Chapter 12 #2
Lennon walked away, shaking his head, and I couldn’t hold my laughter in any longer. Ginae told Devyn more about Lennon’s lifestyle before they both joined me in laughter.
“Was Lennon trying to recruit a third woman?” Phoenix asked when she and Kevin joined us.
“Possibly, but it won’t be my bestie. Kevin, did you meet my best friend?”
“Phoenix introduced us while you and your man were playing kissy face,” Devyn responded.
The waitress arrived with what I assumed was the food the ladies had ordered. It featured a variety of finger foods, including chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, quesadillas, and mini egg rolls.
“That’s a lot of food, Nae. Are y’all expecting more people?” I asked.
“No, but me and Devyn wanted to make sure we had enough food to soak up the liquor we planned to drink, and remember, Phoenix is eating for two.”
I leaned in and whispered, “Drunk Nae used to be a lot of fun. You sure you don’t wanna come home with me?”
She tilted her head so she could see my face. The smile she wore made me think she’d decided to come home with me, and I got excited.
“First of all, nasty ass, getting drunk is not in my plans. Secondly, I’m going to the condo, and you’re not coming with me.” She kissed my lips. “I’ll be back. I’m going to the bathroom.”
She whispered something in Devyn’s ear, who then whispered in Phoenix’s ear, and the three of them exited the VIP section and headed toward the bathrooms. Kevin and I sat down and poured ourselves a drink, and Lennon joined us, already sipping on something.
“Calinda’s blowing up my phone,” Lennon said over the music.
“Is she okay?” Kevin asked.
“I’m sure she is. I saw one of her friends at the bar, and I’m willing to bet she called her as soon as I walked away.”
“Why don’t you answer it and see what she wants? You know she’ll come up here if you ignore her,” I told him.
Calinda may have agreed to be his mistress, but she was a wild one. She wouldn’t hesitate to pop up unannounced and embarrass Lennon. His phone lit up again, and he stood and walked away before answering it. A few minutes later, he returned, looking annoyed.
“Her damn friend told her I was on a triple date. I tried to explain the situation, and she refused to listen. She was going off about already having to share me with my wife, and she’ll be damned if she shares me with another woman.”
Kevin and I fell out in laughter as he continued to share the conversation he’d had with his mistress. We were so entertained that we didn’t notice Kavia and Bianca approaching.
“Phyre, I’m surprised to see you here,” Kavia said.
My laughter ended as soon as I heard her voice. Ignoring her, I looked at Kevin, and he raised his hands while shaking his head, letting me know Kavia’s presence wasn’t his doing.
“This section is already taken, so please take your ass anywhere but here.”
I wanted her and her messy ass friend to disappear before Ginae returned, but Kavia was there to push my buttons and wouldn’t leave until she was sure she’d achieved her goal.
“I think I’d rather sit here with you,” she announced and plopped down next to me.
Whenever I was in Kavia’s presence, I worked overtime to stay calm. I had flashbacks of when my hands were tightly secured around her neck, her eyes wide as she gasped for air. God had to be testing me because seeing her three times in one month was cruel and unusual.
My body was tense as my arms rested on the back of the couch, but I was afraid to move them because they might end up around Kavia’s neck. I had too much to lose to end up in jail, so choking the shit out of this woman in this public establishment couldn’t happen.
“Kevin, if you don’t get your sister the fuck away from me, I’m going to jail tonight,” I said calmly, but loud enough for him to hear me.
“Kavia—”
“I’m not moving unless Phyre moves me,” she said, interrupting her brother and folding her arms across her chest.
I’d be wrong if I aggressively pushed her to the floor or tossed her ass to the other side of this section. I willed myself to keep my arms where they were as Kevin stood and grabbed Kavia’s arm. She snatched it away from him, and I could see the frustration on his face.
He shouted, “Are you drunk? Why do you always have to cause a scene?”
As the ladies returned from the bathroom, I saw the expression on Ginae’s face change from a smile to confusion, and finally, to a frown.
“This is the second time you’ve shown up, unwanted, I might add, and tried to cause trouble. Whatever you’re looking for, you’re about to get it,” Ginae spat as soon as she was close enough for Kavia to hear her.
Ginae’s words caused Kavia to stand, but before anything could happen, I hopped up and stood between them.
“She ain’t worth it, baby,” I said.
“Is that a threat?” Kavia questioned from behind me, elevating her voice.
“No, bitch. It’s a promise,” Devyn responded before Ginae could.
“Kavia, must you and your minion start shit everywhere you go?” Phoenix questioned, angrily.
“Who you calling a minion?” Bianca questioned with a frown.
“You, bitch,” Phoenix confirmed.
“Girl, shut up. If you weren’t my brother’s wife, I would’ve beat your ass a long time ago,” Kavia spat.
Phoenix must have forgotten she was pregnant for a minute and lunged toward Kavia.
Thankfully, Kevin grabbed her and moved her to the corner.
Although I stood between Kavia and Ginae, I was so focused on my sister that Ginae was able to slip from my grasp, step around me, and punch Kavia in the face.
“Maybe that’ll shut your crazy ass up!” Ginae spat as I grabbed her around the waist and moved her away from Kavia.
Kavia was too shocked by the blow to react, as she held her mouth. Devyn argued with Bianca and was ready to get active before Lennon picked her up and brought her to the corner where Kevin and I had Ginae and Phoenix.
Thankfully, security saw the commotion and rushed over. I explained what had transpired, and he asked Kavia and Bianca to leave.
“Why should we leave? She hit me. Do you see my lip?” Kavia complained.
“You came into our section starting shit, and now you’re mad because I finished it. Go find somebody else’s night to ruin,” Ginae shouted.
“Baby, chill,” I urged, trying to calm her down.
Ginae, Devyn, and Phoenix were still pissed when Kavia and Bianca finally left, but we managed to calm them down. I prayed we didn’t have any more run-ins with Kavia because next time, she might get a lot more than she got today.
“Kevin, what’s up with your sister?” Devyn asked.
“Seriously, because she was about to meet a side of me that I retired a long time ago,” Ginae said.
“Oh, she got a quick introduction,” I said. “Baby, I never want you out here fighting, especially if it has anything to do with me.”
“Don’t flatter yourself, baby. That punch in the mouth had nothing to do with you. She deserved it, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
I shook my head because there was no need to respond. Ginae would do exactly what she wanted, but I hoped her next interaction with Kavia wouldn’t lead to violence. It had been about fifteen minutes since Kavia and Bianca were escorted out. The ladies were calm but still annoyed by the situation.
“I wish I could tell you what’s going on with Kavia. She wasn’t always like this. As kids, we got along well and were close, but as we got older, she changed, and we grew apart.”
“Nah. She was always like this, but not to this extent. You’re the one who changed. Y’all got along back then because you were an asshole, and she was the female version of you,” I interjected.
Kevin nodded in agreement. “Yeah, you’re right. I talk to her all the time about her attitude and how she’s always in the middle of some shit, but she dismisses me and tells me to mind my business. She’s almost forty but still acts like she’s in her twenties.”
“Does it ever get weird between y’all? It has to be hard when your wife and brother-in-law can’t stand to be around your wife,” Ginae asked.
“Not for me,” Phoenix said. “Kevin knew I didn’t fuck with his sister before he stepped to me on some serious shit.”
“I did, but I thought things between them would improve over time. Unfortunately, it’s only gotten worse.”
“Most of the time, I pretend like she doesn’t exist, but when she’s on her good bullshit, I give her the same energy she gives me,” Phoenix said.
Kevin being married to my sister was one reason Kavia was alive, and I wasn’t in prison. The love and respect I had for Phoenix automatically extended to her husband, and I didn’t want my disdain for Kavia to create problems in their marriage.
I could admit that I had an unhealthy amount of anger and resentment toward Kavia for the shit she did, but I tried not to disrespect her too much in Kevin’s presence.
As her brother, it was natural for him to want to come to her defense, which would create friction between us.
Sometimes it worked, and sometimes, I failed miserably.
“What about you, Phyre? Does it get weird for you?” Ginae pressed.
“Weird? No. Difficult? Hell yeah. It takes a lot of restraint not to go off on her because she’s always on bullshit, but I don’t want Kevin to have to come to her defense. I usually don’t see her often as I have over the past month, so it’s generally not a problem.
“I appreciate the restraint they show when Kavia’s being a bitch, but I refuse to put myself in the middle. When she’s in the wrong, I let her know and do my best to defuse the situation,” Kevin added.
“This whole dynamic is wild. Rich people create problems where there should be none,” Devyn said.
“Amen to that. To think, she acts this way because you didn’t want to marry her. I couldn’t imagine being so obsessed with someone who genuinely doesn’t like me,” Ginae said.
We enjoyed the rest of the night talking, eating, drinking, and dancing. Everyone, except Phoenix, of course, was tipsy by the time we prepared to leave. Instead of having both drivers pick us up, we piled into one vehicle.
“You’re okay with sending me home drunk and horny?” I asked Ginae as we headed to the exit.
“Here you go with the guilt trip.”
“I’m not trying to make you feel guilty, baby. I’m asking a question.”
“When you get home, take a cold shower, and you’ll be alright.”
“I have no choice.”
I leaned down and pressed my lips against hers.
After a long kiss, we piled into the truck with Lennon’s driver.
He sat in the front, while the rest of us crammed into the back.
Ginae sat on my lap, while Devyn sat in the middle, and Phoenix sat on Kevin’s lap.
It wasn’t the safest or most comfortable option, but we made it to the condo safely to drop off Ginae and Devyn.
I walked them to the door, still attempting to convince Ginae to come home with me. She stood firm and sent me on my way. It turned out to be the longest weekend of my life, and Monday didn’t come fast enough.