Nookie (Nookie Series) by Anieshea Dansby

give you this card,” said the doctor, returning to the room. “There were some officers here to talk to you, but you were in and out, so they left it with me.”
    “The cops?” Joy wondered aloud.
    “Yes. I thought you said you remember.”
    “Yeah, I do before I hit my head; but why are the cops involved?” she asked, still confused.
    “I’m not sure exactly.”
    Joy laid back and closed her eyes as the medication took effect. She woke up when the nurse came in to take her to have her test. After that was finished, she was taken back to her room, where Dr. Greenspan checked her and let her know that it was okay for her to leave, after handing her prescriptions and the list of her check-up appointments.
    She got dressed and tried to decide whether to call Kevin and let him know what had happened so he could come get her, or take a cab home. She decided on the cab.
    The nurse wheeled her out of the hospital and into a waiting cab. She gave him Kevin’s address and sat back. She was glad she had some money in the jeans she had on that day and extra glad that none of the nurses had taken it. One of the nurses had supplied her with a t-shirt from the gift shop, as the one she had been wearing the day before was all bloodied.
    When she arrived at Kevin’s, she paid the driver and got out of the car. She cracked the door to the shop. Kevin glanced up and away but looked up again.
    “Oh shit, what happened to you?” he shouted, coming from around the counter.
    It was a good thing there weren’t any customers, because before she could get a word out, he started screaming and cursing.
    “I’ma fuck up whoever did this to you. Who was it? I’ve been calling you for like two days,” he said, real hype.
    “Well … ” she began, but the door opened and some people came in.
    Kevin told her to go upstairs while he dealt with the customers.
    By the time he came upstairs, Joy was knocked out on the bed. He sat down next to her and shook her slightly. He hated to wake her but he wanted to know what had happened to her. Joy opened her eyes and looked up into Kevin’s concerned face. She tilted up and leaned against the headboard. She told him how her father had been flipping out because he caught her mother and uncle together.
    “I don’t know what really happened, because I was standing there when my father was choking my mom. My uncle was trying to get him off her and she got pushed into me. The next thing I know, I’m in the hospital.”
    “Damn, that’s some crazy shit. Have you talked to anybody from your family?”
    “No. I don’t even know how I got to the hospital. I’m supposed to call the cop on this card I got from the doctor.”
    “When are you going to call him?”
    “Don’t know.”
    “Well, try to get some rest. I’ll make you something to eat.”
    Joy laid back down and closed her eyes. Talking about what had happened made her want to know what the cops had to say. Josh popped in her mind briefly but she dismissed it. She reached into her pocket, pulled out the card and rolled over to the side of the bed where the phone rested. She dialed and waited.
    “Hi. Can I speak with Detective Reynolds?” she asked, reading the name off the card.
    When he answered the phone she listened without saying a word. She reluctantly gave him Kevin’s address, because he said he wanted to talk to her in person but wouldn’t tell her what it was about. Kevin walked back in the room just as she hung up. When he opened the door, she smelled something good. Her stomach growled. She couldn’t remember the last time she ate.
    “You okay?” he asked.
    “No. I just got off the phone with the detective and he’s on his way here.” Noticing the look on his face, she added, “Before you get mad, he said it was about my parents,” even though she wasn’t sure yet.
    “No, it’s cool, really. I’m making fried chicken, rice and broccoli, if you feel up to eating,” he said, kissing her cheek and leaving the