"P! How the hell did that even happen? You two just met."
She shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't know, it happened so fast that I can't even tell you. I enjoyed it, though. Shit, I think too much. I can't stop thinking about it." She was looking up towards the sky in a gaze that told me she was really in deep thought about that shit. Hov and I had a romantic little bonding nap, and those two were out freaking with strippers.
"Damn. So, I guess it's simple to say that you and Emoney won't be tight like you are for long."
"Unt uh. Who said I'm leaving Emoney? My bitch is paid now. Her and I are supposed to go car shopping today and I'm not messing that up for Crew. He is a hoe, and I'm sure he does shit like that all the time. I'll be a dummy to fall for it."
"Well, I ain't mad at that friend. Ball out on that stolen money."
She nudged me with her elbow.
"Sorry, P, but don't you think we should be making it inside now?"
"Yeah. We need to go in before these Castle Hill gremlins come out tonight anyway. You want to come crash on me and Emoney's couch?"
"Nah, I'm going to go up to this apartment and hope that Kairo is gone to see big booty Jessica, who he was fucking. I'm just going to ignore his ass like I've been doing."
We stood up from the bench, but my head was still hanging to the pavement. I hate that I'm in a situation where I can't even go home comfortably because of him. God, please let his ass be gone or on his way out.
"Ci."
Pernelle called my name.
"Yes?"
"Is that nigga hitting on you again? Because if he is, we can go jump his punk ass right now?"
"No, he's not P. He's just being an ass hole because he found out about Ant and thinks he knows about Hov. I'm just so sick of him. I am truly over our relationship right now. I want no parts of his ass."
"And I think that's because you did a few days without worrying about him and saw how free you were. You don't have to be with him anymore, Ciara. Get a divorce and still leave his ass and make him leave, or get you a new spot. No matter how shit goes with you and Hov, do what's best for you. You deserve better, and there is better out there for you, friend. And no matter what, I'll be there for you. I got you, and I love you, girl."
"I love you too. Thanks for always keeping it real, P."
Her and I hugged before separating to go into our buildings.
Once I walked into the building and went up the stairs, I walked up to my front door and put my key in, pushing my body against it, but it wouldn't open.
"What the fuck is wrong with this door?"
Boom, boom, boom.
"Kairo, open the door!"
"I'm coming, Ci, give me a second. It sounded as if he were scrambling around on the inside.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
"What is taking so long? Open the door!"
I knocked harder and louder because this nigga had me fucked up. I know I just left Hov's house, but at least I wasn't lying up fucking in here. He is such a fucking dog for this shit. This is exactly why he has to get the fuck out.
Once the door finally swung open, Kairo stepped back into the apartment with a broad smile on his face, with a backdrop of red roses, balloons, candles, and other décor behind him.
"Welcome home, baby, and happy belated birthday."
The apartment didn't even look the same anymore after he threw away decor, now it was flipped into a whole romantic scene. Rose petals were scattered everywhere, resembling red confetti tossed across the worn-out flooring in the apartment. Bright red happy birthday balloons were floating to the ceiling, and everywhere I turned, there was a picture of us taped to the wall. The photos were some of our best moments and times when I didn't hate him. There was the trip to the museum, the photos we had celebrating our one-year anniversary, and the photo we took the night we got married. I was walking slowly through the apartment, staring at it all until the cake on the dining room table caught my attention.
