summary: Treasure knew better than to fall for pretty words. She already had a man at home, even if the relationship been dead for a minute. But when quiet, observant Jimmy Uso starts slipping into her space during late nights out with her girls, she finds herself craving the one thing she swore she wouldn’t fall for again: A man who knows exactly what to say. And sugar talking can only sweeten a bad situation for so long.
fanfic is 18+ NO MINORS ALLOWED
warnings: explicit content, mentioned of abuse, violence
word count: 11.k (another lengthy one)
smut warning: it’ll come in the story randomly so PLEASE PLEASE look out for it I’m not really good at writing ✍🏽 smuts but I am improving at the moment
comments, likes, repost are appreciated I would love the constructive feedback in what area I need to approve in. 🤍
ALSO! I don’t not want nobody stealing my fanfics or take it as theirs that will be an issue fasho so keep it cute respectfully.
I only own my OC along with the make up scenarios
again mdni you have been warned.
title inspired by the song “Sugar Talking” by Sabrina Carpenter
thanks to my friend @charmed-dreamssss for helping me with the summary 🫶🏽
TAGS ⬇️ lmk if you wanna be tag 🏷️ @pinkwithhearts @sharmelasworld @spiicii @theusotwinzcom @mingisfavgf @trippiexlove @wisteria-bae @yourleogf @555sage @wrestlingprincess80 @jeyseyes @liv4jey @uceyjucey @mikaelsonharem7 @yyaktayak @lyricailove
@bebesobrielo @skyesthebomb @aikosilo @papireigns-05 @punksyeet @dreamgirljey @paigereeder @magnificentbouquetmusic @antanamobay @keenagurl @spiicii @lovelyjay45 @episodes-ff @randomwordprompts
@charmed-dreamssss @mselenalovebug @bloodlinesbabe93 @justazzi @xbriexx @luuvprincess @yana3sworld @shanthefemalerapper @bloodlineslut @sheaabuttaababyy @myleelovesfood @shes2real @violetmuses @xnightmarexpunkx @sualeo
Chicago, Illinois - 10:30AM Jimmy’s tattoo shop.
The tattoo shop was unusually quiet for a weekday morning. Only one appointment was on the books for later that afternoon, so Jimmy had claimed the front station, iPad propped up on the table with his stylus in hand. He was supposed to be working on a new custom piece — a large chest piece with tribal elements mixed with fine line work — but his focus was shot.
His mind kept drifting back to last night.
Treasure curled up on his bare chest, crying softly while he held her. The way her voice cracked when she admitted how long it had been since a man actually took care of her. How she looked at him with those big, watery eyes and whispered that being with him felt like everything she ever wanted from Giovanni… but never got.
He smiled to himself without realizing it, stylus hovering over the screen as he zoned out completely.
Jey walked out from the back room, towel draped around his neck, fresh from a quick workout in the small gym area they kept in the shop. He took one look at his twin and immediately grinned.
“Damn, uce…” Jey laughed, leaning against the counter. “You over there smiling at your iPad like it just told you it loves you back. What, you designing a whole sleeve of Treasure’s face or something?”
Jimmy blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. He chuckled and shook his head, saving the half-finished design.
Jey wasn’t letting it go that easy. He walked over and leaned on the edge of Jimmy’s station, still grinning.
“Nah, for real. You been zoned out since you walked in this morning. What happened last night? She got you in your feelings already?”
Jimmy leaned back in his chair, running a hand over his curls. He didn’t even try to play it off.
“She cried in my arms last night,” Jimmy admitted quietly. “Told me everything about that fuck nigga Giovanni. How he been treating her. How she’s been scared to fully let go but she wants this… with me.”
Jey’s playful expression softened a little.
he nodded. “She fell asleep on my chest. First time in a long time she said she felt safe. That shit hit different.”
Jey studied his brother for a second, then smirked again, but this time it was gentler.
“Look at you. Big brother mode activated. You really in it, huh?”
Jimmy didn’t deny it. He just glanced back down at his iPad, though his mind was clearly still on the girl who had fallen asleep in his arms last night.
“I’m gon’ make sure she cuts that bitch off for good, She deserves better than that cycle. And I’m not playing about her.”
Jey clapped him on the shoulder.
“I feel you, uce. Just don’t move too fast and scare her. She been through enough.”
Jimmy nodded, but the small smile on his face said everything.
He was already gone for her.
Jimmy saved the half-finished design on his iPad and leaned back in his chair, running a hand over his face. Jey was still leaning against the counter, watching him with that knowing smirk.
“Man, you really out here catching feelings like that? I ain’t mad at it though. She seem like good energy.”
Jimmy nodded slowly, still thinking about how Treasure had cried on his chest last night and how peaceful she looked when she finally fell asleep.
“Yeah… she is,” he said quietly. “She been through a lot with that fuck nigga. I’m just tryna show her it don’t gotta be like that.”
Jey was quiet for a second, then tilted his head like something just came to him.
“Speaking of Treasure…” he said, “Jeyce been asking about her. Said he wanna get his hair done. You know how he is — he picky as hell about who touch his head. He said Treasure did that one style on him a while back and he liked it. He been bugging me about hitting her up.”
Jimmy raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at his lips.
“Jeyce want Treasure to do his hair?” he repeated, chuckling. “That boy don’t let nobody touch his head but his mama and sometimes you. He must really like her work.”
Jey nodded. “He do. But that ain’t all I was gon’ say.”
Jimmy looked at him, waiting.
Jey crossed his arms and gave his twin a pointed look.
“You should take her out on a real date, uce. Like… actually take her somewhere nice. Not just chilling at the house or picking her up from work. She been dealing with a lot. She need to feel like somebody actually wanna show her off and treat her right. Not just fuck and cuddle.”
Jimmy went quiet for a moment, letting Jey’s words sit with him. He had been thinking about it too — wanting to do something special for Treasure — but hearing it from his brother made it feel more real.
“You right,” Jimmy admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “She been stuck in that toxic shit with Giovanni for so long. She deserve to feel special. I just… I don’t wanna move too fast and scare her off either.”
Jey shrugged. “Then don’t rush it. But don’t wait too long either. She already feel safe with you. Take her out, let her see you outside the bedroom and the house. Let her know this ain’t just about getting her away from her ex.”
Jimmy nodded slowly, already turning the idea over in his head.
Jeyce wanting Treasure to do his hair… and Jey telling him to take her on a real date. Both things felt like they were pointing in the same direction.
He glanced at his phone sitting on the station, thumb hovering like he was already thinking about texting her.
Jimmy leaned back in his chair, arms crossed as he listened to his brother. Jey had that look on his face — the one he got when he was about to give unsolicited but solid advice.
“Take her to that one restaurant downtown,” nodding like he already had it all figured out. “You know the spot I’m talking about. The Italian place with the dim lighting and them private little booths in the back. The one I used to take my baby mama to back in the day.”
Jimmy raised an eyebrow, a small smirk playing on his lips.
“The one with the good wine list and the live music on Fridays?”
Jey nodded. “Yeah, that one. Bitches love that spot. It’s romantic without being corny. Good food, nice ambiance, and it ain’t too loud so y’all can actually talk. Plus, the lighting in there is crazy — makes everything look sexy.”
Jimmy chuckled under his breath and shook his head, running a hand over his curls as he thought about it.
“Damn… you really tryna help a nigga out, huh? You sure you ain’t just tryna live vicariously through me since you and your baby mama ain’t together no more?”
Jey laughed and flipped him off playfully.
“Fuck you, uce. I’m serious. That spot is nice. And Treasure seem like the type that would appreciate something like that. She been dealing with that lame ass Giovanni for too long. Take her somewhere she can actually relax and feel like a woman. Not just somebody’s girlfriend that he’s arguing with all the time.”
Jimmy went quiet for a second, letting the suggestion sit with him. He could already picture it — Treasure sitting across from him in a nice dress, looking all pretty under the low lighting while they talked and ate good food. No drama. No Giovanni. Just them.
“Yeah… that actually sounds like a good move,” Jimmy admitted. “I been thinking about taking her out anyway. She been through a lot. She deserve to be taken somewhere nice. Treated right.”
Jey grinned, clearly satisfied with himself.
“Exactly. And while you at it, tell her Jeyce been asking about getting his hair done too. Two birds, one stone. You get to take your girl out *and* make my son happy.”
Jimmy laughed and shook his head again, already reaching for his phone on the station.
“You really using your son as a wingman right now?”
“Whatever works,” Jey shrugged with a smirk. “Now stop sitting here smiling at your iPad and go text that girl before somebody else tries to shoot they shot.”
Jimmy didn’t argue. He unlocked his phone, thumb hovering over Treasure’s name as he thought about what he wanted to say.
He wanted to check on her after last night… bring up Jeyce wanting his hair done… ‘and’ ask her out properly.
All at once He stared at his phone for a second, thumb hovering over Treasure’s name. Jey was still leaning against the counter, watching him with an amused look.
“You gon’ text her or you just gon’ sit there smiling at your screen like a simp?” Jey teased.
Jimmy sucked his teeth but didn’t even look up. “Man, shut up. I’m texting her right now.”
He opened their message thread and started typing.
Jimmy🩶: Good morning, mama ❤️ How you feeling today? You sleep okay after last night?
He paused, then kept typing.
Jimmy🩶: Jeyce been asking about getting his hair done. He said he only want you to do it. You got time for him anytime this week?
He stared at the screen for a moment, then typed the part that had been sitting on his mind since Jey brought it up.
Jimmy🩶: Also… I been thinking. I wanna take you out on a real date. Somewhere nice. Not just chilling at the house. There’s this Italian spot downtown I been hearing good things about. Dim lights, good food, live music sometimes. You free one of these nights?
He read it over once, then hit send before he could overthink it.
Jimmy set his phone down on the station and leaned back in his chair, rubbing the back of his neck. Jey was still standing there, smirking.
“You really asked her out, huh?” Jey said, nodding in approval. “Good. She need that. Especially after everything she been through with that other nigga.”
Jimmy nodded, but his eyes kept drifting back to his phone, waiting for those three little dots to pop up.
He meant it. After last night — the way she cried in his arms and told him how long it had been since a man actually took care of her — he wanted to do things right. He didn’t just want to be the nigga she ran to when shit got bad with Giovanni. He wanted to be the one who made her feel special on purpose.
Jimmy had barely set his phone down for two minutes before it vibrated on the station. He picked it up quick, already smiling when he saw Treasure’s name pop up.
Treasure🧘🏼♀️: Hey… I actually slept really good last night. First time in a long time I didn’t wake up with my chest feeling tight. Thank you for letting me cry on you like that… and for holding me after. ❤️
Treasure🧘🏼♀️: And yeah, I can do Jeyce’s hair no problem! Just tell me when he’s free and I’ll block out some time for him. He’s a sweet kid.
Treasure🧘🏼♀️: Also… a date? 🥹 I’d really like that, Jimmy. It’s been a minute since somebody actually wanted to take me out somewhere nice. Just tell me when and what to wear and I’m there.
Jimmy read the messages twice, his smile growing wider with every line. He could hear her soft voice in his head while reading it — that little shy but sweet tone she got when she was being vulnerable.
Jey leaned over, trying to peek at the screen.
“She text back already?” he asked, grinning. “What she say?”
Jimmy didn’t even try to hide the smile on his face this time.
“She said she slept good,” he told his brother, still looking at the phone. “And she down to do Jeyce hair whenever. Plus…” He paused, thumb hovering over the keyboard as he typed out a reply. “She said yes to the date.”
Jey let out a low whistle and clapped him on the back.
“That’s what I’m talking about. See? I told you. Now lock that shit in before she overthinks it.”
Jimmy nodded, already typing.
Jimmy🩶: I’m glad you slept good, mama. You needed that. And you ain’t gotta thank me for holding you… that’s what I’m here for.
Jimmy🩶: I’ll talk to Jeyce and let you know what day works for him.
Jimmy🩶: As far as the date… how about this Friday night? I’ll pick you up around 7. And wear whatever makes you feel pretty. You could show up in a hoodie and still be the finest woman in the room.
He hit send, then looked up at Jey with a small smirk.
“Friday night. Italian spot downtown.”
“Good. Now go handle that client that just walked in before you start smiling at your phone again like a damn teenager.”
Jimmy laughed under his breath and locked his phone, but not before glancing at it one more time.
He was already looking forward to Friday.
Jimmy had just hit send on his last text to Treasure when the front door bell chimed loudly, signaling someone had walked into the shop.
Both he and Jey looked up at the same time.
A young guy — probably mid-twenties — stepped inside, looking around the shop with his hands tucked in his hoodie pocket. He had a fresh fade and a few visible tattoos already on his forearms.
“Yo,” the guy said with a small nod. “I got a 11:30 appointment. Name’s Marcus.”
Jimmy glanced at the clock on the wall. It was 11:27.
“That’s me,” he said, standing up from his station and stretching his arms over his head. He locked his phone and slid it into his back pocket, even though he lowkey wanted to wait for Treasure’s reply.
Jey smirked and pushed off the counter, clearly amused by how quick Jimmy was to switch gears.
“Go handle ya business, lover boy,” Jey teased under his breath as he walked past him. “I’ll be in the back if you need me.”
Jimmy shot him a look but didn’t say anything. He walked up to the front, giving Marcus a friendly dap.
“What’s good, bro? You getting that piece we talked about last week?” Jimmy asked, already slipping into work mode.
“Yeah,” Marcus nodded. “The forearm piece with the clock and the roses. I’m ready when you are.”
“Aight, bet. Let me get everything set up real quick. You can go ahead and sit in that chair over there.”
As Marcus walked over to the station, Jimmy quickly pulled his phone back out for one last glance before he got started.
Treasure hadn’t replied yet.
He locked it again and set it face-down on his station, already thinking about how he was gonna make Friday night special for her. After everything she told him last night — the crying, the vulnerability, the way she said being with him felt like everything she ever wanted — he wanted to do this right.
He grabbed his gloves and started prepping his station, but his mind was still half on the girl who had fallen asleep on his chest.
Jey’s voice came from the back room, loud enough for only Jimmy to hear.
“Don’t be over there daydreaming about Treasure while you tattooing that man, uce!”
Jimmy shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips as he sat down and rolled his chair closer to Marcus.
But even as he said it, he was already counting down the hours until he could text her again.
The apartment felt smaller than she remembered Treasure sat cross-legged in the middle of the bed — their bed — with a bag of Hot Cheetos and a bottle of water beside her. The TV was on, playing Bridgerton Season 4, but she wasn’t really watching. She kept zoning out, her eyes on the screen but her mind somewhere else entirely.
The volume was low. She could still hear Giovanni in the living room, cursing at the TV every few minutes as he played 2K. The sound of the game mixed with the low hum of the air conditioner and the occasional creak of the old floorboards. It all felt too familiar. Too loud. Too… heavy.
She glanced around the bedroom. Her clothes were still half in the closet, half in the drawers. A few pairs of shoes lined up against the wall. The framed picture of her and Giovanni from two years ago still sat on the nightstand, tilted slightly like it had been knocked over and never fixed.
Treasure sighed and pulled the blanket tighter around her legs, even though it wasn’t cold.
Being back here felt wrong.
After last night — crying in Jimmy’s arms, falling asleep on his bare chest while he whispered sweet things in her ear — this apartment felt like a completely different world. At Jimmy’s place, everything was calm. Safe. Warm. Here? The air felt thick. Like old arguments still lingered in the walls.
She picked up her phone and stared at Jimmy’s last text again.
Jimmy🩶: As far as the date… how about this Friday night? I’ll pick you up around 7. And wear whatever makes you feel pretty. You could show up in a hoodie and still be the finest woman in the room.
A small smile tugged at her lips despite everything. She hadn’t replied yet. She didn’t know what to say. Part of her wanted to say yes immediately. Another part of her felt guilty for even considering going on a date while she was still technically living in this apartment with Giovanni.
From the living room, Giovanni’s voice carried down the hallway.
“Treasure! You still in there? Bring me a water when you come out!”
She didn’t answer right away. She just stared at the TV, watching two characters kiss passionately on screen while her stomach twisted.
She didn’t want to be here.
But she also hadn’t fully left yet.
Treasure picked up her phone again, thumbs hovering over the keyboard as she stared at Jimmy’s message. Her heart felt heavy and confused all at once.
She wanted to say yes to the date.
She wanted to say yes to him.
But being back in this apartment made everything feel complicated again.
Treasure stayed right where she was.
She heard Giovanni call out for water from the living room, but she didn’t move. She didn’t even acknowledge him. She just kept her eyes on the TV, watching Bridgerton with the volume low while she slowly ate her Hot Cheetos.
She knew damn well he could get up and get it himself.
The old her would’ve jumped up immediately, not wanting to deal with his attitude later. But right now? She felt nothing. No guilt. No urge to keep the peace. Just… emptiness.
Being back in this apartment after spending the night at Jimmy’s felt like stepping into a completely different reality. At Jimmy’s place, she felt safe. Wanted. Taken care of. Here? She felt like a ghost in her own home. The same walls that used to hold years of memories now just felt suffocating.
She glanced at her phone again, rereading Jimmy’s text for the third time.
A small, soft smile touched her lips despite everything. She wanted to say yes. She really wanted to say yes. But being back here, hearing Giovanni’s voice down the hallway, made everything feel messy and complicated again.
From the living room, she heard Giovanni suck his teeth loud.
“Treasure! You hear me or what? Bring me a water, damn!”
Instead, she picked up her phone and finally started typing a reply to Jimmy, her heart beating a little faster as her thumbs moved across the screen.
Treasure🧘🏼♀️: Hey… sorry for the late reply. I’m okay. Just been in my head a little today.
She paused, then kept typing.
Treasure🧘🏼♀️: Friday night sounds really nice. I’d like that. A lot actually 🥹 What should I wear though? I don’t wanna be underdressed or overdressed lol.
She stared at the message for a second, then hit send before she could overthink it.
Treasure set her phone down on the bed and pulled the blanket tighter around her legs, trying to focus back on the show. But her mind kept drifting between the man in the living room playing 2K… and the man who wanted to take her out on a real date.
She didn’t know how much longer she could keep living in this in-between.
Treasure had just hit send on her reply to Jimmy when she heard the heavy footsteps coming down the hallway.
She already knew what was coming.
A few seconds later, the bedroom door swung open without a knock. Giovanni stood in the doorway, game controller still in one hand, his face twisted in irritation.
“Yo, you deaf or something?” he snapped, stepping inside. “I asked you to bring me a water like three times. What the fuck you doing in here?”
She didn’t even pause the show. She just looked over at him calmly, one hand still resting on her phone.
“I heard you,” she said quietly. “You got legs. You can get it yourself.”
Giovanni’s eyebrows shot up like he couldn’t believe she actually said that. He stepped further into the room, the annoyance on his face quickly turning into something sharper.
“Oh, so that’s how we doing shit now?” he scoffed, tossing the controller onto the dresser. “You too good to get up and do something simple for me? That’s crazy.”
Treasure felt her stomach tighten, but she didn’t flinch. She kept her voice steady even though her heart was starting to race.
“I’m not your maid, Giovanni. I’m watching my show.”
He let out a bitter laugh and shook his head, running a hand over his face.
“Man, you been acting real funny lately. Coming in late, staying in this room all day, barely saying two words to me… Now you can’t even get up and bring me a fucking water?” He stepped closer to the bed, eyes narrowing. “What, you got an attitude ‘cause I showed up to your job yesterday? That what this is?”
Treasure’s jaw clenched. She hated how he always tried to flip things around and make her the problem.
She glanced at her phone again, seeing the message she just sent Jimmy still sitting there. The contrast between how she felt talking to Jimmy and how she felt in this room with Giovanni was almost painful.
She looked back up at him, voice quieter but firmer.
“I just don’t feel like dealing with you right now. That’s all.”
Giovanni stared at her for a long second, the muscle in his jaw twitching. He didn’t like that answer. Not one bit.
He took another step closer to the bed.
“So what you saying, Treasure? You don’t feel like dealing with me? That what we on now?”
The air in the room suddenly felt heavier.
Treasure’s grip tightened on her phone.
She didn’t answer right away.
The tension in the room was already thick when Treasure’s phone suddenly lit up on the bed beside her.
The screen brightened with a new notification.
One new message from Jimmy 🩶
She didn’t even have to unlock it to see the preview at the top:
Jimmy🩶: Good, I’m looking forward to it. Wear something that makes you feel sexy. I wanna see you all dressed up for me 😏 I’ll handle everything else.
Treasure’s stomach flipped. She instinctively reached for the phone, but the second her fingers touched it, Giovanni’s eyes locked onto the screen.
His face changed instantly.
He stepped closer to the bed, squinting at the name lighting up her phone.
“Jimmy?” Giovanni said, voice low and sharp. “That’s the nigga you been staying with, right?”
Treasure quickly turned the phone face-down, but it was too late. Giovanni had already seen it.
He let out a short, bitter laugh and ran his tongue over his teeth, shaking his head like he was trying to stay calm but failing.
“So that’s what this is?” he asked, stepping even closer to the edge of the bed. “You ignoring me, acting all funny, and now this nigga texting you while you in our bed? You really out here entertaining that shit?”
Treasure’s heart started pounding. She sat up straighter, pulling the blanket tighter around her like it could somehow protect her.
“Giovanni, don’t start,” Treasure said quietly, but her voice wasn’t as steady as she wanted it to be.
“Don’t start?” he repeated, voice rising. “Bitch, you got another nigga texting you in my house and you telling me not to start?”
He pointed at her phone, jaw clenched tight.
“What the fuck he saying? ‘Wear something sexy’? You really letting that nigga talk to you like that while you still living here with me?”
She felt her chest tighten. The old fear was creeping back in fast — the same fear she always felt when Giovanni got like this. But underneath it was something new. Anger. Exhaustion.
She looked him dead in the eyes and spoke before she could stop herself.
“I’m not doing this with you right now.”
Giovanni’s nostrils flared. He took another step closer, his voice dropping into something darker.
“Nah… we are doing this. Right now. Who the fuck is Jimmy to you, Treasure?”
Treasure’s heart was pounding so hard she could hear it in her ears.
Giovanni took another step closer to the bed, his eyes locked on her phone like it personally offended him. The playful, flirty preview from Jimmy was still burned into her mind.
“He’s just a friend, Gio, You’re trippin’ over nothing.”
Giovanni let out a sharp, ugly laugh and shook his head.
“Don’t fucking lie to me, Treasure.” His voice was getting louder, meaner. “A ‘friend’ don’t tell you to wear something sexy for him. A friend don’t got you smiling at your phone like that. You really think I’m stupid?”
He snatched the phone off the bed before she could react.
Treasure’s stomach dropped.
“Giovanni, give it back,”
He stepped back, holding it out of her reach as he tried to unlock it. When it didn’t open, he turned the screen toward her, eyes blazing.
Treasure shook her head, clutching the blanket like it could protect her. “No. You’re not going through my phone. That’s crazy.”
“Crazy?” Giovanni’s voice rose. “You got another nigga texting you while you in my bed and I’m crazy?!”
He threw the phone down on the bed hard enough that it bounced. Then he stepped even closer, towering over her. His face was twisted with anger and something darker.
“You been acting real fucking funny for weeks now. Disappearing at night, coming home late, barely touching me… and now I see why.” He pointed at her, voice dripping with venom. “You out here fucking that nigga, ain’t you? That’s why you been so distant. That’s why you didn’t even wanna bring me a fucking glass of water.”
Treasure’s throat felt tight. She hated how small she felt right now — sitting on the bed while he stood over her, yelling.
“I’m not fucking anybody,” Treasure lied again, but her voice cracked this time.
Giovanni’s jaw clenched so hard she thought his teeth might break. He leaned down, getting right in her face.
“Stop fucking lying to me!” he shouted. “You think I don’t see the way you been moving? You think I don’t know you been staying at that nigga house?!”
Treasure flinched at how loud he was. Her hands were shaking under the blanket now. She could feel the old fear creeping back in — the same fear she felt the night he put his hands on her.
She tried to keep her voice steady, but it came out smaller than she wanted.
“Giovanni… please. Just calm down. You’re scaring me.”
He stared at her for a long second, breathing hard through his nose. Then he let out a bitter scoff and straightened up, running both hands over his head like he was trying not to lose it completely.
“Scaring you? After everything I done for you… you out here letting some other nigga talk nasty to you in my house and I’m scaring you?”
He took one more step closer, his voice dropping into something cold.
“Give me your phone, Treasure. Right now. Or we really gon’ have a problem.”
Treasure’s eyes flicked to her phone on the bed between them.
The air in the room felt thick and dangerous. Her heart was slamming against her ribs.
She could still feel the ghost of Jimmy’s arms around her from last night. How safe she felt falling asleep on his chest.
And now she was here… in this apartment… with Giovanni looking at her like she was the enemy.
She didn’t know how much longer she could keep doing this.
Treasure’s heart was hammering so hard it hurt.
She couldn’t do this anymore — not right now. Not with him standing over her like that, demanding her phone, looking at her like she was something he owned.
Without saying another word, Treasure pushed the blanket off her legs and stood up from the bed, trying to walk past him toward the bedroom door. Her hands were shaking, but she kept her head down, just wanting to get out of that room. Out of his space. Away from the suffocating energy.
She didn’t even make it two steps.
Giovanni’s hand shot out and grabbed a fistful of her hair from behind, yanking her back so hard her head snapped backward. The pain was instant and sharp, burning across her scalp as he dragged her back toward him.
Treasure cried out, a loud, pained yelp escaping her throat as her hands flew up to grab his wrist.
“Giovanni— stop! Let go of me!” she shouted, voice cracking.
Instead, he yanked her hair again, harder this time, forcing her to stumble back against his chest. The same way he did a couple of days ago in the bathroom when he slapped her across the face after accusing her of the exact same thing.
“Stop fucking lying to me!” he barked, his voice loud and vicious right by her ear. “You think I don’t know what the fuck you been doing? You out here letting that nigga talk to you like you his bitch while you still living in my shit?!”
Tears immediately stung Treasure’s eyes from the pain in her scalp. Her heart was slamming against her ribs so hard she felt dizzy. She tried to pull away, but his grip was too tight, fingers twisted deep in her hair.
“Giovanni, you’re hurting me!” she cried, voice trembling as she clawed at his hand. “Let go!”
He yanked her head back even further, forcing her to look up at him. His face was twisted with rage, eyes wild.
“Nah. You gon’ tell me the truth right now,” he snarled. “You fucking him? That why you been acting brand new? That why you didn’t even wanna bring me a fucking glass of water? You out here being a hoe for that nigga and got the nerve to come back here and lay in my bed?”
Treasure’s eyes filled with tears, blurring her vision. The pain in her scalp mixed with the fear tightening in her chest. This wasn’t the first time he’d put his hands on her. And every time it happened, it got a little worse.
But more than that… she was done.
Something inside her shifted in that moment — the fear mixing with a sudden, sharp clarity.
She didn’t want to be here anymore.
“Giovanni…” her voice came out small, shaky, but there was something new underneath it. “Let go of my hair. Right now.”
He stared down at her, breathing hard, still gripping her hair tightly.
The air in the room felt thick and dangerous.
Treasure’s phone was still on the bed, screen dark now.
But the damage was already done.
She couldn’t stay in that room with him like this — not with the way he was looking at her, not with his hand still gripping her hair like she was some kind of possession.
Without thinking, she tried to fight back.
She twisted in his grip and shoved hard at his chest with both hands, trying to create space between them.
“Get off me!” That was the wrong move.
Giovanni’s face twisted with rage. Before she could react, his hand came flying across her face — a loud, sharp crack echoing through the bedroom as he slapped her hard.
The force of it knocked her off balance.
Treasure’s head snapped to the side as she stumbled backward and fell hard onto the floor. Pain exploded across her cheek, her lip splitting from the impact. She landed on her side, one hand instinctively flying up to her burning face as tears instantly filled her eyes.
For a second, everything felt muffled — like her ears were ringing.
She could taste blood in her mouth.
Giovanni stood over her, breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling fast. His eyes were wild, dark with anger and something uglier.
“See what the fuck you made me do?!” You keep lying to me, moving shady, and then you got the nerve to put your hands on me?!”
Treasure didn’t answer right away.
She stayed on the floor for a moment, one hand pressed to her throbbing cheek, the other bracing against the carpet as she tried to catch her breath. Her vision blurred with tears. The sting on her face was sharp and hot, but the pain in her chest was worse.
This wasn’t the first time he’d hit her.
But something about this time felt different.
Maybe it was because she had just spent the night crying in Jimmy’s arms. Maybe it was because she had finally felt what it was like to be treated gently. Or maybe she was just… tired.
Tired of the fear. Tired of the lies. Tired of walking on eggshells in her own home.
She slowly pushed herself up to a sitting position, still holding her face. Blood from her split lip dripped onto her shirt. She looked up at Giovanni through watery eyes, and for the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel small.
“Giovanni…” her voice came out hoarse, quiet but steady. “You need to leave me alone.”
He stared down at her, still breathing hard, like he couldn’t believe she was talking back.
Treasure’s phone was still on the bed.
And all she could think about in that moment was Jimmy.
The way he held her last night.
The way he kissed her forehead and whispered that she was safe.
The way he made her feel like she was worth something.
She didn’t want to be here anymore.
Treasure slowly started to push herself up off the floor, her legs shaky beneath her.
She didn’t know what was about to happen next… but she knew one thing for sure.
Treasure’s cheek was on fire.
The sting from Giovanni’s slap still burned across her face, her split lip throbbing as blood trickled down her chin. She could taste the metallic tang in her mouth. Her ears were ringing, and for a second the room felt like it was spinning.
But she didn’t stay on the floor.
Ignoring the pain, Treasure pushed herself up onto her knees and then to her feet, moving fast. Her eyes locked onto her phone still sitting on the bed. If she could just grab it and get out of this room — out of this apartment — she could call Jimmy. Or Liv. Or anyone.
She lunged for the phone.
The second her fingers touched it, Giovanni was on her.
He grabbed her by the back of her shirt and yanked her backward hard, pulling her away from the bed before she could get a proper grip on the phone. Treasure stumbled, nearly falling again as he dragged her back toward him.
“Where the fuck you think you going?!” Giovanni shouted, voice booming in the small bedroom.
Treasure twisted in his grip, trying to pull away. “Let go of me, Giovanni! I’m leaving!”
Instead, he shoved her hard against the wall beside the bed, one hand still fisted in her shirt while the other slammed against the wall beside her head. His face was inches from hers, eyes wild with rage.
“You not going no-fucking-where!” he barked, breathing heavy. “You think you just gon’ walk out after I caught you texting that nigga? After you been lying to my face? Nah. We not done.”
Treasure’s heart was slamming against her ribs so hard it hurt. Her face was still throbbing from the slap, and now her back was pressed against the wall with nowhere to go. She could smell the beer on his breath from earlier.
“Giovanni, move,” Treasure said, voice shaking but louder than before. “I’m serious. Let me go.”
He let out a bitter, ugly laugh and pressed closer, caging her in.
“You serious? Bitch, you been serious about a lot of shit lately. Serious about staying at that nigga house. Serious about ignoring me. Serious about acting like you too good to bring me a glass of water. But now you serious about leaving?”
His hand moved from the wall to her throat — not squeezing hard, but tight enough to make her freeze. His thumb pressed against her pulse point.
“You not leaving me, Treasure, Not for that nigga. Not for nobody. You belong here. With me.”
Treasure’s eyes filled with fresh tears, but this time they weren’t just from fear.
Something inside her had finally snapped.
She stared up at him, chest heaving, and for the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel like shrinking.
“I’m done, Giovanni, I’m not doing this with you anymore. I’m not scared of you. Not like I used to sugar talkin’ EP10 .☘︎ ݁˖.”
His grip on her shirt tightened.
Treasure kept going, even though her voice cracked.
“You hit me. Again. Just like last time. And I’m done letting you put your hands on me. I’m done lying for you. I’m done pretending this is love.”
Giovanni’s face twisted, something dark flashing in his eyes.
He leaned in closer, his voice dropping into something cold and threatening.
“You really think that nigga gon’ want you after I’m done with you? You really think you can just walk out that door and go running to him? Try it. See what happens.”
Treasure’s phone was still on the bed.
But her mind was already somewhere else.
She was thinking about Jimmy’s arms around her last night.
The way he kissed her forehead and told her she was safe.
The way he made her feel like she was worth something.
She was done being afraid in her own home.
Treasure looked Giovanni dead in the eyes, even with his hand still gripping her shirt and the other near her throat.
“Move,” Treasure said quietly, but firmly. “Or I swear to God, I’m calling the police.”
The room went dead silent.
Giovanni stared at her like he didn’t recognize her.
And for the first time in a long time… Treasure didn’t feel small.
The second she told Giovanni to move, his hand shot up and wrapped tightly around her throat. He slammed her back against the wall hard, pinning her there. His fingers dug into the sides of her neck as he leaned his full weight into her, nearly lifting her off her feet.
Treasure’s eyes went wide.
Her hands immediately flew up, clawing at his wrist and forearm as panic exploded in her chest. Her feet kicked against the floor, trying to find solid ground, but he had her pinned too high. A choked, strangled sound came out of her mouth as she fought for air.
Giovanni’s face was inches from hers, eyes dark and furious.
“You think you can just leave me?” Giovanni snarled, voice low and venomous. “After everything I did for you? You out here fucking that nigga and then come back here acting like you better than me?”
Treasure’s vision started to blur at the edges. Her lungs burned. She kept clawing at his hand, nails digging into his skin, but he didn’t let go. Her legs kicked weakly now, the fight slowly leaving her body as the pressure on her throat made her head feel light and fuzzy.
She tried to speak — tried to beg him to stop — but nothing came out except a broken, wheezing sound.
Tears streamed down her face as she stared into his eyes, terrified.
This wasn’t like the slap earlier.
She could feel her heartbeat pounding in her ears. Her chest heaved, desperate for air that wasn’t coming. Her hands started to lose strength against his arm. The room was tilting.
Giovanni’s grip tightened even more.
“You not going nowhere,” he growled. “You hear me? You belong to me. Not that nigga. Me.”
Treasure’s eyes started to roll back slightly. Her body was going limp against the wall. She could barely keep her eyes open. The edges of her vision were going dark.
In that fading moment, one last thought cut through the panic and the pain:
Her hand weakly dropped from Giovanni’s arm and brushed against something on the dresser beside her.
But she didn’t have the strength to grab it.
Her body was shutting down.
Giovanni was still yelling something at her, but she couldn’t hear him clearly anymore. Everything sounded muffled and far away.
Her last bit of strength left her as her eyes started to close.
She was losing consciousness.
Treasure’s vision was going dark at the edges.
Giovanni’s hand was wrapped tight around her throat, pinning her against the wall so hard her feet were barely touching the floor. She couldn’t breathe. Her lungs burned. Her hands clawed weakly at his wrist, nails digging into his skin, but he wasn’t letting go. She could hear him yelling something, but it sounded muffled and far away.
Her eyes darted desperately to the side, searching for anything she could reach. That’s when she saw it.
It was sitting on the small dresser right next to her — the one she had bought months ago because she thought it made the room look nicer. Now it was the only thing within reach.
With the last bit of strength she had left, Treasure stretched her arm out and grabbed it. Her fingers wrapped around the cool ceramic. She didn’t hesitate.
She swung it as hard as she could.
The vase connected with the side of Giovanni’s head with a loud, sickening crack. Pieces of ceramic shattered and flew everywhere as the vase broke on impact.
Giovanni let out a pained grunt and immediately lost his grip on her throat. He stumbled back a step, one hand flying up to the side of his head where blood was already starting to trickle down.
Treasure dropped to the floor, gasping and coughing violently as air finally rushed back into her lungs. She clutched at her throat, eyes watering, her whole body shaking as she tried to breathe. Her vision was still blurry, but she didn’t have time to wait.
She scrambled up on shaky legs, coughing so hard her chest hurt. Her eyes landed on her car keys sitting on the dresser. She grabbed them without thinking, clutching them tightly in her fist.
Giovanni was still dazed, one hand pressed to his bleeding head as he leaned against the bed.
She took off running out of the bedroom, her bare feet pounding against the floor as she sprinted down the hallway. She could hear Giovanni yelling behind her, but she didn’t look back. Her heart was slamming against her ribs. Her throat burned. Her face was still throbbing from where he slapped her earlier.
She reached the front door, fumbling with the lock for a second before yanking it open. The cool evening air hit her face as she stumbled outside, still coughing and gasping.
She didn’t even bother closing the door behind her.
Treasure ran straight to her car, hands shaking so badly she almost dropped the keys trying to unlock it. She finally got the door open and threw herself inside, slamming it shut and locking it immediately.
Her hands were trembling as she shoved the key into the ignition and started the car. The engine roared to life. She didn’t even check her mirrors — she just threw it in reverse and sped out of the parking spot, tires screeching as she pulled out of the complex.
Tears were streaming down her face now, mixing with the blood from her split lip. Her throat hurt every time she swallowed. Her cheek was still burning.
Treasure gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands, her breathing still ragged and uneven as she drove down the street with no real destination in mind.
All she knew was that she couldn’t go back there.
Her phone was still inside the apartment.
But right now, that didn’t matter.
She just needed to get away.
Treasure didn’t even remember the drive.
Her hands were gripping the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles were white. She kept checking the rearview mirror every few seconds, terrified that Giovanni was following her. Her throat was on fire. Every time she swallowed, it felt like she was choking all over again. Her cheek throbbed from where he slapped her, and her lip was still bleeding. She could taste the metallic tang of blood every time she licked her lips.
She didn’t have a plan. She just drove.
Eventually, the bright lights of a Marriott came into view off the highway. She pulled into the parking lot on autopilot, parked crookedly, and sat there for a second with the engine running, trying to stop her hands from shaking.
She had no clothes. No phone. No nothing. Just her car keys and the clothes on her back.
Still, she forced herself out of the car and walked into the lobby on shaky legs.
The woman at the front desk looked at her with concern — probably because of the split lip and the red marks around her neck — but Treasure didn’t say a word. She just slid her card across the counter, booked the cheapest room they had, and took the keycard with trembling fingers.
The second she stepped into the hotel room and the door clicked shut behind her, something inside her broke.
Treasure leaned her back against the door, then slowly slid down until she was sitting on the floor. The second her body hit the carpet, a sob ripped out of her throat — loud, ugly, and broken.
Her whole body started shaking violently as the tears came pouring out. She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, rocking slightly as she cried harder than she had in years. Her shoulders shook with every sob. Her throat burned from both the crying and the damage Giovanni had done to it.
She could still feel his hand wrapped around her neck.
She could still hear the way he snarled in her ear.
She could still see the look in his eyes when he slammed her against the wall.
Treasure buried her face in her arms and wailed, the sound muffled but raw. All the fear, the pain, the humiliation, and the months of walking on eggshells came pouring out of her at once. She cried until her eyes were swollen, until her chest hurt, until she could barely breathe through the sobs.
Her body wouldn’t stop trembling.
She was safe now… but she didn’t feel safe yet.
All she could think about was how close she came to something much worse tonight. How she had to hit him with a vase just to get him off of her. How she ran out of that apartment barefoot and bleeding.
Just a hotel room and the sound of her own broken crying echoing off the walls.
Treasure pressed her forehead against her knees, still shaking as the tears kept falling.
But right now, all she felt was scared, empty, and completely alone.
Her body was still shaking violently, her chest heaving with every broken sob. Her throat burned with every breath she took, and her face throbbed from where Giovanni had slapped her. She could still feel the ghost of his hand around her neck, squeezing. The memory made fresh tears spill down her cheeks.
After a while, her sobs started to quiet into shaky, hiccupping breaths. She wiped her face with the back of her hand, wincing when she accidentally touched her split lip. Slowly, she pushed herself up off the floor on unsteady legs.
The hotel room felt too quiet.
She walked over to the nightstand on shaky legs and picked up the hotel phone. Her fingers were trembling so badly she almost dropped it. She stared at the buttons for a second, trying to remember Liv’s number. Her mind was foggy from crying and adrenaline.
She finally punched in the number and pressed the phone to her ear, her other hand gripping the edge of the nightstand like it was the only thing keeping her upright.
It rang three times before Liv picked up.
The second Treasure heard her best friend’s voice, her face crumpled again.
“L-Liv…” Treasure choked out, her voice hoarse and broken from both the crying and Giovanni choking her. Fresh tears immediately started falling again. “Liv… I—”
“Treasure?” Liv’s voice instantly changed, picking up on how wrecked she sounded. “What’s wrong? Why you sound like that? Where you at?”
Treasure tried to speak but a sob ripped out of her throat instead. She pressed her hand over her mouth, trying to hold it in, but she couldn’t stop crying.
“I… I left,” she managed to get out between shaky breaths. “I left him, Liv. I left Giovanni.”
There was a short pause on the other end.
“What happened?” Liv asked carefully, but Treasure could already hear the tension in her voice.
Treasure’s knees felt weak. She leaned against the nightstand, still gripping the phone tight as more tears fell.
“He… he found out about Jimmy,” she whispered, voice cracking. “He saw a text. He got mad. He grabbed me by my hair and then he—” Her voice broke completely. She had to stop and take a shaky breath. “He slapped me… and then he choked me, Liv. He had his hand around my throat and he wouldn’t let go. I couldn’t breathe.”
Liv sucked in a sharp breath on the other end of the line.
“I had to hit him with a vase to get him off me,” Treasure continued, her voice trembling violently as she cried. “I grabbed my keys and I ran. I didn’t even grab my phone. I just left. I’m at the Marriott right now. I didn’t know where else to go.”
She was crying so hard now she could barely get the words out.
“I’m scared, Liv,” her voice small and broken. “I’m really scared. He was so mad. I don’t know what he’s gonna do.”
Liv was quiet for a second, but when she spoke again, her voice was firm and full of anger.
“Text me the address of that Marriott right now. I’m coming to get you.”
Treasure wiped her face with a shaky hand, still crying softly into the phone.
“I don’t have my phone, I left it at the apartment. I’m using the hotel phone.”
Liv cursed under her breath.
“Okay… okay, listen to me. Stay in that room. Don’t open the door for nobody. I’m on my way. I’ll be there in like twenty minutes. You hear me?”
Treasure nodded even though Liv couldn’t see her, fresh tears rolling down her face.
“And Treasure?” Liv added, voice softer but serious. “You did the right thing by leaving. I’m proud of you. Just hold on. I’m coming.”
Treasure nodded again, her throat too tight to speak.
She hung up the phone and slowly slid down to the floor again, wrapping her arms around her knees as she waited.
But her whole body was still shaking.
Treasure didn’t move from the floor after she hung up the phone.
She stayed right there, back against the nightstand, knees pulled up to her chest as she wrapped her arms around herself. The carpet felt rough under her bare feet, but she barely noticed. Her whole body was shaking — violent, uncontrollable tremors that started in her hands and traveled all the way down to her legs.
Tears kept falling, hot and endless. Every time she tried to stop crying, another sob would rip out of her throat. Her face hurt. Her lip was still bleeding. And her throat… her throat felt raw and swollen every time she swallowed. She could still feel the pressure of Giovanni’s hand around her neck, squeezing the air out of her.
She kept replaying it in her head.
The way he yanked her by her hair.
The way he slammed her against the wall.
The way he looked at her while he was choking her — like he wanted to hurt her. Like he enjoyed it.
Treasure buried her face in her arms and cried harder, her shoulders shaking with every broken sob. She felt dirty. Scared. Small. And completely alone.
She didn’t even have her phone to call Jimmy. She didn’t know his number by heart. She couldn’t even text him to tell him what happened. The thought of him made fresh tears spill down her cheeks. She wanted to be in his arms right now. She wanted to feel safe again. But instead, she was sitting on the floor of a random hotel room with nothing but the clothes on her back and a key to a car she wasn’t even sure she should be driving.
Time passed, but she wasn’t sure how much. Ten minutes? Twenty? It all blurred together.
She stayed on the floor the entire time, crying quietly now — the kind of crying that came from deep exhaustion. Her eyes were swollen. Her throat hurt from both the choking and the sobbing. Her body felt heavy, like all the fight had finally drained out of her.
Then came a knock at the door.
Treasure’s head snapped up. Her heart immediately started racing again, fear spiking through her chest.
“Treasure? It’s me. Open the door.”
Treasure let out a shaky breath and slowly pushed herself up off the floor. Her legs felt weak as she walked to the door on shaky legs. She looked through the peephole first, just to be sure, before unlocking the door and pulling it open.
Liv stood there in a hoodie and sweatpants, her face full of worry the second she saw Treasure.
The second their eyes met, Treasure’s face crumpled again.
Liv didn’t say anything at first. She just stepped inside, closed the door behind her, and pulled Treasure into a tight hug.
Treasure broke down all over again, sobbing into Liv’s shoulder as her best friend held her up.
“I got you,” Liv whispered, rubbing her back. “I got you, sis. You’re safe now.”
Treasure clung to her, still shaking, still crying, but for the first time since she left that apartment… she didn’t feel completely alone.
The second Liv stepped inside and closed the hotel room door, Treasure completely fell apart again.
Liv didn’t even get a chance to say anything before Treasure collapsed into her arms, sobbing so hard her whole body shook. Liv caught her, wrapping her arms around her tightly and holding her up as Treasure buried her face into her shoulder.
Treasure couldn’t stop crying. Her body was still trembling violently, like the adrenaline hadn’t worn off yet. Every time she tried to catch her breath, another sob would rip out of her throat. Her face hurt. Her throat was on fire. And her chest felt so tight she could barely breathe.
Liv gently guided her over to the bed and sat down with her, keeping one arm wrapped around Treasure’s shoulders while the other rubbed soothing circles on her back.
“Shhh… I’m right here,” she said softly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Just breathe, Treasure. You’re not there anymore. You’re safe.”
It took a few minutes for Treasure’s sobs to finally slow down into shaky, hiccupping breaths. Her eyes were swollen and red, her split lip still bleeding a little. Liv reached over to the nightstand, grabbed a few tissues, and gently wiped Treasure’s face, careful not to press too hard on her bruised cheek.
Liv’s voice was quiet but serious when she finally spoke.
“Treasure… what the fuck happened?”
Treasure swallowed hard, wincing at the pain in her throat. She stared down at her hands, which were still shaking in her lap.
“He saw Jimmy’s text,” Treasurewhispered hoarsely. “He came in the room already mad because I didn’t bring him water. Then he saw the message… the one where Jimmy told me to wear something sexy.” Her voice cracked. “He lost it.”
Liv stayed quiet, letting her talk.
Treasure wiped her eyes with a shaky hand and continued, her voice small and broken.
“He grabbed me by my hair… yanked me so hard. Then he slapped me across the face and I fell on the floor. When I tried to get up and leave, he grabbed me by my throat and slammed me against the wall.” Her hand instinctively went up to her neck, fingers brushing over the sore skin. “He was choking me, Liv. I couldn’t breathe. I thought I was gonna die.”
Liv’s jaw clenched so tight Treasure could see the muscle twitching.
“I had to grab a vase and hit him in the head just to get him off me, I grabbed my keys and ran. I didn’t even grab my phone. I just left. I was so scared…”
Her voice broke completely and she started crying again, softer this time but just as heavy.
Liv pulled her into another tight hug, holding her close as Treasure shook in her arms.
“I’m so fucking proud of you for leaving, You did the right thing. That nigga is fucking crazy. I always knew he was toxic, but this? This is too far.”
Treasure nodded against her shoulder, still crying quietly.
Liv pulled back slightly so she could look at her face, gently tilting Treasure’s chin up to examine the damage.
“He really choked you…” she muttered, eyes scanning the red marks around her neck. Then she looked at her split lip and bruised cheek. “We need to take pictures of this. Just in case.”
Liv rubbed her arm soothingly and asked another question, softer this time.
“Did he do anything else? Did he… touch you anywhere else? Try to do more than choke you?”
“No,” Treasure whispered. “I hit him with the vase before he could do anything else.”
Liv let out a slow breath, clearly trying to stay calm for Treasure’s sake.
“Okay…” Liv said gently. “Do you wanna stay here tonight? Or do you want me to take you somewhere else? We can go to my place. Or…” She hesitated. “We can go to Jimmy’s if you want. I know you been staying with him.”
Treasure’s eyes filled with fresh tears at the mention of Jimmy’s name.
But she also felt ashamed. Dirty. Broken.
She didn’t know what to do.
Treasure stayed quiet for a long moment after Liv asked where she wanted to go. She kept her head down, staring at her hands as she picked at a loose thread on her shirt. Her throat still hurt every time she swallowed, and her face felt tight and swollen from crying.
Liv rubbed her back gently, waiting.
“I don’t wanna go anywhere else tonight, I just… I wanna stay here. At the hotel.”
Liv looked at her, clearly worried but trying not to push too hard.
“You sure? You don’t have to be alone right now, Treasure. You can come stay with me. Or we can go to Jimmy’s. He’d probably lose his mind if he knew what happened and that you were sitting in a hotel by yourself.”
Treasure shook her head slowly, fresh tears welling up in her already swollen eyes.
“I know… but I just need tonight, I feel disgusting. I feel broken. I don’t want Jimmy to see me like this right now. Not after everything he said to me last night about how he’s gonna take care of me.”
She let out a shaky breath. “I just need to sit in the quiet for a little bit. I don’t wanna explain everything to him tonight. I can’t.”
Liv sighed but nodded, understanding even if she didn’t fully agree.
“Okay,” Liv said gently. “We can stay here tonight. I’ll stay with you.”
Treasure looked up at her quickly, eyes glassy.
“I’m staying,” Liv cut her off firmly. “You’re not about to sit in this hotel room by yourself after what that nigga just did to you. I’m not leaving you alone tonight.”
Treasure didn’t argue. She just nodded and wiped her face with the back of her hand, wincing when she touched her split lip.
Liv stood up and walked over to the small desk in the corner, grabbing the hotel notepad and a pen.
“Alright,” she said, trying to shift into problem-solving mode. “First thing tomorrow, we’re going to get you some clothes and shit. Toothbrush, panties, all that. And we’re taking pictures of your face and neck before anything fades. Just in case you decide you wanna file a report later.”
Treasure nodded again, staring down at the carpet.
Liv came back and sat beside her on the bed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
“You did the right thing by leaving, Treasure, I know it don’t feel like it right now, but you did. That man could’ve killed you tonight.”
Treasure’s bottom lip trembled. She leaned into Liv’s side and closed her eyes, too exhausted to keep crying even though the tears kept leaking out.
“I know, I just… I feel so stupid for staying as long as I did.”
Liv squeezed her tighter.
“You’re not stupid. You loved him. That’s what people do when they love somebody — they hope they’ll change.” She paused. “But now you know he won’t. And that’s okay. You’re out. That’s what matters.”
Treasure didn’t say anything else. She just stayed curled into Liv’s side, staring blankly at the TV that was still playing on mute.
For the first time all night, the shaking in her body started to slow down a little.
But at least she wasn’t alone anymore.
The room had gone quiet for a little while.
Treasure was still curled up against Liv’s side on the bed, her head resting on her best friend’s shoulder. Her eyes were swollen and heavy from crying, her throat raw, and her face still throbbing. The red marks around her neck were starting to darken, and every time she swallowed, it hurt.
Liv had been rubbing her back in slow, steady circles, letting her just sit in the silence for a bit. But Treasure could feel her thinking.
After a few minutes, Liv spoke softly.
“Treasure… you should call or text Jimmy in the morning.”
Treasure immediately tensed up. She didn’t lift her head, but her fingers curled tighter into Liv’s hoodie.
Liv kept her voice gentle but firm.
“I know you said you don’t want him to see you like this right now… and I get it. I really do. But baby, that man has been showing up for you. He picked you up from work, he held you while you cried last night, he’s been consistent. He deserves to know what happened. And more importantly… you don’t have to carry this by yourself.”
Treasure stayed quiet, staring down at the comforter.
Liv continued, softer this time.
“You really think Jimmy would want you sitting in a hotel room, scared and hurt, and not know? That man would lose his mind if he found out you went through all that and didn’t tell him. He’s not Giovanni. He’s not gonna make it about himself or get mad at you for what happened.”
Treasure’s eyes filled with fresh tears. She wiped at them quickly, but they kept coming.
“I just…” her voice cracked. “I feel disgusting, Liv. My face is fucked up. My neck got marks on it. I’m sitting here in the same clothes I had on when he was choking me. I don’t want Jimmy to look at me like this. I don’t want him to see me all broken and messy.”
Liv turned slightly so she could look at her.
“Treasure, listen to me.” Her voice was serious but kind. “That man already saw you cry last night and still held you like you were the most precious thing in the world. You think a couple bruises and a split lip is gonna change how he feels about you? If anything, it’s gonna make him wanna protect you even more.”
Treasure let out a shaky breath, more tears slipping down her cheeks.
“I’m scared,” Treasure admitted quietly. “Scared that once he sees how bad it got… he’s gonna think I’m too much drama. Or that I should’ve left Giovanni sooner. Or—”
“Stop,” Liv cut her off gently but firmly. “That’s that toxic shit Giovanni put in your head talking. Jimmy ain’t him. And from everything you’ve told me about how he treats you, that man is already locked in. He’s not about to run because shit got real.”
Liv rubbed her arm soothingly.
“Just text him in the morning. Or call him. Tell him what happened. Let him show up for you the way he’s been doing. You don’t gotta do this alone, Treasure. Not anymore.”
Treasure didn’t answer right away.
She just stared at the TV that was still playing on mute, her mind spinning.
Part of her wanted to reach out to Jimmy so badly it hurt. She wanted to hear his voice. She wanted to be in his arms again. But another part of her — the part that still felt ashamed and dirty — wanted to hide until she didn’t look so broken.
Liv gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.
“Just think about it, okay? You don’t have to decide tonight. But don’t shut him out. He cares about you. Let him.”
Treasure nodded slowly, but she didn’t say anything.
She was too tired to keep arguing.
Too tired to keep crying.
She just leaned back into Liv’s side and closed her swollen eyes, letting the silence settle over the room again.
The room had gone quiet again.
Liv stood up after a while and walked over to the small bathroom, coming back with a damp washcloth. She sat back down beside Treasure and gently tilted her chin up.
“Let me clean your face a little,” Liv said softly. “You got dried blood on your lip.”
Treasure didn’t argue. She sat still while Liv carefully wiped around her split lip and the dried tears on her cheeks. Every touch was gentle, but Treasure still winced when the cloth brushed over the tender spot on her cheek where Giovanni had slapped her.
Once Liv was done, she tossed the cloth in the sink and came back to the bed.
“Come on,” she said, pulling the covers back. “Let’s try to get some sleep.”
Treasure nodded weakly and climbed under the covers on the side closest to the wall. Liv got in beside her, leaving the lamp on the nightstand on but turning it down low. The room wasn’t completely dark, and Treasure was grateful for that. She didn’t think she could handle pitch black right now.
Liv turned on her side to face her, one arm resting on top of the blanket between them like she was keeping a quiet watch.
Treasure stared up at the ceiling for a long time, her mind racing even though her body was exhausted. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Giovanni’s face — the way he looked at her while he had his hand around her throat. She could still feel the pressure. Still hear the way he snarled at her.
She turned her head slightly to look at Liv.
“You really staying the whole night?” she asked quietly, voice hoarse.
Liv didn’t even hesitate. “Yeah. I’m not leaving you in here by yourself.”
Treasure’s eyes filled with fresh tears, but she was too tired to let them fall this time. She just nodded and whispered, “Thank you.”
Liv reached over and gently squeezed her hand.
“Try to sleep, Treasure. I got you.”
Treasure closed her eyes again, but sleep didn’t come easy. She kept shifting, kept seeing flashes of what happened earlier. Her throat still hurt every time she swallowed. Her cheek throbbed. And even though Liv was right there beside her, she still felt scared.
After a while, Liv spoke again, her voice soft in the quiet room.
“You don’t have to decide anything tonight,” she said. “But just… think about texting Jimmy in the morning. Okay? Don’t carry this by yourself.”
Treasure didn’t answer. She just nodded slightly against the pillow.
Eventually, the exhaustion won.
Treasure’s eyes grew heavier, her breathing slowing down even though her mind was still spinning. She felt Liv shift closer, like she was making sure she was still there. The low hum of the hotel AC and the faint sound of Liv’s breathing beside her slowly started to pull her under.
She didn’t know what tomorrow would look like.
She didn’t know how she was going to tell Jimmy what happened.
But for the first time since she left that apartment… she wasn’t completely alone.
Treasure finally drifted off to sleep with her hand still loosely holding Liv’s, her body curled up tight under the covers like she was trying to make herself small.
a/n: Giovanni you better be counting your days of meeting your making soon hoe buuut how are we feeling? Do we fuck with the lengthy episodes? I almost cried typing this out fr fr.
