by K. C. Mills
The next morning, I woke up stiff and sore from sleeping in the reclining chair that sat in the corner of Liyah’s room. Hakeem was nowhere to be found, so I sat up to give my body a minute to adjust before standing and going into a full-body stretch. I walked to the door and stuck my head outside to see if I could find Hakeem, but he wasn’t in the hallway so I grabbed my phone to see if I had any messages. There was no way that he would leave with Liyah like this, but I figured it was possible that he left to grab us something to eat and sure enough, a few minutes later he came walking through the door carrying a Styrofoam container and a drink. He was also holding a bag from the gift shop which he handed to me after he set the food down on the rolling cart that was in the room.
He looked tired and stressed, but he tried to smile as he kissed me on the forehead.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“We’ve been here all night and I figured you might want to freshen up some. I know your stubborn ass wasn’t going to leave, even if I tried to make you.” I could tell that he was trying to lighten the mood, but his smile was hidden so deep beneath his concern that it was barely visible.
I walked into the bathroom and used the toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash that Keem handed me and then washed my face. I felt a little better but was still in desperate need of a long, hot shower. When I left the bathroom, Keem walked in and shut the door and I could hear the water running. I opened the container and found pancakes, sausage and eggs inside and there was orange juice in the cup.
A few minutes later, Keem stepped out he bathroom and walked over to the window, where he stared blankly out of it.
“Did you eat?” I asked already knowing the answer.
“Nah, I’m good.”
“Keem you—”
“I’m good Tay.”
I let out a soft sigh but let it go because I wasn’t going to argue with him. He had enough going on and I wasn’t about to make it worse, so I lifted my food container, sat down and began picking over it. I didn’t really have much of an appetite either. Keem stared out the window while I sat in the corner watching Liyah, until one of her machines started going crazy causing Hakeem and I to both focus on her. He looked like his heart had stopped and he was holding his breath.
Liyah's eyes were open, and they roamed the room looking panicked as they darted from me to Hakeem, who rushed to her said and started calling her name.
“Liyah, calm down baby girl.”
He looked at me just as a nurse entered the room and went straight to the machine, before she grabbed Liyah's hand and began to speak.
“What’s wrong with her?” Hakeem asked peering at the nurse and then his sister, while I stood back watching.
“Kaliyah, calm down sweetheart. You’re making your pressure rise. I know you’re scared but I need you to calm down for me. Can you hear me sweetheart?” the nurse asked, ignoring Hakeem and focusing on Liyah.
Liyah looked at her and then Hakeem before she focused on the nurse again and nodded.
“Okay good, Kaliyah.” The nurse stroked her hair and the beeping slowed down, so the nurse looked up at Hakeem.
“She’s awake and that’s a good thing. I’m going to check a few things and then we’ll get this tub out of her throat, so I need you to step back for me okay?” She smiled at Hakeem but he looked at her with murderous eyes as he held on to his sister’s hand. He wasn’t going to move and I knew it, so I walked over to him and placed my hand on his back, causing him to break his stare with the nurse and look at me.
“Let her do what she needs to do. We’re right here,” I said.
Hakeem looked at the nurse first, his sister and then me, before he leaned down and kissed Liyah on the forehead and stepped back. I nodded at the nurse who began doing her job.
-5-
Hakeem
“Keem, please stop looking at me like that.” Liyah frowned at me from where she was sitting on the sofa. It had been a little over a month since she was released from the hospital and most of her bruises were gone.
“I’m just looking at you, damn.” I smiled at my sister, grateful that she was healing and doing better. She took the rest of the semester off and was staying with me and Tay in this tiny ass apartment, but we finally found a new place and were scheduled to move into it this weekend.
“It’s creepy Keem. You’re always watching me like I’m gonna break or something and it feels weird,” she said without looking at me because she was focused on the TV.
“I’m just glad you’re okay.” I sat down next to her and pulled her into my side. She still had a few more weeks in her cast because of the fractured wrist, but other than that she was pretty much back to normal. She didn’t know the guy that attacked her, or at least that’s what she told me, but I had a few people checking into it for me because I wasn’t going to be satisfied until his family was planning a funeral. I kept it from Tay and Liyah because Liyah made me promise to let it go. She just wanted to move on and try and forget about it but, that shit wasn’t happening. Whoever it was, fucked with the wrong person and they were damn sure going to pay for that.
“I think I wanna transfer somewhere else,” Liyah glanced at me and waited for me to respond.
“Like where?” I asked.
“I don’t know, somewhere close but I need to get back to my life. I’m tired of hiding. It’s like I’m punishing myself for something that someone else did.”
“Nah, you can transfer but I think its best if you stay with us. At least for a while.” Fuck that, she didn’t need to be alone and I knew it was selfish, but I needed her to be close so that I could make sure she was straight.
“For how long Keem, when are you ever going to be okay with me being on my own again? It’s not like me living here will guarantee that nothing will ever happen to me. I just need my life back.”
I bit my bottom lip and shook my head to stop from saying what I really wanted to say. It took me a minute before I could actually speak without letting my anger speak for me.
“Look, I know you feel like you’re ready but it really hasn’t been that long. I just don’t think it’s a good idea right now. Just give it sometime.”
Liyah jumped up from the sofa and narrowed her eyes at me. “I love you and I know you want to protect me but I need this. I need to feel like I have some type of control over my life, and being here with you is not doing that. You protecting me is like you controlling me, and I know that’s not what you’re doing but it feels like that. I just need to feel like it’s my life again.” I could see her trying to control the tears that were forming and it was breaking me, so I stood up and pulled her into my chest.
“Please don’t cry. I can’t take anymore tears. You know this shit is hard for me. It’s my job to make sure you’re good and I feel like the only way I can do that is if you’re right here, but if you need to do your own thing, then we’ll figure something out. I don’t like it but I get it. Just give me a minute to deal with it, but we can start trying to figure out how to make it work, okay?”
“Okay,” she mumbled against my chest.
“I love you Liyah.”
“I love you too.”
I loosened my hold on her just enough to kiss her on her forehead, and she looked up at me and smiled. She genuinely smiled for the first time in a really long time, so I knew that she was going to be okay.
“I have to make a few runs but I shouldn’t be long. We have to meet Tay at her office later, so I’ll swing back by and get you.”
“Alright, just call me first so that I can be ready.”
I chuckled because I knew what that meant. She was about to take her ass to sleep and wanted warning so that she could be up in enough time to get dressed.
“Yeah, I got you.” She got comfortable again on the sofa and I grabbed my keys and headed towards the door. I guess I was going to have to figure out a way to let my little sister live her life, even if I didn’t like it.
I got in my truck to head towards my
club. Once I made it there and walked through the front door, I called Jodie to see if he heard anything new about the person who attacked Liyah. He hit up a few of his people at Rutgers, who were trying to figure out who came after Liyah, and so far we couldn't find out anything, which had me pissed and on edge.
“What up Jodie? You got anything for me?”
“Nah, still quiet, but you know it’s just a matter of time. People always talk. Trust me, we’ll get him.”
“Yeah, I know, this shit is just fucking with me.”
“We’ll handle it, don’t sweat that shit Keem,” Jodie said.
I looked around the club pleased that everything was coming together. Ron’s crew was doing an excellent job and they were actually ahead of schedule, so I was likely going to be able to open in a few weeks. I stopped in the center of the club as my eyes moved around the building, but they quickly focused on Sky as she came walking down the stairs from my upper level.
“Yo Jodie, let me hit you back. I need to handle something real quick, bruh.”
“Aight, I’m about to hit the block anyway,” Jodie said.
“Aight, bet. I’ll get up with you tonight.”
I ended the call just as Sky made her way to me, looking damn good in a pair of jeans that had to have been painted on and an equally tight shirt, showing every curve that God blessed her with. Her eyes were locked on mine and she wore a seductive grin on her face. The same fuck me look she had every time we were alone.
“What are you doing here?” I asked as she stepped into my personal space, stopping just shy of making contact with my body.
“I had to deliver some stuff to the office for Tay and was hoping that I would run into you, and here you are,” she said, as her hand found its way on to my chest causing me to step back. She smelled good as hell and I could feel my body reacting to her. Shit. I needed to get her out of her.
“It looks good in here,” she said as she smiled and stepped past me, making sure that this time her body made contact with mine.
“Thank you but you and I both know that you don’t need to be in here right now,” I said trying my best to focus on doing the right thing.
She laughed. “Why not Hakeem, you clearly want me here?”
“How do you figure that?” I asked, curious about what she was getting at. Never once had I entertained her advances even though she was working overtime to get my attention. It took every ounce of control I owned not to have her singing my praises. Especially since Tay’s office space was complete and they had been spending a lot of time over there the past few weeks.
She turned and stared at me for a minute before she made her way over to me again, this time aggressively pressing her body against mine and when I tried to pull away, she locked her arms behind my back. I was hard as hell so I knew she felt it and without thinking, my hands were on her back as I stared back at her, knowing I was dead wrong. When I couldn’t control the temptation anymore, I leaned in and kissed her and of course she was all in, but I quickly came to my senses and peeled her body away from mine.
“The fuck am I doing,” I mumbled as my hand went over my head. I stared at Sky who looked satisfied.
“You’re doing what you want. I don’t know why you keep fighting it. You want me and you know it.” She invaded my personal space again, letting her hand move across the front of my jeans before I caught her wrist and pushed her away.
“Yo, you need to go. I can’t do this shit. Seriously I can’t.” I had already crossed a line that shouldn't have been crossed and I was really hoping that Sky didn’t try any fuck shit, like telling Tay.
“See that’s the thing, you can do this, especially since it’s what you really want.”
“Sky, you need to leave and stop coming at me like this. I’ve already done too much but I’m not taking it there with you.”
“You sure about that?” She looked down at the bulge in my jeans. “I think somebody didn’t get the memo.” I didn’t know what the fuck my problem was but she was right. All I could think about was sliding in between her legs and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get the thought out of my head.
“Look, you need to leave,” I said firmly, standing my ground and secretly praying that she complied. She was slowly breaking me down, and I really didn’t know how much longer I could resist her advances.
“Yeah okay, but trust me, it will happen. You know it and I know it so stop lying to yourself.” She backed away from me before she turned and walked away, but not before blowing me a kiss.
“See you tonight,” she said just before she left out the entrance to the club. Fuck, I forgot about the mini opening that Tay was having tonight at her new spot. She invited a few of her most important clients and I had to be there. Now I had to figure out a way to keep my distance from Sky and figure out a way to keep Tay from noticing that anything was up with us. This was going to be a long fucking night.
***
“She’s amazing right?” Jacob walked up to me as I watched Tay across the room talking to the wife of one of the Nicks’ players. She would occasionally feel my eyes on her, glance at me and smile. Tay was so fucking beautiful I couldn’t help but feel blessed that she was mine; well, until Sky caught my eye and I felt like shit for wanting to fuck her lights out.
My attraction to Sky was strictly physical. I would never be with her the way that I was with Tay. Hell, I wasn’t even interested in Sky as a person. In fact, I pretty much hated her ass and women like her who couldn’t let other people be happy, but none of those feelings about Sky could erase the fact that I was obsessing over what it would feel like to have her bent over the sofa she was standing next to. The worst part about it was that she knew it too. She could see it in my eyes and she wouldn’t let it go. All night she would find any excuse she could to be near me, which had me on edge because I was constantly checking for Tay, praying that she couldn't see what I was feeling. Luckily she was serious about her business which meant that she didn’t have time to focus on me.
“Earth to sexy and edible.” Jacob snapped his fingers in my face and I wanted to slap his ass for calling me that shit, but he was cool peoples so I let it go.
“Where is your head tonight Mr. Man?” Jacob asked giving me a strange look.
“Over there,” I said as I walked away from him and heading towards Tay, but before I could get to her, Sky’s trifling ass was in my damn face grinning and shit.
“How about we take a quick trip outside,” she whispered the second she was close enough, and my eyes immediately fell on Tay who looked at me and smiled. I winked at her and returned a smile before I looked down at Sky.
“Get the fuck out of my face before I embarrass you in here,” I said low enough for only her to hear.
She laughed. “You won’t do that because you want to fuck me.” She smiled and walked off without another word. Again my body reacted, as I exhaled and made my way over to Tay. When I reached her, I walked up behind her, kissed her on the check and listened as she talked to a group of people about an upcoming event that she was working on. I was searching the room for Liyah who was talking with a group of people across the room and she seemed happy. When she realized I was watching, she stuck her tongue out at me and smiled, so I relaxed and focused on Tay again. I was ready for this shit to be over so that I could get home and lay up in her. I needed to remind myself what I was at risk of losing by fucking with Sky. I was playing with fire and I needed to figure out how to put an end to it real fast.
-6-
Jace
“Have you fucked him yet?” I asked as I looked down at Sky. Her green eyes focused on mine but they looked sad as I moved inside her. At this point I didn't care, I just wanted my nut. I liked Sky, or rather liked the way she serviced me, but that was about it. I was in love with Tasia and that wasn't going to change no matter how good Skylar felt when I was inside her.
She shook her head to say no and then looked awayh, which made me laugh because I knew that she was pi
ssed. I picked up my pace, furious about the fact that she couldn’t do the one simple thing I asked her to do. I closed my eyes and pictured Tasia’s face, as I pounded Sky’s body until my orgasm hit and after I recovered I stood, walked into her bathroom and slammed the door behind me.
I returned a few minutes later and Sky was sitting on the edge of the bed with murderous eyes.
“Why are you so fucking obsessed with her? I don’t get it,” Sky snapped as she watched me step into my boxers and then my jeans.
“I’m not obsessed and it’s actually none of your fucking business, is it?” I said turning my back to her so that I could pick up my shirt off the dresser. Once I had it in my hand, I turned to face her again as I pulled it over my head and adjusted it around my body.
I eyed Sky’s curves, from her prefect breasts down to her thick thighs. She was sexy as hell and I could feel my manhood swell again as my eyes traced her body, but she wasn’t Tasia. I liked fucking Sky but I wanted to be with Tasia.
“What the hell do you call it then? You’re fucking me but you still want her. Even after she left you, you’re paying me to break up her relationship so that you can try to get her back. I call that obsessed, Jace.” Sky jumped off the bed and was in my face, waving her hand in the air like she was having a damn seizure.
I just laughed. “Like I said, it’s none of your fucking business. Just do what I’m paying you to do. In fact, I don’t understand why you haven’t already.
I pulled Sky into my chest and let my hand move down her back over her ass, before I grabbed a handful of her hair, holding her head back slightly and then kissing her lips.