Page 69 of He Thugged Me First

“It hurts.”

“I know, let’s try some breathing exercises. We gotta stop hyperventilating and putting stress on your body. We have to control your body so when it is time, things happen smoothly. Can you try that with me?” Gayze’s voice was so calm and smooth that she had me wanting to do the damn exercises with her too.

Chapter 16

GAYZE

After I left Love’s hospital room, I did my rounds. I’d be off in a few hours and I just wanted to make sure things were good. I couldn’t wait to get off, and pick up Oz from my grandmother’s house and go climb into my bed. I had been here since seven and I needed some time to not be working or thinking. I just wanted to feel relaxed like I did that night when Mazzier came over. I know it wasn’t smart to let sex fix things, but it wasn’t the sex that continued to flow through my mind. It was the words he said and the sincerity behind them that did it for me. I know I had been avoiding him, but I needed to make sure with myself that I was ready to take him back. I didn’t want to take him back and be all insecure and resentful, I wanted to try going back to how things were before. My thoughts were interrupted by the vibrating of my phone in my pocket. I pulled it out and smiled, it was a text from King. He was asking me out to dinner. He was cool, shit sexy but I had this thing with Mazzier on my brain and I hated it. I had decided that I was gonna fix it with him and see where this took us. Just as I pushed the side button on my phone, I looked up and he was headedright toward me. My mind had to have been paying tricks on me because I was only focused on him at this point.

“What room did they put Love in?” He asked.

“Right there.” I pointed.

He nodded and was about to walk off, but before he could, I grabbed his arm and stopped him.

“Hey, can I talk to you about something?” I asked.

He looked down at me confused before he nodded his head. “Wassup, G?”

“I mis?—”

“Mazzi, you said we were checking on your people then getting back to our night, Red and I are getting a little restless, baby.” I looked from his peering eyes to those of the same female from that night at the club. As ifain’t this about a bitch was a person, I smirked and tilted my head to the side. In that exact moment I felt stupid as fuck I dropped his arm as if it had the plague attached to it. I mean here my goofy ass was about to pour my heart out to him and he was still out here maneuvering with the same female he swore didn’t mean anything to him. That night I had allowed him to talk me out of my common sense with words that I thought I saw sincerity behind. I was wrong though and I saw that now, I would never be it for Mazzier because he was accustomed to. I felt like a fool in this exact moment for ever thinking we could be anything.

“What were you saying, G?” He asked, interrupting me from the deep thoughts I just found myself in.

“Nothing, enjoy your night.” I stepped back and turned around. Of course I heard him calling my name, but the further I walked away, the less I could hear it. I had to let go of the idea of there being a Mazzier and I because it wasn’t possible, especially not at this point.

When I finally reached my office, I expected to feel some type of tears falling but none did. Instead I pulled my phone frommy pocket about to call Autumn when I saw that I still hadn’t responded to King. Instead of turning him down like I was about to a few minutes ago, I agreed and asked him what time.

King: Whatever time you’re free.

Me: 7ish?

King: Bet

For some reason the entire time I texted this man I held my breath, somehow I felt like I was doing wrong, when in reality I was moving on. I couldn’t and wouldn’t sulk.

“What doyou mean you’re going on a date? My sister asked. She and Autumn had called me as I was walking in the door from work a few minutes ago. It was now six something, which meant I needed to have my ass ready to leave in the next forty-five minutes.

“You took Mazzier back?” Autumn asked, confused.

“No, I was going to but he had other plans, so instead of coming home I took my neighbor up on his offer to take me to dinner.” I shrugged as if they could see me.

“That’s what the fuck I’m talking about!” Autumn yelled in my ear, while my sister remained quiet. She was a diehard Mazzier fan and it was obvious. No matter what he did he could do no wrong in her eyes and she always made the excuse for him.

“What do you mean he had other plans?”

“He just did, Nadeen.” I didn’t care to explain right now as I walked through my big ass closet that I was in the midst of packing up.

“Hmph.” Then I heard the line beep. That meant she had hung up. I hated when he had these temper tantrums, but she’d get over it like she always did.

“She’ll get over it now, where are you guys going?” Autumn asked.

“I don’t know, should I not go?” I was beginning to second guess myself.

“Hehe hell. You’re going out, even if I have to come there and get you dressed my damn self.” Autumn threatened.

I laughed aloud and continued to look through my closet.

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