by Lexi Reign
"Lorenzo has been in a horrible accident. The hospital called and I can't drive in this state. Can y'all ple-" I started to say as Vedo cut me off. He hopped out of the bed quickly and slid on a shirt and his slides.
"Calm down, sis. He's going to be ok. You know I got you" he said as Naomi rushed to her room.
"What happened," she asked yelling to me as we all walked down the stairs and out of the door. We hopped in Lorenzo's Challenger and Vedo sped off. I sighed.
"I don't know," I said, turning around to look at her as Vedo swerved lanes.
"I feel so bad. We had a bad argument before he left and I just felt in my spirit that something was wrong with him after he left. He told me he loved me and I didn't say it back" I said as I cried.
"Man, it's okay, Nia. Don't even do that yourself" Vedo said as he grabbed my hand.
"No, it's not, Vedo. You should've seen what I saw. He was hurting and I was so mad at him for cheating on me that I couldn't even show him any sympathy" I said sighing.
"Girl, stop all that damn crying. You are pregnant and I don't need you hurting my niece. So chill. Lo is going to be good. You know he's strong and ain't no way he leaves you" Vedo said smiling at me.
I forced a light smile as he rubbed my hand. I could see the frustration and worry all in his face, too. Lo is like a big brother to him. He's always here for Vedo. Just like CJ. Damn, I haven't even called him. I quickly pulled out my phone to text him.
"What were y'all arguing about," Naomi asked. I turned around slowly to look at her. I sighed.
"It's not even worth it anymore," I said sighing.
"No lie, Lo is my brother, and I'll always have his back, but you have a reason to be mad at him. That's like when your daughter grows up and goes and does some bad shit, of course, you're going to punish her. She would have to get disciplined in order to learn from it, just like Lo. He cheated on you and yea, that was fucked up, but you know.." he said shrugging. I sighed and nodded.
"So, are you going to forgive him," Naomi asked. I shrugged.
"I don't think you should. He still hasn't learned yet" she said.
I don't know honestly. I love Lo, and by all this happening, all I want to do is let everything go and be with my man. Life is too short. I want him in my life and I want to raise my child with him under the same roof.
"Shut up, Nae. You the main one that can't input on anybody's relationship. Look at you. I thought you hated me, but your ass got in the bed with me" Vedo spat at her.
"You shut up, Corahn," she said to him as he pulled into the hospital parking lot. We all hopped out and I ran to the front desk.
"Girl, slow down before you fall," Vedo said as I reached the desk. Naomi went to sit down as Vedo followed me.
"Hi, I'm Nia P-Woods. My husband had an accident. I just need to see him" I said crying. The receptionist looked at me as if I was crazy.
"You can't see him," she said rudely.
"Excuse you," I asked ready to snap on her ass.
"He's in surgery, right now. We don't have any updates" she stated.
"What happened," I asked.
"I don't know," she said bluntly. I looked at Vedo.
"My sister asked you a question and you're sitting up here with a fucking attitude. If you hate your job, bitch, you shouldn't be damn working here" Vedo spat at her.
"It's ok," I said to him.
"No, it ain't," Vedo said mugging the bitch as we both walked off. I could feel my heart racing and I had a serious migraine.
We sat down by Naomi and CJ came rushing in.
"Yo, y'all good," he asked as I stood up to greet him. He gave me a hug and squeezed me tightly. I cried.
"Aw, it's ok, big head," he said as he rubbed my back.
"Come on, sit down," he said to me as he dapped up Vedo and hugged Naomi. He sat down by me.
"You need to calm down," CJ said to me.
"I am calm. I'm just worried about him, CJ" I said.
"I wasn't there for him. All those times I've complained about him not being there for me, but I wasn't there for him. I saw it in his eyes that he needed me, but I was being so stubborn" I said.
"Nia, don't go blaming yourself. This ain't your fault. It was an accident" Vedo added. I sighed. I could feel Naomi staring at me and she had a funny look on her face. I quickly looked away from her.
"Oh my God, is my baby ok," Ms. Jackie said crying as she rushed in with Vera, Larenz, and Turner. I didn't know that Vera and Turner were even in town.
"Hey, baby," Vera said, hugging me as Turner and Larenz did the same. Lorenzo's mom just stared at me. I sighed because I don't even know what to say to her. I felt so uncomfortable. She quickly walked towards me and pulled me into a hug.
"It's going to be ok, our Lorenzo is a fighter. You just stay strong for my grandbaby" she said smiling at me and she caressed my face. They all sat down and I just stood there in a trance. I can't believe she was so nice. I sat down between Vedo and CJ and CJ cut his eyes at me. He chuckled.
"Don't start, CJ" I warned.
"I ain't say nothing," he said, making me laugh.
"Where's Maurice and Lauryn," I asked everyone.
"They're at home, sick as hell. They both have the flu" Larenz said. Damn. I didn't know that.
"Family of Lorenzo Woods," the doctor said as he walked up.
I quickly got up as everyone did, too. He stared at me and everyone else, then sighed. He was holding a camera.
"Lorenzo had a pretty bad accident. We had our forensics team to go out and take pictures of his belongings and his truck" the doctor started to say as he handed me the camera. I started to press the button and my heart dropped.
"Oh my God," I cried out. His truck was upside down and smashed so badly. I passed the camera to Jackie.
"Is he ok?" CJ asked as he wrapped his arm around me and rubbed my shoulder.
"His bones were fractured severely. We have his left arm, left hand, and right leg in casts. We have a cast for his back, too. We had to induce him into a coma because his brain has a lot of swelling. We don't know what the results will look like, we can only take it one day at a time" the doctor said.
Tears ran down my face. I felt myself getting lightheaded as CJ helped me to my chair. Lorenzo's parents and Vera and Turner were all crying. Vedo and CJ were both crying, too. CJ tried to act all hard and shit.
"You okay," CJ asked. I shook my head.
"CJ, I can't live without him. I can't raise this baby without him" I said as he stared in my face. He wiped my tears.
"I got you. You'll never have to be alone. You got me, Vedo, Naomi, Vera, Larenz, Turner, and even Jackie's crazy-ass coming around" he mumbled making me laugh. I nodded.
"Quit crying, alright," he asked as I nodded.
The doctor walked back up.
"One of you all can come back and see him. He's in ICU" the doctor stated as everyone turned around to look at me.
"Go ahead," CJ said, whispering as he nudged me.
"Wife, you want to come on back," the doctor asked.
"Wife" I heard Jackie asked.
I quickly followed the doctor as I felt my nerves. I am so afraid to see how he looks. I just hate that this happened to him.
"Right this way," the doctor said as we cut the corner.
He pushed open the room's door and I heard the monitors beeping.
"I'll leave you alone," the doctor said.
I slowly looked around the wall and saw Lorenzo's lifeless body. He was so still. I walked towards him and I felt my tears running. His forehead and jaw were bruised up badly. He had cuts all over his face and neck.
"Baby, I'm so sorry" I cried.
"I'm so sorry, you had to go through this. I love you so much, Lorenzo" I said to him as I touched his hand. He was cold as ice. I rubbed his hand.
"I love you so much, Lo. Please, baby, don't leave me. I need you here. I'm sorry for all of the things I said this morning. I'm so sorry. I should've let you sleep with me like you wanted
. I'd do anything to lay with you again. I'm sorry, Lorenzo. You don't deserve this. You've been such a good man to me. You've never disrespected me and you've treated me so good. I'm so sorry we both have been focused on all the bad things. I didn't mean any of the things I said this morning. I want to be with you" I cried harder as I heard the room door open. I turned around and saw CJ creeping in.
"Damn, man," he said lowly as he looked at Lorenzo. He stood at the door.
"Are you going to come on in?" I asked. He shook his head. I walked towards CJ and pulled him closer.
"I can't stand to see him like this. Damn, dawg. How you do this" CJ asked.
"Man, looking at your truck, you're blessed to be alive," CJ said.
"You my boy, Lo. Regardless of the past, I don't know what we all would do without you, man. Gone and wake up, bruh" CJ said.
"You got to see your little girl grow up, man. We got to raise her and shoot up these dudes, man, when she grows up. We got so much shit to do together, Lo. You can't die on me, man. But I promise I got your family while you are down. I'll be here for Nia and your little girl, I promise" CJ said as he touched Lorenzo's hand.
"Damn, he's cold," he said as I agreed.
"I'll be back," CJ said as he walked towards the door.
"NURSE, WE NEED THE HEAT ON IN THIS BITCH" CJ yelled as he walked out of the door. I laughed because I know he's serious, but he means well.
"You'd be proud of your mama. She spoke to me and even gave me a hug. She's been nice to me" I said to Lo.
"I know that would've made you happy to see. Everybody's out there. We're here for you, baby, and you mean the world to us. There won't be a good life without you. You complete us" I said to him.
"I love you, baby. So much" I said to him as I kissed his lips.
"You ate breakfast yet," CJ asked me as he walked back in with the nurse. She set the thermostat and walked back out.
"No," I said to him.
"You want to go eat," he asked as I stared at Lorenzo. I shook my head no.
"Nia, I know you worried about him. But if Lo was awake, he'd be making you eat. You are not just feeding yourself. You are feeding my niece, too, so come on" CJ semi-yelled as he grabbed my hand.
"He's going to be alright. Lo is strong. This ain't shit for him to bounce back from" CJ said as I nodded.
"Can we go out the back? I really don't want to deal with my sister" I said. He nodded.
"What's going on with y'all? I saw how she was looking at you" CJ said. I shrugged.
"CJ, I'm really trying with her. I'm letting her stay with me and plus, I found her in the bed with Vedo this morning, so I don't know what's her problem" I said.
"Maybe she just misses your moms or some" CJ said.
"I don't know, CJ. I'm tired of playing this guessing game with her. She rubs me the wrong way. She's sneaky" I said to him.
He chuckled as we reached his truck. He opened the door for me and helped me inside. He got in and sped off.
"You ain't lying about Naomi. She does have that mischievous ass look" he said chuckling.
"I never wanted her to stay. Lo invited her because he thought that was the right thing to do. I'm still not over that stunt her and my mama pulled" I said.
"Oh yeah, Lo told me that Naomi said that you said he knew who Robert was," CJ said. I snapped my neck towards him.
"She said what," I asked.
"Yeah, that's what Lo said. I told him that girl was probably lying cause why would you say that when you know he ain't know dude" CJ said.
What the fuck is this girl doing? Why would she lie to my man about something I didn't say?
"What do you think about that?" CJ asked.
"Why would she lie to him? What's the point" I asked. CJ shrugged.
"Seems like she is trying to keep y'all apart," CJ said. I sighed.
"What you want to eat," he asked as he got in the turning lane.
"I really don't have a taste for anything. I'm too worried about Lo to eat" I said.
"Yeah, me too. Did they say how it happened" he asked. I shook my head.
"His truck was fucked up bad. Somebody had to hit him hard" he said. I nodded in agreement.
"I'll take Sonics," I said as he nodded. He whipped in the drive-in and parked.
"I got you. Get what you want" he said.
"I don't even want breakfast food" I whined.
"You know you can get lunch," CJ said as he scrolled on his phone.
"Ooooh, I want the barbecue popcorn chicken with a chili cheese tot with peppers," I said.
"You can't eat peppers, can it," he asked.
"You sound just like Lo," I said rolling my eyes.
"It might give me heartburn," I said.
"Well, no peppers," CJ said as he pressed the button.
"Get me a Strawberry slush, too," I said to him as he ordered our food.
"I'm so tired. I've been up since damn 5 this morning" I said.
"Shit, me too. I've been up smoking all morning. So you know I'm about to grub" he said rubbing his hands together. I laughed.
"Let me know when the food gets here," I said as I let my seat back.
I felt CJ staring at me. I got comfortable and closed my eyes as the sun beamed down on my face. The warmth felt so good. I can't help but keep my mind on Lorenzo. It really hurt me to see him like that. I don't know how I'm going to make it without him. I'm so used to him being around. Even though we were not on the best terms, his presence was still there and I loved it. I just pray that he wakes up soon.
Chapter 39: I Got You
Nia's POV
June 18th
1:30 pm
||| 4 Months Later |||
"CJ, where in the hell are you at," I asked as I fussed at him over the phone.
Right now, he's supposed to be taking me to see Lorenzo.
"Man, I'm on my way," he said.
"I've been waiting on you for hours," I said to him.
I literally called him at 10 this morning to take me to the hospital and here it is 1:00. I would've asked Vedo to take me but he's upstairs with Naomi, and I don't have the time to be fussing with her. Over the past few months, I've nearly killed her ass about 15 times. I don't know what's her problem, but I'm sick of her damn attitude. I think she's starting to forget that she's a guest.
"I'm sorry, Nia. I had this job interview" he said.
"Job interview," I asked.
"Man, you never listen to me. I just told your big-headed ass this shit last night and you thought I was lying" he said.
"I'm outside, fat ass," he said as he quickly hung up. I heard him lay on the horn. I swear I'm going to slap the hell out of him.
"VEDO, I'M LEAVING" I yelled.
"BET, BE SAFE. LOVE YOU AND KACYN" he yelled. I laughed.
Over the past few months, Vedo, CJ, Naomi, and CJ's new girl, Dana, have been a lot of help. CJ claims they're just friends, but I just don't think he's into her like that. She is pretty, though. They all have been taking me back and forth to my doctor's appointment and just really being here for me. I swear I don't know what I could've done without either of them. And yeap, CJ finally got over Lauryn and he moved on, but not before having sex with her and disappearing on her. I told his ass that he was wrong, but he didn't listen.
But of course, being here without Lorenzo has been hard. I try to visit him every day. I sit with him and just talk to him. The doctors say that he can hear me, so I just really tell him everything. I miss him so much. CJ has paid the best of the best brain surgeons to check Lo out, but they all say the same thing. Nobody really knows when he's going to wake up. They all say it's all on him. But CJ has really been a big help for me. I could never repay him for all he has done.
I walked out of the door and waddled down the steps. CJ got out of the car.
"I was coming to help you," he said laughing as he intertwined our arms.
"You good," he asked. I nodded.
"Yeah, my back is just killing me," I said to him.
"It should be. She's weighing you down, huh" he asked chuckling.
"Yes, I don't know what's taking so long" I whined.
"Don't rush it. I swear I'm not ready" he said, making me laugh.
"Well, I am. I'm tired of being uncomfortable and pregnant" I said.