OVER AN HOUR LATER

Veronica is staring at her mother's grave when her phone rings. She pulls it out of her back pocket, and almost drops her phone when she sees Sam's name on the screen. She accepts the call and sighs in relief. "Sam..."

"What's up, V?" Sam responds as he stands in front of Yemi at the front desk.

"I-um... I don't know how to say this..."

"It's something about you?"

"No. Your mom. She..."

Sam furrows his eyebrows as he waits for Veronica to continue. "Yo, just say it."

"I'm trying, Sam. I'm trying. I-she, well..."

"V, what the fuck yo? Is she alright?"

"I don't know. She's been-"

Sam hears a click sound, and then looks at the screen to see Veronica is no longer on the phone. He calls her right back, but it goes straight to voicemail.

On Veronica's end, she doesn't notice that the call has ended, so she continues to speak. "You know what... I'll just say it."

She takes a deep breath. "She didn't want me to tell anybody that she has cancer," she says in one breath with her eyes tightly closed. After a moment of silence, she looks at the phone and sees a black screen. She taps it and nothing pops up. "Shit! I forgot to charge my damn phone." She sighs aggressively.

"Fuck it. I'm not worrying about this shit anymore." She slides her phone back into her back pocket and then sits on the ground. She stares at the photo of her mother for a brief moment before laying down in the fetal position, propping her head with her arm, next to the headstone. She breathes in and out, trying to relax.

"Why did you have to leave me, Mommy? This tough skin is starting to thin out." She rubs the photo and then slowly closes her eyes to stop herself from crying.

*

Back at the gym, Sam looks worried as he calls Liliana. She doesn't answer, so he calls his father, who also doesn't answer. He stares at Yemi as he contemplates what to do. A moment later, he calls Stephen.

"Yurrr!"

"You know what's going on with Ma?"

"What do you mean?"

"V was starting to tell me something about her, but I think the phone died."

"Oh yeah, she called me, too. But she was supposed to call me back after talking to you. I don't think it's anything serious, though, or she would've just told me what it was."

"She told Yemi it was important."

"Oh. Well, maybe they got into an argument. You know how women are when they start kickin' it more with each other. She probably wants us to intervene or something."

"Damn, if that's the case, they must have said some fucked up shit to each other."

"Probably. But yo, I got a flight in a few hours, so I need to take advantage of this party while I can."

"Alright, B. I'll call you tomorrow." Sam ends the call before taking a deep breath.

"They got into an argument?" Yemi asks him.

"That's what he thinks. I don't know. I'll just wait for V to call me back."

She nods sympathetically.

"Enough of that, though." Sam goes behind the front desk, and pulls a vacant chair closer to Yemi. He glances over at the three patrons, working out, before giving Yemi a peck on her lips. "Thanks for holding it down here for me. I'm glad I was able to handle that shit."

"You dropped off the test already?"

"Yeah. I should have the results next week."

She nods, and then looks away from Sam.

"Are you upset with me?"

"I just want us to go back to how we were in New York. It's been nothing but drama since we've been back."

"Yeah. I know. And on top of that, we haven't had sex in over a week."

Yemi doesn't respond.

"You don't miss me inside of you?" He asks seductively.

She blushes.

"Let's go into the office," he continues.

She kisses her teeth and then rolls her eyes. "Sam, really?"

"We'll since you're scared of cuddling with me now. The office is the best move, since there's nowhere for us to lie down."

"I'm not scared, I'm just being cautious. I told you that. And who's going to cover the front desk if we're in the office?"

"It's not busy out here."

"Sam... no."

"Alright. I'll just ask you again at 5."

"That's the time you close on holidays?"

He nods. "But I'm thinking about closing earlier, today, so I can have you to myself."

Yemi smirks, shaking her head at Sam. "You said earlier you wanted to talk. So let's talk," she states, diverting the conversation.

"Let's talk about different positions on the workout equipment."

Yemi hits him playfully, and then laughs.

"I finally got you to smile." He smirks.

"Whatever."

"I wanna ask you something, though."

"Sam, I'm not answering any of your sex questions."

"Nah, it's something else."

"What?"

"...What's your favorite color?"

"That's really your question?"

"Yeah. I wanna know every detail about you."

She smiles before caressing his face. "You make it so hard for me to stay annoyed with you."

___

2 HOURS LATER

Liliana is in bed with her eyes halfway closed as Larry sits beside her, caressing her arm. "Your skin is so cold, Lily. You're getting worse; I'm going to take you to the hospital."

"I rather die at home," she says breathily.

"The hospital can help you fight longer. Don't you want more time to spend with the boys?"

"I don't want them to see me like this."

"I understand. But put yourself in their shoes. Would you want to say bye to your mother before or after?"

She sighs, barely able to get it out. "Did V come back?"

"No. I called her but it's going straight to voicemail."

"I'm sorry. I didn't think before I spoke."

"She'll come back. And once we get to the hospital, I'm going to call the boys."

She nods before tears fall from her eyes.

___

"Ma'am?" Veronica's eyes open at the sound of the man's voice. "Ma'am, wake up."

She jumps up, realizing she's still at the cemetery. "Oh shit."

"Sorry ma'am. We've been closed for some time now."

"What time is it?"

"6:15."

Her eyes instantly grow big. "Oh my gosh."

"Something told me to look one more time before I go home. Glad I did or you would've been locked in here."

"I apologize for keeping you here late."

"No worries. I just finished my paperwork, so it's all good."

Veronica checks her pockets for her cell phone and her bra for her car key. She then checks out her clothes to make sure everything is copacetic.

"I'll meet you at the gate, ma'am." The man walks away and hops into the golf cart before driving off.

Veronica dusts off her clothes as she looks down at her mother's grave. "Damn, I must be really stressed if I'm sleeping that long in a graveyard." She shakes her head, and then suddenly has an epiphany. "Oh shit. Mommy, you were in my dream just now." She chuckles nervously, grabbing her face in shock.

She smiles at her mother's picture. "Thanks for being with me, even if it was just for a little bit." She rubs the headstone one last time before heading over to her car.

___

5:20PM PACIFIC STANDARD TIME

Yemi is holding onto the pull-up bar of the Pull-up/Dip Bar station, panting, as her bare legs are wrapped around Sam's naked back.

Sweat seeps through Yemi's fitted t-shirt as Sam fills her up with every inch of his penis, while lifting both their bodies, repeatedly, into the air.

"Why you still have this on?" he asks breathily, staring at her shirt.

"Take it off," she whispers.

Sam brings their bodies down to the base of the machine and holds her waist with one hand. "Come here," he entices her.

Yemi removes her hands from the bar and holds onto Sam's neck. He carries her to the weight bench and pulls her shirt off before smoothly removing her bra. He sits down and guides her legs to straddle him as his mouth settles over her large breasts. Sam swirls his tongue around, sucking hungrily on her nipples. Yemi moans at the intense feeling.

Sam raises Yemi's hips before re-entering her. Her head falls back and she groans, clawing his arms at every thrust.

"Fuck, I missed this," Sam declares.

Yemi grabs his face and kisses him deeply.

"Mamas..."

"Yes, baby?"

"You love me?"

Yemi stares into his eyes, not wanting to respond. So Sam flips her body around and over the bench, before sliding in and out of her from the back. Yemi punches the bench at the mind-blowing sensation. Sam pounds into her, watching her ass bounce against his hips.

"Sammieeee!!"

"Tell me you love me."

She shakes her head, objecting his command. Sam then lifts her upper body up against his, and rubs on her swollen clit as he drives his manhood into her more vigorously. "Fuuuuuccck!" She yells out. Sam grabs her neck and sucks on it, sending her over the edge.

"I wanna hear you tell me."

"Why, Sam?"

"'Cause... mi corazón late por ti."

Yemi lets out a loud extended moan as her body convulses. She takes a moment to calm down before turning around to face Sam.

"Do you know what that means?" He asks, hovering over her.

She nods and gives him a long kiss. "My heart beats for you, too."