“You’re not stupid, KoKo. You just fell for a man. We’ve all been there. Do you know what you want to do just yet?”
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel the tiniest sting. Wilde had a baby on the way that he didn’t want. Now, here KoKo was crying about being pregnant by a man that was in a relationship and already had kids, yet I kept miscarrying the babies that I wanted. The situation wasn’t about me, however, and I needed to get out of my feelings.
“You know I’ve had two abortions in the past. I said I’d never do it again.”
“Whatever you decide, I’m here. Just try not to stress. Okay?”
KoKo nodded. “Thank you. Because you tried to warn me, and here I am, looking dumb.”
I chuckled. “You remember the relationship I used to be in? With all the chances I gave Drew, I can’t judge anybody. You’re still my boo, and if you have this baby, it’ll be my boo, too.”
That got a small smile out of KoKo. I didn’t want to think about the drama that would ensue between Nina and Pierre if she found out that KoKo was pregnant. I didn’t have anything to do with any of it, but the deeper things got with KoKo and Pierre, being around Nina would be odd. I didn’t even want to think about it. KoKo went back into the living room, and I finished taking her weave out. We sat in silence for a while. I didn’t know what to say.
“Have you talked to Wilde?” KoKo spoke over her shoulder.
“I went to visit him, and I told him that people were saying that him and Drew were beefing over me. He pretty much told me that he didn’t care. I don’t know what I even expected out of him. Wilde doesn’t strike me as the type to clear up rumors. It’s messed up, but there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“Anybody that’s out there in the field for real knows that they were beefing before you were ever even seen with Wilde. People are going to talk regardless. We already had this conversation. As long as none of them attempt to step to you, it doesn’t matter what they say.”
She was right, but it was also easy for her to say. Just like it was easy for me to tell her not to stress the situation with Pierre. It was much easier to give advice than to use it. Drew might still be alive if he hadn’t run up in Pierre’s spot. His actions had absolutely nothing to do with me, and I was going to take the advice I was being given and stop worrying about it. Half of the people running their mouths were Drew’s people, and they only knew what he told them. I doubted he would admit to being a verbally abusive cheater. And, I also doubted that he would have admitted to lying on Wilde’s cousin.
When I was done with KoKo’s hair, she curled up on my couch, and we ate snacks while watching a movie. She dozed off near the end of the movie, and I wasn’t sure if I should wake her up or get her a blanket. Deciding on the latter, I got a blanket from my closet and covered her with it. When I was done taking a shower, she was still knocked out on the couch. I got ready for bed and snuggled up underneath my covers. I refused to dislike Nina. I also didn’t agree with what KoKo did, but I would never turn my back on her. I just had to hope and pray that things would work themselves out.
Iopened the door for Nina with a frown on my face. My shoulder and arm were still sore. I only took one to two pain pills a day. I’d rather smoke than pop pills, and I wasn’t a fan of mixing the two. The weed barely helped with the pain, however, and I was tired of being miserable. I had just swallowed a pill down when Nina rang the doorbell.
“Ewww, stop frowning,” she closed the door behind her. “You still being stubborn and not taking your medicine?”
“You still minding my business?” I asked as I sat on the couch.
“Yeap.”
“You fake as hell,” I grabbed the remote to change the channel. “When you’re mad at Pierre, you couldn’t care less about me. But since y’all are back good, you act like you care.”
“First of all,” Nina rolled her eyes. “I’m not fake. You and Pierre are thick as thieves. And while I admit it’s wrong for me to take it out on you when I’m mad at him, I thought you and him were going out on double dates, and I was mad with you, too. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t blame you for anything that Pierre does.”
“Thank you. You swear it’s me. I’m not a bad influence, and I don’t encourage anything. You and that man are grown, and I don’t care to be in your business.”
“Understood. Now, what did you to do Wonder? She hasn’t been around.”
I sucked my teeth. “Why did I have to do something to Wonder?”
“Are you for real?” her brows hiked. “People call you jerk and asshole more than they call your name. If there was anything to be done, you did it. I’d be willing to bet money on it.”
“Wow. I appreciate all the kind words,” I replied sarcastically. “She came to visit me when I was in the hospital, and I kind of barked on her. She was busy talking about what everyone thinks, and I wasn’t trying to hear it. She cares too much about what people say about her.”
“I won’t say that’s a bad thing. She was worried that I would think she had something to do with hooking Pierre and her friend up. She’s really a stand up person, and she doesn’t want her name or her character tarnished. There’s nothing wrong with that because I sure was about to label her a fake bitch.”
“Man, at the end of the day, people are going to always talk, lie, and make assumptions. It’s not my thing to clear up rumors being spread by irrelevant people. Those folks and their opinions don’t put money in my pocket, and none of them can whoop me,” I stated confidently.
Nina shook her head at me. “Anyway. I think you really like her. She’s the only woman you’ve ever introduced to your grandmother and mother. Stop trying to fight it and settle down. You’re going to be old and gray still out here with sneaky links and having threesomes with slut buckets.”
“So I can be like you and Pierre? No thank you.”
Nina stuck her tongue out at me. “Our situation isn’t perfect, but no one can ever say we didn’t try. I put up with way morethan I should, but that’s because I love Pierre, and he’s a great father. I want to give it my all so that in the end, if he doesn’t end up in the house with me helping me raise our kids, I’ll be confident that it wasn’t because I didn’t do my part. There’s a fine line between giving your partner grace and being stupid. I’ve been stupid a lot. I admit that. But I won’t be stupid forever.”
My medication was finally kicking in, and I yawned. I didn’t like taking the pills, but I had to admit I had some great sleep off them. “I’ll keep that in mind. Damn, why you didn’t bring me nothing to eat?” my lids were getting heavy.
“Between the kids and Pierre recovering, I haven’t had time to cook. I’ll run and get you something before I get back to Pierre. What do you want?”
