Chapter 14 #2
They turned in our direction and smiled when they saw us heading their way.
“Wassup, man?” I greeted.
“Just counting down the hours before this is over.”
“Same. Hey, Sybil, how are you?”
“I’m good, Phyre. It’s been a while. How are you?”
“I’m fine. This is my fiancée, Ginae. Baby, this is Sybil, Lennon’s wife.”
The ladies exchanged greetings and struck up their own conversation.
“Fiancée?” Lennon whispered. “When did you propose?”
“I haven’t yet, but my mother popped up at my house earlier this week, and I introduced Ginae as my future wife.”
“Was Ginae cool with you doing that?”
“She’s rolled with it and questioned me about it when my mother left. I just introduced her to Mrs. Black as my fiancée, so you know she asked my mother a thousand questions when we walked away.”
“Hell yeah. Oh, just a heads up. Kavia is seated at our table.”
“Fuck!”
I should’ve expected my mother to pull some shit like this.
There was no doubt that Kavia would show her ass, and it was unfortunate.
I’d do my best not to match her energy, but it would be a challenge.
If the event was ruined, it would serve my mother right for creating these fucked up seating arrangements.
A few minutes later, someone got on the mic and asked everyone to go to their seats. We found table twelve, and since Ginae and Sybil seemed to hit it off, we let them sit next to each other, while Lennon and I sat on either side of them at the round table.
Soon after we took our seats, Phoenix and Kevin arrived. I insisted she sit next to me, and, of course, he sat on the other side. The last people to arrive at the table were Kavia and a man I’d never seen. I was hopeful that she’d behave since she had a date.
“Wassup, everyone? I’m Ethan.”
Kavia’s date introduced himself since it didn’t seem as if she would do the honors. Kevin introduced himself, as well as Phoenix, adding that he was Kavia’s brother. Lennon jumped in before I did, intruding himself and Sybil.
“It’s nice to meet you, Ethan. I’m Phyre, Phoenix’s brother, and this is my fiancée, Ginae.”
“Your fiancée?” Kavia questioned, raising her voice a notch.
Her eyes went to Ginae’s left hand, which was only visible because she was holding a glass of water to her lips.
“That’s what I said,” I confirmed, delivering a wink to Ginae.
“Where’s your ring?” she asked Ginae.
“None of your business, bitch. Don’t address me.”
Ginae’s response only took Sybil and Ethan by surprise. The rest of us didn’t necessarily expect it, but we weren’t surprised.
Before Kavia could respond, the program began.
For the next hour, people were introduced, speeches were given, and awards were distributed.
The whole time, I sat with my arm around Ginae, caressing her shoulder.
Every so often, I’d lean down and kiss her exposed skin, or whisper something inappropriate in her ear, making her gasp.
I had no idea what the speakers spoke about, or which awards were given, because I was too wrapped up in my woman. I was only sticking around for the food because, as much as I hated these events, the food was top-tier and would be my reward for showing up.
“I’m gonna go to the bathroom,” Ginae announced before kissing my lips.
“I’ll come with you,” Sybil offered.
“Me too,” Phoenix said.
The ladies stood, and we stood with them, moving their chairs back to give them room to step away from the table. I watched Ginae, with a smile plastered on my face, until she disappeared through a set of double doors.
“She got your nuts in the palm of her hand,” Lennon joked.
I shrugged. “Nuts and everything else. She can get anything she wants from me.”
“So, that’s Ginae, huh? I thought she looked familiar. It’s all starting to make sense,” Kavia said.
The evening was going well, so I chose to ignore her for now.
“How long are y’all staying?” I asked Kevin and Lennon.
“My mother would have a fit if we left too early, but I might use Phoenix and the baby as an excuse,” Kevin said.
“After dinner, I’m gone,” Lennon said.
“Same here. Six mothers went into labor this week, two of them last night. I didn’t get home until eight o’clock this morning.”
“Oh, you’re an obstetrician?” Ethan asked. “Nice.”
“I am. Thank you. What do you do?”
“I coach college basketball at Black Elm City College.”
“Nice. You—” I began, but was interrupted by Kavia’s rude ass.
“Has she told you about the baby yet?”
No one responded because we didn’t know who she was talking to or what she was talking about.
“I’m talking to you, Phyre, and you look confused. She probably kept that little secret to herself,” Kavia continued.
“Stop talking in circles and say what the fuck you mean,” I barked.
“I don’t think it’s my place, but ask your precious Ginae about the baby she aborted thirteen years ago.”
“I’m so sick of you and your shit. Can you exist without stirring up drama?” I questioned, doing my best not to reach across the table and drag her through this banquet hall.
“Not where you’re concerned. I will never let you off the hook for embarrassing me in front of the entire city when you called off our engagement.”
“Hold up? Y’all were engaged?” Ethan asked, confused.
“You can’t be serious right now. Why don’t—”
“Every time we cross paths, I’ll make sure it’s an unpleasant experience.”
The look of satisfaction on her face pissed me off. She pushed her chair away from the table and stood, keeping her evil eyes on me the whole time. Ethan hesitantly got up and followed her.
“I might have to kill your sister,” I told Kevin.
“She’s a hateful ass woman,” Lennon commented. “Do you think she’s telling the truth about Ginae?”
“No.”
“Are you sure? Because she seemed confident as hell,” he pressed.
As I was about to respond, the ladies returned from the bathroom. Before Ginae sat down, I stood, took her hand, and headed toward the door. I was moving so fast, she could barely keep up in her heels, but I was too caught up in my thoughts to care.
Kavia was a shit starter, but randomly saying that Ginae got an abortion was even far-fetched for her. She spoke with such confidence that I couldn’t help but question if she knew something I didn’t know. I thought back to what Kavia said when Ginae had gone to the bathroom.
“So, that’s Ginae, huh? I thought she looked familiar. It’s all starting to make sense.”
I’d heard her, but it didn’t register. Something Kavia had said at my mother’s house when Phoenix announced that she was pregnant also came to mind.
“Mama Clem, did you know you could’ve been a grandmother years ago? Unfortunately, abortion was the chosen option.”
Obviously, we assumed she was referring to an abortion she’d had, but she clarified that it wasn’t herself she was talking about. If she were talking about Ginae, how would she know something like that?
Thirteen years ago, Kavia was resourceful enough to get Ginae’s phone number, so she probably had seen pictures as well, and that would explain how she knew what Ginae looked like. But how would she know Ginae had an abortion?
“Phyre, what’s wrong?” Ginae asked when we got outside.
“Nothing.”
“Why are we leaving? Did something happen?”
“Nothing happened, Nae. We’re just leaving.”
“What about—”
“Stop asking questions. We’re leaving and that’s that!”
I didn’t mean to raise my voice and didn’t realize I’d done so until she snatched her hand away from me. The valet arrived with my car, and he helped her inside while I hopped in the driver’s seat.
“Phyre—”
“Ginae, please. Give me a minute.”
I felt her gaze on the side of my head, but I couldn’t look in her direction. Terrible thoughts raced through my mind on the drive home, and I prayed none of them were true.