Chapter 10
Two weeks later….
Juelz left the trap early with Tasha heavy on his mind, the smell of weed and money still clinging to his clothes. She had called him to let him know that she was home early after being seen in the ER because she had fainted at work, and that two coworkers were kind enough to bring her there.
By the time he made it to the crib, she was curled up in the bed, body folded tight, pain written all over her face.
He made up his mind that by morning, he would have her in somebody’s doctor’s office.
Juelz was going to make sure she was seen, no more guessing, no more brushing it off.
Tasha might’ve still been trying to act strong, but Juelz saw through all that.
The next morning, the sterile smell of antiseptic clung in the air as Tasha sat in the doctor’s office, reading on her Kindle Colorsoft.
The paper gown was open in the front, paper crinkling against her thighs.
She hated this feeling, vulnerable, exposed, like the answers to her body were in somebody else’s hands.
Meanwhile, Juelz was standing on his feet, nosing through the cabinets as if he were shopping. He pulled one open, whistling low at the rows of gauze, syringes, and neatly stacked pill bottles.
“Damn…they keep a whole CVS back here,” he whispered, picking up a box and flipping it in his hand. Tasha rolled her eyes, exhaling through her nose as she swiped on her Colorsoft.
“Jue, nigga, sit yo ass down. You all in these folks shit like you at home.”
He chuckled, putting the box back but not moving toward the chair. “I’m just taking inventory, damn. Ain’t never seen half this medical shit before.”
She smirked despite herself, then leaned forward. “Oh, look, go over there and put some of those gloves in your pocket. Size small.”
Juelz turned around to look at her like she was crazy. “Hell naw, girl. You work at the hospital, you betta get that shit from them.”
Tasha laughed, shaking her head. “C’mon, Jue, go get them. They pink, bae. We don’t got that color at Emerald City.”
Juelz side-eyed her while stuffing his pants with a couple of the pink gloves that were hung on the wall over the sink.
She burst out laughing before she could stop herself. “Jueee!” She doubled over, covering her mouth. “This is exactly why they don’t let niggas back here.”
He smirked and moved on, opening the lower drawer. Inside, he spotted a shiny metal tool. He picked it up, turning it over in his hand, back and forth.
“Man, what the fuck is this duck mouth lookin’ shit?” He squeezed it open, then closed, making it clap. “Where the fuck they put this at?” He asked with concern.
“Oh my God! Juelz!” Tasha damn near hollered, jumping down from the table, snatching it from his hand, before he broke it. “It goes in our pussies, dumbass,” she said, as she patted her own. “It’s for Pap Smears. Now here, go put this back where you got it from.”
He took the speculum back and came back to his chair, laughing hard. “Shiitt, y’all wild for lettin’ them muthafuckas play duck hunt between y'all legs.”
Tasha covered her face with both hands, half embarrassed, half laughing with him. “I cannot take yo ass nowhere. I knew I shoulda brought Niyah with me instead.”
He stood walking towards her, opening her paper gown, and placing his arms around her waist. “You know you like it when I come with you. Don’t act.
” He bit down on his bottom lip. “You know we can get it crackin’ right here on this table.
You already naked, easy access.” His hand slid between her thighs.
“Stoppp Jue—” she whispered, swatting at him, tying the gown back together. “Go sit—”
She was cut off by the doctor entering the room.
Juelz finally settled down, tossing her a wink, whispering, “I’ma get that pussy, girl.
” Tasha waved him off, signaling for him to hush, as her chest tightened.
The fear of what the doctor was about to say pressed down on her, heavier than the thin paper gown clinging to her skin.
The doctor glanced between them, smiling politely, but his eyes stuck to the chart in his hand. “Ms. Hayes, your test results came back.”
Tasha straightened on the table, fingers gripping the torn gown like it might hold her together. Juelz leaned back in the chair, eyes glued to the doctor.
The doctor cleared his throat, eyes still on the chart. “Your pregnancy test came back negative. But based on the pain you’re describing and some of your symptoms, we’ll need to run a few additional tests to figure out what’s going on.”
Tasha sat up straighter, her mind wandering. She already knew that test was gon’ say that but hearing it from him still stung a little.
The doctor continued, flipping the page. “We’ll do a Pap smear today and collect some cervical swabs to check for any infection or abnormalities. It’s routine, nothing to be nervous about. Then you will go down the hall to get a transvaginal ultrasound.”
Juelz sat back, eyebrows raised, that grin creeping in. “Oh, so we goin’ duck huntin’, huh?”
The doctor blinked, confused. “Excuse me? What’s that?”
Tasha closed her eyes and exhaled hard. “Don’t mind him. He was one of the kids left behind in school. Been playin’ catch up ever since.”
Juelz snorted, half embarrassed. “You betta watch that shit, girl.”
She side-eyed him. “Save the threats for later. Right now, hush and let this man do his job.”
The doctor cleared his throat again, clearly regretting letting them both back there at the same time. “I’ll step out now. My PA will be in shortly to assist with the exam. Try to relax. We’ll get you some answers soon.”
He departed promptly, clearly indicating his desire to avoid any more involvement in the situation.
A few minutes later, a young woman in navy blue scrubs stepped in, mid-30s, maybe, with a slick ponytail and latex gloves already snapped on.
“Hi, Ms. Hayes. I’m Natasha, the physician assistant. I’ll be performing your Pap smear and collecting a few swabs, alright?”
Tasha nodded, already adjusting herself on the table with a sigh. “Yeah… let’s just get it over with.”
Natasha smiled gently, pulling the stirrups out and locking them in place. “You’ve done this before, I’m sure, so you know the drill, knees up, scoot down just a bit…”
Juelz stayed seated at first, but as soon as the PA positioned herself between Tasha’s legs, he stood and slowly walked around behind her, hands in his pants pockets, eyes wide like he was watching a damn performance.
Tasha side-eyed him from the table. “Juelz…”
He ignored her, now standing directly behind the PA, who was too focused on her work to notice him at first.
Then he started.
First, the slow lip bite. Then he lifted both hands like he was stroking an invisible penis. Eyebrows up, then biting his knuckle like he was trying not to moan. He even made a little "Mmm!" sound under his breath.
Tasha’s eyes bugged. “JUE!”
He kept going now pretending to fan himself like he was getting hot.
“Juelz, get the fuck OUT!” she snapped, pointing toward the door with one hand while trying not to burst out laughing. “Go! Now!”
The PA paused mid-swab, glancing back. “Everything okay?”
Tasha covered her face. “He’s fine. Just stupid.”
Juelz backed up slowly, hands up like he was innocent. “Man, I was tryna support you, girl.”
“Support ya nuts. Take your horny ass to the waiting room!”
“Damn,” he muttered, smirking as he walked out. “You ain’t gotta kick me outta the room like that.”
“You such a perv!” she hollered after him, still half laughing as the door shut behind him.
The PA shook her head, grinning a little. “Y’all are something else.”
Tasha sighed, eyes toward the ceiling. “Girl, you don’t even know the half.”
The ride home was a heavy one. The silence pressed harder than the engine’s hum. Tasha sat angled toward the window, cheek resting against her fist, eyes tracing the blur of passing cars.
Her stomach was still knotted from the doctor’s appointment.
Juelz drove with one hand on the wheel, the other drumming against his thigh.
His phone buzzed on the console, screen lighting up, but he ignored it.
The phone buzzed again. Same missed calls.
He glanced at it quickly, jaw tightening, then turned it over fast. Tasha noticed.
She didn’t say a word, but her chest burned hot.
The phone buzzed again, and Juelz cursed under his breath. He cut his eyes at Tasha, trying to read her mood, but she didn’t move, didn’t even blink.
“Yo,” he said finally, breaking the silence. “You wanna grab somethin’ to eat? I know you ain’t ate all mornin’. Could slide by Grey Ghost for somethin’ quick.”
Tasha turned her head slowly, giving him a look. Her lips parted, but nothing came out at first. She just stared at him like she could see right through the offer, right through him.
“I’m not really hungry, Jue.” Her lower lip trembled as she turned back to the window, her arms folded.
Juelz exhaled, low and long, shaking his head. “Tash, you gotta eat somethin’, girl.” He reached over, squeezing her thigh. “We gon’ be straight. Shit, it’s gon happen. Don’t worry. When it’s our time for a lil one. We’ll have one.”
She gave a half shrug, but didn’t respond. Just kept her eyes on the glass, as if the outside world were safer to focus on.
By the time they pulled up to the house, the sun was dipping low, casting long shadows across the lawn. He cut the engine, but neither of them moved at first. She finally unbuckled, grabbing the small pharmacy bag from the floorboard.
“You need me to grab anything else? I gotta go handle somethin’ real quick,” he said, voice low.
“No, just go,” she said, already halfway out the door.
She didn’t slam it. But she didn’t close it softly either. Juelz stayed in the car, watching her walk up the steps, keys in hand, shoulders drooped. She didn’t wait. Didn’t glance back. Just unlocked the door and went inside.
He sat there, hands on the wheel, chest tight.
There was nothing left to say. Not right now.
Not while she was shutting down to survive whatever was happening inside her.
He knew how to fix street shit and flip the work.
But what he couldn’t fix? Was Tasha’s body.
And he knew how badly she wanted to bear him a son.
Still, he hated seeing her like this.
He leaned back in his seat and looked up at the roof of the car, like maybe the answers would show up there.
But all he saw was himself, sitting still, with the woman he loved slipping further into silence.
And he ain’t know how to fix it.