15
“These hoes be hating from outside the club. Bitch, you couldn’t even get in!” Diva yelled into Dash’s livestream on his phone.
He had a huge Instagram following, and Caprice was one of them.
Dash went live earlier that day at the courthouse and he went live again at the start of the reception.
Caprice was on every one, and Diva was being petty.
Amina and Fonzo had tied the knot earlier that day and were now enjoying their family and friends at their reception.
“Mrs. Hankerson to you hoes.” Clover held up Amina’s ring finger into the camera for everyone to see. She was just as tipsy as Diva and being just as petty.
“Period and Baby Hankerson is loading. Gender reveal coming soon. Y’all follow my sis at His Four Leaf Clover to stay updated,” Amina replied while rubbing her baby bump.
She was having so much fun at her reception and so was Fonzo.
Even her parents had come out of their shell and were having a good time.
Her mother stayed on the dance floor with Fonzo while her father danced with Dot.
Her parents had invited some of their colleagues but her new extended family made up for the crowd.
Although a lot of Fonzo’s family lived in Georgia, she loved how they dropped everything to make sure they always showed up for their family in New Orleans.
Thanks to Grandma Leo, some of Clover’s family was there too.
She loved Clover’s aunts but she could have done without her messy ass cousins.
She understood that they were all close so she wasn’t really surprised.
She was peeping how they discreetly took pictures that they were probably sending to Caprice.
“And all you niggas can stay right here on this page, My Four Leaf Clover. She’s already taken and I ain’t playing no games behind my wife.”
Dash turned the camera around to himself, giving everyone who was watching his disclaimer.
He showed the picture of Clover that was tattooed on his neck before pulling her closer for a kiss.
His original page, Dashing The Scene, wasn’t as popular for interacting, so he mainly used it to show off the work that their company did. People were nosey so they loved to see his day to day life with Clover and Kardi. They also liked to see all the crazy videos that he and Clover always made.
“That part. Mrs. Hankerson times three.”
Diva flashed her ring and grabbed Clover’s hand to do the same.
They were divorced, but Dash begged Clover to start wearing her ring again when they got back together.
They still referred to each other as husband and wife most times but they were doing that even before they got married.
Caprice sat in her cousin’s backyard sipping her daiquiri while watching Dash’s live on IG.
Admittedly, her feelings were hurt. She knew that Diva wasn’t too fond of her and she and Clover were just cordial for the sake of their men.
But she really thought that she and Amina had formed a bond.
She usually remained neutral, but things had obviously changed.
She picked a side and it wasn’t Caprice’s.
She’d tried calling and texting her a few times but never got a response.
Losing Monty was bad enough but losing all connections to him hurt even worse. She didn’t see him on his brother’s live but she knew that he was there. Caprice tracked his car but it was parked at Dot’s Spot. She passed around there but, just like she assumed, the bar was closed.
Just like always, Monty failed to mention or invite her to Fonzo’s wedding and reception, not that she was surprised.
And judging by the pictures that Clover’s cousins kept sending her, she wasn’t missed.
Monty was all smiles as he and Iva sat ducked off in a corner to themselves.
She lost her appetite when she saw how comfortable they looked with each other.
She was happy that she was working again because she only had a little over a month left on the lease in the apartment that they shared.
Caprice was on top of her game though and she already had another place secured.
It wasn’t as nice or spacious but it she liked it and it was affordable.
Living with her mother or one of her relatives wasn’t happening.
She would have rented an extended stay hotel first.
Monty probably didn’t care one way or the other since his name wasn’t on the lease.
She had to give him a little credit though.
He made sure that the rent and other bills were paid on time.
That helped her to save a lot over the past year, especially since she wasn’t working.
“Girl, are you still on Dash’s live?” Sade asked when she came over and took a seat next to her.
Caprice answered by turning her phone around to show her that she was. “I’m still watching this bullshit.”
“Diva talking ‘bout Mrs. Hankerson times three. Bitch please, Dash is not married to that hoe. They be lying for dumb shit.” Sade didn’t even try to hide how envious she was.
She just didn’t understand how hoes like Clover always won.
Dash wasn’t a saint, but she cheated just as much as he did.
He was obsessed with her and seemed to overlook all her flaws.
“Girl, fuck all them people!” Caprice really wished she was alone.
She felt like crying but she would never let her cousins see her sweat.
Monty had upgraded her and she foolishly shitted on a lot of people.
With a nigga like that, she should have known better.
He was the first and only man who ever did anything for her.
She was always the breadwinner in her relationships and that was normal to her.
She foolishly thought that it meant something when Monty came home and moved in with her.
She soon realized that she was never a part of his plans.
Iva didn’t want him back at the time so she was his placeholder until she did.
“Aww, are you okay?” Sade looked at the expression on her cousin’s face and knew the answer before she even asked.
“I’m straight. Niggas ain’t shit but I already knew that.”
Caprice shrugged like it was no big deal.
She would never give Sade the satisfaction of seeing her down.
That would be something else that she would be holding over her head when mad day came.
Caprice got up and walked away before any tears could fall.
Since everyone was out back, the front of the house was empty.
She took a seat in one the chairs on the porch and leaned her head back.
She regretted not staying home like her first mind told her to.
She had been depressed for the past few days and she really didn’t want to be around anyone.
Caprice hated how she always had to hide her feelings but she didn’t have that kind of family.
They would talk about each other instead of talking to each other.
Everything was always gossip or tea. There were a lot of them but, sadly, they weren’t all that close until it came to fighting someone else.
“Look, I’ve been in love with the wrong niggas before so I get it. Hell, I’m still crushing hard on a nigga who don’t even acknowledge my dumb ass but such is life,” Sade said when she walked out front to join her cousin.
She took a pull from the blunt that she’d just lit and passed it over to Caprice.
Admittedly, Caprice was shocked that her cousin finally told the truth.
She was crazy about Dash and always had been since the day he showed her a little attention.
It didn’t help that he always led her on when none of his family was around.
The minute Clover or his brothers were present, he acted like she was a stranger.
Caprice used to see the hurt on her face every time it happened but she always acted like she didn’t care.
Sadly, most of the women in their family were unlucky in love.
It didn’t help that they always seemed to choose men who were unavailable.
“I just hate that I fell so hard for his ass when I knew better. Once them niggas leave jail, they leave the relationship right behind those prison walls.”
“Yeah but he came home to you,” Sade pointed out.
“And my gullible ass honestly thought that meant something.” Caprice quickly wiped the tears that escaped from her eyes. She didn’t have anyone else to blame but herself. Monty never lied or tried to deny his feelings for Iva. She was the reason for their breakup and she was getting her karma.
“Aww, I’m sorry boo. Just know that I’m on whatever you’re on. I know we argue more often than not but you’re still my favorite cousin. Niggas have been jumped for less.”
Caprice pissed her off sometimes but she was still her girl.
They were both unlucky in love but Sade never made the mistake of moving in with a man.
Until Monty, neither did her cousin. Caprice wasn’t a girly girl, and that was something that her and Sade always argued about.
She was tall so she hated wearing heels.
She had a bomb ass sneaker collection, but men liked femininity sometimes.
She wore braids a lot and jeans or leggings were her go to for clothing options.
She hated shorts, dresses and skirts, even though she looked nice in them.
She barely got her nails done and makeup was the enemy.
Sade always attributed her tomboyish ways to her working in the prison system for so long.
Still, she never even tried to switch it up.
“That part,” Caprice laughed, feeling a little better than she did a minute ago. She and Sade sat on the porch until a car pulled up and blocked some cars in the driveway. Sade groaned outwardly when she saw Trent get out of it.
“I’m gone, cousin. I don’t wanna be around this psycho for a minute if I don’t have to.” Sade was about to get up until Caprice stopped her.
“Girl, sit down. I’m not in the mood for Trent either. Dash ain’t the only one that’s obsessed with Clover.”
“Bitch, you’re better than me. I would have been let him and Dash coincidentally meet.” Sade had a sly look on her face when she made the comment.
“What’s up my beautiful cousins?” Trent smiled when he walked up on the porch and spoke.
“Does your mama know that you’re around this side of the family?” Sade looked at him and frowned.
“The fuck is you always so worried about my mama for? I’m a grown ass man and I’m tired of telling everybody that.”
“Chill out, cousin. What’s up Trent?” Caprice asked.
Sade hated their cousin and that much was clear.
She just didn’t want her to keep poking the bear and be the reason for one of his episodes.