Page 23 of A Minute Past Midnight
“Fuck! Tell her I'm on my way! Don't leave her. I need you to make sure she doesn't have a concussion or anything. Keep her awake for me.”
“O-okay. I got her.”
“Bet. Thanks.” He hung up, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I may have known exactly who her grandson was.
Drew sped down Blaine Avenue until we reached my grandmother's apartment building. He parked illegally as we both sprung out of the car and headed inside the building. Swiping the key card, I pulled open the door and hurried up the steps, remembering her telling me that the elevators had been down for months.
Anyone who knew me knew I didn't play about this lady. Aside from my OGs, brother, and Drew, she was the only other person I'd ride at dawn over. I paused on the first landing and turned to Drew.
“Get that ho ass landlord. Don't let that bitch nigga leave that office.”
Drew nodded and walked back down the stairs as I continued my stride up to the second floor. I hurried down the hall to her apartment and used my key to get inside.
“Gam!”
“In here, Sami.”
I stepped further into the living room and paused mid-stride when I caught the sight of the woman who had been invading my dreams since our night together.
Her pretty ass stood behind my grandmother rubbing her arm, until she finally looked up and we locked eyes.
“Samir?”
“Juliana,” we both said simultaneously.
“Th-this is your grandmother?”
“Yeah . . .” I stepped closer to her and took her hand, roving my thumb over it gently.
Her skin was so damn soft.
I pulled her closer to me and wrapped my arm around her waist.
“How have you been, Cinderella?”
“I, uh—”
“Excuse me? There's a hurt elderly woman over here.”
I snapped out of my daze and kneeled next to Gam with a small smirk on my face.
“I’m sorry, Gam. How you feeling? Can you move your arm at all?”
“Mm.” She mumbled, cutting her eyes at me. “A little but it hurts.”
“A’ight. I’ma take you to the hospital to make sure everything's good. I know you've been here for years, and you're comfortable here, but it's time to go, Gam. It's not the same here no more. This fucking building is disintegrating, and now look what happened. Before I kill somebody, I'm moving you up out of here. ASAP.”
“Fine, Sami,” she replied, throwing her hand up.
My eyes went to Juliana.
My Cinderella.
She stared at the wall ahead with a vacant look in her eyes.
“You good, baby?” I asked. She snapped out of her daze and looked at me.
“Ye-yeah. I’m fine. You should get her to the hospital.” She looked down at Gam and took her hand. “He’s right, Mrs. G. You're too old to be going up and down those stairs. I'm going to miss you. Thank you for everything.”
