Chapter 2
A Week Later
“You think Justin is gonna ask me to the homecoming?” Nova asked. I rolled my eyes as I walked back into the house to grab some water for us. It was fall, but the weather didn’t seem to know that.
“I thought you were done with him for good?” I shook my head at my friend because I smelled the bullshit from a mile away.
“I mean, I’m still mad at him, but we’ve been talking here and there. I’m not saying we’re getting back together, but I also don’t want to see him with anyone else.”
I nodded in understanding, even though I would never agree with her going back to him. The two of them were joined at the hip at one point, so I could see why it was hard for her to let him go completely. However, what he did to her was unforgivable in my opinion.
“Don’t give me that look, Ari. Justin is my first love and the person who took my virginity. I love him.”
“I get it, Novie boo. You love him, and you aren’t ready to leave. My only question is, does he love you?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“If he really loved you, then he wouldn’t have hurt you the way he did.
I’m gonna support whatever decision you choose to make, but you can’t blame me for being concerned.
He didn’t forget your birthday or anniversary.
He has a baby on the way with the girl you hate.
How can you even consider taking him back?
” Nova’s tears fell as she dropped her head.
We were both caught off guard when Aleessa confronted her about Justin being her baby daddy. Apparently, he was pressing her to get an abortion, so he wouldn’t lose Nova, and that pissed her off. She figured if she exposed the secret, then he would have no choice but to accept her and the baby.
“I know. I feel so stupid for even wanting to be with him, but I don’t have anyone else. Outside of my friends, he’s the only person who truly cares about me,” Nova reasoned.
My heart broke for her because she had been through so much in her life. I completely understood her attachment to Justin because it was the same way I felt about Keynauri.
I got up and hugged my girl because it was clear this was affecting her more than she had been letting on. Nova possessed one of the biggest hearts, but life hadn’t been kind to her. Seeing her hurt broke my heart because she deserved better.
“Yo! Yo! Aww, shit. What y’all over here crying about?” The moment I heard his voice, I felt a calmness wash over me.
“Your punk ass friend.” Nova huffed while wiping the remaining tears from her eyes. Keynauri’s head dropped in understanding.
“Aye, you know I don’t fuck with that nigga anymore. He switched up on the crew once he moved to the westside. He doesn’t even answer East’s calls anymore, so I told him to stop trying. I can’t tell you how to feel, but if a nigga doesn’t put you first, then you shouldn’t be crying over him.”
“I agree, but it’s easier said than done. Y’all love to play with bitches’ hearts and then leave us to pick up the pieces,” I shot back.
“Aye, unswole yo’ chest, Cocoa Puffs. While I can agree that some men do play mind games, you can’t lump us into one category.
It’s all about maturity. Some dudes love the idea of being in a relationship but lack the discipline to be with one woman.
Now, chill out with all that attitude and come give your best friend some love.
A nigga ain’t talked to you all day, and this is how you greet me?
” Nauri showed off his beautiful smile, and I instantly turned to mush.
“I’m sorry, friend. You know I don’t play about my girl.”
“As you shouldn’t, but fuck all of that. Come here.” His arms were open, waiting for me to step into them. I told him time and time again that his hugs were magical. Anytime I stepped into his embrace, it felt like everything was gonna be okay.
“I missed you today. Why you ain’t text me like you normally do in the morning?” he asked. This time, it was my turn to drop my head in embarrassment.
“Umm, my phone’s off.” Nauri’s eyes squinted as he processed my words. My dad usually paid my phone bill, so I had never had an issue before.
“What’s going on with that? I thought you were on yo’ daddy’s plan.”
“He and my momma got into it about my school fees and some other stuff. He bought my school clothes and shoes this year, so he felt like he shouldn’t have to pay my portion of the phone bill.”
“Why would your mom pay his phone bill? Aren’t you on a plan with him and your other siblings?”
“Yeah, I am. Ever since he remarried, his wife has been complaining about all the things he does for me. I’ve overheard them arguing about it a few times when I spent the night with them.
My mom never put him on child support because he always took care of my needs, but now, all of a sudden, he’s complaining about every little thing.
” My feelings were hurt when I heard my parents arguing about me.
My dad had a lot of flaws , but he had been present in my life from the beginning. I rarely called him for anything, but when I did, he would come through for me. Now, it seemed like I was a burden to him, and I didn’t like the way it made me feel.
Whenever he and my mother were on the outs, he would take his frustrations out on me.
Although he was married, the two of them never stopped messing around.
My father was upset about my mother dating a new man, and my mother refused to accept his new wife.
Instead of putting me first, they used me as a pawn whenever they were upset with each other.
It was a toxic cycle, and I couldn’t wait for it to end.
“He cut your phone off because he had to buy your school stuff?” His tone elevated, letting me know he was upset. This was what I dreaded the most.
“He canceled my line on his plan and said he couldn’t afford to pay it anymore. He told me to ask my momma’s new man to pay it.” I looked down at the ground, knowing that if Nauri saw my tears, it would set him off.
“Your daddy’s a bitch. Come on.”
I jerked as he pulled my hand. Nova jumped up from her seat and followed after us. I had no idea where we were going, but I trusted him enough not to ask. We walked down the street until we got to a brick house.
“Wait right here,” Nauri instructed us as he swaggered up the steps. Nova and I stood there, waiting to see what would happen.
“Hey, sexy. I didn’t think you would be back so soon.” The brown-skinned beauty purred while she eyed him up and down. Bile rose in my throat at their interaction, and I wanted to walk right back to the house.
“Can you do me a favor?”
“Anything for you. What’s up?”
“I need to use your car to run an errand real quick.” He nodded toward us, and it was the first time she looked in our direction.
She eyed him curiously before asking him to come inside for a moment.
Nova and I glanced at each other and then laughed.
Clearly, this must have been someone he fucked regularly because of the way she acted toward him.
Keynauri told us to give him a few minutes, but it turned into twenty before we knew it.
A part of me considered walking home because I was uncomfortable.
I knew Nauri was a ho, but standing outside while he fucked another bitch was a little too much for me.
“I’m about to go. I can’t believe he has us out here waiting while he’s in the house doing God knows what,” I fumed. Nova snickered, and my eyes shot over to her.
“What’s so funny?”
“You are, friend. I know jealousy when I see it,” Nova teased.
“Jealousy? Oh, you must have lost your mind. There isn’t a jealous bone in my body.
Nauri and I are friends, so I don’t have any reason to be jealous.
I just don’t think it’s okay for him to leave us out here while he gets his rocks off.
” Nova raised her eyebrows as if she wasn’t buying what I was saying.
“You may think the two of you are friends, but the rest of us know better. Key loves you, but not like a friend. That man will go to the ends of the earth for you. The two of you have been playing this friendship game for years, but we all know it’s bullshit.
Your feelings for him are deeper than friendship, and you need to wake up and smell the coffee. ”
She called me out, and I wasn’t pleased with the way it made me feel.
Keynauri and I had been friends since we were young kids.
From the moment he beat up Andre for picking on me, we were inseparable.
I loved him in every way it was possible to love someone, but we had never been anything more than friends.
We talked about it before, but when I saw the way he treated women, I decided I would rather have him as a friend.
“My bad for the wait. Let’s roll out.” I glanced up as Key came walking toward us with a set of keys in his hand.
“Do I even want to know what you did for those keys?” Nova tittered, although I found nothing funny about it.
“The car I normally use is in the shop, so I had to come up with a plan B. I’ll do anything for my best friend.” Key winked as he headed toward the beat-up Honda. Nova and I followed him to the car as well. It was much cleaner on the inside, and I was grateful for that.
I tried to get in the back with Nova, but Keynauri shut it down the moment he saw my hand on the door.
“Stop playing with me.” He grunted, nodding his head toward the passenger seat.
I held up my hands in mock surrender and got into my assigned seat.
Keynauri fiddled with the radio while he pulled off.
Nova sang in the back seat while I stared out of the window.
There was a part of me that was still in my feelings about him being in that girl’s house.
It was clear that she was much older than we were, and it bothered me.
Most of the women he messed around with were older, and I always wondered why.