She was still trying to act confused. “Nigga, what the fuck you ‘talmbout?”
He snatched her up off her knees, grabbing her wrist and slamming her into the wall. His forearm was against her neck. She was gasping for air.
“Bitch, this shit ends to muthafuckin’ day. You hear me?Today!”his voice dropped low, through gritted teeth. “I’m done playin’ this lil game withcha foul ass.” He slammed her back against the wall. “I’ll tell Tasha myself, before I let you trap me.”
Her breath hitched. “Okay! Get your fuckin’ hands off me.”
He held the condom wrapper up between them, then smashed it on her forehead. “This right here? Just ended whatever the fuck you thought was happenin’.”
Shyann’s face hardened as the condom fell off her forehead. She lunged, shoving him with all her might. “You walk ya ass out that door, and watch how fast I send that video.”
Before he knew it, he backhanded her. “Do what the fuck you gotta do. Just know. Tasha don’t need that career, Shyann. Shewantsit. So send it to whoever the fuck you need to.” He stepped closer to her face. “And hear me clear… let that be the last time you put yo hands on me, or it gon’ be some furniture movin’ in this muthafucka.”
Shyann gasped, still rubbing her cheek. “Nigga, I’ll call my brothers to whoop yo ass for putting your hands on me.”
Juelz didn’t even blink.
He pulled the Glock from his waistband like it weighed nothing, and let it hang at his side.
“What?! Make that call,” he said, face twisted with rage. “And get them niggas killed.” He tucked the Glock back like his word was law. “This shit over with. Don’t ever think you can play me.”
He grabbed his things and put them back into his pocket. “And stay the fuck away from my girl.” He headed towards the door without looking back. He wanted to say more, but he just slammed the door behind him. Shyann watched him, still frozen. She realized she might have gone too far.
She snapped out of it, running to the door, yelling out, “Nigga, fuck you! I don’t need you to fuck me. With that soft ass shit you call a dick. Gummy bear dick havin’ muthafucka!” She slammed the door. She grabbed her phone off the bed and did the one thing that she had been threatening to do.
Message sent…
A week later,Tasha was lying on the hospital stretcher with a warm blanket pulled up to her neck. She hated how cold the hospital was. She was in the pre-op area, dressed in that ugly-ass paper blue gown with the ties on the side, pretending she wasn’t nervous. Every so often, that dull, persistent ache would pulse from her lower abdomen, a harsh reminder of why she was there. She looked over at Juelz, who sat across from her in a chair too small for his frame, nervously bouncing his leg.
“You sure you don’t want me to call nobody else?” he asked. “You want Niyah here? Or ya sista?”
“I’m good, Jue.” Tasha said, forcing a smile. “It’s just an Hysterosalpingogram procedure, remember?”
“A what?” He squinted. “I can't even say that shit. So nah, I don’t remember you namin’ that.”
Tasha blew out a sharp breath. “HSG. Just remember those three letters, okay?”
He nodded, but his eyes lingered on her a little too long. “Still don’t explain why they takin’ you on the surgery side.”
She let out a weak laugh. “They said it’s how they do it now. Plus… I’m gettin’ some scar tissue cleaned up too, so they might knock me out for a bit.”
That was the lie.
The truth was, she wasn’t there for an HSG, a simple test for the strength of her Fallopian tubes. She was there for the removal of one of her ovaries, because that’s where the cancer was. Doctor Madison had assured her that she could still conceive with only one ovary, so she felt better hearing that. Tasha couldn’t bear to see the look of sadness on Juelz's face, so she had no other option but to lie. If he knew how serious this was. How this wasn’t a test or a scan, this was her fertility being cut in half.
“You okay?” Juelz asked again, reaching out and rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb.
“I’m fine,” she said. “You nervous for me or somethin’?”
“I just… I don’t fuck with hospitals. And I really don’t like seein’ you in one. This shit eatin’ me up.” He sighed and glanced at the vending machine down the hall. “I might need to get me some snacks or somethin’ to calm my nerves.”
Tasha blinked fast, trying to push the tears back down. “I’ll be out in no time.”
“Betta be.” He smiled, kissing her hand. “I’m holdin’ you to that. I hate to take out one of these doctors in this muthafucka.”
They both laughed, but hers was hollow. A nurse came in a few minutes later with soft steps and a clipboard.
“Alright, Ms. Hayes, we’re ready to take you back.”
