6. Kingsley
KINGSLEY
“You need anything, man?”
I glanced up to see my brother. I shook my head.
I was sitting in the waiting area of the hospital, hoping Treasure would change her mind about seeing me.
I’d been here for three days. Seeing her on the floor of that bathroom scared the hell out of me.
This shit was my fault. I always did my best to keep my dick in check.
When she started showing me more affection, I couldn’t tame him.
I knew she’d noticed my erection. My shirt wasn’t hiding shit.
How was I going to help her through this if I couldn’t control myself?
She had to know that was damn near impossible.
Dicks often had minds of their own. There was no way I could contain my arousal whenever I was in her presence. She was the woman I loved.
“Shaydon and Shymir came to town to check on you and do whatever you needed them to do.”
“They’re supposed to be on vacation.”
“They canceled it.”
I took a deep breath and slid my hand down my face.
Shaydon and Shymir were Uncle Shylou’s sons.
They’d been our boys since birth. Our parents were all best friends, so it only made sense that we were close as well.
Despite the different paths our lives took us on, we all had each other’s backs, no matter how long we went without talking.
I hadn’t really had a conversation with them since Shaydon was tryna pull Maui from Mythic’s grasps.
He was in love with her, just like I was in love with Treasure.
We always talked about the women we were feeling.
They were the ones I confided in the most, simply because they didn’t live here. Who would they tell?
“Okay. Are they staying at my house or Dad and Mom’s?”
“Yours, if it’s cool.”
“Of course.”
I sat back in the recliner I’d snubbed since the first day Treasure was here.
I couldn’t believe she’d tried to kill herself.
I thought she’d succeeded when I saw all that blood.
That vision in my mind was about to take me out.
Whenever I closed my eyes, I saw blood all over the floor and the relaxed expression on her face.
It was like she was far away from here. There were no expressions of fear or panic. She was ready to check out on me.
Kane sat next to me, and I could see the concern on his facial expressions. He glanced at my water jug in the recliner next to me, then asked, “Have you eaten?”
“Naw. I don’t have an appetite.”
“Kingsley, I’m worried about you, bro.”
“I’m worried about her,” I said softly. I bit my bottom lip, trying to contain my emotions, but to no avail. The tears fell anyway. “I thought she was dead, man.”
“She’s not. She’s going to be okay . . . physically. I believe she will be okay mentally as well. It’s just going to take a lot of work and patience with the process. This shit ain’t on you, man.”
“Yeah, it is. I know her triggers. I shouldn’t have let her get that affectionate with me, knowing that I couldn’t handle it.
I was so excited that she seemed to want to let her guard down, I didn’t think about how my body’s reaction to that could trigger the fuck out of her.
It triggered her so bad, she ended up here.
That’s on me. I’m supposed to look out for her. ”
I was shocked when Kane wrapped his arms around me.
I was always the one who was there for everyone emotionally and mentally.
Now, I felt like I was falling apart because I couldn’t be enough for Treasure.
I thought if she let me in, I could make things better for her.
That was ignorant thinking. I had no experience dealing with mental health. My love wasn’t enough.
I pulled away from him and wiped my face just as my dad and Mr. Legend walked into the waiting area.
My dad sat next to me as Mr. Legend continued to Treasure’s room.
He put his arm around me and kissed the side of my head.
He’d done that for as long as I could remember.
KJ had said he didn’t start doing that to him until they had moved to San Antonio.
He believed it was his way of showing his boys how much he loved them.
As the only girl, Karima always got his sensitivity and affection.
KJ said he initially got handshakes and sometimes, hugs.
He wanted to believe that after losing Kendrick, it was important to love on his sons as well.
I appreciated Dad for that. It helped me to be well-rounded and able to show affection without it feeling awkward.
“You still haven’t seen her?” my dad asked.
“No.”
“Why don’t you go home and shower and eat, then come back? That may do you some good.”
“What if she decides she wants to see me while I’m gone?”
“If she does, I promise, she will still want to see you when you come back.”
I shook my head. I could never leave Treasure’s side, even if she didn’t want me there.
Once she was discharged, I wouldn’t have a choice.
Before I could verbally respond, Mama and Karima walked into the waiting area, Mama carrying a bag.
Dad stood and so did I. When I did, I realized just how weak I felt.
My emotions were taking me on a ride, so me not eating nor sleeping only made it worse.
My mama pulled me in her arms and hugged me tightly as the bag swung in the crook of her arm.
She was who I looked most like. Of all my siblings, I was the only one who looked like her.
I had her milk chocolate complexion, somewhat pointy nose, slanted eyes, and wide smile.
The only things I seemed to inherit from Dad was my hair texture and my height. I was six feet three inches.
“I brought some of your favorite snacks, baby. I know you are strong-willed, so I’m not here to try to talk you into going home. I’m just here to support you while you support Treasure. Karima has some more hygiene stuff for you.”
“Thank you, Mama.”
I kissed her head, then hugged Karima. When I saw KJ, Cassie, and K-3 come in, my heart was full. My family was here to see about me.
“Rhodes wanted me to send his support as well. He stayed home with the babies.”
I smiled slightly. Katrice was almost a couple of months old. “Tell him I said thanks.”
She kissed my cheek and placed her hand there.
When she closed her eyes, I knew to remain still.
I wasn’t sure who she inherited this gift from, but it surely wasn’t Mama or Daddy.
It wasn’t the Henderson side at all. I didn’t know my mom’s parents.
She never really talked about them either. All I knew was that they were deceased.
“You are so faithful, Kingsley. Don’t ever lose that. God loves you, and He will reward you for your loyalty to Treasure. In the meantime, don’t give up on her. God will make sure she doesn’t give up on herself again either.”
I hugged Karima again, and said, “Thanks, sis.”
When I pulled away from her, my mama handed me the bag. There were Doritos, Club crackers, and cracklin’ in there. I chuckled. “Where did you get cracklin’ from?”
“Cracklin’ Kings was parked outside at Sam’s. So I went over and got you a couple of pounds.”
“Thanks, Ma.”
After we all sat, Mr. Legend came and sat with us.
He looked right at me. “Thank you for being here, but you need to tend to yourself, son. Treasure will be transferred to Baptist Behavioral Health Hospital tomorrow morning. They’re anticipating her to be there for a week at minimum.
How long she stays will be determined once she’s there and going through counseling. ”
“She still doesn’t want to see me, huh?” I asked.
He shook his head, and my heart broke further.
It was like I lost all the wind out of my sail until I glanced over a Karima.
She gave me a soft smile, and I was reminded of what she said, that I had just that quickly forgotten.
I closed my eyes briefly, then stood from my seat and grabbed all my things as my family looked on with wide eyes.
“Tell Treasure that I love her so much. Whenever she’s ready for me to be in her space, I will be.
Her mental health is of utmost importance.
” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
“I never wanted to leave her side. Please tell her that. But since she’s leaving here tomorrow and she doesn’t want to see me today, I may as well go home.
If she changes her mind, please call me. I’ll come right back.”
Mr. Legend stood and pulled me in for a hug.
Once he released me, I walked off, realizing only Kane was behind me.
I remained quiet as I walked to the elevator.
He remained silent as well. Once the elevator doors opened and I saw Royal and Seven on it, I nodded.
Instead of getting off, they stayed on, allowing Kane and I to join them.
The moment the doors closed, Seven said, “I didn’t think you were going to leave until she did.”
“I didn’t plan to.”
“What happened?” Royal asked.
“She still didn’t want to see me. She’s getting transferred tomorrow to the behavioral center. I won’t be able to just sit up there.”
“I’m sorry, man,” Royal said as he rested his hand on my shoulder.
“It is what it is.”
No one said a word until the elevator doors opened.
“So you headed home?”
“Yeah. Shaydon and Shymir should be there by now.”
They nodded, and we all went our separate ways.
I assumed that meant they were coming over too.
I really just wanted to be alone. I needed to brainstorm ways to get Treasure to talk to me, other than sending her flowers.
As soon as she got admitted over at the mental hospital, I would send flowers to her, along with some boudin.
She loved boudin. I would send it with Mythic.