8. Mahari Creed #2
“It’s not your fault. I’m sorry for being an asshole toward you. I need to apologize to Lavender too. Earlier, I kind of snapped on her when she was only trying to check on me.”
“We try not to take it personal. We know you’re not yourself.”
Biting down on her bottom lip, Aspen rapidly blinked.
“I’m not, and it sucks. I know it’s out of my control, so I try not to beat myself up over it, but it’s hard.
Outside of my parents and brother, y’all are the only two who have been here for me.
Pushing y’all away is the last thing I want to do, so I’ll do better by keeping myself in check. ”
“That’s the last thing you need to be worried about. Lavender and I have tough skin. We know you better than anyone. All you need to focus on is keeping yourself and the twins healthy while focusing on school. No extra stress is needed or necessary.”
“Tell your cousin that.”
“I’ve tried, believe me. He’s hardheaded and stubborn, but he’ll eventually learn.”
“Well, it’ll be for the next woman because I’m done, Mahari. I mean it.”
The finality in Aspen’s tone almost had Mahari convinced she was serious.
Out the corner of his eye, Mahari could see Lance approaching them.
His attention reverted to Aspen who was mugging Lance.
When Lance made it to them, Mahari excused himself and started back toward the villa.
The sound of Aspen’s voice calling out to him stopped him in his tracks.
He glanced over his shoulder, and Aspen held up a finger.
While Mahari didn’t particularly care to be around while they talked, he wasn’t going to leave Aspen when she needed him, so he stood off to the side and people watched.
Off in the distance, he saw a couple talking and laughing.
Heaven crossed his mind, and he smiled. The beach was her favorite place to go.
Mahari remembered when they first started hanging out how she would complain about how long it had been since she’d been to the beach and needed her skin kissed by the sun.
It helped him come up with the perfect idea.
When he was confident that he wanted to take the next step to being official, Mahari took her on a surprise trip to the beach to ask Heaven to be his girlfriend.
After that, the beach became their anniversary spot, and it was where he proposed as well.
He couldn’t help but to think their baby would’ve been a beach baby too.
The sound of Aspen’s voice raising brought Mahari back to reality.
He looked over to see her mouth going a mile a minute along with her hands.
Restraint held Mahari back until Lance stepped in her personal space with his finger in her face.
Mahari reached them within seconds, placing himself in between them.
With his glare resting on Lance, Mahari instructed, “Take a walk.”
“Mane, if you don’t get out my face with that bullshit, Mahari. As you can see, we’re talking.”
“And you can talk without being all in her face. I know for a fact Auntie and Unc raised you better than that. If you can’t get your point across without pointing and shit, you need to calm down and try again later.”
Lance tossed his arms in the air, took a step back, and thumbed his nose.
He stepped to the side to get a better view of Aspen and expressed, “It’s all good.
I ain’t got shit else to say to her ungrateful ass.
After I’ve provided the best life for her, she wants to end it all over nothing.
If that’s what she wants, then I’ll give it to her.
Don’t come crawling back to me when you realize your mother won’t be able to provide for you the way I have. ”
“Oh, please! See, Lance. That’s your problem.
You think everything is about money when it’s not.
I’ve been crying out to you for over a year about spending time with me, but it goes in one ear and out the other.
You think I don’t want that? You think I’m like these bitches you be entertaining who are only in your face because of your money?
If you do, then you truly don’t know me,” Aspen explained.
Her voice trembled with each word she spoke, and Mahari sensed she was on the verge of breaking down.
“I’ll have the private jet waiting for you. The movers will be packing your stuff up by the time you land back in the states. I wish you nothing but the best, Aspen.”
With that, Lance walked off without looking back. Mahari couldn’t believe Lance didn’t even try to fight for his relationship. Then again, he never did.
Mahari turned around to examine Aspen. She stood there, tears cascading down her cheeks as she watched Lance walk away.
Her head swayed from side to side as she said, “He never cared. His reaction shows it, and his words tell me. I can’t believe I allowed him to waste my time and energy for four years. ”
“Don’t think of it as wasted because in the end, the two of you created two lives. I think y’all need time to cool off before sitting down to talk again.”
“I have nothing else to say to him, Mahari.”
“Well.” Mahari clicked his tongue and palmed her stomach. “You can’t do that. A conversation must happen before the girls get here. Regardless of if y’all are in a relationship, y’all will need to healthily co-parent.”
Aspen flung her head back and stomped her foot. “How did I get myself in the situation?”
Deep down, Mahari wondered the same. He’d warned Aspen about Lance before they started talking, but she didn’t take heed to his warning. At the end of the day, all Mahari knew was that he’d be there to help Aspen get through it.