“Where is my friend, and why are you out here? Please, Lord, no.”
I pulled my dramatic sister into my arms, and she hugged me back just as hard. I relaxed a little and exhaled. We picked with each other all day, but at the end of it, she was my man a hundred grand.
“Sis, chill, she’s straight. I just needed some air.”
“Whew, okay.”
I stepped back and filled her in on what I knew. Omni cussed under her breath, then went inside while I took a few more minutes to work through my own thoughts and feelings.
When I headed back in, I stopped at the doorway. Halo was talking to Omni, who was half in the bed with her. I loved their friendship. I loved that she fit into my life so perfectly. And up until today, I hadn’t thought of what life looked like without her in it.
I cleared my throat and shoved my hands in my pockets. Omni stood, hugged Halo and me, then headed out, promising to call and send care packages and treats to the house.
I know it was a good ten minutes of us just staring at each other before she finally spoke.
“You mad at me?” she asked.
I shook my head instantly. “No. I’m scared for you. There’s a difference.”
“Are we breaking up?”
“Mane, come on. Halima, you are my heart. And maybe you can’t fathom what that shit means, but it means this is forever. This was a hiccup, but it can’t happen again.”
She nodded, letting it sink in. “I could’ve hurt somebody. Or myself.”
“You could’ve,” I said honestly. “But you didn’t. You here. And from now on, I’ve got you. Whatever you need. Rest. Space. Help. Hell, I’ll fight the whole damn fire department if I have to. Just don’t lie to me about how you feel. Don’t do that again. I can’t take that shit.”
Her lips trembled. Not crying, but close.
“I didn’t want you to worry,” she said.
“You my woman,” I said. “I’m supposed to worry. That’s part of the deal. You get a nigga that’ll die behind your peace, you gon’ get some worry with it.”
She laughed a little, one tear caught on her lashes. “I love you too.”
“Is being with me too much?” I asked, curious. I only wanted to bring peace to her life, and if I wasn’t doing that, I wasn’t the man for her.
We sat there in the quiet for a moment, until she extended her hand and patted the bed. I didn’t think my big ass could fit, but I climbed into that bed anyway, and she rested her head on my chest, inhaling my scent.
“No, being with you is not too much. This was on me. Can we just leave it at that for right now? I don’t want to fight.”
“Yeah.”
“So what happens now?” It came out thin like she was almost afraid of the answer,
“Now you rest. You’re gonna be out of work for a minute. And when you go back, we’re not doing this run-yourself-into-the-ground shit again. I’ll fuck your supervisor up for real.”
She snorted lightly. “You can’t do that.”
“No?” I asked, smirking. “I’m your man, and that nigga. I’ll beat his ass and turn into a Karen. Gotta be some labor laws or some shit.”
She rolled her eyes but didn’t pull away, hand resting on my rib cage like always.
“Before I passed out,” she whispered, “my last thought was how mad you would be. I really didn’t mean to scare you.”
“I know,” I said. “But it’s time to chill. I’m not putting a deadline on anything; I just need you to listen to your body. And listen to me when I see you slipping. That’s all I’m asking. I’m not mad at you baby, just mad that this had to happen.”
She didn’t speak right away. Her breathing slowed, the truth settling in piece by piece.
