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CHAPTER TWELVE

CHANEL

W e made good time when we arrived in Bloomington. I went directly to Silver Cross Hospital. Zand found parking near the entrance and he went inside with me. I was relieved he wasn’t going to let me go at this alone. Hospitals weren’t my favorite place. It was a place that held terrible memories for me. It was the place that my mother and aunt took their last breath. I associated hospitals with cancer and death.

I messaged Morgan that I had arrived at the hospital. She met me in the first floor waiting room. She looked worn out. I knew she wasn’t doing well. Swollen eyes, red nose, she had been crying, and I didn’t want to start crying. That would only make things worse.

I approached her and extended my arms. She rushed into them and hugged me tightly. Her body was rigid, and I knew she was worried. The situation was stressful. But I needed to know what was going on.

“Hey.” I greeted her while grasping her forearms.

“I’m glad you’re here.”

“I packed some things and came as soon as Mitchell called me. How’s Craig? ”

Morgan let out a deep breath. “He’s not good. He flat-lined an hour ago. They had to resuscitate him. It doesn’t look good.”

“Oh no, I’m sorry.”

“I don’t even know what happened. The police were asking all kinds of questions. They say it wasn’t just a random accident. There are eyewitnesses. They think it was road rage, but Craig doesn’t rage. You know him. He’s like the most laid-back guy ever.”

“Yes, he is.” I agreed. Craig, being involved in a road rage accident, just seemed ludicrous.

“The police said there was a white pickup truck driving erratically, and some witnesses said Craig was trying to get away from the truck when he drove into the semi.”

“Let’s just focus on getting him better.”

“Right.” Morgan noticed Zand standing a few feet away. “Oh, he’s with you?”

“Yeah, he drove.” I mumbled.

“Good. I didn’t want you driving here all by yourself.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’m good.”

We hugged another again and this time Morgan’s body was more at ease. Our embrace was interrupted by the static over the hospital’s intercom system.

“Dr. Ramadi, Code Blue. ICU.” A peaceful voice rang out from the overhead speakers.

Morgan’s face got tense. “That has to be Craig. He’s in ICU. Dr. Ramadi, that’s his doctor.”

Morgan sprinted toward the bank of elevators, and I hurriedly followed her. There was one open elevator and without hesitation, we dashed into it. Morgan pushed the button for the floor. As the doors closed, I looked out at Zand standing there in the visitor’s waiting room. I lifted my hand slightly to him right before the elevator’s door closed.

When the doors opened on the third floor, we were ushered into a room by Mitchell. I knew what that room was. It was the room where doctors brought you bad news. Craig’s parents were in the room, along with his sister. Our mutual friend Donna was there, too. I briefly wondered why I didn’t think she would be. She was Morgan’s friend just as much as I was. Maybe even more now that I was away. A pinch of jealousy hit me and I quickly swiped it away. This wasn’t the time for those types of negative feelings.

I walked over and gave Mitchell a hug. Donna stood and hugged me tightly. Which made me feel worse for having envious thoughts. Donna grabbed my hand and pulled me into the chair beside her. We all sat in silence, but Craig’s father paced the carpet under his feet. I didn’t think Craig had any brothers. He was his father’s only son. This had to be heartbreaking and tragic for Craig’s family.

I fished my cell phone out of my bag. I’d left Zand downstairs, and I didn’t know what he was going to do while I waited. I pulled up his last text message to me. I could feel Donna’s eyes all on my lap as I looked down at my cell screen. I would normally scold her, but this wasn’t the time and place for me to check her nosy ass.

[Are you still here?] I texted him, even though I was sure he was right where I’d left him.

[Yes, how’s it going?]

[I’m going to be here for a while. I think there’s going to be bad news coming soon. I believe Craig coded again.]

[That sucks. I really hope he pulls through.]

[I do too.]

[I’ll go get us a hotel for the night. Text you when I get the room.]

[Thanks.]

[No problem. Call me when you need me to come pick you up.]

[I will.]

[Are you okay?]

[Yeah, I’m fine.]

[Ok. ]

[Give me a call when I need to come back.]

[I will.]

Zand texted me three red hearts. I hearted his emoji and slipped my cell phone back in my purse.

“Is that your boyfriend, you’re texting?” Donna whispered.

I briefly forgot that she was sitting next to me. I only looked at her without giving her any confirmation about her question.

The waiting room was getting colder and colder as we sat and waited for news. I rubbed my arms slowly, trying to erase the goose bumps as they flooded my skin. My intuition said the prognosis wouldn’t be good. I wondered if I was the only one that felt this way. There was no way I would ask anyone with Craig’s parents and his sister right here with us.

I scanned the room in search of something to take my mind off the frigid temps. I studied the carpet, the light fixtures, the windows, and the coffeemaker.

Morgan stared out into space as I replayed the words she relayed to me. Road rage, highly unlikely. It was too farfetched to think that this had anything to do with Lonzo. He’d met Morgan once or twice in passing, but he didn’t have any information on her. As far as I knew, he only knew her first name. I knew for a fact I never mentioned anything personal about her and definitely never mentioned her boyfriend’s name.

In my heart, I knew this had to be a random accident. It was the only thing that made sense. It was a car accident, not a shooting.

Thirty minutes later, everything was a blur. The worse news came barreling down on all of us. Craig had died. His mothered sank into the floor sobbing uncontrollably while Craig’s sister wailed in agony. I hated I couldn’t remember Craig’s sister’s name— Phyllis, Felicia, Alicia, Erica. What was her name? Focusing on that made it easier for me to contain my grief. I knew Craig. He was a really good brother. I was holding on to Morgan and trying to console her while she whispered no over and over again. Mitchell was rubbing his sister’s back and wiping tears from his eyes. Donna had wrapped her arms around the both of us. This was tragic. I wanted answers for my friend. But with car accidents sometimes there wasn’t a resolution.

This was not what I expected when I drove back here. I expected broken bones and a few weeks’ recovery, time off work, and shopping for a new car. That wasn’t this. This was the end. Craig was dead. My best friend had lost her boyfriend, and I didn’t know how to comfort her. She’d always been the one to comfort me. Morgan was the strong one. I was the weak one. I was the one who got involved with the criminal. But Morgan always had her head on straight. She picked a good guy. Craig was one of the good educated Black men. I hate that it had to end this way for him. He didn’t deserve this.

I didn’t have to wait long for Zand to arrive at the hospital to pick me up. Mitchell waited with me. Morgan left the hospital with Craig’s parents. I could understand that. I’m sure they wanted to be close to her. She was an important connection to their son.

Zand pulled into the no-parking zone and I dashed out the door after giving my play brother a hug. I can finally breathe again. This entire ordeal had my heart beating so fast. I really didn’t think it was going to go this way, and maybe that was na?ve of me.

The hotel was only a few miles from the hospital. I was happy about the distance because I wasn’t in the mood to sit in a car for a long time after driving from Chicago.

Zand had taken my luggage into the room when he checked in. All I had to do was drag my tired behind and my purse into the elevator and up to the sixth floor. Zand took charge. He opened the hotel room door and let me in to the room. I was immensely grateful. He probably would never know just how grateful I was.

“How are you feeling?”

“Tired. I didn’t think this would happen. I mean, people have car accidents every day that rarely ever turn into a fatality. I just never thought we would drive here and get this bad news.” I was rambling. “I need to take a hot shower. I feel yucky.”

“You need a relaxing bath. I’ll run you some water. Unwind, take off your clothes.”

I stood idle as Zand walked from the room and into the bathroom. In seconds, I heard him turn on the tub’s faucet water.

I slowly peeled out of my clothes, only leaving my bra and panties on. I sat on the edge of the bed and replayed the tragic events of the day. I needed to decompress. He was right; a bath would work better than a shower. Zand could read my needs and me, and I’d never had that before.

Moments later, Zand had my hand and was leading me into the bathroom. His touch was warm and soothing. Just being with him was relaxing.

I removed my panties as Zand watched me. Before I could remove my bra, I felt his hands unclasping my bra. He pulled the straps off my shoulders at the same time. He removed my bra for me. My breast freely hung down and released the pressure I felt on my chest. My nipples hardened as soon as I felt the hotel air graze my skin.

“I know you like the water hot. Test it out.”

It took me a moment to realize what he was talking about. Oh, the bathwater. His touch made me space out. I was going to hate when this was over. He was just what I needed at this time in my life. He was what I didn’t know I wanted. A man like Zand could have all of me. I wish the honeymoon stage of whatever this was would last for a long time. He was all the man that I needed and he arrived at the perfect time in my life.

I went to dip my foot in the water and Zand meandered his arm around my waist to aid me. The water was hot, but not too hot for me. I gradually lowered my entire left foot into the water. Zand quickly took my hand to help me all the way into the tub. Once both of my feet were submerged, I slowly lowered my body down into the tub while still holding onto his hand .

When I was sitting, something inside me wouldn’t release his hand. I held it. I held it tightly and deliberately. I couldn’t let go. Looking down at me, his eyes searched mine. Those honey brown orbs of his were hypnotic. Could he read my mind?

“Move up. I’m getting in.” He ordered, while kicking out of his size twelve shoes.

Those were the words I needed to hear to release his hand from my grip. I watched him remove his black t-shirt, and I scooted up toward the bathroom spout to make room for him. I bent my knees to my chest as the water splashed around the tub. I cradled my legs in my arms and rested my face on my knees while he undressed from the waist down. I shut my eyelids.

I could hear him enter the water behind me. I could feel his legs brush against my body as he descended into the water.

I was able to relax when I felt his arms wrap around my body and pull me backward. Releasing my legs and straightening them, I leaned back into his bare chest. He embraced me wholly, and I exhaled deeply. I was so comfortable in his arms, and it scared me. But it was also exactly where I wanted to be. The water soothed me in all the ways I needed. Zand’s hands gliding up and down my thigh calmed me.

His other hand held one of my breasts. “I love your tits.”

I turned to face him. I had to get on my knees in between his legs. I sat back on my legs and took his hard dick in my hands.

I slid my wet hand over the head of his dick. I rubbed my palm in tiny circles over the tip of his thickness. I watched his head fall back against the wall tiles and smiled to myself.

I leaned over his throbbing erection and opened my mouth. I lowered my wanton mouth over the head of him. I let my lips engulf him before relaxing my jaw and coasting down over his thickness. My mouth watered as I slid up and down his juicy package. I was going to take as much of him as I could.

Zand rested his hand on top of my head and guided my head down over him. I was determined to take him deep down into my throat. I blocked the gagging and choking that tickled my throat when I plowed down on his huge dick.

“Ugh!” Zand groaned.

This was a signal he was at his peak.

He grasped a huge chunk of my hair and pushed my face down into the water and further down on his pole. I pressed my lips tightly over his veiny skin. I wildly sucked his dick like a pro.

“I want to be inside you.”

No! I said in my mind. I was going to make him squirt all his cum in my mouth. I covered my teeth and pressed my lips as hard as I could. I salivated and rolled my mouth up and down his shaft.

“Oh shit! I love you!”

I hurried my pace. I sucked and choked all over him but I was willing to do whatever it took.

“Fuck!” His fingernails scratched my scalp and he exploded in my mouth and tears leaked from the corners of my eyes.

“Oh Fuck!” Zand released my hair and more liquid seeped down my throat. I swallowed all his little Zand’s and gradually removed my mouth from being wrapped around him.

I sat on my legs and watched him. His eyes were closed and his head tilted to the ceiling. He looked so blissful. I looked down and most of the water was missing from the tub. My hair was a mess. I couldn’t stop staring at him. He reached up at me and opened his eyes.

“Come, let me hold you.”

I turned my body around and glided back into his chest. He wrapped his arms around me and held me closely. I closed my eyes. He’d said something in the heat of passion. I heard it and I loved hearing it. I wanted more. I wanted him and if he wanted me too, this could be something.