14. Nourah Marcell #2
“Do you know how stupid I felt when I never heard from you again? I kept replaying that whole weekend in my head, wondering if I had read everything wrong.” My voice started climbing.
“Then I started thinking maybe you used me as an experiment. Maybe you just wanted to see what it was like to sleep with a big girl, and once you got your wish, that was it.”
His head jerked back.
“Man, why the fuck would you think that? I would never do no shit like that.” He stepped closer, his face serious now.
“And I told you that. That night we were in the car. I would never do anything to embarrass you or treat you like you were some shit I just wanted to try. I wanted you, Noree. It wasn’t no experiment. ”
I looked away.
“Well, it damn sure felt like one.”
He was quiet for a second.
“I can’t tell you how to feel about what happened.
” He rubbed his hand over his jaw. “And I know me disappearing made it look fucked up. But that wasn’t what it was.
I had just lost my sister, Love. I wasn’t thinking about shit the way I should’ve been.
I went into a dark-ass place and shut everybody out. ”
“Including me.”
His eyebrows pulled together. “I thought you stopped dealing with me.”
I frowned. “What?”
“I ain’t hear from you either.”
“Huh? Ozy, I reached out to you.”
“When?”
“Uh…several times.”
“Where?” He asked.
“Instagram.”
His forehead creased. “I never saw no messages from you.”
I stared at him. “Well, I sent them.”
“And I’m telling you, I never saw them.”
I sucked my teeth. “Okay.”
“I’m serious, love.”
“Whatever.” I shook my head.
He stared at me for a second.
“Look, I’m not talking out the side of my neck, Ozy. I’m telling the truth. I’m telling you how I feel.” I paused. “And honestly, that’s why I ran off when I saw you. I was embarrassed and in that moment, I just wanted to get the hell away from you… kinda like I do right now.”
“Damn…that’s really what it is?”
“Yeah. That’s what it is. We don’t have to be the best of friends.”
“I’m not asking us to be.”
“Well, I’m damn sure not.” I shook my head annoyed lowkey because I didn’t fully believe he didn’t see my messages but all I could do was take his word…for now.
“What can I do to make up for it?”
I paused and stood there, really thinking about it.
“All you gotta do is just be a good boss. And I’ll be a good employee… that’s it.”
“Damn.” He let out a breath and shook his head. “You really got a wall up with me now, huh?”
“Yeah…” My throat got tight. “I do.” I looked up at him. “And believe it or not, those messages I sent you back then? I was trying to tell you something.”
His expression changed immediately.
“Tell me what?”
I looked away, but he stepped closer.
“Noree.”
His fingers gently caught my chin, bringing my face back toward his.
My heart skipped, and my breath got caught somewhere in my throat. My stomach started fluttering when he leaned down closer toward my face.
“What were you tryna tell me, love?” His voice dropped low.
“That you…well we have a b—”
POP. POP. POP.
Everything happened at once. People screaming, running, ducking behind cars. Security came out of nowhere and snatched PB and Ozy so fast I ain’t even see them move.
“AYE! Y’ALL GET OUT OF HERE! GO!” Ozy shouted.
Me and Nourah hopped in the car. She cranked it up, threw it in reverse, and peeled out that parking lot so fast the tires screeched.
Veronica shot straight up in the back seat, hair all over her head, eyes half closed, makeup smeared down one side of her face.
“What’s happening? What’s going on?”
“Bitch, somebody was shooting at Waffle House!” Nourah shouted.
Veronica was quiet for a second. Then she said, “Y’all got food… and ain’t get nothing for me?”
All three of us burst out laughing.
Nourah dropped me home, and just as I was about to get out of the car, I looked back at Veronica, who was in the back knocked out again.
I laughed. “You sure you gon’ be good with her?”
“Girl, I got her. I’ma just let her sleep it off on the couch, and we’ll go try to find her car tomorrow before I go in for the day.”
I sighed a little and just sat there for a moment in silence, my mind going into overdrive.
“You okay?” She turned in her seat to look at me better.
I nodded. “Yeah… for now, at least.”
“Mmm… well, how was your conversation with Ozy?”
“Girl.” I let my head fall back against the headrest. “I almost told him about Oaklynn.”
“Biiitch! How?”
“Maybe it was the liquor, because now I feel sober and I’m actually fucking mortified at the fact that I almost just blurted it out. But the gunshots went off, so I ain’t get to tell him.” I shook my head. “Our conversation was pretty okay, though. I told him how I felt.”
“Well, at least you got that part off your chest.”
“Right…” I yawned for what felt like forever, then leaned over and hugged her.
“Love you, sis. Get home safe. Text me or call me if you need me to stay up.”
“Oh, girl, I’m good. I’m about to put on some music and sing my heart out until I get to the crib.”
“Okay.”
I got out and headed up to my apartment. I got my key in the door, pushed it open, and stepped inside.
I quickly kicked my heels off because my feet were on fire, locked the door, and had only taken a few steps before I stepped on one of my baby’s toys. It hurt my foot even worse and had me hopping around on one foot.
Eventually, after the pain subsided, I bent down and picked it up. I held it against my chest, right by my heart, and just stood there in the middle of my living room for a second.
I carried it with me to the bathroom, set it down on the counter, grabbed my makeup wipes, and wiped my makeup off. I kept looking at it in the mirror the whole time before heading into my room to change into my night clothes.
I couldn’t help myself. I ended up crying.
It was the thought of knowing my baby wasn’t here that was eating me up.
I wasn’t even sure how long I had been crying, but eventually, I started dozing off. Then my phone dinged. I fished around for it on the bed with one eye open until I found it.
UNKNOWN: You good?
I frowned at the message, not knowing who was texting me or why because it was late as hell.
ME: Who’s this?
The response came almost immediately.
UNKNOWN: Your boss.
I laughed under my breath, shaking my head.
ME: Yeah, I’m good. You?
OZY: I’m straight. Just checking on you. When you moving in?
I stared at the message before typing back.
ME: You saying that like we’re shacking up I’ll probably be there tomorrow afternoon. I gotta do some last-minute running around and pack a few bags. Nothing too crazy.
OZY: Aight. I’ll see you tomorrow then, Love.
I stared at that last message a little longer than I needed to before locking my phone and setting it back down. Then I was knocked out once again.