Page 76 of Love me Like XO

“To meet Rikov. He has some insight that we may need. Sit tight girly, we may be able to get all of this done quickly.”

I nodded my head and sat back. My disdain for my brother strengthened, but my desire differed from that of hers. I didn’t give a shit about this street shit or any of the in-between. My desire to see my brother see what he chose over me was much greater. Then they could do whatever they wanted with him.

Chapter 14

Rather Die Young

EMPRESS

What’s worse than dying? Almost dying. Being in a state of limbo between life and death, then actually living and remembering the moment where death probably seemed easier. I don’t think I was depressed or anything like that, but my brain lived in a moment of constant commotion and questions. Questioning why I was here and why I couldn’t mentally get over everything.

“Get dressed, shorty. C’mon let’s take a ride,” Zero announced his presence in his room. I missed my home. I missed every space I had carefully crafted to be mine.

“To where?” I looked up at him.

“Does it matter? You spending too much time in here by yo’self.”

I just looked at him. We’d talked last night, and I told him how I was feeling, of course leaving out the part where I thought about death constantly. That was too heavy for him and would’ve had him standing over me for the rest of my life.

“You need some help?”

“A little bit. Can you rub this oil on my legs?” I held out the bottleKenScentualsfor him to take. It had been a minute since I did a re-up of my oils and fragrances, but as soon as I was back on two feet I’d be buying their whole stock.

He nodded, dropping his Nike shorts onto the bed, before taking the bottle. Then like a nigga with no couth, he pulled the dropper from the bottle and handed it to me. He proceeded to pour a little of the peach-cotton candy oil into his hand. With the other hand he sat the bottle down and began to caress my leg, rubbing the oil in like a skilled masseuse. Applying just the right amount of pressure, he rubbed his massive hands up and down my leg, before switching legs. Half of my other leg was still in a cast, so he didn’t need much oil.

Then when he handed me the oil back, he stood up straight looking me over with a goofy smirk that let me know he was about to say something stupid. “Need me to oil up anything else, baby mama?”

“No, nasty. But when we get back I got something you could eat.” I winked.

“And I’m nasty, but I got you.” He winked, then left me in the bedroom to finish getting dressed.

We gotta stop at yo’ grandmother’s cri—” he walked back in the room speaking.

“No, because I don’t feel like seeing her son.” I shook my head. My father had been getting on my fucking nerves with thisfamily is familyshit. Maybe he could look over his daughter, but as soon as I got the chance I was bricking her ass. I didn’t give one shit about how bad Ree is supposed to have done her.

“She didn’t say shit about your pops or your sister, but she said she made apple pie. Last time she made that motherfucker at the wedding I was through, so hell yeah we stopping by.”

I cackled through my moment of anger directed at my father. “Really, Zero?”

“Hell yeah really. I’on mean to be funny but yo’ mama can’t cook.” He looked at the door then back at me.

I couldn’t hold back the laughter. “That’s nothing new. You’re the one who eats what she cooks. Shit that’s probably why my father cheated with yo’ auntie.”

He chuckled. “The fuck is wrong with you, man?”

“Nowherass can cook. Yo’ auntie throws the fuck down on the slight side.” I struggled to get my leggings over the cast on my leg. I refused to cut any more of my fucking pants, so I’ve been existing in leggings for the last few weeks.

He couldn’t hold back his laughter while deciding to help me. We talked about everything under the sun, so the fact that his auntie had been my father’s side piece for well over the last twenty-something years wasn’t a touchy subject. We were just comfortable like that.

When he was finished helping me, he stood to his feet also helping me stand to mine.

“I think you like me depending on you like this.”

He wrapped his arms around my waist landing his hands on my ass. “I do because I ain’t gotta call and ask you where you at. At the end of the night I already know.” Then he pressed his lips against mine for a quick peck.

By the time we left the house, it was well into the afternoon, and I was hungry, craving a snack. With a smile and a little sweet talking I was able to talk Zero into stopping at Canes before we pulled up to Granny’s. I prepared myself to be cursed out because I had been lowkey avoiding her calls, too. I just knew she was going to be on that samewe familyshit as my father. First he sent Irish, who didn’t give a fuck either way because he wasn’t fucking with Fiona either, then he sent Rev who shared the same sentiments as Irish.

“If my father is up here, we’re leaving.” I mugged Zero as he helped me out of the car. With my food in one hand, he held half of my body weight with the other.

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