Chapter 4
Carol arrived at her house at four-thirty, but an hour later still hadn’t fallen asleep. She reached for her phone and called Gabriella. It was late in LA, but her friend was a night owl.
“Carol! I was just thinking about you. Did you hear about—”
“Alex? Yes, I just left the hospital. But how do you know?”
“Troy got a call. You were at the hospital? What time is it there?”
“Five-thirty.” Both women were talking fast, and over each other. Carol took a calming breath and shared the prior night’s events. “What’s crazy is the whole night I felt like someone was watching me. Now I think that it might have been Alex. How else could he have known where I was? And knock me down?” Carol had even more questions along these lines. But they were for Alex.
“Wow, sis. That is crazy! I can’t believe you didn’t remember that Alex worked for Marlon, considering he left our team to join him.”
“Of course I remembered. I just didn’t know if he still worked there.”
“So, how was it . . . seeing him again?”
“I’m still trying to figure that out.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. Why did you say it like that?”
“Come on now, Carol. I always felt a vibe between you two.”
“Even all bandaged up, I have to admit he did look good.”
“Ha! That’s what I’m talking about. So . . . when are y’all hooking up?”
“I don’t know. But he asked if my number was the same.”
“Alex isn’t one to play games. If he asked for your number, he’ll call you.”
Gabriella was right. Four hours after Carol finally went to bed she was awakened by her holiday ringtone, an old-school classic by Donny Hathaway and her mother’s favorite.
“Hello?” She tried to sound chipper, as though she’d not been sleeping, but the frog in her voice was a dead giveaway.
“Good morning. I waited as long as I could. How’s my sexy Christmas Carol?”
She chuckled, feeling all shy and girlie and warm in hidden places. “Good morning, Alex.”
“It’s probably not the first time you’ve heard that, but I couldn’t resist.”
“Actually, it is.”
“No!”
“I grew up in the hood. Trust me, nobody called them carols. They were and are referred to as songs!” She snuggled in her comforter, wishing the man she talked to was sharing her bed. “How are you feeling?”
“I’ll be all right.”
“Have you ever, you know, had that happen before?”
“What? Get shot? No, before last night I’d never taken a bullet. And I must say I never want to do so again.”
“What happened, Alex? Why did you tackle me like that?”
“I saw one of. . . somebody . . . trying to get a shot off at Stacks.”
“I’m not surprised.”
“You know him?”
“Not personally. But just about everybody knows of him if you live in the Dirty D.”
“He was sitting behind you.”
“Were you watching me? I’d felt like someone was off and on all night.”
A second passed. Five. Ten. “I checked you out a time or two.”
“Liar! You checked me out way more than that. I could feel it!”
“It’s my job to keep an eye on the area I’m guarding. That’s what I was doing when I saw homeboy with his gun.”
“Who was it?”
“Can’t tell you that.”
“Can’t? Or won’t?”
“Baby girl . . . the less you know, the greater your safety.”
Carol sat up as the severity of the situation finally hit her. Alex’s job was dangerous. Someone—she, Alex, her friends—could have died. “Did you see something that could put you in danger?”
“I’m a bodyguard, baby. Danger comes with my job. But I didn’t call you to talk about work.”
His voice had dropped and so had the butterflies in her stomach. They had now become a squiggly feeling in the center of her heat. She squeezed her thighs together and tried to not remember how good Alex had looked, even injured, in bed. “What did you call to talk about?”
“You. What are you doing today?”
“My mother always cooks a big dinner, so later on I’m going over there. First, though, I’ll be playing Secret Santa for several families in need.”
“Nice.”
“You seem surprised.”
“I am. But it’s cool. I like a woman who’s generous, and who can surprise me.”
Again, the squiggles. That feeling. Maybe she liked Alex more than she’d let on to her best friend. But first, she’d have to admit it to herself.
“When are you getting out?”
“I had hoped today, but it looks like they want to keep me for another twenty-four to make sure there’s no infection.”
“Is anyone there with you?”
“My brother’s flying out to check on me; it’s the only way I could keep him from telling our mom. He’ll be here later today.”
“I don’t remember where you’re from.”
“I’m not sure I ever told you. I’m from Philly, baby, born and bred.”
“East Coast flavor like the other guy, your friend, Eric.”
“No doubt.”
“I’m sorry that you have to spend Christmas in the hospital.”
“You can come by after playing Secret Santa and play nurse; make me feel better.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“You’re going to make me spend this special day all alone?”
“You won’t be alone. Your brother’s coming.”
“Yeah, but I can’t hug him like I want to hug you.”
“You’re so full of game.”
“I mean every word.”
It sounded like he did, so much so that Carol got out of bed and walked to the closet. To brighten up a patient’s day, one had to be dressed just right.
“I guess I can do my civic duty and visit the sick. I’ll even bring you a plate from my mama’s house.”
Alex groaned. “That’s what I’m talking about. This hospital food isn’t cutting it.”
“Which do you like better,” she asked as she flipped through her outfits, “sweet potato or pecan?”
“They both sound good. But the dessert I’m waiting for most is you.”