell sounded off. I knew that was only a warning because my sister had a key to the place. Sure enough, Robyn came racing around the corner and down the hall within seconds. She eyed the hole in the wall and glanced down at me.
“We’ll talk about that later. Where is she?”
I stood up, ignoring the pain in my hand to take her bags from her and followed them into the room. Lovie was basically the way we’d left her. I placed her medical bag on the bed as she took a seat beside her.
“Oh, wow. She’s even more beautiful than you described,” she stated.
I ran a hand down my face. “Focus, Rob. Now is not the time.”
“Sorry, sorry. You’re right.”
Turning to Drey, I said, “You can trust her. She has plenty of experience.”
Rob nodded. “I could practically nurse someone back from a drug overdose from thousands of miles away. Pretty girl here is going to be just fine in a few hours.”
We stood back, watching as she checked all of Lovie’s vitals.
“Oh, this is Mercy finally calling back. I’m going to let him know what’s going on. He’s probably going to want to come here.”
I nodded. “It’s cool if you give him my address.”
She nodded quickly then answered the call and rushed out of the room. I widened my stance and folded my arms over my chest.
“I can practically hear your thoughts. She’s not our mother. Don’t shut down and run.”
I ran a hand down my face. “I wasn’t the one who shut down and ran. Lovie has made it clear how she feels about me. I just want to make sure she’s good then move on with my life.”
Rob stopped hooking up her blood pressure cuff to glance at me over her shoulder. She studied me intensely, but I refused to look her way. I knew my sister would see straight through me, and I already had too much on my mind for this conversation.
“I’ll be here when you’re ready to talk,” she whispered.
I knew that was true. My sister was one of the few women in my life I could count on. She would never disregard my feelings and walk all over my heart the way Lovie had. I might’ve come to her rescue tonight, but I wouldn’t allow this woman to be the death of me. I was serious about putting this fling behind me. At least everything played out the way it was supposed to before I was too deep in to walk away with scars that would never heal.