Page 14 of Walk Thru The Fire

“Yeah, you thought you knew Joi, too.” I got up and left his ass sitting there because I didn’t have time to hear this shit. I needed to breathe.

I found myself in the hallway outside of her room, battling with my emotions about whether or not I should go inside.

“The muthafucka ain’t gone open by itself,” Buck announced from behind me. I knew he would be by my side sooner or later. Without another word, he opened the door and walked inside ahead of me, leaving the door open for me. Trailing slowly behind him, my eyes trained in on Kasha lying in that hospital bed, with tubes and monitors hooked up to her. Despite all of that, she still looked beautiful. My heart was beating overtime as I watched her as if she was just sleeping. Wiping my hand down my face, I quickly wiped away the tears before they fell.

“I’ll be back,” I announced, turning around and heading for the door.

“Stacks,” Jace called out to me. “Don’t leave, please.” He begged.

“I’m coming back, homie. I promise.”

His eyes were worried, and I hated to see that shit. I couldn’t stay here right now, though. I had to leave or else I’d tear this hospital apart brick by fuckin’ brick.

After telling her parents and Jace I’d be back, I left with Buck on my trail. He didn’t speak until we got outside.

“You need me to stay until you get back?”

“Nah. Go home. I got it.”

“You sure? I can call Nic and let her kno—”

“Go home, Lincoln. I got this. I just need to get my head together. I’m not worried about that muthafucka coming back up here, so they’ll be good until I get back.” He nodded, but I know he wanted to say something else. It wouldn’t be him if he didn’t.

I got in my car and just sat there for a while before I even started it to pull off. My head and emotions were all over the place. In my heart I knew that Kasha wouldn’t be on no fuck shit with that nigga, but the other part was pissed the fuck off she didn’t trust me enough to let me know what this nigga had going on. She thought she could handle the shit herself. I’m positive that’s how the shit went down, but it didn’t make it any better.

I finally got on the road, with Buck trailing close behind. He sat in the hospital’s parking lot in his truck while I sat in my car. I knew he wouldn’t leave until I did. That’s why I didn’t argue with his ass.

Halfway through the ride, Rein called.

“Yeah?” I answered, never taking my eyes off of the road.

“Hey. I was just calling to check on you. The call you got earlier seemed to change your mood. I wanted to make sure you were good.” I appreciated her concern, but I didn’t feel like being bothered right now.

“I’m straight. I just got some shit going on. I appreciate you for checking on me, though.”

“You sure you’re okay, Stacks? You don’t sound like it.”

“I’m fine,” I breathed out. “I’ll holla at you later.” I hung up the phone before she could respond. I didn’t feel like sharing my emotions with another female right now.

I continued the rest of the ride in silence, not even bothering to turn the radio on. I let my thoughts consume me and before I knew it, I was pulling up at home. Buck was behind me, and I expected that. What I didn’t expect was to see Rein’s bike in my driveway. I took a moment to get my emotions in check before I got out my car.

“That’s the biker chick?” Buck asked with a frown on his face.

“Yeah.”

“You left Kasha to come be with this bitch?” he asked loud enough for Rein to hear.

“Nah, I didn’t even know she was gone be here. She called on the way and I told her I had some shit going on.”

“Bet.” I watched as Buck walked up to Rein and knocked on her helmet like he was knocking on a door. She snatched it off and had a sexy ass grimace on her face. “You need to bounce,” Buck instructed.

“Excuse you?” she countered.

“Ain’t no excuses. Get the fuck on. My brother ain’t got time to deal wit’ yo’ hoe ass poppin’ up and shit. Did he tell you to be here waiting for him?”

“No, he didn’t but I—”

“—You ain’t gone do shit but leave or get second-degree burns from me dragging yo’ ass ’cross the concrete. Get yo’ hot pussy ass on ’fore you piss me off.” I just shook my head and headed inside. I didn’t have time for this shit.

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