The pressure behind my eye pulsed again, stronger, dragging everything to the side.
“You need to lie down,” he said.
I shook my head once, regretting it immediately. “Let’s finish. I’ll be okay.”
“Nah. Get some rest. We’ll finish this conversation tomorrow.”
I pushed off the counter and moved with one hand still pressed to my temple as I made my way down the short hall. He stayed close, but didn’t crowd me, and let me move on my own at my own pace.
I reached my room, sat on the floor, and snatched up my purse to grab my medication. I leaned forward, fumbling with the container for a moment before finally opening it. I shook out a pill.
“Water,” I said, and when I looked down, it was already there.
I didn’t question it. I took the pill, swallowed it dry first, then reached for the bottle to chase it down.
For a second, I sat there, elbows on my knees, head in my hands, waiting for it to ease up. It took a minute, maybe longer, to kick in. I didn’t keep track.
The edge dulled first. Then the pressure started backing off. Little by little, until I could finally lift my head without feeling as if it was going to split.
I leaned back against the wall, letting out a breath.
“The headaches always this bad?” he asked.
“Only when I push it, or when I’m tryna remember something that my head doesn’t want to be remembered.”
Unable to keep sitting up, I lay on the floor and pulled the blanket up to my neck.
“You can go,” I said, even though I didn’t look at him.
He didn’t listen. Instead, he lay behind me and pulled me to his chest before wrapping his arms around me.
“I ain’t going nowhere,” he replied.
I closed my eyes for a second, too tired to argue.
“Whatever. Do what you want,” I whispered. “Just be gone when I wake up. I still don’t fuck with you.”
CHAPTER 9
Iwoke up, my vision slowly clearing as I blinked the room into focus. My neck ached from the floor, and my back wasn’t much better. I rolled onto my side to stretch, forgetting all about my unwanted guest until I noticed him moving across the room, naked, heading straight for my bathroom.
I pushed myself up, ignoring the pull in my shoulders. “What the hell do you think you doing?”
“What the hell do it look like?”
“It looks like you’re violating my space. I didn’t tell you to make yourself at home.”
“You ain’t got to, but one thing I know about you is that you don’t like no nasty ass nigga. Didn’t think you’d trip about me washing my ass,” he replied without breaking his stride.
A few moments later, he shouted from inside my bathroom, “Get up and come take a shower with me. Let me work that kink out ya’ body. I know that hard ass floor got your back hurting.”
“I’m good. Just handle your business. I’ll get in after you,” I replied, though seeing him naked made me want to jump his bones.
I shouldn’t want to do that, but I do. I loved Booda-
I heard him, but my mind was elsewhere as I sat there, looking at the spot he’d just crossed, trying to make sense of his presence. I didn’t remember offering to let him spend the night. Barely remembered him coming here, or our conversation.
“Koko,” Booda dragged my name. “Get yo’ fine ass in here. Don’t make me come get you.”
