Ava Gray
Within a short time, everything seemed like it was perfectly falling into place.
With the little money I already had saved up on top of the advance money from Julia, I was able to find a nice house in the suburbs not too far from Whitmores bank.
It wasn’t official, and I still had other options to choose from, but I wanted to make sure I picked the perfect home for my daughter and me.
It seemed like every day, Julia would let me know I could stay in her place for as long as I needed.
My thing was, I didn’t like feeling as if I was overstaying my welcome.
Besides, I’d rather be living in my own house.
My appreciation for Julia was impossible to put into words.
Every day, I thanked God for placing her in my path.
She had been going above and beyond to help me when she didn’t have to.
Not too many people knew about my situation, and I was grateful that Julia kept my business between us.
She had given me an extra day off, and I had just finished taking care of a few errands.
Ethan had texted me earlier and asked if I wanted to take the girls out on a playdate.
I had nothing else to do, and I knew Savannah would enjoy Zoie’s company.
Besides, any chance I got to spend with him, I was taking.
Enroute to my parents, I had Summer Walker’s “Still Over It” blasting.
Instead of vibing to Summer, I should’ve been listening to gospel music.
My life had been moving along so smoothly since I left the place I once called home.
I’d been avoiding Rob to the best of my ability, and now his crazy ass was standing outside on the phone in the middle of my parents driveway.
My parents had no idea what was going on between us.
Aja only knew that I finally decided to leave, but I never told her about the fight.
My heart rate increased as I parked and hopped out.
The only thing on my mind was to get my baby and get the hell out of dodge.
I knew he wouldn’t cut up in front of my parents place, but then again, I could never be sure with him.
He knew I had a restraining order against him, yet he was in my space.
“We need to talk.” He walked up to me.
“We have nothing to talk about right now. Why are you here?”
“I’m here because my wife has been missing for over a month. I’m also here because I haven’t laid eyes on my daughter.” He smirked.
“We’re fine.”
“Okay. Go inside and get Savannah, so we can go home.” He glared at me.
“That’s no longer our home. It never was.”
“Really?” He had the nerve to laugh.
“I’m done, Rob. Okay? I can’t continue on in this marriage. You can see Savannah anytime you want, but we’re done.”
He was quiet as he slowly approached me. “You got the game fucked up, baby. We vowed til death do us part. I’ll kill yo’ ass before I ever think about signing divorce papers. Stop. Playing. With. Me. Ava. Go get our daughter and bring your ass to the house, so we can talk this shit out.”
The calmness of his tone had me shook. I knew he wasn’t bluffing, but I’d be damned if I went back to that house.
“We both know there will be no talking. I’m done fighting with you, Robert.
I’m done covering up the bruises. I’m done allowing you to talk to me any kind of way.
I’m done allowing you to treat me any kind of way.
Nigga, you don’t love me! What we had wasn’t love and I won’t be a part of it anymore. ”
My eyes burned, but I refused to give this man any more of my tears. I had cried enough to form a river for this nigga.
“So, if I don’t love you, then who does? That white boy you've been creeping around with? You out here giving my pussy up to the master's son?”
“I’m no—”
“Don’t stand here and play in my fuckin face!
” he gritted harshly. “Bitch, I know what you’re out here doing.
I know he got you and my fuckin daughter living outside the city.
I own you, Ava. I know every move you make because I’m always two steps ahead of you, baby.
And I do love you, with all my heart.” He tried to caress my face, but I took a step back.
“I miss you, and I need you to come home, so we can work past this shit like we always do.”
“No.”
“No?” His head cocked to the side.
His eyes narrowed in confusion, then he smirked. Before he could open his mouth to speak, my dad came out the front door.
“I didn’t know you two were out here. Everything good?” he asked.
“Everything is fine, daddy.” I assured him. “Can you tell Savannah I’m ready to go? I have somewhere to be before heading home.”
Nodding, my dad walked off, leaving us alone again.
“I’m trying to move on as peacefully as possible, Rob. Once you accept the fact that you mishandled me, and you’re the reason why we didn’t work out, it’ll be easy for you to move on as well.”
“There ain’t no such thing as peace with me, bitch. This is how you want to play? Hmm? Are you sure about that?” His nostrils flared as he stepped closer.
When Savannah came running out at full speed, I quickly grabbed my baby and took her straight to the car.
I was glad my dad stayed on the porch to see us off.
As soon as I drove away, I dialed my brother’s number, and asked him to meet me at the McDonald’s close by.
I kept checking my mirror as I watched Rob follow me a few cars behind.
I tried my best not to panic because I wanted him to get the hell away from me.
I damn sure didn’t want to lead him to Ethan.
I circled the block a good three times until I caught a glimpse of my brother’s car turning in the parking lot.
Rob was still tailing me at a distance. I parked my car close to my brother and waited to see if Rob was going to pull up near me.
Ace drove the baddest old school Chevy Impala in the city.
I knew for a fact, Rob wouldn’t come anywhere near me with Ace around.
I was so busy watching to make sure Rob kept it moving, I damn near jumped out of my skin when my brother knocked on my window.
Ace stood, frowning, watching me as if I was on some kind of drug or something. I unlocked my door, and stepped out to speak to him without having Savannah in ear shot.
“Why you so jumpy? You been smoking some shit? What’s up?” He asked, concerned as he hugged me.
“I have a problem.” I sighed.
“I’m listening,” he folded his arms.
I hesitated for a moment.
“Nigga, spit it out.” He rushed me.
“I need a gun, like, asap.” I looked around to make sure no one was ear hustling.
“A gun? Who the fuck you tryin’ to shoot up?”
“Can you get me one or not?”
He stood in front of me, pulling on his chin hair. He played around with the toothpick hanging from his mouth while I assumed he was thinking.
“I got you, but I wanna know why I had to find out from bruh about Rob bitch ass putting his hands on you. That’s who you need it for, right?”
I sighed because I had a feeling Ethan might’ve said something but I wasn’t for sure.
“Yes, that’s who I need it for. And I didn’t tell you because I know how you can be. You already don’t like the nigga, which makes matters worse. I don't plan to use the gun. I just need something for protection, just in case.”
“It shouldn’t be no just in case. And your bullshit will always be my bullshit.
I’m not worried about getting into trouble.
Fuck all that. If you don’t wanna go to war, you know I’ll take your place.
You need to pack up your shit and move out of that house, Ava.
Matter of fact, I’ll come help you in case the nigga wanna get froggy. ”
“I already moved out, Ace. I left with nothing and started over.” I informed him.
“Don’t tell me you left that nigga and moved in with EJ.” His face twisted up.
“No. Actually, I’ve been staying at his sister’s townhouse. She offered a while back, so that’s where we’ve been. I’m in the process of looking for my own place, though.” I rubbed my eye.
“Good. Listen, text me the address and I’ll slide through with a few options. In the meantime, hold on to this. Just in case.” He handed me a pistol.
He pulled the gun from his waist and handed it to me out in the open. He obviously didn’t care about being in public with people driving past us.
“And your ass is gonna need to go to the range or something because I know you can’t shoot worth a damn. Don’t go dropping my shit putting scratches on it either.”
“You don’t worry about me, nigga. Just make sure you come through. I’ll figure out the rest once you deliver. I have to go. I'm about to meet Ethan at Monkey Joe’s, so the girls can play.”
“Why you didn’t ask that nigga to hook you up? You fuckin him, shit, that’s the least he can do.”
“Ace,” I rubbed my temples.
“What? I’m just saying. Yall fuckin and going on playdates and shit. You need to sit yo’ ass down somewhere.”
“Bye, Ace. I’ll call you later, I love you.”
“Yeah, I love you too.”
When I pulled up to Monkey Joe’s, Ethan and Zoie were already inside at the counter.
Savannah was so excited that she wouldn’t be still.
As long as my baby was happy, that was all that mattered to me.
We entered the place hand and hand, but Savannah quickly snatched away upon seeing Zoie.
They were so cute, and the colors of their outfits even matched.
“What’s going on, beautiful?” Ethan walked up to me and planted a kiss on my forehead.
“Hey to you too.” I smiled.
“Savannah will eat pizza, right? I just ordered a pepperoni and a cheese pizza. I didn’t know which one she’d like, so I got both.”
“Yeah, she loves pizza however it comes. Thank you. How was work today?”
“Shit, boring, as always.” He chuckled. “Charles is trying to show me all this shit, and I’m like, dude, ain't none of this piquing my interest.”
“It’ll get better soon. And once you know the ropes, maybe your perspective will change.”
“Maybe.” He stroked his beard. “But what’s up with you, though? How ya day been?”