No More Games

57

NOVEMBER 9

Michael's Point Of View

I woke up this morning with the most excruciating migraine I've ever experienced. I tried taking several different painkillers but nothing seemed to work. It also didn't help that Janet, Marlon, Jackie and Tito decided to pay me an unannounced visit.

"Don't you guys have your own homes?" I laid down on my sofa, watching Marlon go through my fridge. "Why come bother me on this peaceful afternoon?"

"We just wanted to check up on you." Jackie chuckled. "Why so cranky?"

"Mike is just lonely," Tito's deep voice relayed from the kitchen, mocking me. "I'd be cranky too. . .if I wasn't getting any."

I rolled my eyes as the others laughed, "I have a migraine and you guys are making it worse than it already is."

With concern on her face, Janet made her way over to me and placed her hand on top of my forehead. "I was wondering why your face looked so red. Have you been taking medicine for your lupus?"

"I have but I think I need a higher dosage." They all subtly looked at each other as if I couldn't see them. "What?" I asked, specifically looking at Jackie who was itching to say something.

He sighed and I sat up, ready to hear what he had to say. "It's just. . .we're concerned that you might be taking—"

"Stop," I raised my hand and shook my head. "It's getting overly annoying now that you guys still doubt me when I say I don't pop pills anymore." I looked at all of them. "Now, it's obvious to me that Jermaine was the one behind all these rumors you guys and the media received so,  you guys could please get over it and stop having these "concerns" cause there's really no basis for them."

"But—"

"I will not repeat myself." I stood up. "I said what I said and I need you guys to leave it at that."

"I believe you, Mike." Marlon said from the kitchen. "I know you're only taking what you're supposed to and I'm proud of you for that."

"Thank you, Marlon," I said. "I've overcome my addiction long before I even met Sasha. Anyone who's in my position would already relapse after all the shit I've had to go through."

"You're right," Jackie approached me, wrapping his arms around me and hugging me. "I'm sorry. I'm really proud of you."

"We all are." Janet chimed in.

"Thank you." I shook my head, annoyed. "Now if you guys will excuse me, I have to go get ready for therapy."

They all looked at me funny.

"Therapy?" Janet frowned. "Since when do you go to therapy?"

"I don't." I shrugged. "I'm doing this for Sasha. She wants us to go to couples therapy."

Their skeptic faces turned to surprised and happy faces.

"Are you guys getting back together?" Janet clapped, excitement bursting from her small frame.

I shook my head and sat back down on the sofa. "I don't know. . .I don't know where her mind's at."

"Well, she obviously wants to get back with you if she wants to do couples counseling." Tito smiled.

"I think she mostly wants to do it for the baby." I said. "She said counseling will help us be better parents despite how our relationship ends up."

"Sasha is still very much in love with you and definitely wants you back, Michael." Jackie exhaled. "She just needs time to heal and to learn to trust you again."