You Before Me [dave east]

| twenty three

Xiomara;

I drive home from work and walk inside, finding Latoya on the couch chilling with Junior. "Alonzo ain't home yet?" I ask, already taking off my heels. José was gonna be here any minute so I needed to hurry.

It's been about a week since I met Dave's friends. I've bumped into his mom a couple times at the hospital and I've spoken to her over the phone a few times too. The nurse said he's been showing signs of waking up so lately, my faith has been through the roof. I just couldn't wait for him to hold me again.

"He said he out with his lil girlfriend." Latoya chuckles putting emphasis on the word. We both know how mad Alonzo gets hearing Toya and I call Ximena his girlfriend. It's just that they're so cute together, even though it's also clear that they only see each other as homies. Ximena's a tomboy but you can tell it's something she'll grow out of.

"You just come back from visiting Dave?" Toya asks.

"Yup." I respond, tickling Junior hearing him erupt into a fit of giggles.

"You ain't never come home this early from visiting the hospital, you usually wait until visiting hours are over. You 'bouta go do that thing, huh?" She asks knowingly.

"Yup." I say again but dismissively this time.

I walk out of the room so I can go ahead and change into something more comfortable. I wear some shorts and a matching top with some sneakers. I wasn't wearing all black since it ain't like I'm about to rob the shit out of somebody. In fact, I guess you can say I'm about to get up to something much worse.

I walk back into the living room throwing my hair in a ponytail while checking through the blinds to see if José has pulled up already.

"Well somebody excited. Girl watchu' doing wit' all that ass." Latoya says seeing me look out of the window before dropping her gaze to my ass which I know is sitting right in these shorts.

"I'm 'bouta let Latrelle kiss it before that nigga take his last breath." I mumble still peeping through the blinds. I'm so excited to get this shit over with. Knowing Latrelle is still breathing while Dave is still on life support hasn't been sitting right with me ever since I found out Latrelle was the one who did it.

"Aight he here," I announce, seeing José pull up in his truck.

"Be careful, girl. Just in case yo' ass don't make it back and you get caught, I love you and I'ma keep half yo' closet in use for you, okay?"

I laugh since there ain't even much in there anyway. "I got this." I tell her and finally head out. I get in José's truck, sitting in the back since Juan is already occupying the passenger seat.