Chapter 7 Rough Seas
Chapter seven
Rough Seas
The drive across town did nothing to simmer the fire in my chest. I drove way above the speed limit, calling Kel over and over. Each time it went to voicemail, my anger multiplied. What the hell could she be doing with her ex that was more important than answering my calls?
When Kel and I first started talking, we had already laid everything out about our past relationships. Back then, I was freshly hurt from finding out Amina was pregnant, and Kel had been single for a year, healing after Trisha dumped her to go chase opportunities in Atlanta doing hair.
Obviously, that didn’t work out too well, because she was back in Mobile, working out of a private suite on Airport Boulevard.
Kel had come to me and asked if I cared if Trisha braided her hair.
I was skeptical at first, but Kel made me feel safe enough to trust that no sneaky shit was going on.
Plus, Trisha was the coldest in the city when it came to stitch braids, so it made sense why Kel wanted to start going back to her.
I always gave people the benefit of the doubt until they crossed me.
I pulled up to Azalea City Suites and immediately spotted Kel’s Land Rover.
The parking lot was mostly empty, only a few other cars scattered around.
The main door was already open. Inside, there were dozens of suites—stylists, estheticians, lash techs, nail techs.
Unfortunately there was no directory.So I went door to door, reading signs.
Most of the businesses were closed. After checking the first floor, I rode the elevator up to the second. I was halfway down the hall, scanning another door, when I heard laughter.
One of them was Kel.
I slowed my steps, creeping toward the sound, and stopped just outside the suite. I leaned in slightly, listening.
“You remember how we met?” I heard Kel ask.
My blood started boiling, but I stayed quiet, needing to hear where this was going.
“Oh my God, don’t remind me,” Trisha said, her voice light. “I still don’t go to the club because of that.”
“Soon as they started shooting, I hit the ground. Next thing I know, all I see is ass. Thought I died and went to heaven.”
Trisha giggled uncontrollably. “This ass will make you feel like that.”
“It was bad enough they was shooting, then next thing I know you sitting on my head,” Kel said, laughing at the memory.
“I just dropped. I didn’t even look where I was landing,” Trisha added, laughing harder.
“Who the fuck wears white jeans to the club anyway?” Kel asked.
“Me. Shit. Them jeans fit me like a glove.”
“They damn sure did,” Kel said and I heard it. That tone. That gravelly, low tone she used on me when she was trying to get some pussy.
I’d heard enough.
I stepped into the doorway, making my presence known. They both jumped.
“B-baby, w-what you doing here?” Kel stuttered. Half her head was braided, and Trisha was mid-part on another section.
“I’ve been calling you,” I said, looking from her to Trisha. “But I see you too busy going down memory lane to answer.”
Trisha rolled her eyes at me, and I wanted to knock them clean out her sockets.
Her beauty made me insecure. She was a petite thing with blonde hair and colorful tats decorating her toffee complexion. An oversized Essentials hoodie hung off her frame, barely covering the tiny black shorts that showed off her curves.
She was giving effortless bad bitch and it fucked with me. Especially knowing she and Kel didn’t end on bad terms.
Kel patted her pockets. “You seen my phone, T?”
“Last time I saw it, you had it when I was shampooing you. Let me check the wash room.”
Trisha brushed past me, giving me a slow once-over as she went.
“You good, baby?” Kel asked, stepping closer.
“Why the fuck are you here?” I asked.
“Getting my hair done,” she said, like it was obvious.
“On a Sunday?”
“Her books stay full. This was the only time she could squeeze me in,” Kel said casually.
I wanted to ask why Trisha felt so inclined to squeeze her in, but I bit my tongue as she came back, holding Kel’s phone.
She handed it to her, then looked at me.
“I don’t allow my clients to bring extra guests to their appointments,” she said. “So can you wait outside for Kelly?”
This bitch.
Using her full name like that.
“Girl, fuck you,” I snapped. “I’m standing right here til she's done, and I dare you to move me.”
“Whoa, baby,” Kel stepped between us. “What’s going on? This not like you.”
“What’s going on is I’ve been blowing up your phone, and you’re not answering because you’re in here reminiscing with your ex about how her ass made you feel like you died and went to heaven.”
I knew I sounded crazy, but the words kept coming, spilling out like vomit.
“You know what? If you gonna act and move like a nigga, maybe I should just be with one.”
Kel’s head snapped back like I slapped her. Her eyes narrowed on me.
“Girl, that’s probably what you really want anyway,” Trisha muttered.
“Excuse me?” I turned to her.
“You heard me,” she said, standing ten toes. “You straight girls don’t really be gay. Y’all just be hurt ’cause a nigga broke your heart, then run to us to fix it.”
“Bitch, you don’t know me,” I shot back.
“You right. I don’t,” she said. “I only know what Kel tells me, and from what I heard—”
“Trisha!” Kel snapped, cutting her off.
“Nah, Kelly, let the little hoe talk,” I said.
Trisha’s voice got louder. “You need to be thanking this little hoe, ’cause I’m keeping your girl satisfied where you can’t.”
My heart dropped.
I looked at Kel. “What the fuck is this bitch talking about?”
Kel dragged a hand down her face. “Baby….”
I shifted my gaze to Trisha, knowing she’d tell the truth.
She smirked, flicking her tongue.
“I can teach you… so she won’t have to come to me.”
My chest tightened, but before I could even respond, she kept going, calm as ever, like she wasn’t about to blow my whole world up.
“She was just saying the other day she ain’t had her pussy ate right since me.”
The room went silent. Like… dead silent. My ears started ringing.
I turned to Kel, searching her face, begging silently for her to deny it, to laugh it off, to say Trisha was lying. Kel didn’t say shit. She just stood there, jaw tight, eyes low.
The silence said everything.
“You cheated on me, Kel?”
My voice came out low, almost calm, but it was shaking underneath.
Kel finally looked up at me, her eyes searching mine. “It’s not like that—”
“Not like what?” I snapped. “Not like you was over here getting your ex to eat your pussy?”
“Nique—” she warned, her tone tightening.
“Answer me!” I yelled, my voice echoing off the walls.
“It was one time,” she said, running her hand over her face. “We was drunk. It didn’t mean nothing.”
I let out a laugh, but it sounded broken. “It meant enough for you to come back.”
“That’s not why I’m here,” she shot back. “I told you—my hair—”
“Bitch, fuck your hair!” I cut her off, stepping closer. “You got me out here looking stupid!”
“I’m not trying to make you look stupid,” Kel said, her own frustration starting to rise. “You the one doing the most right now. Pulling up, yelling, acting crazy—”
“Acting crazy?” I repeated, disbelief flooding my chest. “You cheated on me and I’m acting crazy?”
Trisha sucked her teeth from behind us. “Girl, she didn’t cheat. She upgraded.”
That did it.
I spun around so fast my vision blurred and shoved her hard. “Bitch, shut the fuck up!”
Trisha stumbled back into her station. “Don’t put your hands on me!”
She stepped forward like she was ready, but Kel jumped between us again, grabbing me.
“Aight! Nique, chill!” she snapped, her hands firm on my arms.
“Move,” I said, my voice low.
“I’m not about to let you fight in here,” Kel said.
I laughed, but it sounded wild. “You worried about me… or her?”
“That’s not what this is—”
“Then let me go!”
I tried to pull away, but she tightened her grip.
“Nique, you trippin’—”
“Get the fuck off me!” I yelled, jerking away hard.
She tried grabbing me again and that’s when I swung. A sharp crack filled the room, and Kel’s head snapped to the side. Blood started pouring from her nose. I instantly regretted hitting her, but the damage was done.
Everything froze.
“Oh shit!” Trisha yelled, backing up.
Kel staggered, one hand flying to her face, eyes wide.
I stared at her, my breath coming fast. “Kel, I ain’t—”
She looked up at me, and the patience that was there before was gone. Replaced with straight anger.
“Oh, so you hitting me now?” she said, voice thick.
Before I could say anything else, she rushed me.
We collided hard, knocking over the chair behind us. I hit the floor, but she came down with me, swinging and I swung back.
All the hurt, the embarrassment, the betrayal came out through my fists. We rolled across the floor, grabbing, pulling, hitting anything we could reach.
“Y’all stop!” Trisha screamed.
I heard drawers slamming, her voice rising. “I’m calling the police!”
We didn’t stop. Kel swung, catching my cheek, but I came back harder, tackling her down, my fist connecting again.
Then something cracked across the back of my head.
Everything went black and for the first time since London told me Stella was coming to the wedding…my thoughts finally went quiet.