Chapter 12
AVA
Four days later
“Good morning, sissy. How you feeling this bright, beautiful morning?” Dawn answered, sounding extra chipper.
“Good morning, sissy! I actually feel a whole lot better than I did yesterday. Way more refreshed and well rested thankfully. How bout you?”
“I’m good. I’m actually on time and not running late can you believe it!” She giggled. “You still planning on going back home today?”
“Yeah, I think I’ve taken enough days to myself to think things through.”
“So, do you know what you gone do about that cheating ass nigga?”
“Well dang, sis, how you really feel!”
“Trust me, you don’t wanna know the answer to that,” Dawn emphasized sarcastically.
“You probably right.” I giggled. “To be honest, I know what my gut is telling me to do, but I haven’t made any final decisions yet.”
“I hope it’s telling you that you deserve better and that you need to leave Justin’s cheating ass the fuck alone.
It’s too much shit out here to be playing with people like that.
It’s one thing if you choose to lay down with a gang of people but for him to make that decision for you is insane. You know everybody he lays down with…”
“I lay down with too… I’m already knowing what you gone say. I know I deserve better. I just want to hear him out. I want to know what drove him to cheat on me like that.”
“Why? Do it really matter? Like, will it change anything about how he made you feel or what he did? At the end of the day, if you wanna know why he cheated, I can answer that… his ass is selfish as fuck! That’s why.”
“Well, gosh! Aren’t you fired up and full of energy and honesty this morning?”
“I’m not trying to be too harsh, but I love you, sissy.
I hate it when you’re upset, especially over a no- good ass man who doesn’t know what he has at home.
That shit is played out and not cool at all.
I get that you love Justin and all, but something’s gotta give.
Finding a condom wrapper, and a used one at that, in his pocket after he had been out all night is all the proof you need that his ass doesn’t respect y’all’s marriage.
What does it matter what he has to say? Hell, what are you really looking for him to say exactly…
sorry? ‘Cause sorry ain’t gone change nor fix the damage that’s already done. ”
“I know, and you’re right, but Justin and I are married now, not just dating.
Everything that you’re saying is absolutely true, but you’re speaking from the mind frame of a single woman.
You’re not thinking like a married woman.
I just feel that at the very least, he owes me some kind of explanation.
It’s hard for me to just be done and say fuck it all like you can so easily.
You wouldn’t understand because you’re a hard ass, I’m not like that.
We are not the same, we don’t think or move the same either. ”
“I get allat, and the fact that I’m not married doesn’t matter ‘cause I’d still feel the same way. Married or not, if my dude cheats and I catch his ass, it’s a wrap. I’ma cancel that fool then keep it moving.”
“Lawd Dawn, I swear.”
“I’m just saying. I just hope you don’t fall for the oh-kee-doke and choose to stay with his ass. You don’t deserve to be treated like that sissy and that’s all I’m trying to say. You deserve to be with a man that knows your worth. Not a fool that can’t appreciate you.”
“I appreciate that. All I ask is that you be patient with me. I trust and confide in you because I need someone to talk to. Me confiding in you isn’t for you to turn against Justin and be ready for war.
I’m a big girl, and I’ll figure this all out on my own.
I just be needin’ someone to vent to is all,” I explained.
“You don’t have to worry about turning me against Justin because I never liked his ass anyway.
As far as being ready for war I stay on go when it comes to those I love.
Sorry sis, that ain’t gon’ change. I know you’ll figure things out, and either way I’ma have your back, but at some point, you gon’ have to realize that a zebra can’t change his stripes. ”
“Oh my God, Dawn! Stop it! Lawd, I was feeling all relaxed and now you got my nerves hot. I get what you’re saying, but now you got me feeling some type of way and that’s not why I called.”
“Okay, okay, but for real. Have you talked to Shane about what happened?”
“No, I’ve only talked to you about it.”
“WHAT! You mean to tell me you didn’t tell girlfriend what happened?”
“Now you know you wrong name calling. No, I haven’t talked to him. I tried calling him last night, but he didn’t answer. Okay so, enough about me, how are you and Tate?”
“We good. He a really sweet guy-”
“Ah, shit, I know where this is about to go!” I interrupted, “When you start off saying a guy is sweet, that means you done friend zoned his ass.”
“Ha! You know me so well!” Dawn laughed. “There’s just something about him I can’t quite put my finger on.”
“I swear you always tryna analyze people. Have you ever tried going with the flow and just accepting people for who they are, without having to question everything?”
“Girl, no, have you?” Dawn chuckled.
“Well, yes, I take people for who they are.”
“And no offense but look where that shit done got you!”
“Ouch! That was harsh, Dawn, really!”
“Harsh and honest, sissy.”
“Ugh! Yo ass so damn aggy! How you expect to ever fall in love and get married if you always so critical about everyone and everything?”
“For one, who said anything about me wanting to get married? I plan to be single and mingle for as long as possible, chile. I can’t be tied down to one man.
It’s way too many for the picking. Then to pour my all into someone for them to turn around and hurt me…
girl, I’m straight on that. I’d fuck around and catch a Snapped case on some real-life shit. ”
“Oh my God, sis! You’re too much!” I busted out laughing. “Well, I just made it to work. I’ll call you later and update you on how everything goes.”
“Okay, sissy! Love you and have a good day. Oh, and if that fool cut up, call me A.S.A.P. ‘cause I’m ‘bout sick of his ass.”
“Bye fool! Love you, too.”
Hanging up with Dawn, I couldn’t help but to laugh at our conversation.
She was one of the most critical people that I knew.
Although everything that she had said was a thousand percent true, I still couldn’t help but to feel annoyed because I was tired of constantly hearing what’s wrong with Justin as if I didn’t know already.
Dawn and I were polar opposites. I’d just have to take what she said with a grain of salt and not get offended ‘cause she was straight up no chaser when it came to telling it like it was.
Gathering my things then getting out of the car, I headed to the front entrance so that I could get my day started.
“Good morning, Ava! Don’t you look amazing this beautiful Thursday morning.”
“Thanks, Kevin, good morning to you as well. I actually feel amazing today. I was finally able to get some good sleep last night.”
“That’s a blessing. Glad you’re feeling better.”
“Me, too. Thanks again for looking out. I truly appreciate it. I’ll pay you back for the hotel room tomorrow when we get paid,” I said.
“I already told you not to worry bout it. You don’t have to pay me back for anything, it was no biggie.”
“I know, but you didn’t have to do that.”
“I know I didn’t, but I wanted to. Now, if you insist on repaying me, how ‘bout we do lunch or dinner… when you’re available of course. No pressure,” he said as he raised his hands in the air.
“Okay, got you.” I giggled. “I checked out of the room this morning, by the way.”
Kevin had insisted on putting the charges for the room I got at the Hilton on his credit card.
When I checked in on Monday, he told me to stay for as long as I needed.
I figured four days was plenty. I didn’t want to continue to rack up a bill on his card by staying any longer, so I checked out of the room before I came to work.
I would’ve loved to stay longer, but I really needed to get back home and address my husband about what he’d done.
“Oh, yeah, so you’re going back to the house, huh? Are you ready for that?”
“I think that I am. Justin and I need to talk, and the sooner I can get this talk over with the better.”
“I can understand that. Well, if you need anything or need to talk, I’m ya boy.”
“Thanks so much for being such a sweet friend.”
Heading inside with a big smile on my face, I figured I should relish in the moment because later on today I had a feeling I wasn’t going to be smiling.
I hadn’t been home since Monday morning, and I hadn’t talked to Justin since we got into it, so I knew Justin was going to be pissed off, but I honestly didn’t give a damn.
For the first few days, I had my phone on Do Not Disturb, I needed to be to myself.
The only person that I had spoken to was Dawn and that was because I wanted to give her a heads up about where I was in case Justin called her looking for me.
She was so damn crazy if he called her and I went ghost she’d assume he did something to me and there was no telling what she would do or say if she ever felt like that.
So it was a given that I had to tell her something.
I didn’t tell Shane what was going on because I didn’t have to worry about Justin reaching out to him. I knew that Justin didn’t particularly care for Shane, so that was the least of my worries.
The first couple of nights I didn’t feel like being bothered with anyone and it felt so emotional sitting in silence.
But last night, I wanted to check in with Shane.
I just couldn’t get ahold of him. I figured tonight would be a good night to go home because Justin worked Friday and Saturday.
We’d talk tonight then I’d have the next two days to myself to figure out what my next move would be.