Page 119 of Love U Down II

When we got to the truck, Drix opened the door for me, slammed it shut, and walked over to Dashawn, Shade, and Alan. I looked back at Genie. She was wearing a sweatshirt and holding her baby against her chest while she rocked back and forth and sniffled with her eyes slammed shut.

I opened my mouth then closed it and faced forward again.

I wasn’t sure of what to say. I didn’t need to ask if she was okay. She wasn’t. None of this was okay. However, I didn’t know what else to say, so I just shut up and let her gather herself.

Drix talked to the guys for several minutes before he hopped into the truck. He glanced at Genie in the rearview mirror.

“Genie,” he said softly. “You got family or something you can stay with for a little?”

“Uhm, no. No. It’s just me out here.”

“Should she be alone?” I asked. “Do you want to be alone?” I directed my next question to her. “You can––”

Drix cut me off. “Don’t say stay with us because she can’t,” he said seriously. “Ain’t no woman that ain’t Chandler staying in our home, but ay, I can get you in the best hotel money can buy tonight and we can work on something more solid tomorrow.”

“I can get a hotel,” she offered.

“If you share an account, you don’t want him to see where your card is being charged."

“Oh. Okay.” She sniffled and wiped her eyes with her free hand.

“Do you need anything tonight? Food? Clothes? Diapers? A phone charger?”

“No.” She shook her head. “No. I’m good.”

“A’ight. Let’s get you and that baby inside for the night then.” Drix threw his truck in drive.

The drive out to the hotel was mostly quiet. Drix called the hotel ten minutes into our drive and got the room in Allison’s name. When we got there, we parked and helped Genie get her things: her baby’s car seat, a backpack and a duffle bag.

Drix got her checked in and up to her room with barely any words spoken between the three of us.

“If you need anything else, call me, okay?” I said as I stood in the center of the room while she sat at the foot of the bed.

“Okay.”

“I’m serious.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.” I gave her a small smile. “I know it’s hard but try to get some rest.”

“Okay.”

I exhaled and headed toward the door. Drix was still standing there, the car seat on the floor beside him.

“Ay, Genie,” he called out and she glanced at him.

“Yeah?”

“You want me to go back and kill that nigga?” he asked seriously.

“No.”

“A’ight.” He nodded. “If you change your mind, let me know.”

“Okay.” She scoffed, and for the first time all night, a little smile briefly forced its way onto her face. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Good.” He exhaled. “We’ll check in on you later.” He pushed the door open wider so I could walk out.