He rolled his eyes, grinning. “Don’t start that loud talk in front of these nurses. They gon’ think I’m toxic.”
“Please,” she whispered as they walked down the hallway, “youaretoxic. I just detoxed you with love and good pussy.”
Malik laughed again, hand to his chest. “Stop, for real.”
Inside the exam room, she got up on the table slowly, holding her dress up as the nurse laid out the sheet and prepped the machine.
“You want water or anything?” she asked him.
“I’m good.”
“You look like you in pain.”
He shrugged. “I’m always in pain. But this is worth it.”
The nurse smiled politely, did her checks, and left them alone for a few minutes while they waited on the doctor.
Malik scooted his chair closer to her, reached up and rubbed a hand over her knee. “You been holding me down,” he said.
“I’m supposed to.”
“I don’t take that shit for granted.”
She looked at him, lips twitching. “You better not. I carried your big ass through a jet hangar, cried over you, fought my daddy and the streets for you. You mine now.”
“I been yours,” he murmured. “Just didn’t know how to say it out loud.”
He tapped his thumb against his leg.
“What’s wrong?”
“Just tryna figure out why he ain’t came in here yet.”
“He’s a doctor, not a stripper,” she said, biting back a laugh.
Malik snorted—and instantly regretted it. A hard cough shook his chest and he doubled over, groaning. “Shit—ow, fuck—damn,” he hissed, clutching his side.
“Oh my God, I didn’t mean to actuallyhurtyou,” Aku said, half laughing, half panicking. “You okay?”
He waved her off, still coughing, but there was a smile twitching on his lips. “You always tryna kill me. First your daddy, now your jokes.”
Aku grinned. “You survived Crescent Park...I believe in you.”
The door opened again, and the doctor finally walked in—tall, bald, brown-skinned with calm eyes and a warm grin.
“Sorry for the wait,” he said. “I’m Dr. Gaines. You must be Malik.”
Malik gave a tight nod, trying not to grimace as he shifted in his chair. He clocked the man’s energy, calm but commanding. A real one - he could tell.
Dr. Gaines washed his hands, looked over the chart, then turned toward them. “Today’s a big day,” he said. “You two ready?”
Malik nodded, swallowing the amount of pain he was in.
“Lay back for me,” the doctor told Aku. “Gel’s a little cold, but I’ll be quick.”
Aku hissed at the cold sensation.
The moment the screen lit up, the room got quiet.
