Chapter 2
Two
Mila
T rina rubbed my head as I laid in her bed, crying my eyes out.
Twenty-four hours ago, my world had done a three-sixty.
My husband cheated on me and, in the process, made a baby with another woman.
Kyle had been calling nonstop, but Trina took my phone, cursed him out, and we've been ignoring his calls since.
"Mila, I am so sorry, babe. If I could take this pain away from you, I would."
I sobbed harder. My world felt dark and confused. I didn't feel like I could get out of this. There was no light at the end of the tunnel for me.
"Mila, come on. We need to get your stuff from over there. You've been in the same clothes for a day, and KJ needs clothes. I'm sure Kyle is working. If we go now, we can avoid him."
I shook my head. "The house holds too many memories. The slut that's having his baby has been in the same house."
Trina sighed. "I get that, Mila. I understand your pain, but we won't stay there long. In and out won't even give you the time to process any memories." She sighed again and held my hand. "Plus, I will be there with you. You're not doing this alone."
I thought about everything Trina said. KJ and I needed to get some of our things from the house. If Trina was going to let us crash here, we needed to get our personal items. I rose from the bed, took a deep breath, and looked back at Trina. Her face was filled with empathy.
"Thank you, Trina."
Her eyes watered. "No need to thank me. That's what best friends are for. Now come on and let's make this quick."
An hour later, Trina and I pulled up to the two-story house.
The house I once admired and adored was now, in my eyes, the most hideous house in the neighborhood.
When we picked out this house, I picked it because of the space and the aesthetics.
It was the perfect home for a growing family.
Now we were a broken family instead. I checked the clock on the dash, and it was four in the afternoon.
I knew Kyle like the back of my hand. I knew he was out of the house on his way to the hospital for a shift.
I memorized his schedule and routine over the years. He never switched up.
"Ready?" Trina asked, pulling me back from my thoughts.
I nodded, feeling the tears build in my eyes.
It was now or never. We both exited the car, and even though the distance was short, it felt like I'd walked a mile.
We made it to the door, and I entered the PIN on the keypad to unlock it, hearing the lock turn on the other side.
I slowly opened the door, and we made our way in.
Everything was the same since I left. KJ's toys were sprawled across the living room.
The dishes were stacked in the sink. The smell of fresh laundry still filled the house from the five loads of laundry I did before leaving.
"Damn, his bitch ass didn't even try to clean up," Trina grumbled, scrunching her face.
I scoffed. "Kyle wouldn't know how to clean, even if it were in a medical book. I did everything."
"Horrible excuse for a man," Trina mumbled under her breath.
I didn't argue with her, nor did I check her for her comments, because she wasn't lying. Kyle was a horrible excuse for a man.
"Do you mind going to KJ's room and grabbing him some items? I'll go get my stuff."
We headed toward the stairs but stopped when Kyle came down the steps. He wore a pair of sweatpants and a white tee with stains all over. I was shocked to see him, but he looked annoyed to see us.
"Why are y'all here? And where the hell is my son?" he asked, his voice filled with annoyance and rage.
Trina stepped in front of me, folding her arms across her chest.
"This is just as much of Mila's house as it is yours. She's here to get her shit and KJ's. Since you're so concerned, KJ's is fine. He and Trent are with the babysitter. Now don't make this hard, Kyle."
He scoffed. "And who are you supposed to be? Her guard dog?"
"Nah, I'm her ride-or-die, and you know that. Don't fuck with me, Kyle. You already know how I get down."
Kyle scanned Trina up and down. He'd seen Trina take on two people and whoop them both. He saw Trina help in a bar fight when he and another one of our guy friends were getting whooped. Kyle knew not to fuck with Trina. He looked past Trina and made eye contact with me.
"Where are you taking my son?" he asked me.
"Where we go is none of your concern. You're starting your own little family, so there is no need to worry about us."
He scoffed and paced back and forth. "Mila, you sound dumb as fuck! You think I'm just going to let you run off with my son? I knew your ass was dumb, but I didn't think you were this dumb."
"Motherfucker, you must've lost your damn mind talking to her like that!" Trina yelled.
"Man, Trina, shut the fuck up and mind your business!"
Trina lunged at him, and he dodged her. The two shouted and cursed at each other. Trina reminded Kyle he wasn't shit. Kyle reminded her of her imperfections, but it was nothing compared to how Trina was cursing him out.
"You ain't shit and never will be shit! Had it not been for Mila, your ass would still be struggling to get through medical school!"
"Fuck you, Trina!"
"No, fuck you! I been told Mila to leave your sorry ass!"
"You ain't try hard enough!"
"You're so lowdown!" Trina shouted.
The two continued fussing while I stood there, watching it all unfold.
This was not how I expected my life to be.
My best friend and my husband were supposed to be best friends because each of them was my person, yet here they were, throwing insults at each other.
My sight landed on the table, and divorce papers still sat there.
I walked over to the table and scanned the papers.
I made sure that there was nothing in it about Kyle having full custody.
All that was in it was him asking for a separation and then divorce.
I walked toward the bookshelf, grabbing a pen.
My movements must've hauled the insults because the room went quiet.
"Mila, what are you doing?" Trina asked, her voice turning gentle.
Tears had soaked my face. I could no longer sit here and deal with the man Kyle had become. He was once sensitive to my feelings, encouraged me, and loved me aloud. Now he looked and treated me like gum on the bottom of his shoe.
"I'm giving him what he wants," I declared.
Trina ran toward me. "Mila, let me have my lawyers review this before you sign. He owes you alimony. Hell, you can take that motherfucker for everything that he's got!"
I shook my head. "All I want is KJ. There is nothing in the document regarding joint custody or any other relevant information. I just want to take my son away from this man," I explained, low enough just so Trina could hear me.
Trina looked at me and sighed. "Well, at least, let me take pictures of it."
She pulled out her phone and took pictures of the divorce papers. Once she was done, she looked at me with a soft smile.
"I've got you, no matter what."
I smiled. "I know."
Tears were steadily falling because it was something I could control.
My life had undergone drastic changes in a short span of time.
I was oblivious not to see that Kyle wasn't the man for me anymore.
My heart knew, but my mind wouldn't let me accept it.
I knew I could no longer live like this.
The evil smirk on Kyle's face let me know I was making the right choice, no matter how badly it hurt.
The more I looked at him, the more hate built up in my heart.
Kyle transformed into the one thing I feared: an ain't shit man.
I would read social media posts, listen to podcasts, and listen to what my friends would say about men in today's society.
I jinxed myself. Here I was experiencing the same thing I told myself I would never have to deal with.
I pressed down on the paper, signing it, big and proud. The tears were no longer a source of pain but had turned into a seething hatred.
"Damn, thank you," Kyle said, letting out a sigh.
I stared at him with hate in my heart. Kyle could be on fire, and I wouldn't even piss on him.
"Fuck you, Kyle."
His eyes ballooned. I had never spoken to Kyle the way I just did. The respect and submissiveness had gone out the window along with this marriage.
"I'm getting KJ's and my shit. Don't bother looking for us."
"Mila, I already told your ass you're not taking KJ from me."
I scoffed. "Watch."
I stormed off and headed up the stairs to pack my and KJ's stuff into the luggage we had.
I made sure I grabbed most of KJ's items. I didn't care to have anything associated with this house or Kyle.
After forty-five minutes, Trina and I were loading the last bag into the car.
Kyle stood at the door with his arms crossed, staring at us.
He bitched and complained the entire time while I packed our stuff.
He had won and was proud of the fact that he had control over the situation.
I wasn't sure where I was going next or how I would survive.
However, what I did know was that it didn't involve Kyle or any other man.