“Where am… wh-what happened?” Nayelli’s eyes slowly fluttered open.
“You were in a car accident. How do you feel?”
“Everything hurts,” she whimpered.
“I know. Let me get the doctor. Kong, stay with her.” Phoebe quickly brushed past him to the door.
“Kong?” Nay swept her tongue over her dry lips. “You’re here. Jones is going to kill us about that assignment due.” She reached for his hand and squeezed.
“Nay, what you talking about?”
“Our marketing assignment for Professor Jones’ class. It’s due in a few days, right?” Wincing, she sat up, burying her head into her pillow and taking a breath.
Confusion marred his features. Kong hadn’t heard that name in a long time. He and Nay went to high school and college together, sharing a lot of classes in between.
“Nay, we not in college no more, ma. We graduated a long time ago.”
“What do you mean?”
This had to be that memory loss the doctor mentioned. The flirty glint that usually flickered through her eyes had been replaced with something else. It was warm and humble, drinking him in slowly. She took note of his beard and the maturity of his features and her brow creased. Peering around the hospital room, panic ignited over her face.
“What’s happening?” she asked, her tone trembling with fear.
“It’s all good.” Kong moved closer and wrapped her in the warmth of his big arms.
Nayelli clung to him to avoid hyperventilating and he hugged her tighter, perching himself on the edge of her bed.
“I don’t understand,” she wept.
“The doctor said it might happen. You just gotta give it some time,” he assured her, resting his chin against the top of her head.
“What year is it?” She sniffled, pulled away, and looked up into his weary eyes.
“2026.”
“Oh, my God.” Shock displayed over her face first, followed by some kind of resolve, but her head spun as it settled on her new reality. “That’s a long time from college. And you’re still around?”
Nodding, Kong bowed his head. “A lot has happened, but yeah.” He stroked her cheek and watched her lips curve into a natural, sensual smile.
This was the version of Nay that initially drew him to her back in the day. The more Phoebe sank her claws into her, the more self-involved and arrogant she became. He’d remained friends or cordial with her over the years because part of him knew she wasn’t all bad.
“Thank you for being here. I hope my mama didn’t drive you too crazy.” She groaned, a sharp pain shooting through her temple when she rolled her eyes.
“I’m just glad you’re good. I have to head out and check on the kids?—”
“Kids? We got kids?”
“I have kids. Two. With Twyla,” Kong told her.
“Twyla?” Nayelli sneered. “I don’t understand. Didn’t she play you for that frat boy?”
Kong’s blood ran cold. Nay was on a different timeline, but that shit was triggering him. Flaring his nostrils, he sucked in a breath to compose himself. He’d gone through so much to keep the beast inside him tucked away.
“Listen, Nay, we can catch up when you get out of here, mama. You need to get some rest.” He stepped forward and kissed the top of her head. “I’ll check on you later.”
As bad as she wanted to grill him, she reluctantly let him go when her mother appeared with the doctor heading their way. Kong looked relieved, and Nayelli figured she would pump her mama for information when he was gone.
“Okay. I’m holding you to it.” She smiled, watching him walk away.
