Читать книгу When Love is Unfinished - Nicole Cooke - Страница 13

8

Hey Mike, Derrick spoke through the phone. How you doing? I haven’t heard from you since you hooked up with Clarissa! Aaaaaw, man Derrick, she’s amazing! I have never been so happy in my life, she’s funny and intelligent. I hear it all in your voice man so you think this is the one? I’m still testing the waters. So what’s up with you and Ms. Ashley Mike inquired, oh she’s good, but she has a wall up like Jericho! Really? Mike asked. Yeah and plus she keeps getting sick. First, it was the pink eye and then she got strep throat, and now she got food poison. Well maybe she just got a low immune system. Maybe I don’t know, but I wish she would hurry up and come back to work I miss her, and plus our receptionist Judy has been hitting on me and coming on pretty strong. I was in the drift room making a sketch, don’t you know she came back there and ask if I wanted a massage because I look tensed. Derrick said. Well is she sexy Derrick? Mike asked, hell no man she has no shape, fat and her arm look too little for her body, Mike burst out laughing. Man the other day she tried to grab my dick in the supply room! She only acts like that when Ashley is out sick. Man my work day is so long without Ash being there, she is like a breath of fresh air. Did you ask her out Derrick? I did but she always decline and say that she’s busy or she don’t think it’s a good idea to date co-workers, but I know I could make her happy. Well don’t give up homie, she’ll come around, but listen I have to go Rissa is coming over I’m cooking dinner for her tonight, she’s been a little stress lately so I told her to come over here and chill with me for a bit. Lucky bastard! Derrick replied. I wish I could go chill with Ash, I’ll just call her and see how she feeling, all right man be EZ, I holla at you later, peace.

Ughhh, I feel like crap, Ashley moaned, I can’t keep nothing down, I wish Malik was here to go to the store for me, I need some ginger ale and crackers. Ashley was so weak she could barely pick her head up. Ring, riiiinng. Oh God it even hurts to hear the phone ring… Hello Ashley whispered through the phone, Ashley? Sweetie, are you okay? Derrick asked in a concerned tone. Hey Derrick, I’m soooo weak… Ash is there anything I can do for you? You need anything? He asked. Yes a rope so I can hang myself I feel awful. Ash do you want me to come over, yes but I don’t want you to get sick, Ms. Richmond can’t have two of her best workers out, I will be okay, text me your address and I’ll be there in a minute, and plus it Friday we don’t have to work tomorrow. Derrick hopped on his bike and made his way to Pikesville by him living in Owings Mills it wasn’t that far. He stopped by the store and picked up some ginger ale, pretzels, gator aid, chicken broth a can of Lysol and some flowers. He placed all of that in his back pack and was on his way. Knock, knock. Ashley heard someone knocking on her door, she got up enough strength to answer the door. Hey Derrick, she replied, hey sweetie, come on lay down, he instructed, just then Ashley took off running to bathroom. Paaaughh, ughhhh, Ashley was puking her brains out Derrick went in behind her placed a cold towel on her neck and got another warm cloth and wiped her face and mouth. Ashley you okay? no she whined like a little kid, Derrick picked her up off of the bathroom floor and carried her to her bedroom he gently placed her on the bed. Ash your heart is racing, sweetie you’re dehydrated, I’ma go in here I bought you some gator aid, you need some electrolytes. Okay she whined. Derrick really felt bad for Ashley but was kinda glad he was in her company, even if he did risk getting sick himself. Come on sweetie drink a little bit of this, and nibble on these cracker to settle your stomach and I’ma go clean your bathroom up okay? Okay, Derrick before you do that can you help get out of these stinky cloths? Derrick stood there in a daze…huh? Oh, oh yeah, I have a night shirt in the bottom drawer. Derrick went to the bottom draw and pulled out a big purple Ravens T shirt, he looked at it and said you lucky I like you, Ashley gave a half smile and lifted her shirt over her head. Derrick being the gentleman that he was turned his back as she switched her shirt. Thanks, Derrick I really appreciate you coming to help me… No problem he responded, I’ll be back. Derrick went to work on that bathroom he mopped and wiped the sink counters down and sprayed Lysol in the bathroom and her kitchen. He came back in the room and noticed that Ashley was fast asleep. He kissed her on her forehead and whispered good night. He went into the living room and fell asleep on the sofa. The next morning Ashley woke up and crawled to the bathroom she was still feeling a little weak and dizzy. As she was coming out Derrick sat up on the sofa and said good morning pretty girl. Ash came over to the sofa and said you know I look a hot mess. Nah, but your breath? Now that’s a hot mess! She giggled and went in the bathroom and brush her teeth, Derrick got up went to the kitchen and heated up the chicken broth and put some crackers in it and sat it on the table. Ashley came out this time with her hair neatly wrapped with a scarf on it, and the crust was out of her eyes and a little Vaseline was on her lips.

Awe you did this for me? Derrick you’re a sweetheart I have to repay you, I thought I was gonna die last night, I don’t know why all of sudden I keep getting sick! Naw sweetie you don’t have to repay me. I just want you to get better so you can come back to work, I miss having you there, and that damn Judy won’t leave me alone! Ashley chuckled, she wants you Derrick! Derrick sat there with his face screwed up, ugh never in a million years. Derrick noticed a picture on Ashley’s book shelf of her and a dude hugged up in a picture and then another one on the coffee table, he also notice a picture of the same guy on her nightstand. Ashley can I ask you a question? If it’s none of my business just tell me. Okay Ashley said with a smile. Who’s the guy in all of these pictures? Ashley smile faded away slowly. His name is Malik, he was my boyfriend. Are you still in love with him? Derrick asked. Yes I am, and I don’t think I will ever stop loving him, Ashley eyes starting to tear up…

Ash, I’m on my way I’m running a little late but I’ll be there, Malik love watching the football games with Ashley it was their time to act a fool and cheer on the home team, Malik got off late and was trying to get through downtown traffic. Malik and Ashley met their freshman year at Coppin State both being young and full of life became best friends up through Graduation. Malik was Ashley’s first, and he loved her the first time he saw her, he almost cried the first time they made love because he never had a virgin before; the night they shared together was amazing. Ashley was so comfortable with Malik that she vowed to never love another. Malik was zooming through traffic when a motorcyclist cut him off, to avoid hitting him Malik swerved into oncoming traffic and hit a SUV head on. The impact killed Malik instantly, and killed a part of Ashley totally.

So where is he Derrick asked defensively? Why isn’t he here taking care you? Ashley looked up with tears in her eyes and said he died two years ago in a car accident. Ashley ran to her room and cried her eyes out. The mention of that day always tore her up inside. Needless to say Derrick felt like the biggest jerk ever, he walked to her room and sat down beside her and put his arms around her and whispered I’m so sorry Ash I never meant to bring up the past and I don’t like seeing you cry like this. Just go Derrick I’ll be okay Ashley said with her face buried in the pillow. Just go! Derrick slowly got up went to the living room, got his helmet and slowly walked out the door. He walked to his motorcycle and turned and looked up at Ashley’s window and he dropped his head; he got on his bike and started it up. Varoooom… Ashley screamed and cried bitterly when she heard Derrick’s motorcycle start up and pulled off. This was not how Derrick wanted this day to end.