Forbidden (Completed) EDITING - Chapter 30: Chapter 30

Demarcus
I took a deep breath as I rested the twenty pound weight back on the stand. Normally I would be able to handle at least a fifty pound one but my doctor said take it easy and work my way up.
It's been a few weeks since those dumbasses shot me. The police hadn't found them yet and I don't think they will. It was the case of a mistaken identity. Apparently whoever they were looking for, was supposed to be at the party I was.
That's why nobody can get together and have a good time no more. Niggas always shooting up shit.
Everybody's been checking on me non stop. I appreciate it. I do but I'm good. I guess with them knowing I have been through depression before they think I'm slipping.
I'm not. I'm actually happier than I've been in a long time.
I've been recovering at Erica's. She's been amazing. As always. I didn't expect her to be there from the time I went in and from the time I came out. I don't know how many would've been there.
I know she's bummed that we missed our Jamaica trip on the count of me. She would never say it but I know she is. I hate that I'm even in this situation to stop everything that we had planned.
After I did a slight jog on the treadmill. I called it a day. I can't wait to get back in action. My doctor said I shouldn't do anything strenuous for four weeks. I got one more week to go. Till it's go time.
Sex and working out, honestly two of my favorite things to do especially doing both of them with Erica.
"Hey,Babe." I said as I walked in the door. She was standing in the middle room. Pacing, back and forth. She had something on her mind but I didn't want to pry. She would tell me eventually.
"Hey." She stopped and looked at me. "How was your workout?"
"It was iight."
I went into the kitchen and grabbed me some Gatorade from the fridge.
"Any pain?"
"Nah, I think it's easing up each day. It's more just like an ache here and there. I can manage."
"That's good, baby." She walked over to me. "I am so happy you're recovering so smoothly."
"Thanks to you." I kissed her forehead.
"I tried my best."
"Bae, are you alright?" I asked her, the look on her face had me worried. I put my Gatorade on the counter and made sure my attention was fully on her.
"Yeah and kinda no." She sighed. "If that makes sense."
"What's going on?"
"This morning I got an email from my friend. You remember I told you about my roommate from college?"
"Christina right?" I leaned against the counter.
"Yes, Christina. Anyway long story short she's been teaching in London for a few years now. She's known about my recent exit from my job and she told me there is a position open at her school. She said she could put in a good word for me. It's just for the summer, it's trail by trail thing."
"I'm not understanding the problem. You're going right?"
She might think I'm joking or something but I'm serious. She needs something like this. She's always talked my ear off about how she wanted to travel and something meaningful.
"I want to but I don't know." She started fidgeting with her fingers, avoiding eye contact with me. I grabbed her hands and held them.
"You do know. You know you wanna go, stop acting like you don't." I smoothed by thumb over the back of her hand. "What's the real reason?"
"Three months without you. I don't think I can manage. If I have a stressful day at work, who am I going to complain to? Whose going to cheer me up and get me out of my own head in that charming way that you do." She pouted.
"So, are you asking me to go with you?"
She pulled away from me. "No, I couldn't ask you to do that. Your life and friends are here in Atlanta." She said, trying to convince herself otherwise. She's always been good at that.
I pulled her back into me. I wrapped my arms around her waist.
"My life is with you as of now. So wherever you are, I'm gon be, if you want me to of course."
She smiled with her lips before placing quick peck on mine.
"I'll tell you this, if you would feel that bad about taking me away from what I got going on here. I'll stay with you for a month or so until you get settled. Is that a deal?"'
"You have a deal." She caressed my check.
"Then So you tell your friend that you'll be more than happy to come to London and that you'll be bringing your handsome debonair, boyfriend whose beyond his years." I took her hand in mine and kissed it.
She shook her head and laughed at me.
"Hey, Demarcus. I haven't seen you around here in a minute." The security guard of my building said to me.
"Wassup, Ray and yeah I've been staying lowkey since I got shot."
"Jamal, told me about that. Sorry that happened to you. Shit is crazy out here."
"Thanks and yeah it is. Gotta watch your back."
I continued making my way through the lobby. I felt in my sweatpants pockets for my keys. Shit! I've been so used to just having the keys to Erica's place that I forgot to carry the keys to my actual place.
I banged on the door. I know Jamal isn't doing anything super important. He never is.
"Mal, open up! I forgot my key." I knocked a little harder. I heard music blasting.
I was surprised at who answered the door. I expected to be Jamal. So I could clown him about something but it wasn't him. It was a chick. Someone that looked way out his league. I'm quite surprised given his normal pickings.
"You must be Demarcus." She pointed to me.
"Yeah, that's me." I smiled. "And you are?"
"Oh my bad, I'm Taylor."
"Nice to meet you, Taylor."
"Same here." I closed the door behind me.
"Fool!" Taylor shouted at Jamal who paused the game. "Turn the music down. I swear you are deaf." She huffed and rolled her eyes. "I'll be in the room."
Oh, I like her. Definitely.
Jamal obeyed Taylor and turned the music down.
"Wassup, Bro!" Mal greeted me excitedly.
"Wassup!"
"Can I?" He pointed to my shoulder. Referring to if he could dap me up.
"Oh yeah. It's cool now."
We prolonged the hug a little bit. It felt good.
"Glad to see you back in action!"
"Me too. Damn, I know I've been staying at Erica's but I missed that much." I pointed towards the back.
"Oh, Taylor." He smiled, like I never seen him smile about a girl. "Yeah, we've been kicking it for a while. She's one of the ones I gotta keep around."
I took a step back. I don't know this Jamal standing before me. Not Mr. I'm gonna be a player for life. Talking about settling down. I almost pinched myself.
"You got jokes." He laughed.
"Nah, I'm happy for you bro." I held my hand out to dap him up again. "See I'm not the only one who got bit by the love bug."
"Woah, woah. We not there yet but maybe."
"Yeah, okay."
I headed down the hall to my room. Once I scanned through my closet. I realized I needed to go shopping. I'm going to a new country. I wouldn't feel right with wearing all this old shit. Then the thought of going shopping there occurred to me. Spending Euros... I like the sound of that.
"Aye, Mal. Can you do me favor?" I yelled down the hallway.
"Yeah?"
"Look in the coat closet and get the medium sized suitcase for me."
"I thought you and Erica weren't going to Jamaica. Giving your situation." He wheeled the bag in the room.
"We're not. We're going to London."
"England?"
I gave him a look.
"I'm just surprised as you were about me and Taylor as I am about you Erica going to London. That's all. What's in London?"
This man has no since of adventure. I hope Taylor can get him out of that.
"A lot of stuff. But, Erica got a job offer there. It's for the summer. I'm just going with her for a month or so."
"You talk about me and look at you. Following your girlfriend around the world. How cute." He leaned up against the door frame. "It's a good thing you are going though."
"Why?"
"She gon need someone to carry her bags." He snickered.
"Shutup!"
It's crazy how we've been through women together. The women came and went but we always stayed. Now look I'm the one that's leaving to be with a woman. We really are grown men now. I think my mother and grandmother would be proud of us.