Jersey
"This is what you're doing now?"
Jersey looked up from her MacBook. Her eyes peered over at the blunt that appeared in Malcolm's hand. He stood by the archway of the bathroom with a glare on his handsome face.
"Why are you going through my medicine cabinet?"
"This is what you're doing?" He repeated himself, this time with authority.
She shrugged her shoulders and said, "It's only weed."
Malcolm dropped his head as he stood there in silence. He was trying his best to remain calm. Yelling and cursing at Jersey wouldn't solve anything.
"It's only weed, but...sometimes weed can lead to other drugs." Malcolm neared her and decided to sit on the air mattress, causing her to spring up from the air pressure.
"God!" She exclaimed, gripping her computer in her hands. Jersey's eyes shot over at Malcolm, who couldn't help but to shake his head. He examined the air mattress, noticing its deflation.
"Yo, you need some furniture. You can't do shit with this air mattress."
"Excuse me, but this air mattress cost me almost one hundred dollars. It came from Home Depot!" Jersey excused her expense while pushing around on the mattress.
"You could've used the money to buy yourself a comforter set."
"And what I'mma use it on, Malcolm? The floor?"
"I could get you a bedroom set. You know it's nothing."
"No." Jersey immediately rejected while shaking her head. "I'll get it myself. I just need time to...get to a furniture store."
Malcolm sucked his teeth and said, "How about this... I'll furnish the rest of your apartment, and you can furnish your room."
Stubbornly, Jersey cut her eyes at him. Instead of speaking, she took the time to think about his offer. Letting him furnish her apartment would save her money.
"I'm only agreeing to your offer because you damaged my air mattress."
"I didn't do shit."
"Malcolm, you're what? 6'5 and two hundred pounds. All of that moving and pressing against the mattress, fucked it up last night."
Malcolm thought about how he had Jersey face down and ass up. With his knees pressed against the air mattress, he fucked her roughly due to being horny and overly intoxicated with alcohol.
"Alright, but look..." He sighed while holding out the blunt. "I want to talk to you about this. I don't want you smoking weed. Like I said, weed can lead to other shit, and you know that."
Jersey glanced over at the blunt and looked over at her computer screen.
"It helps me stay sane." She spoke above a whisper.
"I want you to stay healthy and on the right path." Malcolm shook his head and scoffed. "This won't help you stay sane, Jerse. Do you even take your medicine?"
She shook her head, stiffly. Jersey decided to stop taking her medicine altogether. She felt like the weed was helping her stay mentally sane.
"No, no, no..." He objected angrily. "Nah, Jerse. I'm not feeling this." Malcolm looked at her and narrowed his eyes. "What are you going to do once this shit stops getting you high? When it stops keeping you mentally sane?"
Jersey took a deep breath as she looked over at him.
He looked over at her and said, "I can't tell you what to do, but...think about it."
"You act like I'm going to do crack or something."
"Let's be honest right now. You did do crack before, and I'm pretty sure that shit started from you smoking weed. When it stops getting you high, you're going to look for something stronger."
"This is my last blunt...I promise." She looked over at him with a neutral expression. "You're right. Me smoking weed did lead to...crack. I'm not trying to go down that path again."
"Good."
"So, uh...what about you?"
Malcolm furrowed his brows as he looked over at her in confusion.
"What about me?
"You drink...a lot, and that's not healthy. I struggled to get you in your car and up these stairs last night."
"You drove my car?"
"What choice did I have? You were drunk and couldn't drive. But that's beside the point; we're talking about your alcohol problem."
Malcolm sucked his teeth, not wanting to hear her lecture.
"No, you can't do that because you just told me not to smoke. Now it's my turn to tell you not to drink anymore."
"I just can't quit—cold turkey." Malcolm pushed out, rubbing his mustache. "You know I drink to...relax."
"Just like I smoke to relax."
"It's different, the situation is different, yo. Don't come at me like that."
Jersey set her laptop on the floor and turned around to eye Malcolm. A confused expression was etched across her face as she watched him closely.
"How is it different, Malcolm? Please, tell me."
"Your situation can lead to something more complicated; mine won't."
"Your situation can too. You could end up in a fatal car accident; your liver can fail, and so much more shit. Don't try to make it seem like drinking alcohol isn't bad because it is."
"Alright, whatever..." He trailed off while checking the time on his Blackberry. "Shit, I have to go in about an hour."
Jersey was relieved to hear him mutter those words. Gabriel would be over soon, and she didn't want him lingering around.
"Where are you going?"
"I have to meet Raymond at the coffee shop, and then I have a business meeting to attend at Givin' Back." Malcolm spilled while tapping away on his phone. "I'm about to hop in the shower."
Jersey nodded her head in confirmation. She'd remembered Raymond well. He was the talkative man at Frida's gathering. Malcolm informed her that he was not only Bernie's boyfriend but the family's lawyer as well.
However, that wasn't on her mind.
"When am I going to get an interview for the job?"
"You don't need an interview. I hired you." Malcolm replied.
With her round lips gaped, she pushed out, "oh."
"I did schedule your training, which begins soon." He continued. "You're going to be trained by the best—Mrs. Joana. She's an older woman who's been with Givin' Back for a long time."
"Well, that sounds great." Jersey voiced. "But what exactly does an executive associate do?"
Malcolm looked over at her and squinted his eyes. "You nervous?"
"I am." She ran her hand through her short, unkempt curls and said, "I don't think I'm qualified enough, Malcolm. I don't have a bachelor's degree nor a master's. My resume barely has jobs on it."
"Yo, you worry too much." He spoke calmly, not bothered by her blabbering. "You won't be doing hard work...just clerical work like typing up reports, forwarding calls, taking messages, and filing documents. You do half of that shit already. "Basically, you're working as my assistant with an executive position."
"What's the salary? Because this apartment is not cheap."
He looked over at her, scrutinizing her face and bedhead that needed to be moisturized and combed. "Forty-two dollars an hour. You'll get paid weekly."
"Malcolm..." Jersey pushed out, chest stuttering. Forty-two dollars an hour was a lot, in her opinion. "That's a lot of money for me. I mean..."
"Wilson was getting paid thirty-two dollars. You'll be fine. Take this job and keep it until you graduate from college. You can go straight into your field." Malcolm informed her. "Trust me, having some clerical background on your resume will land you a job in law quickly."
Jersey just nodded her head as she calculated how much money she was going to make. She didn't even notice Malcom leaving the room.
The sound of the shower running caused Jersey to divert her attention back to her computer. She picked it up and opened it with her fingerprint since it was now asleep.
"Come hop in the shower with me." Malcolm suggested as he walked off.
*********************
Malcolm
"They aren't innocent at all. Many of my men came up dead because of them. Both Essence and her brother, Desmond, ended up dead because of them." Malcolm stated as he held a bottle of water in his hand. Promising to lay off the alcohol was a difficult task for him.
"Carl has a shipment coming in tonight," Hank announced after exhaling the smoke from his lungs. He darted his eyes over at Dock, who was concentrating on the game of chess. He was on one side while Malcolm took control of the other.
"I say we sabotage that shit."
"And leave evidence behind so they can assume Seema and Catcher had dealings with it," Hank added. "I like the way you think, man."
"I hope that'll be the only thing you do," Dock spoke up, narrowing his eyes at his nephew. "You don't need to get caught up with Carl and his shenanigans."
"Well, check you out." Hank chuckled as he looked over at Dock. "Malcolm is a grown ass man."
"That I helped raise. He does not need to be in business with Carl and you know it. The motherfucka does not play fair."
"Check this out." Malcolm raised his voice, noticing the tension in the room. "I'm only going to do this little job, and that's it. Seema needs to be stopped, and so does Catcher. We play our cards right; we might just put them right where we want them. Vulnerable and open."
Hank leaned back in his chair and muttered, "Suit yourself."
Malcolm made sure to keep everything in order. As he contemplated on which piece to move, he thought about his latest brutal request. Wilson had to be dealt with, no matter what. After getting caught, he decided to apologize to Malcolm repetitively with tears rolling down his face.
"I have a family, and my wife is pregnant!" Wilson claimed as he raised his voice.
Instead of matching his volume, Malcolm just stood there nonchalantly. He met Wilson's wife before. She was a short Filipino woman who had stopped by sometimes to bring her husband lunch.
"Look, get your shit and leave." Malcolm authorized him as he stood there calmly, waiting for Wilson to fuck up.
A few days ago, he had a meeting with a few of his men. Malcolm assigned them a little job to handle. Wilson was to be captured and beaten. As usual, he wanted a souvenir back, so he ordered his men to bring him one tooth from Wilson's mouth.
As expected, they did just that. Malcolm examined the tooth and realized they'd pulled out one of his front teeth.
"I gotta go," Hank announced as he slipped his phone into his pocket. "Oh, yeah." He clapped his hands while leaning over towards Malcolm. "Remember that youngster you brought to Newts?"
Malcolm had to think about it. He tilted his head to the side, thinking.
"He goes by the name of Preach." Hank continued.
Hearing Preach's name caused Malcolm to grow alert. "Yeah, what about him?"
"He stopped by the other day...looking for work."
"Work?"
Hank nodded his head as he watched Malcolm's face. "Says he wants to get in the ring and box."
Malcolm didn't speak at all.
"Don't worry, man. I didn't give him a job."
"I'll deal with him." Malcolm pushed out.
Preach was trying him. Three days ago, he asked him for a job. Somehow, he found out that Malcolm was more than a businessman and wanted in. He claimed working for Malcolm would benefit him financially, and he would be able to afford his own crib.
**********************
Jersey
"This project..." Jersey blew out some air of exhaustion as she closed her laptop. "Should be correct."
"It better be...I'm not trying to get no D on my midterm," Gabriel added as he shook his head. "But that should be good. We went back and added more shit."
"Yeah." She replied, standing up.
With his laptop in his hand. He looked around and started snickering.
"What's funny?"
"You got this badass apartment with no furniture."
Jersey placed her hands on her hips and frowned. She was tired of people bringing up her empty apartment. Maybe she didn't want furniture because she didn't want the company.
"It's coming..." She trailed off. "Furniture costs money. I'm not Beyoncè. I can't just furnish the whole place in one day or hour."
Gabriel shook his head as he walked over to the front door. He swaggered over, placed his hand on the knob, and turned around to look over at Jersey.
She had cleaned up before his arrival. She managed to shower and throw on a tank top with some shorts. Her hair had been moisturized and combed to perfection. She also glossed her lips numerous times due to them being full.
"Maybe I can take you out," Gabriel stated as he leaned his head to the side. He was bold and daring. Jersey had figured that out already.
"I don't know about that..."
He lifted his chin and said, "Think about it.
"Umm..."
Gabriel unlocked the door and opened it. Immediately, he backed up when he realized a solid figure stood before him. Jersey's mouth flew open in surprise.
Malcolm stood on the outside with his Blackberry in his hand. He was busy typing away, trying to get his point through with one of his business associates. He didn't even realize Gabriel was standing in front of him.
Jersey stood there awkwardly as she waited for him to look up. This was so like Malcolm. He only moved when he got ready as if the world owed him. She squinted her eyes when she noticed a folder tucked underneath his arm.
Gabriel shot her a look, but he didn't speak on the weird situation.
"Excuse me, man," Gabriel spoke up, causing Malcolm to divert his attention instantly. Preach wasn't around—that he knew, and besides that, he had a southern accent. This voice, on the other hand, was low and raspy, yet clear.
Malcolm's thick brows were relaxed, not showing any signs of confusion. Instead of moving, he just stood there looking at them.
"Malcolm, let him by." Jersey pressured him as she walked further, trying to push him to the side. He didn't budge at all—she figured that.
He lifted his chin, throwing it at Gabriel, and asked, "Who is this?"
"This is Gabriel." She answered lowly. "We go to school together."
"Hm." Malcolm scoffed while looking the guy up and down. Quickly, he checked out his anime graphic shirt and sweatpants. Malcolm backed away and allowed the young guy to walk out of the apartment.
When he walked inside and locked the door, he turned around and noticed the facial expression on Jersey's face.
"What?"
"Really, Malcolm?" She placed her hand on her small hip, eyeing him. "You wouldn't even let him leave."
"Who the fuck is that clown?"
"I told you his name is Gabriel."
"Why is he over here?"
Jersey scoffed before answering. "Professor James partnered us up for our project." She tilted her head to the side, squinting her brown eyes at him. "Why do you care so much?"
"I'm just saying..." Malcolm trailed off, leaning on the wall. "You don't know him like that. He shouldn't be in this apartment at all. Meet him at the library or something."
"We met there already." She blurted out, not thinking nothing of it.
"Wait—what? You met him at the library?"
Jealousy was written all across Malcolm's face. Jersey wanted to be amused, but instead, she took another route—pettiness.
"Why are you so concerned about me studying with Gabriel? It's not like I'm sucking his dick, and besides, you and I aren't dating. We never made our relationship official."
Hearing Jersey talk so bluntly to Malcolm only meant one thing. She had grown comfortable around him. His demanding voice no longer put fear in her, and his threats didn't move her.
"Look. I'm not dealing with that shit today, Jerse." Malcolm pushed out as he scratched the side of his head. "I just want to shower and go to sleep."
"Why are you always over here?" She questioned him boldly. "Like, you have a badass penthouse with a comfortable bed to sleep in."
Malcolm blinked a few times, not knowing how to answer her question. He looked around and realized that he had traded his comfortable pad for Jersey's empty apartment. He shook his head, shocking himself.
"Your apartment is closer to my businesses." He excused himself. "Now, can I shower and go to sleep?"
"You can shower, but I don't know where you're sleeping at."
Before speaking, he ran his tongue over his upper row of teeth and said, "What?"
"You messed up the air mattress; it's deflated. I tried to blow it back up, but it's gone."
"Damn." Malcolm cursed, softening up his facial expression. He ran his hand through his beard as he stood there in deep thought. "Let's go and get another one."
She nodded her head stiffly, not wanting to leave the apartment. She'd been out earlier to get a Plan B.
"Let's take your car." He suggested coolly. "And you might want to change..." Malcolm's eyes lingered over her body. "It's cold outside."
She looked down at her attire, knowing it wouldn't be right for the weather outside. "Let me go and change then."
"You do that, I'mma go and take a quick piss."
The pair went their separate ways—Jersey went into her bedroom and searched for something suitable to wear while Malcolm emptied his bladder.
After getting dressed, Jersey grabbed her purse and keys, making her way out of the apartment with Malcolm. They traveled down the stairs and eventually ended up in the parking lot where their cars were.
Jersey unlocked her doors with her fob and hopped right on the driver's side. Malcolm settled on the passenger's side as he examined Jersey's car.
He was surprised her ride was still clean.
"What's wrong?" Jersey's eyes crept over and noticed how nosy Malcolm was being.
"I can't believe your car is still clean." He wowed while buckling up.
"I'm not dirty." She pushed out while pressing the start button, waking the car up.
"A lot of women don't keep their cars clean."
"I'm not like other women, and you need to know that."
Jersey expertly navigated out of the parking lot. She watched the traffic, making sure not to hit anyone or anything.
Malcolm couldn't help but gawk at the beauty driving. She wore a hoodie with some matching sweatpants. On her feet were a pair of socks and Crocs. Jersey kept it simple, not wanting to doll up for a simple store run.
It took them about twenty minutes to make it to the Home Depot since it was the closest. They went inside and looked around until Malcolm spotted an air mattress he wanted to get.
"But it's two hundred dollars," Jersey whispered with her brows furrowed. "We should just get the same mattress."
"Nah." He disagreed with a headshake. "This one is a King size, big enough for me to sleep on."
Jersey squinted her eyes at him.
"I thought you were getting it for me."
"For both of us." He raised his eyebrows while placing the box in the cart.
She blushed, knowing where his mind was.
"I think we should get a few more items," Jersey suggested as she looked around curiously. "Like for the apartment since we plan on furnishing it soon."
He nodded his head coolly.
They looked around the store and grabbed a few items off the shelf. After purchasing the items, they packed everything in the trunk of Jersey's car and took off.
***********************
"This looks better," Jersey commented as she looked at the inflated air mattress. It was decorated like an actual bed: sheets, pillows, and blankets. It was much bigger and sturdier.
"Yeah." Malcolm cosigned as he walked inside, rubbing antiperspirant underneath his armpit. He tossed the bottle in his bag, that was halfway open.
"Hopefully, it won't deflate."
Jersey could feel his body against hers as she stood there, trying to maintain her calm. Malcolm wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close to his chest.
"Let's test it out." He whispered.
"Is that why you bought the mattress? For sex?"
"And sleep." He added, pushing his hard erection into her.
"You might want to stop." She chuckled a little. "I started my period today."
"Damn, for real?" He questioned her, face buried into her neck. Instead of moving, he stayed there, peppering kisses. "After taking the pill?"
"Well, I checked my period log app, and it's supposed to come on today."
Reluctantly, he pulled away and looked down at her. "I don't know much about a woman's cycle. But you good, you need anything?"
"I'm fine." She pushed out simply. "I got my chamomile tea and my Tylenol."
"Cool, cool..." He trailed off. "Oh, shit. I almost forgot."
Jersey watched as he walked over to his bag. Malcolm pulled out the same manila folder that he had tucked underneath his arm earlier. He handed it over to Jersey.
"What's this?"
"Paperwork that you need to have filled out soon." He answered. "Candace put everything together for you."
"It's for Givin' Back," Jersey said to herself as she read the fine print.
"Yeah." He concurred. "Your schedule is inside, and there should also be information in there about what you need to do on your first day of work."
"Thank you." Jersey smiled, not believing her life right now. She knew that Malcolm would come through for her. However, everything seemed so surreal. The job position she now held was more of a senior position.
"Thank you so much." She expressed again softly while closing the folder. "I really appreciate this, Malcolm."
"It's all good, baby. You don't have to thank me."
Jersey neared him and wrapped her arms around his torso since he was taller than her. With her chin pressed against the middle of his torso, she looked at his honey-colored eyes. Curly hair surrounded his thick brown lips, and Jersey couldn't help but stare at them.
"But I want to thank you. It's a senior-level position."
He leaned over and pressed his lips against her lips softly. When he pulled back, he noticed that Jersey's eyes were still closed. She wanted the kiss to last longer; too bad it didn't. He chuckled a little, causing her eyes to flutter open.
****************
Slight cramps invaded her back as she tried shifting her sleeping position on the bed. No matter how she laid, she still was uncomfortable.
Jersey tossed her arm on the other side of the bed, thinking Malcolm would still be there. Instead of feeling flesh, she felt plastic.
Slowly, she rose and surveyed the scene before her. Jersey blinked a few times, noticing a bouquet of red roses lying beside her. There was twelve long-stemmed roses.
There was also a card sitting on the bed. It was a standard white card that didn't fold. Malcolm's penmanship was very beguiling. He had the skill to write in great cursive.
The card read:
I'm sorry for everything.
— Malcolm.
Jersey pursed her lips as she flipped the card over, wondering if there would be more. Apologies weren't her thing, and Malcolm knew that. It broke her heart when he blamed her for taking his money.
But this was a start, and she was willing to forgive him.
She picked up the roses and couldn't help but to closely examine them. The flowers were freshly cut from the bush they grew on—she could tell. The stems were evenly cut with some pruning shears. She brought the roses close to her nose and inhaled the fresh musky, flowery scent.
A smile etched across her lips. She could get used to receiving flowers.
Jersey placed them back on the bed and went straight for her purse. She pulled out a pack of cigarillos and some weed that was in a twisted, plastic bag.
********************
It was all over the news. Mahone's ship and precious cargo was destroyed, causing him to lose millions of dollars in his investment. Of course, the news had no idea what was actually inside the shipment; they assumed it was just standard equipment from various companies.
Malcolm sat on the couch with the remote in his hand. A smile didn't cross his face at all. He didn't find it funny. It was just business, and it had to be done.
Carl Mahone stood by the dock where police officers and firefighters gathered, trying to investigate the fire. He stood there in a black suit with his hands clasped. He held a glare on his face, wanting the news reporters to go away.
"What do you plan on doing next, Mr. Mahone?"
Carl looked dead in the camera with his eyes narrowed. Malcolm blinked a few times, making sure he wasn't tripping.
"I plan on finding out who destroyed my shit. Is that good enough for you all?" He pushed the microphone back and started to walk away with the help of his guards.
Malcolm turned the television off and pushed out a breath. Instead of worrying about the situation, he decided to lay back and rest for a few minutes. He tossed his tatted arm across his head and closed his eyes.
"Are you staying for dinner?"
The sound of Frida's voice interrupted Malcolm's resting. He opened his golden irises and placed them on Frida, who was typing away on her iPhone. She stood there in a cashmere sweater, jeans, and cute boots that were designed by Fendi. Today, she wore her natural hair. Her afro was curly and moisturized.
Malcolm didn't speak; he just continued to stare at his mom.
"I'm cooking." She continued without looking at him. "Homemade lasagna."
"With seven different kinds of cheese," June added as she walked inside with brown bags that held ingredients for their dinner.
"Where y'all been?"
"We went to purchase a gift for Diamond's baby shower," June answered for them.
Malcolm didn't reply to his sister's response. He knew that his cousin, Diamond, was pregnant with twins and was having a baby shower soon.
"How long have you been here?" Frida questioned her son.
"For... for about an hour." He replied lowly. "I was on this side of town and decided to stop by...to see you."
Malcolm couldn't go long without seeing his mom. He made sure to visit her at least twice a week and talk with her on the phone every day. It was mandatory for him. His mom was his whole heart.
"So, you cooking tonight? I can't believe that." He continued, teasing his her.
"I am." She leaned against the couch; lips pursed. "I have no choice. My chef is on vacation."
"Hey, Malcolm." June spoke up, breaking their conversation. He looked over at his sister with a crease on his forehead. He hated interruptions, and his sister knew it. However, she didn't seem fazed by the look he was giving her.
"Micah is outside."
Instead of replying, Malcolm just glared at his sister.
"Why are you mugging me like that?"
"Yo, I don't want him near this house." Malcolm snapped. "And you're not supposed to be fucking with that clown. I told you to cut his ass loose. You fucking hardheaded, yo."
"Malcolm," June called his name as she flipped her hair that was in some box braids. "He just wants to apologize for disrespecting you."
"I don't give a fuck about that!" Malcolm jibed, raising his voice. "He needs to apologize to Jersey, not me."
June curled her upper lip as she tilted her head to the side. "Jersey? What he needs to apologize to her for?"
"June, make your nigga leave, man." Malcolm stated in a calm tone as he typed away on his iPhone. "And that's the last time I'mma tell you."
"You don't live here, and this is not your house." June remarked stubbornly.
"Do what he says." Frida tried convincing her daughter.
"You're always on his side." June pointed out with a scowl. "I need to get my own shit."
"Yeah, you do that." Malcolm jibed.
"Nobody's stopping you." Frida claimed. "You do need your own shit because I'm tired of your mouth."
June stormed out, not wanting to argue anymore.
Suddenly, Malcolm's Blackberry started to ring. Malcolm pulled the phone from his pocket and noticed that it was someone from his bar calling. He figured it was an emergency since he'd been up there to check on everything. Quickly, he answered his phone, bringing it up to his ear.
"Hey, Malcolm." Sarai's voice greeted him hesitantly.
He frowned, looking over at his nosy mom. "What's up?"
"There's a woman here. She says her name is Sydney Sullivan."
Malcolm sat up on the couch while clenching the phone with his fingers. "Who?"
"Your father's wife, she wants to talk to you."
Malcolm knew that his father was married; however, he didn't know the woman. Her name and facial identity was a secret to him. Before he could protest, he heard her soft voice filling the phone.
"...Hi." She spoke in a neutral tone. "I'm Sydney, your father's wife."
"I was just informed."
"Right." She chuckled nervously before continuing. "I was told you own this bar, which is why I'm contacting you this way."
Malcolm stayed quiet, not knowing what to say. He wanted to hang up the phone, but he decided against it.
"Your father is in the hospital...he had a heart attack. I just wanted to let you know." She informed him sadly before sighing. "If you want to, you can visit him at the hospital. He's at Rhodes Medical Center. You and your sister are both welcomed."
"I need to go." Malcolm spoke into the phone.
Sydney didn't speak for a few seconds. She was puzzled by Malcolm's attitude. Mack didn't speak about his son much, so she had no idea Malcolm could be downright malevolent.
"Oh...well, okay. It was nice speaking with you."
Malcolm removed the phone from his ear and ended the call. He didn't have time to pretend like he enjoyed speaking with his dad's wife.
"Who was that?"
"Mack's wife."
"His wife...hm," Frida replied while looking at her son. "What does she want with you?"
"Mack had a heart attack, and he's in the hospital. She says that June and I are welcomed to come and see him." Malcolm informed his mom. "Says he's at Rhodes."
"Even if you two weren't welcomed, y'all still can go." Frida stated, growing offended. She assumed Sydney meant it in a negative way.
"Who's going where?" June questioned them as she slid back into the living as if she didn't have a dispute with her brother.
"Your stepmom wants you to visit the hospital." Frida spilled with her arms crossed. "Mack suffered a heart attack."
"Damn, for real?" June spoke as she flopped down on the couch beside her brother. "That's too bad."
"So, are you two going to the hospital?" Frida questioned them.
"Count me out. There's no need for me to go up there. I don't know him like that and I'm not about to pretend."
Malcolm glanced over at his sister's stubbornness before placing his attention on his mom. Honestly, he felt the same way. There was no good reason to visit Mack in the hospital. He had other kids who would be there to support him. Missing both Malcolm and June wouldn't affect him at all.
Their opinion, not the author.
***********************
"I like this platform bed," Jersey commented as she flipped through the images on the screen. The black bed was upholstered with storage space at the foot. She looked over at Malcolm and noticed the stoic expression on his face. He wasn't in a good mood, and she could tell.
"What's wrong?" She continued while raising on the mattress with the help of her elbow.
He shook his head stiffly and said, "nothing."
"Something is wrong." She grabbed his chin, forcing him to look up at her. Malcolm pulled his bottom lip inside of his mouth as he stared back at her.
"You've been like this ever since you step foot in the apartment. What's going on? You can tell me; you know how I feel about communication." She warned him, raising her eyebrows.
He sighed hard and palmed his face.
"Just tell me." She pleaded.
"My dad had a heart attack."
"Oh my God, is he okay?" Jersey's mouth fell open as she watched him closely. She knew it had to be something wrong with Malcolm.
"I don't know, but he's in the hospital. His wife called me and told me ."
"So, you're going to visit him, right?"
Malcolm shrugged his shoulders.
"I talked to you about forgiveness."
"Jerse, just because I forgave him for being absent doesn't mean I have to fuck with him."
"I know that..." She trailed off, "but I feel like you should at least go up there and see him. It won't hurt to do that."
Malcolm stayed quiet, not speaking.
"A closure is what you need."
TO BE CONTINUED