Page 53 of Stand on That

“No, but I just think you might end up regretting it if you don’t do certain things. You don’t have to stop living because you’re in a wheelchair.”

“Here the fuck we go again.” I shook my head. “Everybody is a motivational speaker all of a sudden.”

“I’m not saying anything else. You don’t have to worry about it.” Vani stood up. “For four months, I’ve dealt with your rotten ass attitude. I’ve ignored the disrespect and made excuses for you, but you being in a wheelchair doesn’t mean you have the right to be a piece of shit human.”

“You don’t have to deal with it.”

“Finally, something we agree on. I’m out. You can have the house all to yourself. Sit in it and feel sorry for yourself. Do whatever makes you happy.”

“Thank you.”

Vani walked toward the stairs, and my nostrils expanded. I wasn’t mad at her, but I was mad all the same. My dick still worked but most times, I didn’t even want to have sex. Maybe I was depressed, but I didn’t see how therapy or a pill was going to change that. When Vani got tired of me not wanting to have sex, not leaving the house, and being an asshole most of the time, I didn’t doubt she’d leave. I promised myself when that time came, I wouldn’t care. But watching her walk to the door with a duffel bag over one shoulder puling a large suitcase behind her, my chest tightened.

“Damn you couldn’t wait, could you?” why I was antagonizing her, I had no clue.

“Suck my ass, Darius. You will not flip this narrative. I refuse to keep being a punching bag. I’ve given you all the grace I’m going to give. But the way you’re treating me, stand on that shit. Don’t cry later. Punk ass.”

Shorty was so heated that it was almost funny. I think one of the things that made me uncomfortable was all the pity and people walking on eggshells around me. Vani wasn’t trying to spare my feelings. She was pissed and didn’t care. That shit made me feel normal in a twisted way.

“I ain’t doing no crying. You know better than that,” I replied.

“Darius, shut yo’ goofy ass up sitting there acting like I never seen yo’ punk ass cry. Keep it up, and I’m going to dump your big ass out of that wheelchair before I go. Might even take the mother fucker upstairs and leave it.”

“Yo what is wrong with you?” I laughed. Her comment caught me off guard, but it was funny.

Vani ignored me. With a frown she grabbed her keys and walked to the door.

“Vani, I’m sorry,” I called out.

“Too little too late,” she snapped opening the door.

“Got damn, shorty, I’m trying to apologize. I’ve been difficult I know. If you do leave, I deserve that. But if you stay, you don’t have to be nice. Don’t feel sorry for me and make me feel pathetic. Curse me out. Leave the house for hours and don’t call to check on me. Make me feel like I’m not a charity case.”

Vani walked over to me with a frown still setting her lips into a firm line. “Having patience and being loving and kind doesn’t mean a person is trying to make you feel pathetic, dumb ass. If you want to be treated regular say so because I owe you a few pops in the mouth. Stupid, ugly ass boy,” she fussed, and I laughed.

“That shit is turning me on,” I grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward me while she shook her head.

“Sick.”

“I know.”

I wrapped my arms around Vani and for the first time since I got shot, I didn’t feel pathetic. I didn’t feel less than. I felt like me. Closing my eyes I inhaled her scent. Tomorrow was a new day. I’d work hard, get my shit together, give it my all in physical therapy, all that good shit. But for the moment, I just wanted my girl to sit on my face and keep reminding me that I was still all man.

Three months later….

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, and it dawned on me that in three weeks, I was really about to marry Darius. We did a photo shoot for the invitations then I had my final fitting for my gown. We had sent out save the dates, but no formal invites. Since we had the shoot earlier, my makeup was done. After the seamstress took all the measurements, I was going home because I was tired. Thank God, Darius and I were in a much better place because his attitude had improved tremendously. The door opened, and I was all set to see the seamstress, but I saw Hailey instead.

“Hey, boo. What you doing here?” I eyed her in her blue bridesmaid’s dress and answered my own question silently. Guess we had our fittings on the same day. My head titled, and I studied her. Her face was beat to the gods though, and her hair was done.

When Lo appeared in her Maid of Honor attire and her face made up as well, my eyes almost jumped out of the sockets. My heart raced so fast, I could hear it pounding in my ears.

“What’s going on?” I felt lightheaded.

Lo and Hailey just smiled and ignored me. When Bree appeared clad in a peach dress with Dymand by her side in a pretty white dress, I swallowed hard.

“What the fuck? Somebody talk to me.”

We were at a bridal shop. The shop was large, and it was nice, but it was no place for a wedding.