Chapter 16 Work It Out #2
He also got Harlee her unicorn and paid for a remote-control airplane for Heir. It seemed like neither of them could go anywhere without grabbing something for their babies. Giselle loved that they were always in the forefront for not only herself but him too.
“You sure you’re okay with meeting them tonight?”
“Yeah. It’s all good. I like seeing you like this.”
“Like what?” Giselle smiled and leaned against the counter as the cashier got their purchases together.
“Smiling, laughing. Singing and dancing. Happy. When I first met you… I knew you were sad about something. I didn’t know what it was until Crew told me. I think that’s part of the reason I came to see you before you left.”
“You think?” Giselle hiked a brow.
“Yeah. I know I was hard on you, but I had to remind myself that you were also going through something. It wasn’t right for me to judge you.”
“Well, I had a bleak outlook on the world. I wasn’t exactly Ms. Sunshine when I got here.
The therapist I talked to said something about survivor’s guilt.
It didn’t hit me for a long time. Wondering if I could have done something to save them.
” Her voice drifted off before she lifted her eyes to meet his.
“I don’t know, having kids put some things into perspective. ”
“Yeah. I get that.” Heavy bobbed his head.
“Here you go.” The young cashier slid their items across the counter along with a receipt.
“Thank you.” Giselle smiled at her and scooped up their things.
Heavy’s thick arms encased her, and they fell in stride together to the door.
The two of them were about three steps from the exit when it opened, and in walked Prischa and Viggo laughing it up.
The minute the four of them realized the situation, the smiles wilted from their faces and tension cloaked the space between them.
Heavy immediately went rigid, and Giselle glanced quickly to find his jaw locking as well.
“Hey, Viggo. Prischa.” She greeted them with a nod.
“What’s up?” Viggo chucked his chin at her, but both he and Prischa were more focused on Heavy. “Looks like y’all been in here racking it up.” He nodded to the toys in her hand.
“Something like that. I swear I can’t ever go anywhere without finding something for these kids.” She sniggered.
“Been trying to reach you, Heavy. We got some shit we need to talk about,” Viggo addressed his cousin.
“Talk to Crew,” Heavy rebutted quickly, placing his hand on the small of Giselle’s back.
“Come on, man. The fuck I gotta talk to him for and you right here? We still family at the end of the day, and the last thing I want is to be beefing with you. Not about this.” He turned to Prischa.
“He’s right,” she chimed in. “Plus, Lil P is in the middle. He’s thinking he did something wrong because you’re mad at me and Viggo.”
“Pierre can call me any time he wants. If he wants to spend time with me, leave him at Petal’s and I’ll come get him. I’m not fucking with y’all.”
“Why not?” she challenged. “It’s not like any of us are leaving Southwick. We’re going to see each other and be around each other. Henna is still one of my best friends, and whether you believe it or not, I do consider you my friend, too, Heavy,” Prischa voiced.
“I’m done with this conversation.” Heavy tried to navigate him and Giselle around them so they could leave, but something stopped him dead in his tracks.
The blonde bombshell with caramel skin entered, smiling at something a few other girls said behind her when her eyes lifted to Heavy’s face. If she could get any lighter, she’d be white.
“The fuck you doing here?” he demanded in a glacier tone.
“Kina?” Prischa stepped forward. “Oh, my God.” She rushed to hug her, but when Kina fell into her embrace, guilt marred her features while looking at Heavy over her shoulder. “Girl it’s been too long! How are you?”
“I’m good. You look good!” Kina smiled and pulled away.
“I didn’t even know you were back in town. How come you haven’t called me?”
“Um, kind of been busy,” Kina replied, waving her girls off, so she could have a private conversation. “I’m here visiting for a little while.”
“Well, we need to link up. It’s been so long. We have a lot to catch up on.”
“Yeah, we do,” Kina countered. “What’s up, Heavy?” She turned to greet him, noticing the gorgeous Giselle at his side, curiously eyeing the situation and soaking her in.
“Let’s go.” He barely acknowledged her before pushing Giselle out the door.
This was the last fucking thing he needed.
Kina was a blast from the past he didn’t see coming, and being around her was sure to be a trigger.
Seeing Prischa all giddy while he knew the truth had his stomach tight.
When they reached the parking lot, he opened Giselle’s door for her first and let her inside before rounding the car to the driver’s side.
“Who was that?” she asked once they were settled in the car.
Crew had taken off, and they were supposed to be right behind them to the gas station before heading out to the lake.
“Somebody I don’t want to fucking talk about,” Heavy answered, starting the car.
“Like an ex?” Giselle pried.
“I said I don’t want to talk about it.” Heavy shifted into drive and pulled off, noticeably pissed.
Not wanting to set him off, Giselle remained quiet, staring out her window.
The nearest gas station was about a mile from the arcade.
When they pulled up, Crew was already parked, and him and Maisie were inside the store.
She reached for her door so she could get out, but Heavy reached for her arm without even looking at her.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. You said you didn’t want to talk about it,” she mumbled.
“It ain’t like I’m trying to hide shit from you, princess. It was a fucked-up time, and until I saw her just now, I had blocked that shit out. It was bad enough losing Pierre, but the shit with Kina was even more fucked up.”
“What do you mean?” She paused and turned to him.
“I mean… fuck.” Heavy shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Kina was my girl. We dated for like two years. She and Prischa had known each other since elementary, so when she got with Pierre, me and Kina started to see a lot more of each other. Long story short, the night Pierre got hit, Kina was with him. She was shot too.”
“What was she doing with him?” Giselle frowned, obviously curious.
“Same shit I had to ask myself.” Heavy swung his head in her direction.
Giselle’s eyes bugged out, and her mouth slipped open, but no words came at first.
“Are you saying her and Pierre were—”
“She tried to lie about it, but there was no other explanation, and a whole lot of other shit started making sense. The way she acted around him and Pri was off. I found out they’d been fucking around for like a year behind my back.”
“Oh, my God,” Giselle whispered.
“And I never told Pri,” Heavy went on, sending Giselle’s head swinging in his direction.
“Why not?”
“She already lost him. Her son didn’t have a father.
I didn’t want to add the fact that her best friend was also foul,” he expressed.
“Kina ended up leaving town when she checked out of the hospital, though, and I know she kept in touch with Pri. I told her we were done, and I didn’t ever want to see her around here again. ”
“I get why you did it, but now that she’s back… what are you going to do?”
“What you think I should do?”
“I don’t know. It’s not my business.” Giselle shrugged.
“Okay, but if it were you, would you want to know? Even after the fact?” Heavy queried.
“If the bitch came back into town, acting like shit was good, hell yeah. She’s not about to get a second chance to fuck me over. I don’t even know or like Prischa like that, but yes… I would want to know.”
Heavy bobbed his head and shifted his gaze from her to straight ahead.
He didn’t want to dwell on it too much and ruin their night.
So he brushed it off and pushed his car door open.
Walking around to Giselle’s side of the car, she had already pushed her door open.
He stepped toward her, resting his hands on her thighs and parting her legs with his solid frame.
“Tonight is about us chilling. I don’t want to fuck that up talking about the past.”
“Me either. I’m enjoying our date night.” She leaned forward, arms locking around his neck as he drew her in for a kiss.
He helped Giselle out of the car and into the store where Maisie and Crew were standing near the chips, debating which ones to get.
“What took you two so long?” Maisie queried, watching Giselle stroll over to a cooler with Heavy on her heels.
“Ran into Viggo and Prischa,” Heavy answered while Giselle pulled one of the doors open with the energy drinks and grabbed a couple of Red Bulls.
He slid up behind her, holding the door open for her.
“Grab me one of those pineapple orange juices down there,” he told her, watching her bend over and grab the Minute Maid bottle.
Crew laughed and shook his head at Heavy biting his bottom lip with his eyes glued to Giselle’s backside.
“How’d it go with them?” Maisie scooped up a bag of spicy Doritos and Cool Ranch while Crew grabbed his Flaming Hot Lays and tucked them under his arm.
“I ain’t got shit to say to them.” Heavy shrugged, and Giselle handed him his bottle of juice.
“Come on, bro. Viggo’s family. I know that nigga can be hardheaded and get on your nerves, but you gon’ hold that against him forever?” Crew asked.
“That nigga don’t ever fucking learn, and I’m tired of being the one cleaning up after him. If shit go left with Prischa, what the fuck am I supposed to do about that?” Heavy shot back.
Giselle closed the fridge door and joined Maisie at the soda station where they each filled a Styrofoam cup with ice.
“What if it doesn’t go left, though? What if this is different?” she suggested.
“Viggo is immature as fuck, princess. Have you met that nigga?”