Kahlani
As we drove away from Aaliyah’s house, the silence in the car was deafening. I sat in the passenger seat, replaying the way Aaliyah had looked at Solae, like she was nothing more than some jealous baby mama causing drama. It made my stomach turn.
Solae gripped the steering wheel tight, causing her knuckles to pale. “Can you believe that shit?” Her voice cracked with anger and hurt. “She really looked me in my face and acted like I was lying. How am I jealous over a relationship and baby that I didn’t even know about?”
I shook my head, exhaling slowly. “She’s been manipulated. That’s the only explanation. Rah must have her head all the way gone, making her think you’re the problem when it’s really him.”
Solae laughed, but it wasn’t from humor.
It was the kind of laugh that came from pain that had nowhere else to go.
“He has her brainwashed. And I can’t even blame her, because, clearly, I was too.
But still…” Then her anger softened into confusion.
“It hurts. Like, who is this man? Who the hell have I been loving and living with all these years?”
I glanced at her profile, watching the way her jaw clenched.
Her eyes were glossy, though she was fighting not to cry.
I wanted to reach out, to comfort her, but there was no easy fix for this kind of betrayal.
All I could do was tell her the truth. “Rah isn’t who you thought he was, obviously.
Maybe he never was. He just wears his mask so well, even the women who love him can’t see past it.
But believe me, sis, none of this is on you. Don’t ever think you weren’t enough.”
Solae blinked slowly, and a tear slipped down her cheek before she quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand. “I just… I don’t know how much of my life with him was real. I feel like I’ve been sleeping next to a stranger all these years.”
For a long moment, neither of us spoke. The only sound was the rumble of the tires on the uneven road. And as I sat there, watching her fight to hold herself together, I knew Rah’s lies had destroyed more than just trust. They had broken the very foundation of who Solae thought she was.
Solae sniffed, shaking her head like she was trying to push away the hurt. “You know what? I don’t even want to talk about him anymore.” She glanced at me quickly before looking back at the road. “How are you holding up after the arrest?”
I sighed, leaning back against the seat. “I’m alright. But Moses feels terrible. He keeps saying it’s all his fault, like I didn’t make the choice myself. I told him I was riding for him, that I’d take that charge, but he still feels like he put me in that position. He hasn’t been the same since.”
She nodded with glassy eyes, and I could see the way the tears still threatened to fall.
I reached out and laid a hand on her arm. “You don’t have to be strong, boo. It’s okay to cry.”
She pressed her lips together, blinking fast. She didn’t want to look weak, but the tears slipped out anyway.
I sat on the couch with my arms folded tight across my chest, watching Moses carry Trent inside.
Our son’s head was heavy against his shoulder, his little arms were limp, and his mouth was hanging open while he slept.
Normally, the sight would’ve melted me. But tonight, all I felt was heat crawling up my neck.
“Hey, baby,” Moses whispered as he shifted Trent in his arms. “I’m gonna go lay him down.”
I didn’t answer. I just nodded, waiting as he disappeared down the hallway. The moment he was out of sight, I let the mask slip. My face twisted as my chest rose and fell with the anger I’d been holding back since I left Solae’s.
When Moses finally came back into the living room, his brows pulled together the second he saw me. “What’s wrong with you? Why you looking at me like that?”
I snapped before he could blink. “Please tell me that you didn’t know that Rah was cheating on Solae and had a baby on her!”
At least he didn’t have the nerve to deny it. He just stood there, blinking slowly, shocked that I knew.
“You knew, didn’t you?!” I snapped.
His mouth opened, then shut, like he wasn’t sure how to answer. “I…” Then his shoulders slumped. “Yeah, baby, I knew.”
His honesty stung worse than a lie.
“So, you’ve been lying to me.”
He shook his head quickly. “I didn’t lie. You just never asked.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “Never asked? That’s your excuse? So as long as I don’t ask, you get to keep secrets from me?”
He stepped toward me with his hands out like he was trying to calm me down. “What was I supposed to do? Snitch on my cousin? You know what kinda issues that would’ve caused between me and Rah?”
I laughed bitterly, taking a step back. “Oh, so loyalty to him means more than honesty with me? Tell me, Moses, what else are you hiding? You out here cheating too?”
His eyes went wide and hurt flashed across his face. “Hell no! Don’t do that. I’m nothing like Rah. I don’t agree with what he’s been doing, I swear to you.”
“You’re too loyal to a snake. Don’t you see it? If Rah can play the women he lays with, there’s no limit to what he’d do to you if he felt like it.” Staring at him, I was truly hurt. This wasn’t my heartbreak, but for the first time, Moses was flawed in my eyes.
“I don’t know if I can trust you anymore.”
His eyes bucked. “You serious?”
“Yes! You’ve been keeping all of this from me. He had a baby, and you didn’t mention anything! I have no idea what else you’re keeping from me!” I glared at him with a face full of frustration and fire. “Sleep on the couch, Moses.”
He opened his mouth to argue, but I was already storming off into our bedroom. I slammed the bedroom door behind me, and the thud echoed through the house.
And for the first time, I wasn’t sure if Moses and I were on the same side anymore.