Concrete Rose

5.

Ryan.

I wasn't exactly sure why but after last night I looked at Dave in a different way, a way I shouldn't be looking at my boss. It had been months since I've been intimate with someone and my body was craving the touch from a man. I definitely didn't wanna take it there with him cause for one we barely knew each other, and I'm not one for mixing business with pleasure. It would become too much and I needed to focus on my work. I just hope we don't have time to sit and talk cause everything I just said might fly out the window. As I was getting ready for work I received a text from Monica who was somebody basically helped me get hired.

Monica: morning boo, I was just letting you know that Dave won't be in today so you can take the day off. -7:12am

Me: alright thanks Mo. -7:13am

Brooke was gone for the day and I started to take off my work clothes, climbing in the bed shortly after that.
Since I was off today I basically did nothing, I slept my life away and ate myself into a food coma.
Brooke had called around 5 to let me know that she was staying the night with her man Ghost, from what I heard she met him about a year ago. And she basically said she wanted to make sure he was cool before she introduced him to me and Paris. It was now almost dark and I decided to go for a run since it was not as hot as it was earlier. After changing into something more comfortable and appropriate I left the apartment. This part of town was usually safe so I didn't feel like I needed my taser or anything. As I was running I came across these 3 guys gambling and I tried to make my way around them.
"Aye?" one of them yelled, I kept my distance and didn't say anything.
"That hoe think she all that." another one said.
I simply ignored them cause I became used to dealing with that in my early teenage years.
"Nah fuck that." the first guy said and with me not knowing he started following me.
And within a quickness he grabbed me up, I tried to fight back but I stood no chance against his 6'0 figure. I started screaming hoping somebody would come out and help, I elbowed him in the face and he dropped me. I got up and ran as fast as I could without looking back. I was now in Harlem and I wasn't too familiar with the area. I saw a car turn the curb and I waved my arms trying to get the persons attention. The car slowed down and to my luck it was Dave, "You good Ryan?" he said when he let the window down. I was completely out of breath and I struggled to get my words out. "The-there was a guy...back there, he tried to grab me." I said with hunched over with my hands on my knees. Dave got out the car and helped me into his front passenger seat, my mama would have a cow if she found out I basically got in the car with a stranger. "Where were they at?" he said pulling off.
"Back in the Bronx right before you make it to Harlem." I said feeling a headache creep up. He drove around pointing at every group of guys asking if they were the ones who attacked me.
When we came across the same 3 guys I tensed up in my seat, I guess he noticed and pulled over, I saw him put something in the middle console.
"Dave you don't have to, I'm fine see." I said pointing to myself. He simply ignored me and got out, he made his was over to the guys.

Dave.

I never went for niggas putting they hands on a female so when Ryan told me what happened out of instinct I wanted to protect her.
"Aye? Which one of y'all niggas grabbed the girl who was running?" I said approaching them.
"Why you her nigga or sum? The bitch wasn't even allat cute." one of them said and I sent a quick punch to his jaw.
"Aye bro, you don't know who that is?" the guy standing beside him said.
"Yeah dude that's East, you know how many niggas he's killed behind some form of disrespect?" another one said and that's when the niggas eyes grew wide.
"My fault, I ain't mean no harm." he said throwing his hands up and backing away.
"That's what the fuck I thought, I better not see you around these streets nomore." I said calmly as they all scattered away. I shook my head and went back to the car, I got in and saw Ryan still pretty shaken up.
"You good?" I said looking at her, she shook her head yes. I wanted to know more about her.
"So where you from?" I asked making small talk as we drove towards my house.
"The Bronx, born and raised. You?" she said looking at me.
"Harlem, born and raised. I moved to the Bronx when I was 7 and stayed til I was 13 only to go back to Harlem." I said stopping at a red-light.
"How old are you?" she asked waiting for an answer.
"26, you?" I asked pulling off as the light turned green.
"20. You're looking at a proud Virgo." she laughed.
"Aw you just a yungin'." I said laughing.
"I am grown thank you." she said jokingly. "So what made you wanna work for me if you don't mind me asking?" I had been wanting to ask her that cause from her resumé she seemed too smart to be somebody's assistant.
She got quiet, "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." I said noticing her demeanor change.
"No, no it's fine, I went through a bad breakup and I needed a job. I had to regain my independence." she said playing with the bracelet on her wrist.
I nodded understanding and the rest of the ride was quiet.
I didn't bring her to my main home, just a lil loft I rented for when I was in the city.
When we pulled in the garage I parked the car and we both got out.
I lead the way as she followed behind me, when we made it to the front door I unlocked it and opened it letting her go inside first. I checked the surroundings before walking in and closing the door behind me.
Ryan looked at me in awe, I chuckled at her facial expression.
"Do you have a bathroom? I really wanna get out of these clothes." she said pointing at her attire.
I nodded and showed her where the bathroom was, I got her some towels and showed her how to use the shower.
When she figured it out, I left making my way to the living room. I pulled out a pre-rolled blunt and sparked it up.

Ryan.

After taking a much needed shower I dried off and got out. I saw that Dave sat a t shirt and a brand new pair of his Calvin Klein boxers on the side of the sink. I looked around for some lotion and I only came across his. I applied a little on my body and got dressed. When I opened the door, the entire house was smoked out. And that's when the strong smell of weed hit my nose, I used the shirt to cover my nose. I've been around people who smoked but it was never this smoked out. I found him in the living room taking pulls from like his 10th blunt.
"Dave?" I called out to gain his attention. He looked up at me and his eyes was red as hell, "yeah?"
"Do you have a bandage ? Well I fell earlier I guess I sprained my wrist." I watched as he got up and went to the bathroom.
"Come here Ryan." he called sticking his head out the door looking at me.
I went to the bathroom and he had a bandage in his hand along with some medical tape to hold it in place. We stood by the sink as he wrapped my hand up, he was focused and I thought it was kinda funny. He was only this focused cause he was high as hell.
I watched what he did as he glanced up at me.
"Done." he said looking at my wrist making sure it looked right to him.
"Thank you." I said with a smile. He kinda stared at me and before I knew it our lips connected.
And out of instinct his arms snaked around my waist and my arms made their way around his neck. He deepened the kiss and before we knew it there was banging on the door.
We backed away from each other and a frown grew on his face as he headed towards the door.
When he opened the door this guy came in ranting about something and a girl followed behind him. When I got a better look it was Brooke, I was confused as to how she knew Dave or who the hell this guy was.
"Aye nigga Baby been shot." the guy said. Dave grabbed his stuff and put on his shoes, "Come on Ryan." he said grabbing my shoes, throwing me over his shoulders and running out the apartment.
Brooke and the guy whom I'm assuming is ghost followed behind us.
The way Dave was driving had me afraid for my life, we were at the hospital in no time.
I was able to put my shoes on in the car, when we got out the car we ran inside the hospital with Brooke and Ghost behind us.
Dave told the lady at the desk who were there for and she said he was in surgery that we would have to wait to see him.
He sat in the seat next to me and his leg was shaking, he looked like he wanted to air this bitch out. I wrapped my arm around his, he grabbed my hand and sighed. Brooke sat on the other side of me and whispered,"How you know East?" I looked at her in pure confusion,"Who's East?" she chuckled and pointed to Dave.
"Oh I didn't know people called him that." I chuckled a little bit.

We were in the hospital til about 4 or 5, no updates just that the surgery went well. Every one was sleep except me, I just couldn't get comfortable in these hard ass chairs. Dave had raised his arm rest and laid his head in my lap and dozed off. Brooke had her head on my shoulder and Ghost had his head on Brooke. Dave had jumped a few times in sleep ,I just rested my hand on his back. Who would've thought after just meeting him a few days ago, I would've been in all this.