Chapter 23 #3
“I’ll take it. I’mma drive you to your momma’s house. I don’t want you calling that nigga while I’m away.”
“You are doing too much.”
“I ain’t doing enough if I ain’t taking you to our home.”
Silence falls between us, and I have nothing more to say.
Kosh and I do need to talk—but it’s not happening tonight. Chauncey opens the door for me, and my Bentley’s engine purrs as we move through the city.
His hand finds mine, and I don’t pull away. Tonight feels different—dangerous in a way.
I can’t explain.
About thirty minutes later, we pull up to my momma’s house… and of course, Bianca, Amirya, and Aisha are posted on the porch like they’ve been waiting all night. Damn. I really wanted to take this to the grave.
Chauncey steps out cool, as if he expected this.
All eyes on us.
“The fuck y’all doing over here?” he asks.
Bianca is the first to speak. “We should be asking you the same fucking question.”
“I’m with my wife,” he replies simply.
Bianca smirks, cutting her eyes at me. I pray he doesn’t do the most before he leaves—but of course, Chauncey pulls me into a hug anyway. I bury my face in his chest, and he leans down, his voice low in my ear.
“Aye… I’m coming back.”
“I know,” I whisper. He tosses me my keys, slides back in with security, and pulls away like nothing just happened. I turn and walk up to the porch, already knowing I’m about to get dragged.
“Bitch, you got some fucking explaining to do. Y’all got the internet on fire!” Aisha laughs.
“Why are y’all here?” I ask.
“To catch yo ass in the act,” Amirya shoots back, slapping hands with Bianca.
“If you would’ve answered your phone, we wouldn’t be here,” Bianca adds. “Start talking, because you were singing a different tune earlier.”
I shake my head.
“I ain’t got shit to tell right now.”
“Bitch, we seen you kissing this nigga all on the internet,” they say in unison.
Yeah… It’s gonna be a long night.
“How come y’all hoes couldn’t let me be great for one night?” I ask, folding my arms as I step onto the porch.
Bianca doesn’t even hesitate. “Rhy, y’all broke the fucking internet. The streets are watching.”
Aisha, already laughing, leaned against the railing.
“The way that nigga was on you?” Bianca continues, eyes wide. “Girl, I just knew he was taking you home to fuck. We all felt it. I ain’t even gon’ lie—I wanted front-row seats to that movie.”
Aisha slaps her hand. “Yes, ma’am!”
I roll my eyes, trying not to smile. “Y’all are so fucking ridiculous.”
“How y’all even end up together?” Amirya cuts in, more serious, studying me. I shrug, still trying to piece it together.
“I don’t even know. One minute I’m outside talking to Kosh… next thing I know, this nigga swoops in like a thief in the night and shuts everything down.”
Bianca straightens up. “Say what now?”
“Yeah,” I sigh. “I was on the phone with Kosh, and Chauncey just… popped up. Took my phone. Answered it. Did the most.”
All three of them freeze for a second—then look at me the same way.
Grinning.
“Oh, Chauncey is not playing with you.” Aisha laughs.
“Nope,” I mutter.
“I told you to get rid of Kosh,” Bianca presses, pointing at me. “Leave that nigga alone before something happens to him.”
I shake my head. “It’s not that easy. I like Kosh.”
A beat.
“I can see myself falling hard for him… If Chauncey doesn’t play his cards right.”
That lands heavier than I meant it to.
Bianca scoffs. “Girl, Chauncey is not finna let you be with that nigga. You ain’t seen his face tonight? He was low-key mad; he even had to leave you.”
I exhale, running my hand through my hair. “I still have to call Kosh,” I admit quietly.
And just like that… the mood shifts.
“And say what?” Bianca asks, folding her arms. “You don’t have to explain yourself. You’re back with your husband—it is what it is.”
I shake my head immediately. “Bianca, it’s not that simple.”
All three of them go quiet, listening now.
“I like Kosh,” I admit. “That nigga has been good to me. Solid. And I’m not about to shit on him just because Chauncey decided he wants to be my husband again.”
A beat.
“I’m not fumbling, him. Not like that. That nigga has way too much potential for me to play in his face over a moment.”
Amirya smirks, reaching over to slap my hand. “Say that shit.” She steps in, eyes cutting toward Bianca. “Don’t give up your Plan B for Chauncey. Real niggas know what they want—they ain’t folding over no loose situations or easy-ass hoes.”
Bianca rolls her eyes hard. “All I’m saying is you’d better kill that nigga before Chauncey does. I’m Team Chauncey.”
I groan, dragging my hand down my face. “Of course you are.”
They start going back and forth behind me, but I tune them out. The truth is… I’m conflicted like a motherfucka.
Bianca, Aisha, and Amirya finally leave, and the porch goes quiet again.
It was good seeing them—I needed that—but the second their cars disappear, reality creeps back in.
There was so much going on that I forgot to check on Amirya…
to see how she’s really holding up after everything with True.
I’ll get to her. I need to handle my own mess first.