ADDICTED TO HIM 3

by Linette King

  “Aye bruh, he getting out and he packin,” Tre said calmly, like the fact that this nigga had a gun and was heading in our direction didn’t bother him at all. I looked out the window and my mouth dropped. I expected him to get out with a pistol but this nigga had an Agram 200 machine gun with an extended clip.

  “Man, this nigga ain’t gone ever run outta bullets!” I said, hyped up.

  My phone started ringing and when I pulled it out to check it, it was my aunt Jennifer. She wouldn’t call me unless something was wrong. “Aye, call Peanut and tell him to take him out. I gotta go,” I said to Tre. He grabbed his Boost mobile phone and chirped Peanut.

  “Bet,” Peanut chirped back. I looked through the blinds and watched buddy until he got in the yard. I swung the door opened and smiled at him. He had a confused look on his face as I walked outside.

  “Who are you?” I asked, as I stepped off the porch.

  “Yo worst nightmare,” he said, as he aimed his machine gun at me. “Give it up and you’ll live.” he said calmly.

  “Nigga, you fina die,” I said to him.

  “Nigga, Joe don’t die!” he yelled before squeezing the trigger. I dove face first into the ground and rolled until the bullets stopped. My heart was pounding in my chest as I rolled over on my back and checked myself for any bullet holes.

  “You good bruh?” Tre yelled from the door.

  “Yea,” I said, as I sat up and looked around. I looked down the street and saw Peanut hauling ass this way. I stood up and walked over to buddy and searched his pockets. “Nigga got a trap phone,” I said, as I stuck it in my pocket. He didn’t have any money in his wallet and his name was Joe Buck.

  “My bad bruh, my rifle jammed,” Peanut said, once he got within earshot and wouldn’t have to yell.

  “It’s all good,” I said because I shouldn’t have brought my ass out here, like he ain’t have a damn machine gun in his hands. “What’s funny?” I asked Peanut because he was standing next to Joe’s body laughing.

  “Half this nigga’s head gone,” he said, as he bent over laughing.

  I shook my head as I headed towards my car. “I appreciate that, my niggas. Call the cleanup crew,” I said and drove off to check on my people.

  Armani

  I walked coolly back into the ER waiting area, trying to figure out if I tried my hand with Rashard too early or not. Thinking about it now, I probably should have waited until I was in Tamia’s good graces again. I know she’s talking to me and we were around each other today, but I also know that once you cross her, it’s hard to get close to her again; if she ever lets you near her period. The fact that she’s talking to me at all lets me know that there’s hope.

  Now, with Rashard, I know some shit about him that I know he doesn’t want Tamia to know, so I can easily get the dick once we all move in together. See, I have to speak it into existence! I learned at church when I was younger that the power of the tongue is real. Speak positive things into your future and positive things will come. With that being said, if I speak this into my future, it too shall come to pass.

  I sat around looking stupid as I wondered why Tamia hadn’t sent for me to come be with her in her time of need. When she first went to the back, I figured she just wanted to be alone until that lady came out and got Rashard. Now that he’s gone, you would think that she would want me back there with her.

  I waited patiently for as long as I could before I decided to ask if I could go back. The girl at the window gave me her room number and opened the doors for me to enter. When I rounded the corner, she was being wheeled down the hallway by the same nurse that came out to get Rashard. I didn’t yell out to them or anything; I just followed behind them. It looked like they were just moving her to another room.

  “I’m not sure what’s going on but I think you should talk with them all first and get a clear understanding because you could just be confused,” I heard the lady say to Tamia. I stood outside of the room door, so I could eavesdrop on their conversation.

  “They’ve been lying to me. I’ve had enough of people lying to me,” Tamia said in her normal bratty tone. I bet she was sitting in the bed with her arms folded and everything.

  “What are you going to do about a place to stay?” the lady asked, and my ears perked up at the thought of hearing about my new living arrangements. I’d live anywhere as long as I didn’t have to go back to Joe.

  “I don’t know yet. I need to move out of Candy’s house and get my own. Rashard bought us a house but I don’t want to be around neither one of them,” she stated and shocked the fuck out of me.

  It may be easier than I thought to do everything I want to do to destroy her once and for all without killing her. If she separates herself from Candy, then she will be lonely any damn way and will need me as a friend to keep her sane. All I’ll have to do is remind her of the good ole days before she started thinking that she was better than me. As for fucking Rashard, all I have to do is threaten to tell her about the fat chick he got put up in a nice house and the cute chick that he been fucking too. I can use that to blackmail him and make her think that I’m trying to get them to get back together.

  Thoughts of Amere began to float around my head as I remembered him being here in this very hospital. I need a plan b, in case Tamia doesn’t let me live with her, I thought to myself. I looked at the door to make sure I remembered Tamia’s room number and headed back out to the lobby to go find out where Amere was.

  After the front desk clerk gave me directions, I was on my way. As soon as I stepped out of the elevator and into the hallway that held Amere’s room, I got butterflies. I walked slowly and looked inside each room until I got to his. I peeked in and noticed he was in his room alone. He laid in his bed as he watched TV, completely oblivious to the fact that I was watching him.

  I cleared my throat to make my presence known and he still didn’t look away from the TV. I took in his appearance and he still looks good, even with the wild facial hair and his desperate need of a haircut. “How you feeling?” I asked nervously, as I took a seat in the chair next to his bed. I sat there making small talk with my damn self because he wasn’t responding to anything I was saying. “Listen, Tamia is here, so I have to go check on her. I’m going to write my number down and if you need anything, just call me,” I said, as I scribbled my number down on a napkin.

  “Tamia? She ok?” he asked and it pissed me off instantly. I had been sitting there a good ten to fifteen minutes and he hadn’t responded to a thing I said. I mention Tamia on my way out the door and now, all of a sudden, he can talk.

  “What’s so damn special about Tamia?!” I snapped, as I walked up close to his bed. Surprise and shock filled his face as he looked at me with his eyes wide and mouth wider. “Oh, don’t look at me like that! You never gave a fuck about her until she left you; now you’re all up her ass! Everybody’s all up her ass! See what ya’ll do when I kill her ass!” I snapped and stormed out of the room.

  Before I got to the elevator, I regretted every word that had rolled off of my tongue so effortlessly, but I knew it was too late to take it back. Now, in order for me to complete my mission, I have to kill Amere or get him to help me kill Tamia.

  Amere

  I’ve been laid up in this hospital bed since I got shot the fuck up and lost my daughter in the process. I don’t care what those results said; I’m the only dad she has known in her life and no percentage on a sheet of paper could change that. I’m fucked up about her not being mine biologically though and for that, Lisa will pay. She caused me to lose the best thing that had ever happened to me over a lie. I lost a good girl that I know would have always had my back, had I treated her right when I had her.

  When my mom first found out I was with Lisa, she told me karma was going to come back around and knock me on my ass for how I treated Tamia all of those years we were together. It turns out, karma didn’t have to come back around because I ended up living with her. Lisa. Dealing with Lisa was great at first. She was
a real freak and that’s what I wanted. Tamia was a virgin when I met her so even though the pussy was good, she didn’t know what to do to keep me satisfied. That damn Lisa had me the first time she did the monkey on this dick. She reeled me in with her sex game and took me off the line when she posted her sonogram online. When Tamia saw it, she was gone. I didn’t even miss her right away. It wasn’t until Lisa started showing her true colors that I started trying to get back with Tamia.

  Lisa wasn’t shit though and I hope karma is done with me because Lisa was a bit much to have to deal with. What I realize now that is really fucked up is how wrong I was for continuously hurting Tamia. I started fucking Armani and was splurging on the hoe like her and Tamia weren’t best friends! I thought for sure that once Tamia found out about us that day that she would no longer deal with me or Armani.

  I’ve been laying in this bed trying to figure out how I could right all of my wrongs and make things better for Tamia. I’m not even going to try to be with her because I know she deserves more than what I can give her. I had no idea how to make shit right until Armani came in my room on the bullshit. For one, I had no idea how she knew I was here or where to find me. Shit, on the coast, if you come to the hospital for a violent crime, you’re made confidential, in case someone tries to come finish you off.

  I never asked anyone about that at this hospital because I figured everybody involved in my shooting would think I was dead. Luckily for me, I survived but it’s bad for them because I’ll never forget the faces of everyone with a gun that dreadful day. The bitch that called it all together will get it the worse. I have dreamed about her every night and the things I’m going to do to her for killing my daughter.

  First things first though, I need to start making things right with Tamia. The plan is to work on getting her to trust me and protect her from Armani. I want to just flat out tell her what she told me but she will think I’ve still been messing with her. I can’t bring Armani’s name up at all because I know it’s going to remind her of the pain that I caused her.

  I’m supposed to be released in a couple of days, so I need to get her number before she leaves or at least give her mines. I climbed out of bed slowly because of the pain. My body was still sore from the healing wounds and physical therapy that I have been going through.

  I grabbed the walker from behind the door to brace myself, in case I got weak. The physical therapy is doing numbers but I still can’t walk far without assistance. I used the walker to walk down to the elevator. Once I got on, I went down to the ground floor. When it reached the ground floor and the doors opened inside of the ER, I realized I had gotten on the employee elevator.

  I made my way up and down two hallways, being careful to look in each room before I made it to Tamia’s room. I stood in her doorway as I watched her and caught my breath from the long journey I had just gone on, just to see her. I wanted to say something but I didn’t know what to say. Not only that but she looked like she was in deep thought.

  She’s still beautiful though, even with the fresh bruises on her face. All of the things she’s gone through in her young life, you will never be able to tell by looking at her. I admire her strength and desire to be successful. She’s going to go far and anyone that has come into contact with her is blessed. I stood there staring at her and regretting every tear that fell from her eyes because of me. All I want is one last chance to be a part of her life and all I want to do is be a friend. I finally built up enough courage to say something to her.

  Tamia

  I laid in the hospital bed trying desperately to figure out my next move. I’m learning now that I need to make sure I always have my own place. I went from having my own after my mom died to moving in and having to share a place with Armani. Then I moved out, so I wouldn’t have to deal with her and moved in with Candy. Then I was going to move from her place to a place with Rashard. Now that all of those plans are damn near nonexistent, I have nowhere to go that I could call my own.

  After talking to Jennifer again about cutting everybody off, she now has me rethinking my decision. I told her everything without leaving anything out. I went all the way back to my mom and her sickness. I told her about my relationship with Amere and why we broke up. I told her about Armani’s abuse and what we did to Steve, which lead to us moving here. I spared no details about anything, not even what happened to Myra.

  I told her I take full responsibility for Myra and Candy being laid up in the ER right along with me because I really believe it’s my fault. I should have listened to Candy. Now I’m sitting in a hospital bed trying to understand everything. When it comes down to this coma business with Rashard, all I can think is how could he pretend to be in a coma? Then, I’m like how could Candy keep that from me? How could she help him deceive me?

  Now I’m sitting here wondering why would he pretend to be in a coma and why would she help him? Hell, I’m sure he paid Doc; plus, Doc doesn’t owe me shit but why would you put someone through that?

  “I’m sorry,” I heard a familiar voice say and it interrupted me from my thoughts. When I looked up, I had to do a double take at Amere as he stood in my doorway. I stared at him as he stood up and used a walker for support. He was in dire need of a haircut but still looked good. I could tell he was still a patient here in the hospital because he wore hospital scrubs and booties on his feet.

  “Come in,” I said and gestured for him to sit in the chair. This is the first time I’ve seen him and didn’t get mad. I looked at him and sympathized mentally with his situation. Life is eating his ass up and I’ve never been one to kick someone while they’re down.

  “How you know I was here?” I asked, once he got situated in the chair. I watched the color drain from his face as he looked down and placed his hands on his knees. He took slow, deep breaths with his eyes closed and I had no idea what was wrong with him.

  “I’m going to get help,” I said and grabbed the call button, so I could call the nurse’s station.

  “No,” he said, as he shook his head. “They will make me go back to my room,” he explained and I sat the call button down. I didn’t respond as I waited for him to regain control of whatever the hell he was trying to gain control of.

  “I’m sorry about everything with Amiria,” I said, as I looked at him. It took him a minute to nod his head and I felt like shit when he looked up. Amere had never been one to show emotions and I think that’s why I thought we fit so well together because I don’t either. The mentioning of a child passing the way Amiria past is enough to break anyone down though.

  I could tell he was trying to hold back the tears but I could also see them threatening to fall. He has to let it out so he can mourn, so it will get easier to deal with. He placed his head inside the palms of his hands. I climbed out of bed slowly and fought through the pain. I stood next to Amere and wrapped my small arms around him.

  “My baby gone,” he belted out in a voice I didn’t recognize. It was filled with pain and grief. The kind of pain that no parent ever wants to feel. He pressed his face into my stomach as he cried out for her. I continued to fight through the pain he was causing me as he wrapped his arms around my waist tightly and cried. “Not my baby, T,” he sobbed uncontrollably as I rubbed his back. I didn’t know what to say as I cried because he was hurting. I felt his pain but I knew he needed this.

  I looked up at the door and saw Jennifer standing there with a worried expression on her face. When she recognized him and listened to him cry out for his baby girl, tears of her own cascaded down her brown cheeks. She walked away quickly, like she needed to get herself together. I stood next to him as silent as church mice, but I was in pain. My pain had to wait because someone needed me and even though all I’m able to do is stand here, I know it’s enough.

  About ten minutes later, his grip loosened and his arms dropped from around my waist. He lifted his head to look at me and his deep brown eyes drew me in. I know it was stupid but he needed this, and I just wanted to feel wanted. I wiped t
he tears from his face as we stared into each other’s eyes. I bent over and kissed him on his full lips but softly at first. The kiss deepened and I felt him wrap his arms around me and pull me closer to him.

  I could feel that all too familiar feeling between my legs. A feeling that has only been satisfied by the man before me. Images of all of the sex we use to have flashed through my mind as I moaned softly into his mouth. Almost instantaneously, the sonogram flashed through my mind, then the look on his face when I found about him and Armani. I pulled away and looked at him with sad eyes as a lump formed in my throat.

  Rashard

  I hauled ass back to the hospital after I talked to my Aunt Jennifer. She was about to let them wake Myra up now that my mom was there, so I need to be there when she opens her eyes. I know she’s going to have to talk to the police too because they were outside of Candy’s door trying to talk to her earlier today.

  I can’t believe Candy hadn’t woken up yet and it’s not because they have her heavily sedated, because they don’t. Every time I asked my aunt about her, she would just say that it was touch and go and really all up to Candy when she woke up. When I talked to her on the phone and asked about Tamia, we got disconnected.

  I pulled up into a parking spot and hopped out the car. I didn’t realize I hadn’t put it in park until it started rolling forward. I hopped back in the car quickly and threw the gear shaft in park and took the key out of the ignition. “Let’s try this again,” I said out loud to myself, as I power walked into the emergency room.

  I could see Armani sitting in the waiting area but she was so engrossed in her phone that she didn’t know I was back. “I’m trying to go back and see Myra Peterson,” I said to the girl at the front desk. She rolled her eyes and picked the phone up.