Chapter 22
TWENTY-TWO
Diamond.
I gave my classroom one final look before I gathered my phone and purse and got ready to head out.
Mrs. Marge had flown in earlier to steal Keona away since I was flying into Crescent Falls with Kabria later.
I was going to leave her with Ms. Joyce, but she insisted.
There was some kind of end of summer festival going on in Miller’s Pointe and she wanted to take her, so she came to get her for the weekend.
It ended up working out for me since I was leaving anyway.
I made my way through the center and was halfway out of the door when Wanda called for me. “Diamond, I know you’re headed out, but do you have a second?”
“Yeah, of course,” I stepped back inside. “What’s up?”
“It’s about the email you sent me,” she started, and my heartbeat immediately picked up.
“Yes, about that… I know I’ve been missing days—”
She gently lifted her hand. “I’m not reprimanding you,” she smiled softly. “I just want to make sure you’re not stressing yourself out over something that isn’t true.”
My brows furrowed. “I-what do you mean?”
“You think that life happening and you taking on your niece has knocked you out of the running for the director position.”
When she paused for my reply, I didn’t say anything because that was exactly what I thought. She noticed and laughed lightly.
“Diamond, I’ve been running this center for over twenty years.
I know what dedication looks like, and I know what heart looks like.
You have both in spades.” She reached to grab my hand, giving me an assuring look and smile.
“There isn’t a single person in this building that I trust more to step into this role.
Not one,” she reassured. “I don’t care that you have a personal life.
We all do. I expect my staff to have one actually,” she chuckled.
“What I care about is who you are in these walls,” she waved her hand around the space.
“Your presence is felt by every child, staff member, and parent each time you’re here. That’s all that matters to me.”
I nodded, wiping away the lone tear that had escaped. “I -I just don’t want you to think I don’t want it anymore, or that I can’t handle it.”
She laughed and waved me off. “If I thought that, we wouldn’t be having this conversation, trust me.
I want you to walk out of here knowing you are very much still in consideration,” she said then added, “as a matter of fact, you’re my first choice.
Always have been.” She smiled. “So don’t worry any more, Diamond.
Go see your man, and have a blast this weekend, them come back Tuesday, because we both know that man isn’t going to let you up for air with a baby free weekend, ready to keep doing what you’ve been doing. ”
She pulled me into a hug before letting me know that was all she wanted and that I could go. I thanked her one last time before I left and raced home. I’d already packed, so all I had to do was get my things and meet my best friend, who was driving us to the airport.
Kabria showed up minutes after I did, so I left back out just as quickly as I had come. Makhai offered for her to stay with us at his place because he had plenty of room for her, but apparently Hulk was going to be there too making a special appearance, so she planned to leave with him.
On our ride to the airport, we made conversation.
I told her about the talk that I’d had with Wanda before leaving work, and she said what I knew she would, “I told you so.” She had definitely told me that I was overthinking it.
She knew that my coworkers loved me, and they all supported me and wanted me to get the role too.
When we got on the plane, we both slept. Kabria tried to talk me into drinking, but I declined knowing I’d be drinking with her and Makhai later. If I had fooled with her on the plane, I wasn’t going to make it out later.
Since Makhai was doing sound check, he had someone come pick us up from the airport. I didn’t expect it to be his sisters. I was caught completely off guard when the four women rushed me when we deplaned, but it was a pleasant surprise.
We all went to Makahi’s place together. Kabria was originally going to go to the room Hulk got for them to get ready, but the ladies were persistent. They all wanted us to get ready and pregame together.
Like I knew he would, Makhai FaceTimed me as soon as we got inside his place. I swiped my thumb across the screen and smiled when his handsome face appeared.
“Hey, baby,” I cooed.
“What’s up, love? Your flight and shit was straight?”
I nodded. “It would have been nice to warn me that your sisters were the ones picking me up.”
“Man, I was sending Chino,” he chuckled. “They basically bullied a nigga into coming to get you for real.”
“Right because we’ve been asking you forever to introduce us,” Dior came over and said in the camera. “Sometimes we have to take matters into our own hands, bro.”
“Right,” Safari walked over smiling. “Hey, bro.”
“Where Des?” Makhai asked.
“I’m right here,” she walked over so I turned the camera toward her.
“Ay, sis, don’t let them fuck my shit up. I know you the levelheaded one.”
“Negro, please.” Dior playfully scoffed. “None of us are bullheaded. We’re not you and your friends.”
“Not my man,” Kinnidi said then grinned when Safari gave her a look. “What? You know Jabari is the more sound one of the trio.”
“Yeah, because yo nigga soft,” Makhai teased.
“Don’t even play with him like that,” Kinnidi playfully snapped and laughed. “I’m going to tell him you said that too.”
“Tell that nigga, Lord,” my baby laughed. “But y’all quit crowding my girl and let me holla at her right quick.”
“Boy bye.” Safari giggled and waved him off before they all walked off talking shit to him.
I laughed as I focused on my man.
“You straight though, love?”
I nodded. “They want to drink and get ready together.”
His brows dipped. “Where they niggas at?”
“Apparently all at Destiny’s. They’re getting ready over there while we get dressed here, but they’re coming to get us.”
“Know K ain’t letting them niggas get dressed at his shit,” he laughed. “I’m sorry I couldn’t come and get you though. I just—”
“It’s fine. I’m fine,” I smiled. “I made it in one piece.”
He nodded. “Sy and them gon’ bring you to me when y’all get here.”
“Okay, baby.”
“I’ll let you kick it with them for a little, but don’t let them fuck my crib up and shit.”
I giggled and nodded. “I won’t.”
“Aight, I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I got ready to hang up, but he stopped me, “Aye.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t wear no panties tonight, aight.”
“Bye, Makhai,” I said before hanging up the phone. He always had to say something to ruin the moment. He knew I wasn’t going to his show without panties on.
Was I?
After putting my phone away, I joined the rest of the ladies in the living room. They’d already popped a bottle of Don Julio 1942, and were two shots in, so I had to quickly catch up.
“So, Diamond, we all want to know,” Dior began, looking between the other women then back to me, “how the hell did you get Loco’s ass to settle down?”
I laughed as I sat my shot glass back on the table. I knew they were going to ask me that.
“I don’t know,” I shrugged. “It kind of just happened.”
“Did he stalk you?” Safari asked and we all laughed. “I’m sorry, Prynceton told me that he did.”
“And you’re repeating something that fool said?” Destiny shook her head.
“Jabari told me he did too,” Kinnidi added.
“Sy too,” Dior chimed in.
“Well, damn,” I chuckled. “Destiny, your man didn’t tell you?”
She shook her head while the other ladies snickered.
“Shut up bitches.” She laughed and hit Safari since she was the closest to her. “You haven’t met Kyng yet, but he is very serious. He doesn’t sit around and gossip about other people’s business like the idiots that these three married.”
“Kyng must be the K who called and was going off on Makhai when we were together one day.”
“If he was cussing and going off, then that was definitely him,” Dior said.
Destiny laughed with them. “Yes. If he was fussing, then it was likely my MyKyng. All of their men keep his blood pressure high.”
“Oh, please, my baby keeps him young and on his toes,” Safari smirked.
“Heffa, your man is the primary reason my baby is on the brink of a stroke.” She teasingly rolled her eyes.
“We’re not here to talk about our men, y’all, let’s stay on topic here,” Kinnidi said. “So, he didn’t stalk you?”
“No, he didn’t,” I laughed.
“Hell, he damn near did for real,” Kabria said. “She was not trying to give my friend a chance. He had to break her down.”
I tittered before saying, “He was very persistent. I will say that, but he didn’t stalk me, per se. He just got all of my information from thin air, showed up to my place, forced his way into my space and life…”
“So basically stalking,” Kabria cut in and we all laughed.
“My baby just went through great lengths to be in my presence,” I waved them off. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“None of them really take no for an answer,” Destiny said, wearing a wide smile. “But regardless of how he locked you down, we’re happy he did. We didn’t have much hope for him.”
“Oh, God, say it again,” Safari groaned. “In the blogs with different women every time you looked up. Women coming in and out of the woodworks,” she rolled her eyes and shook her head. “I almost told Prynceton he was done going out with his ass because no.”
“I definitely was having pep talks with Jabari before he left to go out with Loco,” Kinnidi laughed. “I know my man would never, but still.”
“Same,” Safari agreed.
“Well, you don’t have to worry about any of that anymore, I can guarantee you that. I run a strict program over here.”
“Yes, you do, bitch,” Kabria said and we all laughed in unison as she refilled all of our cups.
Dior grabbed hers first and lifted it. “Welcome to the family, Diamond.”
I smiled as I followed suit with the rest of the ladies.