Chapter 12
peace graham
. . .
Five days had passed since the dinner disaster, and I still hadn’t fully processed everything that happened.
Ciyani and Janae had been calling and threatening to pull up on me for days, but I didn’t even know what to say.
Right when I thought things were starting to look up for me, I was hit with an Uno reverse card.
I went to work every day and came straight home. Home. It felt good to have a place to call my own. Dreaux made sure to have my signed paperwork to transfer the lease into my name. Promise, and I were still receiving packages and gifts for our new place courtesy of him.
“Hey, boo. You’ve been quiet lately. Is everything okay?
” Maliah probed. Trust wasn’t something that came naturally to me, so it took a while for me to feel her out.
She seemed like a sweet girl, and she took her job seriously.
Whenever we were in the office together, she greeted me and asked how my day was going. Her energy always seemed inviting.
“It’s been a rough couple of weeks, but things are looking up. I’m just grateful to have a job and be able to provide for myself, you know?”
“You’re preaching to the choir. I recently broke up with my boyfriend after 5 years together.
We lived together and everything. It’s been a crazy adjustment because I never thought I would be on my own, but here we are.
This job pays very well, so financially, I’ve been able to maintain the same lifestyle I was used to,” she admitted.
There was a smile on her face, but I could tell the breakup hadn’t been easy on her. ”
“It sounds like we’re living similar lives.
I moved back here after a disastrous breakup, if that’s what even the proper word for it is.
This job and my daughter are the only things holding me together.
” I shared. Outside of Ciyani and Janae, I hadn’t shared much about my past with another woman.
It was hard to trust people, plus, my story was so embarrassing I was ashamed to tell anyone.
We talked for a little while longer and exchanged numbers, planning to meet for drinks after work one day. After we closed up shop, she locked up, and we both walked outside together. Living on the property had its benefits because I didn’t have to drive home.
Dana sent me a message to let me know that I would not be getting my baby back until tomorrow. She attached a picture of Promise lying in her bed, wearing her princess pajamas and a pink bonnet. There were alphabet cards and a little pink tablet sitting next to her.
Me: Y’all are going to spoil her rotten!
Dana: And that’s our business!
Dominique: You might want to have another one, because this one no longer belongs to you.
Danae: Let her know.
The sisters added me to their group chat a few days after Dana started watching Promise. You would think they were her real sisters by the way they treated her. She bounced between all three of their rooms whenever she spends time over there, and they gave her free rein to do what she wanted.
Since I would be having a kid-free night, I decided to take a long, hot shower, put on some pajamas of my own, and have a movie night by myself.
It took forty-five minutes for me to get settled, and my stomach growled loudly.
I forgot all about dinner when I realized I only needed to feed myself.
I grabbed my phone and looked up a few restaurants I wanted to try when someone knocked on my door.
Dreaux usually lets himself in with his key, so I wondered if it was one of my neighbors.
“You must have thought I was playing when I told you we were gonna pull up on you,” Ciyani exclaimed. I smiled the moment I realized it was her and Janae. Both of them held bags in their hands as I moved over to let them in.
“Well, hello to you, too.” I giggled, following them into the kitchen.
“Yeah, whatever. I’ve cussed Dreaux out a million times this week because you’ve been ignoring us. I don’t appreciate being left on read, ma’am.” Janae chimed in.
“I’m sorry, ya’ll. All of this has been rough on me. I’ve been trying to get my thoughts together, but I don’t even know where to start.”
“I can’t say that I understand how you feel because I don’t. I—” A knock interrupted her thoughts. Rising from my chair, I headed over to the door. When I saw a few of the other ladies I met at Sunday dinner, I hugged them and let them in.
“Hey, y’all.” Tyeis greeted the other ladies, followed by Miyana or Yaya, as they called her.
“What’s up, sis? I’m shocked, bro, let you leave the house with the way the two of you are glued to the hip.” Ciyani teased.
“Oh, hush. My man might be a little clingy, but I love him. Plus, the dick is superb, so when big daddy tells me to lie back down, I’m lying back down,” Tyeis replied.
“We grabbed some liquor and chasers. I don’t plan to get too fucked up because I have an early morning appointment.” Ciyani informed us.
“I’m so glad I adjusted my availability. It’s getting harder and harder to get out of bed now. Going from one kid to two has been more of an adjustment than I thought it would be.” Yaya spoke.
“I agree. Orion is self-sufficient, but Tru gives me a run for my money every morning. She isn’t a morning person at all, and Loyal is no help because he gives her whatever she wants.
” Loyal sounded like Dreaux when it came to Promise.
The more time she spent with him and the girls, the more spoiled she became.
We sat around the table talking about everything under the sun. When I finally told them the story about Chop and Samara, Ciyani acted as if she wanted to ride out and beat them up herself. It was nice to have people in my corner who genuinely cared about me.
“There goes the food!” Ciyani jumped up and headed towards the door. I heard a man on the other end as she thanked him.
“I’m telling y’all now, I’m about to demolish this food. I took back-to-back appointments with no lunch breaks today.” Ciyani announced, setting the food on the counter.
We all agreed on wings, burgers, and fries to soak up the liquor.
I hadn’t had a real drink since before my stint in jail, so I made sure to take a BC powder.
We fixed our plates and immediately dived in.
Since moving back to Jonah Hills, all the food I’ve tried exceeded my expectations.
If I didn’t stop eating out so much, I was going to burst out of my clothes.
“I’m the only person single in this group. That’s crazy.” The realization stung a little as it was the first time that I had been the only single person in my group of friends.
“You’re funny. Do you see the way Dreaux stares at you? I’m surprised the two of you haven’t hooked up yet. I’ve never seen him take an interest in anyone the way he has with you.” Ciyani remarked.
“Dreaux has been a lifesaver, but I don’t see anything romantic happening with us. We’re friends. Well, we were.”
“Oh, so you’re delusional. I understand, boo.”
I nearly spit out my drink when Ciyani called me out. Everyone else at the table laughed in agreement.
“I’m being serious. He has been a godsend to Promise and me, but that’s it.
Besides, he seems like the type to have a brothel of bitches, and I’m not interested in fighting for anyone’s attention.
I certainly don’t want to share after what I’ve been through.
” Chop scared me from wanting to date or put my trust in another man.
“Are you attracted to him?” Ty questioned.
“Dreaux is one of the finest men I’ve ever met. A little too fine if you ask me.” I quipped.
“Girl, bye. There is no such thing. Have you seen our men? Everybody in their circle is trappable.” Yaya chimed in.
“Trappable?”
“Hell, yes. Every time I look at Messiah, I want to get him pregnant.”
Laughter erupted around the entire table. Every single one of them possessed a unique personality, and I loved them all.
“You’re not wrong, Yaya. Loyal came home from work the other day, and I pounced on him as soon as he set his things down.” Ty fanned herself as she spoke about her husband.
“How do y’all handle it? Having men who other women lust after.”
“I keep a blade on me at all times. They can lust from a distance, but it’s best to play with something safe,” Janae threatened.
“To be honest, I don’t think about it. It may sound cliché, but Justice makes me feel like I’m the only woman in the world.
When we first got together, I dealt with insecurities because we were from two completely different walks of life, but he shut all of that down.
When I’m with him, I feel lucky, and while I understand there are women who may desire him, I have confidence that I’m enough for him. ” Ciyani elaborated.
“You all seem so perfect, and the way you speak about your men, they seem perfect too. I have no idea what that’s like.” I acknowledged. From the little bit of time I spent with them, I could see their men were their protectors. Something I desired to have in a partner.
“Girl, please don’t let us fool you. There is no such thing as a perfect relationship.
We all have flaws, and you better believe our men do too.
What happened between you and your ex may have hurt, but if I’ve learn nothing else in life, it’s that there will always be a real man out there ready to give you everything you desire. ”
I nodded my head as Janae spoke. They all gave me insight and advice I would carry with me. It was encouraging to be around women who seemed to have life figured out while I was finding myself all over again.
“How are you holding up since Sunday dinner? I’m sure that was a lot on you.” Ciyani addressed the elephant in the room. I sat there trying to find a way to put my thoughts into words.