Page 22 of Color Me Broken
Tasha’s voice stayed cold. “So why the hell y’all wakin’ me up? Where his key at?”
“I…I…I…lost it,” Juelz stuttered. “The key gone. Vanished.Poof.”
“Poofis whatcha ass need to do, Juelz. I mean, really, if it worked like ‘I Dream of Jeannie,’ I’d blink yo’ ass away from me.” Tasha echoed. “I don’t believe this shit.”
They heard a loudclick,then the door flung open hard as hell. Tasha stood there in a bonnet and robe, face blank but eyes dangerous. “Getcha ass in here.”
Sintonio and Kane stumbled inside, still holding Juelz up. “Where you want us to put him?” they asked.
Tasha pointed to the sofa. “Drop his drunk ass over there. And if he vomits on my sofa? Ooh, I’m killin’ all y’all ass.”
Juelz lit up like Christmas morning. “Damn, girl, you so fine when you mad.”
“Ugh!” Tasha rolled her eyes, snatching his car keys from the guys. “Bye, and next time? Leave his drunk ass out there in the car and let him sleep it off.”
Tasha slammed the door.
As they walked back to the car, still cracking up, Kane looked at Sintonio. “He gon’ wake up with a knot upside his head…andnoidea why.”
Two weeks later….
Juelz left the trap early with Tasha heavy on his mind, the smell of weed and money still clinging to his clothes. She had called him to let him know that she was home early after being seen in the ER because she had fainted at work, and that two coworkers were kind enough to bring her there.
By the time he made it to the crib, she was curled up in the bed, body folded tight, pain written all over her face. He made up his mind that by morning, he would have her in somebody’s doctor’s office. Juelz was going to make sure she was seen, no more guessing, no more brushing it off. Tasha might’ve still been trying to act strong, but Juelz saw through all that.
The next morning, the sterile smell of antiseptic clung in the air as Tasha sat in the doctor’s office, reading on her Kindle Colorsoft. The paper gown was open in the front, paper crinkling against her thighs. She hated this feeling, vulnerable, exposed, like the answers to her body were in somebody else’s hands.
Meanwhile, Juelz was standing on his feet, nosing through the cabinets as if he were shopping. He pulled one open, whistling low at the rows of gauze, syringes, and neatly stacked pill bottles.
“Damn…they keep a whole CVS back here,” he whispered, picking up a box and flipping it in his hand. Tasha rolled her eyes, exhaling through her nose as she swiped on her Colorsoft.
“Jue, nigga, sit yo ass down. You all in these folks shit like you at home.”
He chuckled, putting the box back but not moving toward the chair. “I’m just taking inventory, damn. Ain’t never seen half this medical shit before.”
She smirked despite herself, then leaned forward. “Oh, look, go over there and put some of those gloves in your pocket. Size small.”
Juelz turned around to look at her like she was crazy. “Hell naw, girl. You work at the hospital, you betta get that shit from them.”
Tasha laughed, shaking her head. “C’mon, Jue, go get them. They pink, bae. We don’t got that color at Emerald City.”
Juelz side-eyed her while stuffing his pants with a couple of the pink gloves that were hung on the wall over the sink.
She burst out laughing before she could stop herself. “Jueee!” She doubled over, covering her mouth. “This is exactly why they don’t let niggas back here.”
He smirked and moved on, opening the lower drawer. Inside, he spotted a shiny metal tool. He picked it up, turning it over in his hand, back and forth.
“Man, what the fuck is this duck mouth lookin’ shit?” He squeezed it open, then closed, making it clap. “Where the fuck they put this at?” He asked with concern.
“Oh my God! Juelz!” Tasha damn near hollered, jumping down from the table, snatching it from his hand, before he broke it. “It goes in our pussies, dumbass,” she said, as she patted her own. “It’s for Pap Smears. Now here, go put this back where you got it from.”
He took the speculum back and came back to his chair, laughing hard. “Shiitt, y’all wild for lettin’ them muthafuckas play duck hunt between y'all legs.”
Tasha covered her face with both hands, half embarrassed, half laughing with him. “I cannot take yo ass nowhere. I knew I shoulda brought Niyah with me instead.”
He stood walking towards her, opening her paper gown, and placing his arms around her waist. “You know you like it when I come with you. Don’t act.” He bit down on his bottom lip. “You know we can get it crackin’ right here on this table. You already naked, easy access.” His hand slid between her thighs.
“Stoppp Jue—” she whispered, swatting at him, tying the gown back together. “Go sit?—”
