Chapter Twenty-One. #2
“I’m sorry. Please just let me in so we can talk about it. Then I’ll leave, aight?”
Staring at him, Caresha sighed before shutting the window and stepping away.
Danger’s heart dropped. For a second, he thought she’d gone to lie back down and leave him standing outside all over again.
Then he heard the locks on the front door clicking open.
The sound was like music to his ears. Quickly, he headed that way.
He’d never moved so fast in his fucking life.
As soon as Caresha opened the door, he advanced on her, pulling her into his arms.
“Sss,” she winced, and he loosened his hold.
“I’m sorry, ma.” He said, easing back. “How you feeling?”
“I…I’m okay. I guess.” She stepped back, putting some space between them. “What is it? I really don’t have anything to say to you.”
“That’s cool. I’ll do all the talking.”
After locking the door behind him, Danger gently took her hand and led her to the couch. He sat beside her and handed her the roses and gift bag.
“I don’t want your dying ass roses. I don’t want your funky ass gift either. Frankly, I don’t even wanna see you, but you won’t leave me alone.”
“Do you not wanna be around me ’cause you mad at me? Or ’cause you scared to be around me? You mad that I didn’t talk to you, or you mad ’cause you got hurt by some niggas who was aiming for me?”
“That you treated me how you treated me.” Caresha made it clear.
Sure, she was shaken up by everything that had happened, but she wasn’t upset with him about that. She understood that if she hadn’t taken his car, none of it would have happened. She was pissed about the way he’d handled her.
“Aight. Well, just hear me out.”
“I’m listening, even though I shouldn’t be.”
“I know I need to work on my communication. What I’m about to say ain’t no excuse.
But at that time, a nigga was hurt. You know I just lost Mo.
That shit hurt my soul, but then I met you.
You walked into my life, and in the short time you’ve been here, you made my world better, Ree.
I could finally cope. I could finally breathe and live again.
Then, just as fast as I got that shit back, it felt like it was getting snatched away.
I shut down when I’m hurting, ma. I bottle that shit up, try to bury it, and I ain’t my best when I’m like that.
I was hurting ’bout you leaving, but again, that’s no excuse. ”
“You damn right it isn’t. I get that you were hurt, and I get that you’re still grieving. But that’s not how you should ever handle somebody you claim to care about. Y…you hurt my damn feelings. You reminded me why I don’t even do this kind of thing.
I don’t want to give my heart to a nigga who can’t even communicate his feelings with me. A nigga who treats me differently when he’s upset. You were cold. That’s not okay. I didn’t do shit wrong. I can’t help that I was trying to elevate my life and made plans before I met you.”
“You right.” Danger threw his hands up in surrender. “You so fuckin’ right, and I’m so sorry.”
A tear slipped down Caresha’s cheek as she stood, needing distance from him before her emotions got the better of her. She couldn’t believe she had let him make her cry.
Danger reached for her hand, stopping her gently. “Ree, don’t give up on me. Don't walk away.” He pulled her closer, pressing his lips against the thin fabric covering her stomach.
“I just need to hold you. I almost lost you. That would’ve been the last straw. That shit would’ve torn me apart…broke me down…put me in the fuckin’ grave.”
“S…stop,” Caresha whispered, pushing lightly against his head.
“Nah, I can’t. I can’t breathe without you.
Just let me hold you. I need to feel that this is real and that you’re still here with me.
I miss the fuck out of you. I’ve been feeling like I’m dying.
Point proven, baby. You stood your ground.
I get it, I swear I do. I’ll never pull no shit like that again. ”
Caresha licked the cut at the corner of her lips, frustrated by the emotions twisting inside her.
What type of bullshit voodoo was this? She wanted to be rid of whatever spell had her standing there talking to the same man who had hurt her feelings and, somehow, still had her wanting to fall back into his arms after nearly losing her life because of the world surrounding him.
“I care about you. A lot, ma. That’s why it hurt so bad to hear you tell me you were thinking about leaving me.”
“I’m thinking about leaving Satin Hills, not necessarily you.” She corrected.
“That’s leaving me.”
“Dee, I was hoping we could talk about it that night and maybe try long distance, at least until I’m done with school. But you didn’t even give the conversation a chance.”
“Long distance would be hard for me. I need you here. But how could I tell you that shit when I just met you? It felt out of place telling you that.”
“No, you should’ve told me. Nothing about your feelings is out of place. Communication is a must, even if we don’t agree. You could’ve told me how you felt, and we would’ve gone from there.”
“Well, I’m telling you now.”
Silence settled between them as Danger looked up at her, his eyes filled with regret and sadness.
He kissed her hand before gently lifting the hem of her gown and placing it over his head.
He just sat there underneath it, pressing his lips against every inch of her stomach, including the large purple bruise on it.
Caresha winced, and the reaction sent a sharp ache through his chest. Danger hated how everything had played out. Hated knowing she’d been hurt because of him.
“I’ma take care of you,” he whispered. “Get you well, and then I’ma handle the niggas who did this to you.”
“Dee—”
“Shh.” Danger stood, towering over her. “Just let me make all this up to you.” He looked down into her eyes, his expression saying everything his words probably couldn’t properly convey.
Danger was sorry for shutting her out, for hurting her feelings, and for letting his pain turn into something that pushed her away.
Most of all, he was so sorry that she had to bear the consequences of being connected to him.
Overwhelmed with apologies, he sank to his knees before her, kissing her feet, showing her that he worshipped her.
He moved slowly, pressing his lips to her legs and then to her stomach once more before rising to his feet, his heart full of devotion.
Caresha was left speechless by his actions.
“I know your mama don’t like me, but I’ll fix that. First, I gotta start with you. What your heart say, Ree? Do you hate me too, or do you still care for me despite all the shit that went down?”
Caresha studied him for a long moment before reluctantly nodding.
“Yeah?” Danger asked, seeking confirmation, desperate to hear her say she still cared.
“Yes.”
“Yes what?”
“Yes, I still like you and care about you very much.”
Exhaling a sigh of relief, Danger gently lifted her into his arms, being careful not to aggravate her injuries.
“I missed you, baby. Just wanna hold you, lay wit’ you.
” He said, carrying her toward the bedroom, and once inside, he lowered her onto the bed with utmost care, as if she were made of glass.
“You hungry? I bought you a baked potato, but that shit old by now. I can get you something else.”
“Don’t bother. My mama cooked, so I’ll have something while she’s working.”
“Aight,”
Once he made sure she was comfortable, he stripped out of his clothes and started to climb into bed beside her.
“Aht, aht,” Caresha said, slowly holding up her sore hand.
Danger immediately stopped, thinking she was telling him hell no because she still wasn’t comfortable with him being so close. He backed off without arguing, ready to respect her space.
“Shower. You need to shower first. When’s the last time you did that?”
Danger dragged a hand down his face. “Shit…since I was last with you at the crib.”
“Go change that. Put your clothes in the washer, then get in that shower and clean yourself up. I have an extra toothbrush and deodorant in there, still in the packaging. Use those, too. It’s not men’s deodorant, but it’ll do. Powder fresh scent.”
“Damn, I stink?”
“Not necessarily, but you’re a sweaty mess, and your clothes are filthy.”
Nodding, Danger walked away, following her instructions, step by step. The hot water felt damn near heavenly against his skin. He stood beneath it, letting the heat loosen the tension that had been sitting in his body for days.
He stayed in there so long that Caresha eventually had no choice but to come use the toilet while he was still in the shower. She’d tried holding it, hoping he’d hurry up, but clearly, Danger had no intention of getting out anytime soon.
When she tried pulling down her panties, a painful hiss slipped from her lips, catching Danger’s attention. He dropped the loofah sponge and stepped out of the shower without thinking, leaving a trail of suds across the floor as he hurried to help her.
“You wetting my damn floor up.”
“Fuck this floor, Ree.”
Caresha didn’t fight him on the assistance. Danger carefully helped her lower her underwear, then eased her onto the toilet and waited until she was settled. Once she finished, he helped her back to her feet and gently removed her gown.
“What are you doing?”
“Come in the shower with me.”
“No.”
“Yes.” He kissed her forehead. “Come on. I just want to hold you. I can’t go another second without feeling you next to me.”
Caresha hesitated but finally nodded, cautiously stepping into the shower.
Danger wrapped his arms around her gently and pressed soft kisses against the scrapes on her face.
She let him, battling with her heart. It ached for him, even after everything that had happened.
She wanted to receive him…to wrap her arms around him badly.
“I swear I’m gon’ kill every one of those niggas. I promise you, Ree.”