Chapter 19 #2
“Fuck that… the resort nanny took CeeCee to swim with the dolphins. Gorgeous peeped from across the resort, and I saw her running like her life depended on it.”
Erin was becoming all flustered just thinking about the situation. “My baby’s life did depend on it. When I ran up on them, my baby was literally telling her that her mama wouldn’t be happy.”
Cappadonna’s loud ass laugh could be heard from the other side of the compound. He had tears in his eyes while Alaia had slid onto the floor with her legs crossed. “Yo, Capp, her wig flew off her head with how fast she was running.” Capone continued telling the story of their family vacation.
“I snatched my baby like they snatched every kid in every movie Halle Berry acted in… fuck she thought?”
“Yo, E, what she say to you?”
“She was stammering and all nervous. I couldn’t really get in her ass because Jaiden came pulling me away. That hoe heard me when I said no dolphin swimming.”
Everybody was laughing from the way Erin was standing on business behind her going off on the resort nanny. “Jaiden paid that lady so quick and sent her ass on.”
“Then she called me and Capri on three-way and said that the people there wanted to kill ya’ll.” Alaia called her out.
“Wanted to open a whole lawsuit on the resort,” Capri laughed, sipping her drink while sitting in Meer’s lap.
I assumed she and Meer worked their shit out or came to some understanding. He was holding onto her, kissing her arm while she sipped her drink.
“In my defense, I was six drinks in and still pissed.” She folded her arms and laughed thinking about it.
We were sitting in the living room with pizza on the kitchen counter, chilling. It had been a minute since we all got together and just chilled. Erin and Alaia walked over first, then Capone and Cappadonna after they put the kids down for bed.
The compound was a dream that became a reality. Cappadonna always spoke about having his family close once he made it home. He really sat in that cell and manifested it while his twin was out here putting the work in while waiting for him.
Now he had his brother next door, with a walk area that connected the houses. His parents’ house was in the middle, while his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson were a few houses down from his sister and nieces and nephews.
To know Capp, was to know that he was a family man. His family was his entire world, and the reason he sat for fifteen years. He would do that shit again if he was asked. I knew that was the reason Capri was so hard on her career. Her goal was to keep her brothers and the Infernos out of prison.
Quasim stood up and I watched as he left out the front door. “I found the perfect Burkini for the trip too.”
“No bikini?” Capri questioned.
“Kobe… although I know he plays for the other team.”
Capp kissed her forehead.
The door chimed, and Blair came speed walking into the living room with wide eyes. “She’s not in the mood, so get on the floor like you in pain.”
“What?” Capri asked, confused.
“I don’t fucking know, Capri… you the one that wanted me to lie.”
Quasim went into the kitchen and grabbed a few slices of pizza, while Zoya walked into the living room.
She was dressed down in a pair of sweats, trench coat, and her hair was pulled up in a messy bun. “Capri, you dying?”
“Possibly.” Capri gulped while Blair slipped into the kitchen with her husband.
“This better not be an intervention or something.” She avoided looking at me.
I sat in the armchair, staring directly at her.
I could smell that cherry scent that I loved so much. While she was getting ready for our date, I watched as she spritzed the perfume on her.
Shit was called Cherry Stem by Phlur, and I had planned to keep that shit stocked so I could always smell it on her. With each stroke, that smell invaded my nostrils, and gave me even more strength to continue to take her down.
“Actually, yeah. Why are you addicted to being stupid?” Meer said, and Zoya flipped her middle finger.
“Is this about us?” She finally looked at me.
“Nah.”
I looked down at my phone and looked up, and she was still staring at me. There was so much she wanted to say; however, she wouldn’t allow herself to be vulnerable like that. If she wanted to be God’s strongest soldier, I was gonna let that shit happen.
Fuck I looked like trying more than she was.
“Actually, we are just hanging out. Zoy, I know you were home working anyway… stay the night and have a drink.”
She relaxed, as she shook her coat off and Capri climbed off Meer’s lap and took it. Capri skipped across the room to the kitchen and grabbed another cup with the bottle.
“Where’s Bando?” I questioned.
“With Navy and Don… Our dog walker walked them together, and they both threw a fit when she tried to drop one off.”
“Hmm.”
Quasim and Blair came back into the living room and found their spot. Blair was fucking up a piece of pizza, while Quasim held the plate. “Breastfeeding be having her hungry… got the nerve to forget to eat.”
“Sorry, Simmy. I was running around all day with Syn, and we found a studio.” She covered her mouth while talking.
“Understood… I know you have to feed our daughter, but I need you to remember about you too… even when I’m not around to remind you.” He raised his brow, and she kissed his cheek.
“I know.”
Sim worried about her so much. With her being in remission and then getting pregnant soon after, he was always on her ass. Blair was just happy to be alive and have a family.
Blair cleared her throat. “So, since we’re all in the same place… I don’t need to wait until vacation.”
Capri poured more wine into her glass. “B, what are you about to say?”
Zoya sipped her wine and watched Blair. All the women were staring at her, waiting for her to say whatever she had been waiting to say.
“Remember when we were talking about Pilates, and how Alaia hated the other studio.”
“Why you hate the other studio?” Capp asked, ready to lean up about his wife.
Alaia continued to rest in her husband’s lap. “She records all her classes for content, and I cannot take my hijab off. When I brought up my conc—”
“She almost got her ass slapped with her response… all you need to know,” Erin cut in, annoyed by the interaction they had with the lady.
“It’s like that, Gorgeous?”
“I had to pull her out the studio because she was ready to beat her ass.” Capri snorted.
“She wasn’t wrong. The response she had was so insensitive.” Zoya added. “I stopped up that toilet too with hand tissues and toilet papers too. She should be allowed to take her hijab off and it be a safe space for her.”
“While me and Syn were out today, I stumbled across a space with the realtor. It’s a beautiful property with three storefronts.
I was thinking, what if me and my girls go in on purchasing the space.
” Blair was so excited, she hopped up and paced in front of the fireplace.
“Hear me out… Erin and Alaia, you both have been talking about becoming serious with the event planning. You would have a space to store your things for events, and an office area.”
Erin and Alaia became excited as they looked at their husbands. “How much I need to send you?” Capp asked.
“Send my half too and I’ll wire you the bread.” Capone told him.
Without question, they were ready to invest in their wives’ dreams. Erin and Alaia turned nothing into something for every event.
“The other storefront would be perfect for you and Zoy. You both have taken a step back from helping innocent people gain freedom, but that would be the perfect office space… you both always talk about opening up a law firm together… Caselli and Fern.”
“In the future… I’m working on trying to become partner at the firm I’m at, and Capri is district attorney.”
Capri swirled the wine around in her glass while she listened to her best friend. “How much bread you need, B?”
“I put up half already… told our banker to wire half the money to hold the space.” Quasim replied.
“Alright focus… it doesn’t matter what we do with the other spaces… the studio. I want it to be a space for women to come and workout. You don’t have to worry about someone recording, or some shitty instructor talking down because your form sucks.”
“Bitch, my form was fine,” Alaia replied.
“It sucked, Alaia… but I love you.”
She waved her off while laughing. “The Gurrls club. A private all women’s studio where you need a membership… our market of women will be wives like us. Women who know this life.”
“B, I love the idea… you know I’m down for whatever you want to do… always.”
Blair smiled. “I know.”
“Call Don, and he’ll send my portion over for the building. I am always down to make even more money.” Zoya laughed, and Blair kissed both her cheeks.
“Can we have pole dancing?” Erin grew excited.
“Yes, I’ve been wanting to take one.” Alaia added.
Capp looked at his wife. “Word?”
She blushed and looked away. “Roy, leave me alone.”
“Nah… this perfect actually. Used to manage a little strip joi—”
“Leroy, please!” Everyone yelled.
“I’ll send her portion.” I spoke up, and Zoya looked over at me.
“Why?”
“You should have the things you want.”
“What do you want in return?”
“You know exactly what he wants.” Meer snickered, and Capri punched him in the arm, while Capp and Capone laughed.
“I can afford it, Gerald.”
“Never questioned it.”
She was unsure but looked at Blair. “Well, then I guess call Mr. Wraithe for my half.”
It was late.
Capri and Zoya had polished off three bottles of wine and were singing off key to some old cartoon they swore we all knew. Every time one of us told us we couldn’t remember, they accused us of being a liar.
Zoya flat out told Quasim that he ate crayons.
When Capri tried to retwist Meer’s hair, he called it a night and carried her upstairs. Capone carried Erin back to their house, while Capp and Alaia both placed bets on if he would hit her head on the doorway when they made it back to their house.