Page 14 of Half Sight Whole Heart

I stood, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. When the person came into view, I was confused and relieved at the same time.

“You stayed here?” I asked a shirtless Zyro. My brows dipped as I attempted to remember last night.

I couldn’t.

I just remembered wings, drinking, and lap dances.

“I drove you home and was too tired to drive back,” he replied.

“You slept…”

“On the couch, ma.” I peered down and saw that I was just in a long T-shirt. “Mahlia made sure you were comfortable and helped you out of your clothes. How you feelin’?”

“Sick,” I admitted. “I don’t think I’ll be able to work today. What time is it?”

“It’s just five in the morning. What time do you work?”

“Nine,” I answered, placing a hand to my stomach.

“You might not feel better by then, to be honest. Do you have any crackers in the kitchen? Sprite?”

I shook my head. “No, but I don’t think I could even keep anything down right now.”

I sauntered over to my sink to brush and rinse my mouth out. Zyro remained by the door, eyes trained on me. He looked tired as if he didn’t get much sleep. I started brushing my teeth. When I spit, I asked, “Why didn’t you stay the night with Mahlia?”

Zyro rubbed his head. “Zyleek caught her couch. I could have gotten a room, but I wanted to make sure you were good. Damn, you don’t want me here?”

I finished brushing my teeth instead of responding.

While I was rinsing my mouth with Listerine, I forgot about Zyro for a moment until I heard urine hitting inside my toilet.

I slightly turned and got an eyeful of dick.

He had no shame. I spun back around so fast my head began to pound, and I nearly knocked the bottle of mouthwash over.

“If you needed privacy, you could have just asked. I have an extra bathroom outside of my room,” I said as I walked across the bathroom for a face towel, making sure not to look in Zyro’s direction.

The toilet flushed. I imagined him shaking that anaconda and pushing it back into his boxers. I slightly shook my head to get that vision out of my brain. As I was walking back to the sink, he was too. I’d left the water running so it’d be hot. Zyro quickly washed his hands and moved out of my way.

“You need me to run to the store to get you anything?” he quizzed.

“At this time?”

One shoulder rose and dropped. “A corner store is open. A Sprite might help.”

I just need to lie back down and see if I can get a few more hours of rest. I’ll…I’ll be okay,” I replied. “Are you about to leave?”

As soon as I asked, a crack of thunder boomed, and I almost jumped out of my skin. The sound of rain began to hit the bathroom window.

“You want me to leave in this weather?” he asked, a smirk gracing his lips.

I didn’t bother answering, because, of course, I didn’t. Instead, I washed my face, patted it dry, and then trudged back to my bedroom and slid back into bed. I had no idea what Zyro was doing, but my stomach was still uneasy. My legs felt heavy.

My eyes barely fluttered shut when I felt my mattress dip. My eyes snapped open.

“I know damn well…”

“My back hurt sleeping on your couch. It’s soft, but I’m a tall nigga,” he said as if that was a good reason to be lying in my bed with me. “You uncomfortable? I can go crash in my homeboy’s Paw Patrol room.”

That had me chuckling. “That’s a twin-size bed.”

Zyro let out a low sigh. “Yeah…I’ll be better off sleeping on the floor.”

Silence settled over the room, broken only by the rain pattering against the window.

“Is it supposed to rain like this all day?” I finally asked, my voice soft in the dimness.

“Not sure,” Zyro mumbled. “I’m finna be sleep in a few seconds, ma. Wake me up if you up ‘fore me. I left my phone in the living room.”

“Okay,” I whispered, letting my eyelids fall as the steady rain and warmth from my covers pulled me back into sleep.

The soft drumming of the rain against the window pulled me out of my sleep.

For a moment, I lay still, staring up at the ceiling as the thunder rolled low in the distance.

I could see how gray it was outside from the heavy storm, and I doubt I’d be going to work.

I wouldn’t be able to get to Ermias until the storm cleared because I couldn’t drive in weather like this with my condition.

When I turned my head, Zyro was still there. One arm rested on his stomach, the other pushed down in his shorts. His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. I took in Zyro’s long lashes and the different drawings on his neck and below.

“It’s kind of weird to stare at someone while they’re sleeping, don’t you think?” came out of his mouth.

Embarrassed, I turned over onto my stomach.

“I was debating whether or not I should wake you. It’s still coming down out there. Don’t you have to call your employees?”

Stretching, Zyro yawned. “Yeah, I do. I’m just gon close the shop today, and make a post about it being closed on social media.

He rose and tossed his legs over the edge of the bed. I watched Zyro stand and swagger out of the room. I left the bed too and scuffled to the bathroom, making sure to lock it behind me this time.

Zyro was on the phone in the living room when I emerged.

“Yeah, it’s coming down crazy. I’m not even in town and not gon risk it. The shop’s closed for the day. We’ll catch up tomorrow when it’s clear.”

He ended the call. I took off to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee and then back to my bedroom. I sat on the edge of the bed and called myself in. When the weather was as bad as this, they didn’t penalize me since I couldn’t drive in this. Uber was out of the question.

With my phone, I video called Ermias. Normally, he’d be up around this time. When he didn’t answer, I called again as I walked back to the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee. He didn’t answer again, which had me frowning hard.

Placing my phone down, I dialed Delion on speaker while I poured the hot liquid into a mug. It rang and rang.

“What the fuck,” I mumbled, heart pounding. “Um, do you want a cup of coffee or anything to eat?” I called out to Zyro, still eyeing my phone.

Instead of responding, he came into the kitchen. I guess I was frowning so hard while pouring my creamer, he asked, “What’s wrong?”

I exhaled and placed the creamer on the counter.

“My son or his dad is answering the phone. Ermias is up around this time,” I replied.

“Give it a few more hours. If they still are not answering and the weather clears up, we’ll take a trip to check on him.”

“Oh, I can’t ask you to do that,” I said with a shake of my head.

“When did you ask?” Zyro quizzed with a smirk. “I’m offering. Now, what do you have for breakfast?”

I let a few hours pass by. Around one, I called again, and neither responded. I sent Delion a text because I now felt like he was playing games.

Why aren’t you answering the phone? You or Ermias? Everything okay?

I’d fixed Zyro, and I scrambled eggs, bacon, and French toast. I barely got two bites of my French Toast and a forkful of eggs before my phone rang. When I saw it was my baby daddy, I muttered, “Finally,” and answered it. “Hello? Why haven’t you—”

“Eriss.” Delion’s voice cut me off. I could already tell this conversation was going to go left. It’s the way he said my name. It dripped with pettiness.

“What?” I screeched. Zyro stopped eating. He was sitting across from me.

“I’m keeping Ermias. He’s staying here with me from now on. You have him around a nigga that ain’t his daddy, not gon fly wit’ me.”

I couldn’t breathe. My head got lightheaded, and I felt like I was about to pass out.

“What the hell are you talking about?” I shouted, pushing back from my chair. I didn’t give a fuck if the floor scuffed. “You don’t get to decide that! Put my son on the phone now!”

“I’m not playing games with you, Eriss. He’s staying with me.”

“Delion, you don’t get—”

The call disconnected, and I started crying and trying to call him back. The phone began to go to voicemail. He blocked me. I called Ermias’ tablet, and the call no longer went through.

“Eriss…”

“Leave me alone!” I screamed. My eyes were both cloudy. It was just a blur.

I felt his presence near me in seconds. With hands dripping my face gently, he lifted my face.

“Aye, I don’t take disrespect lightly. Tell me what’s goin’ on so I can help you,” his raspy voice rang out. I was now shaking. Zyro pulled me into him, and I gripped his sides, screaming out into his chest.

“He…He’s not giving Ermias back to me because…because he saw you,” I whimpered.

“Where does he live?” Zyro asked calmly.

I shook my head, blinking fast, fighting the tears that kept spilling. I pulled back out of his arms.

“You’ll only make it worse.”

Zyro’s jaw clenched, and he snorted. “Shiiid. That nigga gon give you my homeboy back. I promise you that. Once that rain calms the fuck down, we goin’ to go get him.”

I nodded, clutching the edge of the table, my heart still racing. My thoughts were a jumbled mess of fear and anger. I had no idea if Ermias was scared of Delion right now. Delion was with the woman he’d cheated with and gotten pregnant while we were together. How the hell could she allow this?

“Hey. Hey. Breathe. I promise you, Eriss, Ima handle it. He’s not gon keep your son away from you.” His voice was soft.

“Should I call the police?” I asked, wiping my nose. I know I looked a mess, but right now I couldn’t care less about my appearance.

“Hell nah. They ain’t gon do shit but drag their feet in this weather anyway. Just know, I’m not gon sit on my hands if that nigga try to play wit’ you.”

I groaned. “I don’t need you going to jail, Zyro. Not behind me and my mess.”

Zyro tore a piece of paper towel off the holder and handed it to me. “Here. Wipe your face. Don’t let this break you,” he told me.

I took the paper towel, dabbed my eyes dry, then blew my nose. Pointing to his chest, I said, “I made a mess on you. I am so sorry.”

Zyro glanced down and then waved me off. “This ain’t shit.”

“His dad can be real manipulative. I just don’t want Ermias thinking I don’t want him, you know?” I mumbled. “He twists shit.”

Zyro nodded in understanding. “As soon as the rain slows down, we’re gone. We ain’t leavin’ without him, aight?”

The words should’ve scared me, but instead they calmed me. I believed him.

In a shaky breath, I released, “Okay.”