She pushed him away from her, still on a mission to free herself of the medical equipment she was hooked up to so she could find her way out of the hospital. Kross wasn’t about to let her tear her I.V. out of her arm, so he restrained her by grabbing a firm hold on her wrists.
“Remedy!” His baritone voice ricocheted off the walls of the hospital room and into her ears. Her heart pounded against herchest as she jumped at how stern his tone was. “I need you to calm down, love. I get it. All this shit is a lot for you, but I’m not about to let you hurt yourself. You just went through some shit that not many people could survive. Everybody’s expecting you to feel so strong right now ‘cause you made it out, but I know this is the most fragile and exposed you’ve ever felt, and that’s okay because even if no one else sees it, I do. I’m right here with you. I’m not gonna let shit happen to you,” Kross asserted before relinquishing her wrists from his grip to wrap his arms around her again. In his arms, where she felt the safest she’d ever felt, she buried her head into his chest and wept.
“I love you, Remedy.”
He kissed the top of her head, professing the feelings he had been trying to suppress since locking eyes with her after three months.
Hearing him confess that he loved her only evoked heavier cries from Remedy as she wrapped her arms around him as well.
“I love you too, Kross.”
???
Kross dipped his hand into the bath he ran Remedy to ensure that the water wasn’t too hot. After three days in the hospital, Remedy was able to be discharged. They decided to wait it out in Chicago until the results of the DNA test were emailed Kross’ and he was able to access them on his phone. They were hoping the results were in their favor, but if they weren’t, they would be local, so it wouldn’t be a hassle to set an appointment at the abortion clinic. Things had been a little intense, especially whiledealing with all of Remedy’s emotions; however, Kross was handling everything with ease.
Once he confirmed the temperature was right for her, he stepped out of the bathroom to go get Remedy. She was on FaceTime with Melo and Ava, who were thrilled to talk to her. Kross kept his promise and made sure to make the call to them as soon as Remedy was settled and felt up to talking to anyone else. There were so many tears shed, but they were tears of joy because their family unit was restored. Remedy shifted her eyes from the phone and set them on Kross, who was waiting patiently for her.
“I’ll talk to you guys tomorrow. I love you so much.”
“We love you too, baby.” Ava smiled, blowing a kiss to her daughter. They waved goodbye to each other before the call ended. Remedy made her way over to him and handed him his phone.
“Everything good with Melo and Ava?”
Remedy nodded as she allowed him to lead her to the tub where her bath had already been run for her. “It’s so good to just talk to them. I missed them so much. I used to cry constantly about it,” she sighed deeply. “I really can’t thank you enough for sticking around and looking out for them, especially for Melo.”
Kross shrugged his broad shoulders. “Melo’s my little homie. He’s a good kid. I want the best for him.”
Remedy looked up at him with a smile panning her face. In just three days, she was making great progress. She was eating right, staying hydrated, and replenishing herself. The bruises she had all over her body were a major concern for her, but day by day, most of them were beginning to fade and feel less painful. Remedy snaked her arms around him and clung to him tightly.
“I really can’t begin to express how appreciative I am of you, Kross.”
A light chuckle aired out of him due to high tight her grip was on him. “It ain’t shit to thank me for. I’m just showing up for the woman I love.”
“I didn’t think you would’ve waited for me. Your life was on hold for seven years prior to me. I didn’t think you would want to wait to find out my fate,” she admitted in a light voice, speaking her truth. It would have been so hard to come back just to find out he moved on with his life in a matter of three months. Things between them developed faster than most, so she was left to deal with the tormenting thought of him replacing her with some other female.
“Nah, shawty. You had me feeling shit in my heart that I ain’t felt since I was with Cassie. I just couldn’t let go, especially without knowing what happened to you.”
“Did you think I was dead? Be honest.”
Kross smacked his lips. Over these past three days, Remedy said and asked some pretty morbid shit. She claimed that being realistic about everything that happened to her was helping her cope and begin to let go.
“Rem, I don’t really wanna talk?—”
“Just answer the question,” she urged him.
A deep sigh dispelled from him as he rested his head on top of hers. “I flipped the whole city upside down looking for you, Rem, and everybody said they hadn’t seen or heard anything regarding you. I think a part of me was beginning to think that you died when it hit three months of you being gone, but Melo kept telling me that you’re a fighter. I see that shit now.” A proud smile casted his face as they rocked side to side in the embrace.
“I wanted to get back to my family, but getting back to you was one of my biggest motivations. I just knew there was no way in hell God was putting me through that kind of torture and wasn't gonna allow me to experience the love and safety you’ve given me.”
“When we started kicking it, life got easier for me, Rem. Even when Los died, I don’t think it wrecked me how it would’ve if I ain’t have you around. I ain’t realize how much pain you alleviated and how much brightness you brought to my life until you were gone, and shit started to get real dark for me. It was hard for me to come to terms with the fact that I found love after Cassie, especially so fast, but shit just make sense with you, shawty. I wanna take care of you and make sure you don’t want for nothing, and I’m not only talking about money and your lifestyle when I say that shit. I mean your mind, your pure-ass heart, and your soul that you’re putting back together. God made our two hurt souls find each other for a reason, and I believe that wholeheartedly.” Kross no longer wanted to take the time he had with her for granted. Everything was going to be said, even if she didn’t have a response. He wanted her to know how he truly felt.
Unable to contain her tears, she buried her head into his chest and cried. This was the happy ending she envisioned while Tone was putting her through hell. It was finally happening, and she could finally just breathe and bask in it.
“I love you so much, Kross,” she professed through her tears.
“I love you too, Rem.”
Once she got her emotions in order, Kross led her to the tub so she could get in.
