by Lexi Reign
Spent like (how much?)
Ten thousand (ten thousand)
Twenty thousand (twenty thousand)
Thirty thousand (thirty thousand)
Forty thousand (forty thousand)
How much I'ma spend profilin'?
She come in and compliment my closet
Fuck her on the floor like I don't give a fuck 'bout it
Your judgement get clouded when you clouded
I bobbed my head to the music as Brent Faiyaz - Clouded blasted through the speakers. I watched Lori in the rearview mirror and she was just smiling and laughing.
I pulled into the hospital's parking lot and grabbed Lori's baby bag. I placed it on my shoulder, then grabbed her car seat. I carried her inside the hospital with me as I walked to Lorenzo's room.
"Girl, you are heavy," I said to Lori.
"Hey, Nia, I know you're excited" Nurse Cherry said to me. She's one of Lorenzo's nurses who has been here with him since the accident happened.
"Hey, and I am," I said to her.
"Hey, little mama" she cooed at Lori. Lori giggled.
"Aw, she's so cute. She looks just like her daddy" Cherry said as I reached Lo's room. I exhaled. I don't know why I'm so nervous. I slowly pushed open the door and Lorenzo was staring out of the window.
"Hey," I said to him.
"Baby," he said to me.
He stared at me from my head to my toes, then at my stomach, and down at Lori's car seat. All he did was stare as I watched his chest go up and down. His heart monitor started to race.
"Baby, calm down," I said as Nurse Cherry walked in.
"What's going on? His heart monitor went off" she said.
"I c-can't breathe," he said as she quickly raised his bed up.
"Deep breaths," she said as she put the stethoscope to his chest.
"You're ok, what were you thinking about? You have to remember to slowly glide back into your old life. It's ok if things seem different odd" she said.
"Nothing, I'm fine" he answered. She gave him a sympathetic look and gave me the same look as she walked out.
"What were you thinking about," I asked as I walked closer to him. I sat Lori's carriage on the couch and Lorenzo kept watching my every move.
"N-Nothing," he said.
I walked closer to him and touched his hand, but he jumped. He looked down at my head, then back up at me. I stared in his face and something seemed so off.
"I'm ok," he said.
"I just feel like I've been dead or some shit. You're not pregnant anymore" he said.
I grabbed Lori out of her car seat.
"No, I had her two months ago. Meet Lori Milan Payne" I said to him as I turned her around so he could see her. I saw tears fill his eyes.
"Damn, I can't deny her," he said chuckling as he started to cough.
"You ok," I asked.
"Yeah, doc said my body has to get used to me being in control again," he said. I nodded.
"Do you want to hold her?" I asked.
"I'm kind of scared to. My arm fucked up" he said.
I looked at his arm and it was healed. He had no scratches on his face and his leg was healed, too.
"Try," I said to him as I helped him hold her and prop her head up. I hope she doesn't cry.
"I have to start going to physical therapy. I'm weak as hell from laying in this damn bed. How long have I been in here?" he asked. I sighed.
"About 6 months," I said.
"It doesn't feel like it," he said.
"I've missed a lot huh," he asked as he grabbed my finger. I started to feel bad. I hate he had to go through this. I want to ask him what happened that morning, but I'll wait until he's stronger.
"Where's CJ," he asked which quickly made my heart drop.
"I'm not even sure. I texted him, but he didn't say anything back" I said. He nodded.
I haven't seen CJ in about a week. I don't know what his problem is. The doctor knocked on the door and came in.
"How are you doing, Lorenzo? I see you jumping back into life. She's so beautiful" the doctor cooed at Lori.
"You have one hell of a woman here. In the past 6 months, I haven't seen her miss one day of visiting you" the doctor said which made me smile. Lorenzo stared at me and smiled.
"Knowing my wife, she would've left me the moment she heard I was medically induced," he said chuckling as he turned his attention to Lorenzo.
"Your body has had 6 months to heal from your fractures and broken bones. We did another X-ray this morning and everything is good" the doctor said.
"And because you've been on a ventilator for months, you may have short of breath and panic attacks, but that's what this inhaler is for. But overall, I'm pleased with your results. You're blessed to be alive, Mr. Woods" the doctor added.
"When can I go home," Lorenzo asked.
"When you're ready. All I ask is that you take it easy on yourself. Don't get frustrated, Lorenzo. You have to gradually jump back into your life. You have to remember that you've been kind of brain dead for months. Your mind has to get back stronger. You have to be patient with yourself" the doctor said to Lorenzo as he nodded.
"I'll get your papers" the doctor added as he walked out. Lorenzo sighed.
I saw anger and frustration already in his face as he turned his attention back to Lori. His face softened as he really started to examine her. All she did was stare up at him. I'm surprised she's not crying.
I started to pack Lorenzo's things as the doctor walked back in. We both signed everything and they rolled in a wheelchair. I placed Lori in her car seat as I helped Lorenzo.
"You got it," I asked as he slowly stood up. He almost fell and nearly pushed me over.
"I got you," I said to Lorenzo as he slowly walked to his chair. I could see the anger in his face. I already know this isn't going to be easy.
"Remember, the doctor said to be patient with your body. You haven't walked in 6 months and you fractured the bone in your leg, so it's ok" I said to him. He nodded as he reached for Lori.
I pushed him out of the room as we headed towards the exit. As we got closer, I looked up and met eyes with CJ, which made my heartbeat race. He walked slowly towards us with his head down.
"Wassup, man? How are you feeling" CJ asked Lorenzo.
"I can't complain," Lorenzo said chuckling.
"Hey, little lady" CJ said to Lori. She giggled and lit up when she saw him.
"Wassup, Nia" CJ said nodding.
"Hey, CJ," I said, forcing a slight smile as he stared through my eyes. You could feel the tension between all of us. CJ kept his eyes on me.
"I didn't think they'd let you out today. That's good, though" CJ said to Lo.
"I'm going to change her, I'll be back," I said as I grabbed Lori. I felt CJ kept his eyes on me as I walked off down the hall.
CJ's POV:
I watched Nia as she walked away. I could feel Lo watching me as I turned my attention back to him.
"Man, shit ain't been the same without you," I said to Lo.
"I bet they haven't," he said as he just sat there. He didn't even look at me. He was looking at everything, but me.
"Your mama has finally come around," I said to him.
"That's good. I'm happy for her" he said with no emotion.
"Lo," I called.
"I know you, what's good," I asked him.
"I know you, so what's good" he retorted as he stared at me in my eye. I saw no emotion. I saw emptiness. The same look I saw back when we were young. The same look I feared that would take away his life or put his ass in the ground.
"What are you thinking about," I asked him. He chuckled.
"You don't want to know," he said, smirking as Nia walked back with Lori. He glared at Nia and back at me. I already know he isn't stupid. He has always been too damn smart for his own good.
"You good," I asked him.
"Stop asking me questions, damn. I'm good, man" he said chuckling as he extended his hand to dap me up. I reluctantly
did so.
"I want to walk," he said to Nia.
"Lorenzo, what did your doctor just tell you? He said to take it easy" she said to him. She avoided eye contact with me as I watched her struggling to hold Lori's car seat and push Lo.
"Fuck that," Lorenzo said.
"Let me get her," I said to Nia. She looked up at me and handed me Lori's car seat.
"No, I got her" Lorenzo said as he stood up and got in my face. He took the car seat from me and slowly walked off. He had a limp, but he was walking ok.
"You don't need me no more, huh," I asked Nia lightly chuckling. She sighed.
"CJ, don't be that way," she said.
"You belong in me and my child's life. You have been there for me and I'm forever grateful for that. You'll always have a spot in my heart" she said to me. I nodded.
"I was coming by to tell y'all both that I'm moving sometime later this week. I've already found a spot in Virginia" I said to her.
"Ok," she said quickly as I saw her attitude change.
"So, you're ok with me leaving," I asked her.
"CJ, I don't care what you do. You obviously want to get away and I'm not going to stop you from doing something you want to do" she said.
"I'm sorry," I said to her as we started to walk out.
"I'll see you around, ok," I asked her. She nodded without looking at me. I walked to my truck and quickly hopped in.
Chapter 42: The Worst
Nia's POV
August 22nd
11:30 am
I woke up to the sound of Lori screaming from the top of her lungs. I quickly jumped up. Her carriage was empty next to my bed, so I walked down the stairs. Lorenzo was rocking her trying to calm her down as her food was being heated.
"Hey," I said to him.
"Wassup," he asked nodding.
For the past week, things have been awkward as hell between Lorenzo and me. It's like he's in a completely different world. All he does is spend time with Lori and ignores me.
"Your mama called me," I said to him.
"Ok," he said as he sat down at the table with Lori.
"You don't want to know what she said," I asked.
"No," he said quickly as he watched Lori.
"Lorenzo, you can't just shut out the world. You have to talk to people. You barely even talk to me or CJ. You have to talk to somebody" I said to him.
"I don't want to talk to you or CJ," he said.
"Why," I asked as I walked closer to him. He finally looked up at me. I didn't see the man I fell in love with. I saw no emotions.
"Do you really want me to fucking answer that? Bitch, don't play dumb with me" he spat at me which cut me deep.
"Bitch? Excuse you" I asked him.
"With all due respect, Nia, you better get out of my face. I don't want to talk to you" he said calmly.
"No, Lorenzo. I want to talk to you. You have been in this damn bubble for 6 months. You don't know what I've been through over the last 6 months" I said to him. He stood up and walked into the living room. Is he really ignoring me? He placed Lori in her bouncer and walked towards me.
"I don't give a fuck about what you've been through these past 6 months. What I do care about is the fact you and CJ have been living this fucking fantasy ass lifestyle with my daughter. She's my child and I refuse to let him take my daughter from me" he said.
"Lorenzo, CJ doesn't want to take your daughter. He respects and knows that she's your daughter. And no, we haven't been living a fantasy lifestyle. What you fail to realize is that shit was hard for me. I was alone, emotional, broken, and I needed you while I was pregnant. I needed you when I was in labor. I didn't have you with me and that hurt me. But yes, CJ stepped in and had my back" I said to him.
"And you love him," Lorenzo said, staring through my eyes.
"Lorenzo" I started to say as I looked away.
"No, Nia. Look me in my eyes and tell me you didn't fall in love with him" he said.
"Lorenzo" I started to say.
"LOOK AT ME" he yelled as I jumped. I looked at him and he had tears in his eyes. His veins were popping out of the side of his neck and head.
"SAY SOMETHING" he yelled as Vedo came down the steps.
"Lo, what's going on," Vedo asked.
"Lorenzo, can we talk abo-" I started to say as he wrapped his hands around my neck. He started to choke me.
"I gave you everything. Everything I've done is for you. I got into that accident because of you. My life is fucked up now because of you. My life was normal before I met you. I should've never helped you. I should've listened to CJ. I wish I would've never met you" he spat at me as he squeezed my neck harder.
"LO, STOP, MAN" Vedo said trying to get him off of me. He slammed me into the wall.
"Lo, I'm s-sorry. I c-can't br-breathe" I said to him as he started chuckling.
"LO, LET HER GO," Vedo said as he shoved Lorenzo hard as hell and he let go of my neck.
"ARE YOU CRAZY?" I asked him as I slapped him. I hit him again and punched him. All he did was take the licks.
"How can you love him? I knew it. I heard everything. For 6 months, I felt trapped in my own body. I couldn't fucking wake up. But I heard everything he said. His words circled through my mind day and night. He's in love with you. I'll be damned if I let y'all be together and take my daughter away from me. Over my dead body" he spat at me. Tears ran down his face. I felt nothing but his pain.
"Lorenzo, I'm so sorry. I don't want to be with him. I never meant to hurt you" I said to him as tears rolled down my face. I hate that I've caused him so much pain.
"But you love him, though. You love him more than you love me" he asked. I sighed.
"Damn," he said, chuckling as he walked down the stairs towards the basement. He ran quickly back up with a gun in his hand.
"Lorenzo, what are you doing," I asked him as he quickly walked out of the house.
"LO" Vedo yelled as he caught up with him.
"Vedo, get out of my way. Your bitch has been trying to fuck me for the past year. I advise you to keep a leash on the hoe" Lorenzo spat at Vedo while looking at me. My mouth flew open.
"Really, Lorenzo? You've been keeping that from me? And I had her in my house watching our daughter. I trusted her and you let her into my house" I said to him as he got out of the car and walked towards me.
"I did it for your ass. You are the one that was moping around the damn house about how much you miss the hoe. I let her stay for you and I didn't tell you about it because I ain't want to hurt you and ruin this fucking image of her you had in your damn head. But I see you don't give a damn about me" he spat at me.
"Lorenzo, I do care" I cried.
"Why are you crying? You are the one in love with my homeboy. I've been trying to be a better man for you but this whole time you've been in love with CJ. I knew after y'all fucked around that shit would never be the same and it's true. I'm done, though. You ain't gotta worry about me. Y'all can be happy" he said to me.
"Lo, please, don't go," I said to him as he started shaking.
"You have to calm down," I said to him.
"When I was on that ventilator and when I was in that coma, you should've pulled the plug" he spat at me.
"I felt dead for 6 months. I wanted to die. When I had the wreck, you were all I wanted. I was dying, but I was worried about you. But I made peace with everything. I was ready to die and now I'm back. You should've just pulled the fucking plug. What you save me for" he asked crying.
"Lorenzo, I would've never done that. I don't care if anybody would've asked me to do it, I would've never done that. I love you too much to let you die. And yes, I've made mistakes, but I choose you. You are the father of my daughter and every day I look at her and I see you. I prayed that you would've woke up, and you did. It was God's decision, not mine" I said to him.
"Lorenzo, just please give me the gun. Don't go shoot him because I caused this. CJ cares about you and you know that. I'm the problem, not him" I said to Lorenzo as I
saw CJ's truck pull up.
"Just in time," Lorenzo said smirking at me as he cocked the gun and pointed it at me.
"YO, LO, WHAT ARE YOU DOING, MAN," CJ asked running up.
"Man, fuck you" Lorenzo spat at him.
"How are you gone love my girl, bruh?" Lorenzo asked him.