“Wilde didn’t want to mail your book. He wanted you to get it in person.”
“I can’t believe he wrote a book,” she exclaimed as the hostess took us to our table. Nina had reached out to me the day before and asked me if I wanted to grab lunch.
I didn’t hesitate to respond. I really had missed her, and I was worried about her. “I know. I was shocked too when he sent me the first ten chapters. I could be doing too much, but I’m planning a surprise book release party for him. Even though technically, the book already released. I just want to do something nice for him. When I leave here, I’m going to look at venues. But more important than that, how have you been?”
Nina chuckled. “That’s a great question,” she pushed out a deep sigh. “I’ve cried so many tears in the years of knowing Pierre that I haven’t cried once. I’m just more pissed that he rushed to marry me, not because he loved me and didn’t want to lose me, but because he felt if we were married once I found out about KoKo, I wouldn’t leave. To know how disrespectful and manipulative he could be just pissed me off so bad. Maybe I was stupid for all the times that I forgave him, but I needed to get tired. I needed to be as tired as I could possibly be so once I had enough, I could leave and never think about going back. So now, I’m good.”
I smiled because she definitely sounded convincing. Her smile was genuine, and there was light in her eyes. “That’s amazing because you deserve to be happy. I honestly love that for you.”
“At first, he was sad. Crying and apologizing, talking about how much he missed the kids. He even told me that KoKo texted him and said she got an abortion. When I still wouldn’t talk to him, he got mad. Now, he’s threatening me, saying I’ll never be with anybody if it’s not him. I’ve just been ignoring him. Hopefully, he’ll fall in love with somebody else and leave me alone. I won’t even let him come to the house. If he sees the kids, it has to be through one of our mothers.”
“Damn, I didn’t know that KoKo got an abortion. This whole situation is crazy for real. I was worried that you wouldn’t forgive me for knowing and not telling you. And please believe me when I tell you, I’m not a person that cares about making friends. I don’t do cliques for real, but the whole situation just looked scandalous.”
Nina waved my comment off. “I know how men move. If you were with Wilde and your friend came with you, my nigga should have had enough self-restraint not to holla at her. It’s not your fault that he’s a hoe or even that she chose to deal with him. I don’t blame you for not getting mixed up in the drama. I’m ready to put it behind me. Arguing over a man is beneath me at this point. I’m focused on myself and my kids.”
I was truly happy for Nina and so glad that she wasn’t letting the situation with Pierre keep her down. I knew that Drew was truly a terrible person, but that didn’t stop me from being sad after I left him. Nina and I moved on to another subject, and I was elated when she offered to help me plan Wilde’s party. I hadn’t used all of the money that Pierre gave me for him and when I tried to give it back, he wouldn’t take it. I used some of it to sponsor ads on social media and promote my business. I also used some of it to get his book formatted, edited, etc. The shop was doing better than I had imagined and financially, I was good. I was going to plan an elaborate party and make sure Wilde knew I was proud of him. The date was five weeks out, so I hoped by the time the party rolled around, he’d at least have a title for the next book, so I could get it blown up for him and displayed at the event.
Wilde had the potential to go far, and I prayed he wouldn’t let his talent go to waste. After Nina and I were done with lunch, I went to my garage. It was a rare day when I didn’t have a car to wrap. Thanks to word of mouth, my previous customers, Wilde, and Pierre – business was booming, and I was taking fulladvantage of it. While I was at the garage, Wilde texted me and told me he was going out with Pierre and Jamal. I texted him back and told him to have fun. I was beat and didn’t want to see anybody’s club. I wasn’t one of those females that didn’t want her man going out. Wilde was an adult and if I had to babysit to ensure that he didn’t cheat, something was very wrong.
I planned to spend my night snuggled up underneath my covers, eating snacks, and watching TV. The plan was also to leave my phone on the nightstand, so I wouldn’t get distracted on YouTube or social media and miss what was going on in the movie. Fresh out of the shower, I had just sat Indian style on my bed with chips, dip, a candy bar, and an ice cold Dr. Pepper. While flipping through movie titles to watch, my phone rang. It was shocking for me to see KoKo’s name on the screen. I cleared my throat.
“Hello?”
There was a brief moment of silence. My brow hiked just as KoKo spoke. “I was out of line for being unprofessional in your place of business. I was also out of line for what I said to you at the restaurant. I’m ashamed of myself. I can partly blame it on hormones, but Pierre had me crashing out bad. You did tell me he was off limits, and I should have listened. I love you, and I’m sorry.”
A small smile inched across my face. “Apology accepted, stubborn ass bitch.”
KoKo laughed. “I can be, but actually, I was scared. I didn’t think you’d accept my apology so easily. I thought I was going to have to beg.”
“Nah. I was mad, but it wasn’t that serious for you to have to beg. I just wanted you to see where you were wrong and apologize, but there are no hard feelings.”
“I’ve been going through it. Even though I wanted my baby, it was clear that I wasn’t going to have support from Pierre duringmy pregnancy and possibly after the baby was born. My mom was talking shit about there being too many kids in her house, and I better have my own place by then, and I just couldn’t take it. I’m still getting my own place, but I got an abortion.”
“I’m sorry if you felt like that was your only option. You have to do what’s best for you, and if you’re comfortable with the decision, that’s all that matters.. If you really didn’t want to do it, I’m sorry you had to go through it.”
“It’s my fault for being hardheaded, naïve, and reckless. I let Pierre fill my head with lies that I fell for too easily. I wanted my baby, but it would have been selfish to bring him or her into my chaotic life. I was sad for the first few days, but I finally feel like I’m getting back to me. Pregnancy hormones are hell.”
“Yeah they are,” I chuckled. I abandoned the idea of watching a movie and ate my snacks while KoKo and I caught up.
We talked for almost two hours. By the time we got off the phone, I was yawning and too tired to watch a movie. Though I was sleepy, I still decided to scroll social media for a few before I closed my eyes. It had to be God slapping me on the back of my neck with His sandal because I had been scrolling for less than sixty seconds before I saw a picture that some female posted. Some half naked shorty was in a picture with my man. His hand was resting on her ample ass, and he had that arrogant smirk on his face that I used to hate but had grown to love.
The fact that his hand was on her behind was bad enough, but when I noticed her hand resting on his dick print, I became infuriated. Wilde was really playing in my face. And he had the nerve to let her post that disrespectful ass picture on social media. My chest heaved up and down as I stared at the way she was posted up in a picture with a man that was supposed to be mine. The time stamp on the photo made me aware that she had just posted the picture less than an hour before.
While I was still pissed, glowering at the photo, Wilde entered my apartment with the key that I had given him. He ambled into my bedroom with eyes that looked like slits. “Damn you still up, baby?” he asked with a lazy grin. “You must have known that daddy needed some of that.” He licked his lips while mine curled.
“You’re at the wrong house for that. Should have gone home with the bitch that had her hands on you.” Jumping up out of the bed, I shoved the phone in his chest so hard that he took a step back.
With furrowed brows, he took the phone and when he saw the picture, he actually chortled.
“That’s funny, nigga?” I barked.
Wilde ran one hand down his face. “G, that’s Jermaine’s girl. Since he wanted to be a hoe and do what he did that night I was in the club with you, I took a picture with his hoe and let her post it. That’s all it was. I been had that hoe. Everybody had that hoe.”
My eyes narrowed as I drew back. “The situation with Drew didn’t teach you anything? You’re still doing that lame ass shit? Using women to make people mad? So, when Jermaine puts your ass in the dirt, I guess I shouldn’t cry.”
The comment about Jermaine made Wilde frown and draw back. “Put who in the dirt?” he looked me up and down as if that was the most absurd thing he’d ever heard.
“You are not invincible! What happened to the Wilde that learned his lesson and is happy to be free? You’re entirely too old for the childish games that you like to play!”
