12. Diamond Spoon ♔︎

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| King of Hearts |

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By: Janae Destiny

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The Next Morning

Kiara woke up early the next morning, but only because she's so used to being alone in her own house, so the noise from the Heart's getting up and starting their day at 8am was very out of the norm for her. They weren't really loud, but their voices and them shuffling around was still enough to wake her.

"Good morning," Monie walked back into the room to notice Kiara was now awake, and she was wearing nothing but a silk robe tied tightly around her freshly showered body.

"Morning," Kiara grumbled.

She didn't really want to be awake, but she also couldn't go back to sleep either.

"Sorry if we woke you up."

"Nah, it's fine," Kiara sat up in the bed and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "You got a toothbrush I could use?"

"Yeah. There's a brand new one still in the package sitting out on the counter. I got toothpaste and face wash and all that stuff in there too."

"Thank you. I'ma be right back."

"Mmhm," Monie hummed a response. She then left the room to make sure Ava properly brushed and washed her face, put clothes on (that actually went together), and combed the little girl's hair before returning back to her own bedroom.

When Kiara walked out of the bathroom, Monie was standing across the room, naked, with her back facing Kiara as she slid on a pair of panties and put a bra on. And Monie didn't care about being naked in front of Kiara, because it's not like she hasn't already seen 98% of her body already.

And Kira couldn't care less about Monie being naked in front of her so instead of watching her get dressed, she went over to her purse for her glasses. She'd taken her contacts out some time in the middle of the night and didn't have any eye solution to put them back in. And when she put the glasses on, Monie questioned why she hated them so much because she thought they framed her face pretty nicely.

"You wake up early as hell," Kiara went and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"I have kids," Monie said as she pulled on a pair of Nike biker shorts followed by a matching Nike t-shirt. "I don't really have a choice. Some nights I don't even sleep at all."

"That's not healthy you know. You're gonna eventually burn out doing that."

"Trust me, King. I'm well used to being tired."

"Just cause you're used to it, doesn't make it normal. You deserve to relax too."

"Yeah? And when I'ma to do that exactly?" And Monie was genuinely asking. She would love to be able to relax and take a few days off from all of her responsibilities, but it's not possible with trying to juggle life, a little girl, and a teenage boy.

"It's admirable that you're young and doing all this on your own, but you need help Monique. You shouldn't have to be doing all this by yourself- no one should."

"And who exactly gone help me? I didn't grow up with a diamond spoon in my mouth. You see me with a couple of rich ass parents who gone hold my hand through life? No... it's just me. It's been just me for a very long time, and I wouldn't expect somebody like you to understand what that's like."

"Oh wow...," Kiara muttered because that was very obviously a direct shot at her.

"I'm sorry," Monie sighed. "I ain't mean to say that. I ain't mean it like that."

Except she did mean it, she just didn't mean for her delivery to come across so harsh.

"Yeah, you did mean it actually. That's why you said it."

"It came out wrong."

"Don't worry, I'm not mad at you for saying it," Kiara assured her. "We don't pick the family we're born into. We don't plan our own destiny or plan our own futures. And I get that life's dealt you a pretty rough hand, but you shouldn't shit on the people that's just tryna help you out. Cause that's how you end up pushing people away."

Kiara is not blind to the fact that she grew up very privileged. If you look up 'Keenan King' on the Internet, his net worth is said to be over 1 billion dollars between when he was an active athlete and his current endorsements/business endeavors. So Monie isn't wrong when she says Kiara grew up with a diamond spoon in her mouth and parents that do in fact hold her and Luna's hands through life. They paid for Kiara's private tutors growing up, basketball memberships, every car she's ever owned except her current one, and her first condo (the one Monie is currently staying in). Her father even went as far as completely paying off her club without her having to ask and offered to pay the down payment on the new one she's trying to open.

Monie though? Even if she still had her parents in her life she never would have had any of that. Her reality is that she was born and raised in Englewood Chicago, was an orphan by the age of 12 when her and Marco entered the foster care system, got pregnant at 16, almost died during childbirth at 17, and was the sole caretaker of both her child and little brother by 18. And all she's been doing for the past four years is trying to stay afloat despite the terrible shit she's been through.

"No one..." Monie crossed her arms over her chest. "No one is ever nice to me without wanting something in return. And you made it clear this ain't about sex, and that's usually what it is... so what is it? Why you actually being so nice to me? Why you letting me stay here in this nice ass condo for only $5k a month when I should be paying like double that?"

"I gotta have a reason to be nice? I can't just be a good person?"

"People like you aren't usually nice to people like me."

"People like me?" Kiara furrowed her eyebrows. "What does that even mean?"

"You know what it means. I'm a 22 year old single mother who dances on a pole to pay her bills. You're the owner of the hottest club in the south and the daughter of one for the most famous athletes in the world. We're from two completely different words. And if this actually does go anywhere- if this does get more serious, you know it's not just me, right? This includes my daughter and my brother too."

"I'm not blind Monique, I clearly see that you got two kids. Is that supposed to scare me away or something?"

"It usually does. No one is looking to take care of somebody else's kids. Especially not at this age."

"Monique," Kiara just repeated her name.

"What, King?"

"Can you please come here?"

"What?" She said it as if she didn't hear what Kiara just said.

"Come here," she repeated, now holding her hand out to Monie.

Monie accepted Kiara's outstretched hand and let the girl pull her in real close so they were standing directly in front of each other, with Kiara standing nearly half a foot above Monie.

"What do you want, King?" Monie looked up at Kiara, looking at her dark brown eyes behind the clear framed glasses she had on.

"You know not everybody wants to use you for something, right? There's people out there who genuinely care about you and your kids."

"Yeah, okay," Monie scoffed. "I've heard that before and they all claimed they meant it. And look where I'm at now."

"You might not say it, but I know you think you don't deserve better than what you're used to for whatever reason."

"You don't know anything Kiara. Of course I think I deserve better. Who wouldn't think they deserve the best life has to offer?"

"Then why haven't you gotten it yet? If you truly know you deserve better, then you'd have it by now. Yet for some reason you sabotage yourself by getting into relationships with people you know are no good for you. And I'm not making this up, this is literally what you've told me."

"Because life is fucking hard, Kiara. I'd rather feel good in the moment with someone I know won't last long than invest real time and effort into someone and fall in love with them just for them to one day leave me. I can't deal with that kind of heartbreak. And I think that's what I been tryna avoid my whole life."

"So you'd rather keep fucking with people you know ain't no good for you?" Kiara was genuinely asking.

Monie was all for getting with Kiara the previous night when they both admitted that they like each other. But then Monie realized that Kiara really is nothing like the people she's used to messing with- and that fact scared her. Kiara genuinely likes Monie in a way she's not sure anyone has before. And she might actually fall for Kiara, for real this time. And that thought, of genuinely being in love with somebody, scared her.

"At least it don't hurt when they eventually leave. With them, it's already expected. Because whether it's intentional or not, everyone leaves," Monie muttered. "Everyone..."

"Not everyone," Kiara shook her head. "I'll admit that I'm scared too, but I wasn't lying when I said I like you. And don't you think it's time you let somebody take care of you for once," Kiara said very softly, pulling Monie in even closer to her.

"I don't need nobody to take care of me. I don't need you to swoop in and save me like I'm some damsel in distress."

"Now you know damn well that ain't what I mean. And you also know that first part is a lie. Everybody needs to be taken care of Monique, no matter how independent they think they are. And I'm tryna be that somebody for you... if you let me?"

Monie looked up at Kiara for a few seconds, not answering her question just yet. And not because she didn't want to answer, but because she needed a second to process everything. They were both scared, but for very different reasons. Kiara is scared to get her heart broken again, and Monie is scared of truly falling in love, which is a feeling she's never experienced before in her life.

And yet, for some crazy unimaginable reason, they were both willing to try with each other.

"Monique-?"

"Okay," she whispered.

"Okay?" Kiara furrowed her eyebrows.

"I want you to be that person for me," Monie finally admitted because the truth is, she is tired of having everything be on her all the time. It would be nice to have someone else to depend on for once. "I... I do need help. It's just- it's hard for me to admit that."

"I like that you're being very honest about that. It takes a strong person to admit when they need help. Especially after being on your own for so long."

"Just don't make me regret this," Monie wrapped her arms around Kiara and rested her head against her. And Kiara held her back, the both of them just standing there in each other's presence for a while until Monie looked up to meet Kiara's eyes once again.

"Yeah?" Kiara asked because Monie was just looking at her and not actually saying anything.

"Nothing," Monie shook her head. "You're just so beautiful and I like looking at you."

"You're real cute," Kiara couldn't help but laugh, showing off her all white smile since she wasn't currently wearing her open-faced gold and diamond grillz.

"And I love your smile too," Monie can't help but to smile every time Kiara does.

"I like yours too," she gently swiped her thumb across her cheek, gently brushing them across her lips too.

"Mmm... seems you really like my lips too," Monie teased.

"I do. And I really wanna kiss you again too," Kiara asked this time instead of just initiating it like she'd done when they were in the club.

"Then... do it."

Kiara gently placed her right hand on Monie's left cheek and brought them in real close together until their lips eventually touched.

This kiss felt much different than the one they'd shared in the club. This one was much slower, and much more meaningful. It wasn't just a random spur of the moment thing. This kiss was intentional, and was a nonverbal way of saying what neither of them would say out loud- that they wanted each other, and not just in a purely lustful or physical way either

"King," Monie whimpered against her lips when Kiara's hands had found their way under her T-shirt, rubbing up and down on her smooth caramel skin.

"Mommy!" Ava came busting through her bedroom door, causing the two women to end their embrace very abruptly before Ava had a chance to see what they were doing.

"Yes, baby?" Monie awkwardly stepped away from Kiara, not wanting her daughter to know that there was anything more than just a friendship going on between them.

"I'm hungry and Marco won't cook breakfast for me."

"He doesn't have to. I'll make breakfast."

"Uhmmm..." Ava hummed in response to that, not wanting to admit that she hates her mother's cooking in front of Kiara.

"Or we can go out," Monie offered instead.

"Great! I'll go tell Marco and Cameron to get ready!" She exclaimed before running back out of the room.

"Sorry bout that," Monie nervously bit down on the side of her long acrylic thumb nail.

"It's fine," Kiara laughed at their interaction because she thought it was pretty cute.

"You know, I was not tryna leave the house this morning. But I can't even be mad that they both spoiled cause I did it to myself."

"Come on," Kiara held her hand out. "I'll take y'all out for breakfast. And I'll drive cause I gotta stop by my house and change my clothes anyway."

Monie's lips instinctively curved into a smile as she accepted Kiara's hand.

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"Chantal, I'm literally walking into the club right now," Kiara said as she unlocked the back door. "But I'm not staying long. I just came to get my laptop."

"Where's Cameron?" Chantal asked because Kiara had given her the very short story of what was going on.

"I dropped him off at Luna's place after we left breakfast with Monie and her kids. And I think Luna said they gonna go over to my parent's house later cause she wanna talk to mom."

"And y'all still don't know where Keenan is at?"

"Nope," she shook her head as if Chantal could see her through the phone. "Been calling his ass nonstop since last night. And I'm trying not to get worried, but this isn't like him to not answer his phone."

Kiara purposely passed the kitchen to get to her office, grabbing a bottle of water on her way. When she made it to her door, she pulled out a different key to unlock it, but it happened to already be open.

"I'm sure you'll hear from him soon-" Chantal started but was cut off by Kiara's surprised sounding voice.

"The hell are you doing here?" She walked into her office and was shocked to see her father sitting in her desk chair. Kiara was still on the phone with Chantal, bringing it back to her ear to tell her, "girl, I'ma have to call you right back," before hanging up on her.

"So that's how we greet each other now? That's how you talk to your father?"

"Since you've been MIA the last couple days? Yeah. Where the hell have you been?" She crossed her arms over her chest. "Me, mom, and Luna tried calling and texting you about a million times."

"I was in Atlanta."

"You're joking," Kiara laughed, but not at all because the situation was funny. "Do our calls and messages not go through in Atlanta or sumn?"

"I'm sorry baby girl. It was just a lot going and I needed to clear my head-"

"You're 47 years old. You're too fucking old for that shit Keenan," Kiara straight up told her father. "You could have communicated that. You don't just disappear from home for multiple days at a time and not tell anyone."

"I know, and I apologize."

"I'm not even the one you need to apologize to. Mom is a wreck, but I'm sure you already know that. She's still very upset over that huge fight y'all had."

"It was pretty bad," Keenan shook his head. "We ain't never fought like that in our lives and we been together literally forever."

"What was the fight even about?"

"Cameron. And I'm pretty sure she already told you, so there's no need to hide or lie to you anymore. It's been a long ass few months keeping that shit from y'all since I found out."

"Why were y'all fighting over Cameron?"

"Because she wants to uproot him from his entire life in Jamaica and bring him here like he doesn't have a family and friends back home. And the only reason she wants to pretend to be a fucking mother to Cameron now is because she feels guilty about giving him away all those years ago. And I told her it's too late to try and be a mother to him, he's 14 years old. He doesn't even want to live here, and he doesn't want to stay with her, but she doesn't care. She's only doing all this now in an attempt to make herself feel better, not even realizing what this is all doing to Cameron."

"So is that why y'all really getting divorced?" Kiara inquired. "Cause you don't wanna raise another man's kid?"

"No, not even a little bit. Our divorce ain't got shit to do with Cameron. Y'all know I love that boy, and that ain't gonna change just cause I found out Chloe is actually his mama."

"So what is it then?"

"It's just time. I feel like our marriage has been over for years now. I still love Chloe, and I always will, but we've both made a lot of mistakes. A lot of mistakes that have caused us to grow further and further apart over the years."

"You cheated on mom. That was the first mistake, wasn't it? You cheated on her years ago, and that's the reason y'all split for a couple years when I was like 12. That's when she started messing with Cameron's father, whoever that nigga even is."

And Kiara didn't state it as a question because she already knew she was right. That's exactly what had happened. So in the end, she was right. Keenan did in fact cheat on Chloe. And when she found out, they separated for two years and were contemplating ending their marriage right then and there. But the high school sweethearts wanted it to work so bad that Keenan begged for them to get back together- but Chloe knew he would never take her back with another man's child. And at the time, she was already too far along in her pregnancy to really do anything about it except have the baby.

Chloe had put Keenan off for months, claiming that she just wasn't ready to take him back yet, when the whole time she just couldn't. But after her very spontaneous five month visit to Jamaica to 'help out her family', she came back with a change of heart, all of a sudden ready to take Keenan back.

"Yeah... you're right," he reluctantly admitted. "I was being unfaithful a long time before Cameron ever came around. That's why I can't be mad. I'm the one who fucked this up. And it's crazy cause I still love her. I'ma always love Chloe no matter what."

"I fucking knew it," Kiara crossed her arms over her chest. "I just knew it. All that shit you see in the media about pro athletes, but I wanted so bad to believe you were different."

She didn't want it to be true, but she just knew it was. Keenan was one of, if not the, top athlete in the league when he was in his prime. Everywhere he went was littered with groupies and pretty girls throwing themselves at him. Temptation is a very real thing, and Keenan King gave into it more times than he'd like to admit.

"I'm so sorry Kiara. To you and Luna."

"Daddy, I don't think me or Luna are the right people you should be apologizing to. You know who you gotta talk to, and it's not us."

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