Page 11 of Platinum Pressure

“I’m going to ignore that last little remark and address the most important part of your statement. You have my number. I created a group chat with you and Seddrick this morning and let you know my estimated arrival.”

“You did?” I asked as I picked up my phone. Sure enough, there were several messages I hadn’t seen come through. “Damn. You did.”

“Nigga in his drawers with no care in the world.” Sed laughed aloud.

“Aye, shut up. I’m a grown man who lives alone. Lucky I ain’t walking around in this mothafucka with my dick out. I’m finna get up and get me some pants.”

Meadow looked at me with a raised brow. “You’re going up all those stairs and coming back down?”

I nodded.

She shook her head. “No, you’re not. Seddrick, can you get him some clothes, please?”

Seddrick nodded. “Fa sho. I got you.”

“When the fuck y’all become best friends?” I asked the two of them with disgust on my face as I watched my best friend move with urgency out of the living room and up the stairs to my wardrobe room at the request of someone he hadn’t known for more than a couple days. The man had never moved with urgency for me but didn’t hesitate for Meadow. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

“You’re supposed to be taking it easy. Going up and down all those stairs before surgery isn’t good. You could misstep and aggravate your knee and set yourself back even more.”

I ran a hand down my face as I processed her words. She was the expert in the situation, and I didn’t want to hurt myself more. I could admit, going down two flights of stairs early this morning had me comfortable on the couch today.

“So, what do you recommend?”

“Set yourself up for success and keep some clothes and personal items down here for easy access, since this will basically be your ground zero during recovery. I want to avoid those stairs at all costs, so today we can get you used to moving around on the first floor and setting up the area for your best recovery experience. Keep in mind while we do this, I don’t want you doing too much, okay?”

I nodded. “A’ight.”

She smiled. “I like this Platinum. No push back. You take instruction and listen good when you’re not in a pissy mood.”

“Nah, I wanted to apologize for the way I acted yesterday. You didn’t deserve my attitude, but you were the easiest target for me to attack. Who I was yesterday is not a reflection of the man I am normally—even if the blogs and shit like to paint me out to be a villain.”

“It’s water under the bridge. We’re good for now. I don’t know how you’re going to treat me after we do these movements to get you used to crutches and keeping weight off that knee for the first time.” She winked. The action stirred something in my core I tried to ignore.

“Shit, we gon’ see fa sho.”

Seddrick came back down with a pair of my basketball shorts and a sleeveless shirt. He tossed them at me. “When is Laurie coming through to clean? I can have her help set up the closet in one room with your stuff after she does your laundry and shit.”

“I don’t know. She said she’d be through today or tomorrow. I told her to bring the whole crew because it’s a mess. I’m not used to being home this much without being able to move as easy as I used to.” I shrugged.

As I pulled the shirt over my head, I watched Seddrick walk down the hall while he texted on his phone—most likely checking in on the housekeeper and her crew. I slid the shorts up my brace and good leg before slightly raising my hips to secure them around my waist. Once my clothes were on, and I wasn’t damn near naked in front of Meadow, I turned off the game and gave her my undivided attention. I perused her frame as she set up her stuff.

She wore a pair of scrubs that did little to hide her build: a fat ass, thick thighs, juicy titties, and a pudgy stomach. The light purple against her shade of brown was perfect. She had her hair pulled into a ponytail, with a few loose curls sculpting her face. It was cute. She had those foam like shoes on her feet with the little things that go in the holes. I had no clue what either were called because I was a sneaker and slides guy.

“What you call them things on your feet?” I asked aloud.

“Crocs,” she answered and lifted her foot up.

I got a good look at her socks. The familiar character intrigued me more.

“You fuck with anime?” I quizzed.

She nodded. “Yep.”

I raised a brow. “Yeah? What’s your top five?”

“Of all time or currently, because those lists are very different?”

“All time.”