Chapter 24 #2
“Lyric, you need to calm down. You heard what East said about you stressing out his baby. They will be home first thing in the morning, so try to relax,” Nova reassured her.
“What happened? Did my father press charges on them?” I directed my questions to Logic.
“Yeah, he did. He’s gonna be dropping them in the morning, though,” he replied confidently.
“I’m still trying to wrap my head around everything. I haven’t seen him since my graduation, and I never thought I would run into him like this.”
“Man, this shit is crazy. Fatima keeps blowing up my phone, and I don’t even know what to say.
It will only be a matter of time before their mugshots are leaked, and Keyz doesn’t need this right now.
I tried to get his stubborn ass to leave, but with the way your bitch ass daddy was acting, I doubt it would have made a difference.
He wanted to be vindictive until he realized he didn’t have the upper hand the way he thought he did. ”
“What do you mean?” I asked him, remembering that he mentioned my father dropping the charges.
“I told him that the statute of limitations isn’t up, and if he didn’t drop the charges, I would press charges on him for rape.
Symphonee is all the proof I need to put him away.
He agreed to recant his statement, and we’re gonna pick Nauri and East up in the morning.
” Lyric spoke up, lifting her head from Nova’s lap.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this? I know we haven’t been close in a long time, but I would have never judged you.” I focused my attention on Lyric because none of this made sense to me.
“What exactly did you want me to say? There really isn’t a good time to tell someone their father was raping you. Besides, you packed your bags and left me just like Keynauri did. Why the fuck would I tell you anything?” Lyric spat.
I sat there stunned as I tried to gather my thoughts. She had every right to be upset, but I had been so caught up in my own feelings that I never considered how Keynauri’s arrest affected her.
“Lyric, I-”
“Don’t. I don’t want to hear that you’re sorry because it won’t change how I feel.
I thought you loved me, but when Keynauri cut you off, you said fuck me too.
You were like a big sister to me, and you abandoned me as if I meant nothing.
You blocked me on everything and went on with your life as if I didn’t exist. It’s one of the reasons I didn’t fuck with you when you came back around.
Nathan took advantage of me because he knew all the people who were supposed to love me threw me away like trash. ”
I listened to her pour her heart out while I wiped the never-ending tears from my face. I felt like shit, and there was nothing I could do about it.
“I was so scared and I needed you, Ari. You were the person who taught me about my period and how to put a pad on. I came to you when I needed advice about boys or hatin’ ass bitches at school. You weren’t only Nauri’s friend, I thought you were mine too.”
“Lyric, I was your friend. I loved you like you were my sister.” I cried. Tears blurred my vision, and my heart was completely broken.
“Then why did you leave me?” Lyric sobbed.
I got up from my seat and sat next to her. I wrapped my arms around her as we both cried together. She soaked my blouse with tears as I held her in my arms.
“I’m so sorry, Lyric. I fucked up. I was so caught up in my own pain that I never thought about what you were going through.
I was wrong, and I can’t make any excuses for the way I treated you.
When Keynauri broke up with me, I felt like the world was against me.
You should never have been included in our shit, and I’ll never be able to apologize enough.
What my father did was wrong and disgusting.
He doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as you and Noodle. He’s scum.”
My stomach grew nauseous thinking about what my father had done.
I never imagined he could do something so heinous, but I guess I gave him more credit than he deserved.
As many bitches as he fucked, there was no excuse or rational reason for him to be looking at a child for pleasure.
A part of me wished Keynauri and East would have killed him, but then I would have lost the man who actually mattered in my life.
“I was so angry with you. I tried to call you, but I couldn’t reach you.
I was too afraid to tell Keynauri because I knew he would blame himself.
East was the only person who knew the truth because I didn’t want anyone to judge me or pity me.
My aunt was pissed because she was messing around with him.
In her mind, I came in and stole her man’s attention.
Once she found out about Symphonee, she tossed me out on the street.
East came and picked me up and moved me into his place. ” She revealed.
“Damn, that’s crazy. East told me some shit went down with your people, but he never told me all the details.
You already know you’re my little sister, L-Boogie.
If you had told me what went down, I would have canceled that nigga a long time ago.
How am I supposed to protect you if you don’t tell me what’s going on? ” Logic vented.
“I didn’t want to risk losing you, too. It was hard enough trying to keep East from killing him when I first told him. It was my fault Nauri ended up in prison, and I didn’t want to lose another brother.”
“L-Boogie, you weren’t at fault for what happened to Keyz.
We are protectors and that’s what he was trying to do.
Protect you. He wouldn’t want you to blame yourself because he loves you.
I love you, too. Don’t keep shit from us.
It’s not your job to worry about the consequences.
We do whatever is necessary for the people we love,” Logic declared.
“Logic is right. Keynauri would be pissed if he knew you blamed yourself. There is nothing he won’t do for you and Noodle.
We are family, and it’s time for us to rebuild, so no one will ever be able to break us again.
It’s been a wild night, and I think we should all get cleaned up and get some rest. The next few days are probably gonna be crazy, so we need to be prepared.
Lyric already has her own room, but Nova, you can sleep with me. ” I suggested.
“No, the fuck she can’t.” Logic grumbled. My eyes glanced between the two of them curiously. Based on the guilt expressed on my best friend’s face, it was clear that she had been keeping secrets from me. It reminded me of when we were in high school. Sneaky ass.
“I need a damn shot before I go to bed. Does anyone want to join me?” Logic asked as he stood up.
“I will. I need two or three after the night we’ve had,” Nova exclaimed.
The room went silent right away, and all eyes were on me. I tried not to appear suspicious, but it was no use.
“Bitch, what are you hiding? I know why Lyric isn’t drinking, but you’re awfully quiet. Now that I think about it, I never saw you take one drink while we were on vacation. Why is that?” Nova probed with her arms folded across her chest.
My head dropped in shame because with everything going on, I planned to keep the news to myself for a little while longer. Unfortunately for me, my best friend could read me like a book, so I wasn’t surprised she figured it out.
“It has to stay between us for now. Keynauri has enough on his plate, and I don’t want to add to it.”
“Bitch! You let your baby daddy knock you up? The man has only been free for twenty seconds! Y’all didn’t even let each other breathe.”
“It wasn’t on purpose. We got a little carried away, and I missed my doctor’s appointment for my birth control shot.
” I covered my face with my hands in embarrassment.
When I first realized my period was missing, I convinced myself it was stress from all the changes in my life.
Then another two weeks passed, and there was still no sign of a period.
My breasts were sore, and I woke up queasy every day.
I still hadn’t taken an official test, but it would only be to confirm what I already knew.
“I can’t believe you have been keeping this from me. Well, y’all heffas are coming in the kitchen with us. You can take a shot of juice since you decided not to use your butt.” Nova huffed as she headed toward the kitchen.
Nova and Logic took their shots while Lyric and I scarfed down the leftover Diri Djon Djon, griot, and some freshly fried plantain.
We laughed and kept the conversation lighthearted.
Logic and Nova kept us laughing, and I couldn’t wait to pick my friend's head about how they managed to move past their differences.
I made sure everyone had towels and the essentials to shower before I retired to my room.
It seemed so empty without Keynauri. Once I took a shower and got settled, all the emotions I had been holding in hit me at once.
Logic assured me that Keynauri would be freed in the morning, but there were no guarantees.
I allowed myself to cry for a few more moments before I got up to clean my face.
Regardless of the outcome, I would need to be strong for our children and my man.
I slept in one of his T-shirts while lying on his side of the bed.
I said another prayer for Keynauri's protection and freedom.
We came too far not to get our happy ending.