48

The next day: Christmas Eve...

Stephanie

It's Christmas Eve and I don't know what we're going to do today. I definitely don't want to stay in the house with my parents, and I think everyone else feels the same way.

Angel just woke up and I guess she decided to come in my room and chill with me and Jd.

I yawned as I laid next to Jaceyon and Kai. "Man what time is it?"

"6:00." Angel replied playing on her phone.

"Fuckkkk it's early!" I exclaimed as I stretched.

"Steph, can we go back to Momo house? I like it better over there..." Angel looked up from her phone.

"Me too." Jd sighed. "It's so boring over here.." He frowned and picked Kairi up. "See even Little Butt not having fun..." He held her up.

We laughed looking at her blank face. "Awwww TT baby.." I cooed to her and she smiled.

"I'll have to see what they doing today though. It's Christmas Eve, so I know ain't nobody gotta work." I said shaking my head.

My door opened and we all looked up at it. It was Dave. He just stood in the door looking at us; squinting his eyes confused.

Me and Jd started laughing. He pulled out his phone. "Look at this ugly ass nigga yo." He zoomed in on his face. "Ugly as fuck." I co-signed and we snickered.

Dave hid his face. "Leave him alone y'all! That baby tied.." Angel cooed. Jd put his phone down.

Dave walked over to Angel with his arms out. He climbed on the bed and into her arms. She rubbed his head as she held him.

"Awww, y'all so ugly." Jd smiled. They both stuck up a bird at him.

My phone began to vibrate out of control. I looked down at it.

Uncle D ❤️ is calling...

"Hello?" I answered it, smiling. "Good moaningggg niecey!"

"Good morning Unc!" I exclaimed back and everybody's eyes lit up. I put the phone on speaker.

"Say, Momo cooking breakfast fa everybody. Y'all come on and slide thru!" Just as I was about to say something he stopped me.

"And youen gotta put on no clothes niecey... I already know how you is: 'Unc I-Ian got no clothesss onnnn!'" Everybody laughed.

"Whatever, bye nigga! We'll be there!" I chuckled. "Bet!" He hung up the phone.

Angel hopped up. "Yes! We going back to Momo houssseee!" She sang to Kairi.

"Damn Angel!" Jd yelled almost scaring Kai.

"Nigga what?!" She scrunched her face up. He put his hand over his nose. "Yo breath stank!" He said sounding like 5 year old.

We all burst into laughter. "You just woke up, then wanna come over here and blow it in somebody face!"

She slapped his head. "Bitch fuck you!"

***

"GOOD MORNING!" We all yelled as we walked in Momo's house. "HEYYY GOOD MORNING!" Everybody smiled and yelled back.

Rudy came up to me first hugging and kissing me. "Okkkaaaayyy Rudy! Movvvvve!" I yelled trying to push him off me.

"But I missed you..." He said holding me tight.  "Awwwwe!" Everybody in the room cooed.

"You just saw me lastnight!" I laughed and he let me go. We walked through the living room to the kitchen to see Momo at the stove cooking.

"Hey Momo!" We all exclaimed. "Heyyyy my beautiful granddaughter and handsome grandsons! Oop heyyyyyy Momo baby!" She cooed once she saw Kairi. She left the stove and went to grabbed her from Dave. "Watch tha stove Steph."

I walked to the stove and stirred the big pot of grits.

"Heyy dea my sweet girl!" Kairi laughed. "Yeah say Momo I's a happy baby! Yes I is! Yes I is Momo!" She cooed to her as she pulled her shirt down.

"Is it anything you need me to do Momo?" Angel asked as she sat her baby bag down.

"Yes baby! Take that jug of orange juice, and fill all them plastic cups up for me. Thank you baby." She slightly bounced Kai.

"Alright.." Angel said walking over to the counter.

"Woo I'm so glad y'all in here tryna help me. Cause them sorry niggas in there won't help me do nothing!" She hinted at everybody sitting in the living room.

Kent came into the kitchen sucking his teeth. "What nigga? Say it again." She walked up on him and we snickered.

"Nothing! Alright! Gone grandma!" He backed away from her. "That's what the fuck I thought..." She sat down at the kitchen table.

"Ooh y'all. Y'all should've seen Walt last night... He really got drunk after y'all left." We all laughed.

Walt was the neighborhood drunk. You know that old, loud, drunk man that be at every gathering in the hood? Well, yeah. That's Walt.

"Momo you so messy!" I snickered as I put the lid on the pot of grits.

"No forreal y'all!" She nodded her head. "What he was doing?" Dave furrowed his brows.

"Chile, that nigga got so damn drunk, he pissed all on himself." We all busted out laughing. "And then Rudy asses had him in that living room dancing for a dollar. Ni Ian gone lie, that shit was funny." She chuckled. "That shit was funny there."

My Uncle D came into the kitchen through the back door. "Wuzzam family!" He smiled. "Hey Uncle D!" We all replied back excitedly.

He dapped Dave and Jd up and side hugged me and Angel. "Mama got y'all in here workin huh?" He said and we laughed.

"It wouldn't be her if she didn't. Wassup ma." He went over to her and kissed her forehead.

"Wuzzam son." She said. He looked down at Kairi. "Wuzzam Mama! Wassup?" He cooed to her. She kicked her legs and smiled.

"Aye y'all. Walt pissed on his self last night." We all laughed. "Momo messy self already told us." I said turning the stove on low.

"Oh I should've known that." He smirked. She got up and laid Kai back in Dave's arms. "I'll be back y'all. I'm finna go out here to this laundry room." She left out the back door.

"Hey Unc, what time the mall and stuff close? 6?" I asked as I grabbed the biscuits out the oven.

"Hell yeah. And we all need to go there to to pick mama gift out." He said rubbing his head.

My mouth dropped. "Y'all ain't got Momo gift?"

He sucked his teeth and shook his head. "No! You know us niggas don't know what to get!"

I rolled my eyes. "Nigga all them sisters you got..."

"ASHIDDDD. We'd be better off just giving Ma the money and letting her go shopping herself." He came over to the stove and tried to get a piece of bacon. I smacked his hand.

"Shit Steph!" He held his hand. "Nigga get back. But we gone go after we leave here. Already know it's gone be crowded as fuck in there."

"That ain't no lie." He walked over to Jd and Dave. They started whispering about something, but I couldn't really make out what the were saying because of my cousins loud asses in the living room yelling.

Kent and Rudy walked into the kitchen. "I wanna go." Kent said quickly.

"Yeah, where ever we going we wanna go. And we better get fed." Rudy said rolling his eyes.

"Bitch sit down for we y'all won't be going no where. And what happened between you and that girl last night?" I smirked.

He raised his eyebrows. "What girl?!" I pointed at him. "Nigga you know what girl. That lil thot thot. I saw you leave with her lastnight."

"Mane you so fucking messy!" He exclaimed as he smiled. "Who she talm bout? Kay?" Deon butted in.

Rudy sucked his teeth. "Yeah man."

"Oh yeen know niecey? That's his lil boo." Kent said laughing.

I drew back. "What?! Nooooo Ian know that! Heen tell me dat!" I said smiling.

"Yeah I had to find out too. Heen want nobody to know I guess." Deon said. Everybody laughed.

"You shamed Rudy?" I asked as I went over to the sink, washing my hands.

"Mane nah I ain't shamed. I just... Ion know." He turned around smiling. "Awwwwww!" Everybody exclaimed.

"Iight y'all chill chill." He said as he blushed.

"You still ain't answer my question though..." I took a bit of my strawberry. "What?" He squinted his eyes.

Jaceyon walked over to me. "What happened?" He took a bite out of my strawberry.

"Look at you Jd! You know you and Steph go together: y'all just alike." We laughed. "Nigga stop avoiding the question!" I yelled.

"Right. Cause I wanna know too." Dave said feeding Kairi a bottle.

"Iight.. I ate her cat...." He mumbled. I scrunched my face up. "Nigga you what?" Deon asked.

"I ate her out!" He said louder. Everybody chuckled. "Nuuuhhhhhhhh nephew!" Deon came over to him and slapped his hand.

My cousin Marcus came in the kitchen from the living room. "Nigga you a eat eat?" Him and Kent laughed.

"It ain't nothing wrong with being a eat eat! Y'all niggas mind just young. Rudy ahead of y'all in the game." I said to them.

"She right. It's nothing wrong with that." Jd said kissing my cheeks. "It shoal ain't." Deon said.

"Thank y'all." He smiled. "You're welcome. So, how did it taste? How did it smell?" I smirked.

Angel choked on her orange juice. He stared off into space. "It didn't taste or smell like anything." He shrugged.

"Oooooooo she's clean..." Me and Angel said at the same time. He nodded his head. "Clean cats hard to find nowadays." Marcus said as he shook his head.

"Nah, y'all niggas just be looking in the wrong places." I pointed at them. "HEY YALL THE FOOD READY!" I yelled for everyone in the house to hear.

The door opened and Momo came back in with a clothes basket full of clothes. "It's cold as fuck out there." Dave shit the door behind her.

"You need help folding them up Mo?" I asked taking the basket away from her. "Yeah." She replied, heading towards the living room.

"Alright." I followed behind her.

Angel

After we ate breakfast and sat with Stephanie's family for a while, we went back to her parents house to get ready to go to the mall.

Stephanie said that her parents wanted us back at the house by 5 because they were cooking us dinner.

We parked in the mall parking lot and got out.

"Dave you know you gotta help me with this car seat." I said struggling to convert it into a stroller.

"Come here. Let me see..." He grabbed the baby bag and pushed the button and let down each side. He locked it back. "See there we go Mama!" He cooed to Kai.

"Where the hell these niggas at? They was supposed to meet us here." Steph said looking around.

"SAY NIECEY!" We heard Deon's voice behind us. We turned around and saw him, Rudy, Kent, and Marcus walking towards us.

Stephanie threw her hands up in the air. "Nigga why you ain't tell everybody to come?"

He sucked his teeth. "Man all them folks ain't finna follow up behind us. They don't know how to act; this all we need right here. It's enough." He said and we chuckled.

"You right." She nodded her head. He threw his arm around her and we began to walk into the mall. "I know it."

Once we got in, we instantly saw how crowded it was. We stopped by the mall map by a water fountain. "Shit it's packed in here..." Jd said.

"Yupp, that's why we gone get what we need and get the hell out outta here. After we get Mo gift, everybody gonna split up and get what they need. We all gonna meet back at this water fountain at 4:30; it's now 2:15. Alright?" Steph said.

Everybody nodded their heads. "Alright."

"Okay, bet. What y'all got in mind on getting her?" We began to walk.

"Say! I heard ha talking on the phone to Ms. April yesterday. She was saying how she hope we get her some jewelry or some instead of just giving her money like we do every year." Kent said.

"Did she say anything particular? Like some earrings or some?" Rudy raised his eyebrows.

Kent shook his head. "Nah... Not that I know of."

"Well iight let's just go into Tiffany's and get her something. Steph you got anything in mind?" Deon asked as we turned a corner.

"Yes. Yes I do..." I said smirking.

We walked into the jewelry store and walked up to the glass.

"Ooh what about something gold y'all?" Marcus asked. I shook my head. "Nah, Momo like silver jewelry." Rudy said looking around.

A caucasian woman came up to us.

"Hi, welcome to Tiffany & Co.! I'm Sarah, how may I assist you today?" She smiled. "Ooh, so properrr.." We all snickered at Deon.

"Hi Sarah, I'm Stephanie! We're looking for a gift for my grandmother. She said she wanted some jewelry, and I was wondering if you guys had locket necklaces? Preferably heart shaped?" I changed my voice and moved my hands.

"Okay bae. I never heard your voice sound like that..." Jd mumbled and smirked at me. "Right. She don't even talk like that at work." Angel whispered looking at some rings.

"Sounding all educated and shit..." Dave mumbled following behind Angel.

"Right. She better turn that 'I'm on the phone paying a bill.' voice on." Marcus said. Everyone chuckled, but I quickly brushed it off.

"Yes ma'am we do! Step right over here." She directed us to the case and went behind it. We all looked down into it as she unlocked it.

"I like this one..." Everyone said at the same time, pointing to the one in the middle of the display.

"This one right here?" She pointed to it inside the glass. We nodded our heads. "Yes."

She took it out and we all examined it.

"Yeah dats it right dea niecey." Deon looked at me. "Yeah, it's just Momo style too." Rudy said smiling.

"Yeah but what the hell we gone put inside it?" Kent scrunched his face up.

"A picture fool!" We all exclaimed. He smacked his lips. "I know that much! I'm saying like which picture?"

I looked around. "Damn, Ian even think that far..." Rudy said rubbing his head. "Me either..." Marcus spoke up.

My head shot up. "Ooh y'all we can use that picture that we took that day Uncle D got outta jail! Y'all remember that one? The one we took in the driveway!" I exclaimed.

"Ohhhh yeahhh, we could use that one!" Kent said smiling. "Man that old ass picture. Ion even think I got that bih no more." Rudy said.

"I do, it's in my phone." I pulled out my phone and searched for it. Once I finally found it, I gave it to Sarah.

"Alright, I'll just load it on the computer, print it out, and put it inside the necklace! It shouldn't take more than 15 minuets. You guys can just hang out here!" She said as she walked to the back.

"Alright!" We all said unison.

10 minuets later came back with it all wrapped up. We paid for it and walked out the store.

"Alright y'all, 4:30!" I said sternly. "4:30!" Everyone yelled back. We all went separate ways, but Angel came along with me.

We went into this cute little clothing store.

As I searched through the racks, questions came to my mind. "Angel, did you bring Dave's gift here with you?"

"Uhh.. Yeah.. Yeah I did." I looked up and she was tapping away on her phone. "Mm..." I squinted my eyes at her.

"Ooh this is cute right?" I asked, holding up this cute nude dress. "Yeah yeah..." She whispered as she continued to play on her phone.

I sighed and just put it in my arms. I continued to look around the store.

"Yanno it's a party we have here every Christmas Eve at club called The Sky Bar. Me, Marcus, Kent, Rudy, and Uncle D go whenever I'm down here. Everybody in the city comes out. It's fun. We should go." I said as I picked up a black dress.

After I heard silence, I called out for her again. "Angel?" I scrunched my face up. I didn't get any response.

I looked up and she was gone. She was no where in sight...

"The fuck did she go?" I mumbled to myself. I quickly brushed the thought off.

She's probably in Victoria Secret. She loves that damn store, and every time we go to the mall she has to go in there.

I sighed and continued to shop.

***

When 4:30 came, I made my way back to the water fountain. And just as I suspected, none of their asses were there.

"Oh my god! I specifically said 4:30, and they asses acted like they understood!" I rolled my eyes. "Well, I guess I'll just wait." I pulled out my phone.

10 minuets goes by and nobody shows up. I let out a frustrated sigh.

"Wuzzammmm Stephanie! Ian seen you in a minute babygirl!" I heard someone call behind me. The voice sounded very familiar.

I furrowed my brows and turned around; it was the nigga I used to talk to in high school. I rolled my my eyes. That nigga left me for my best friend that I had at the time.

"Hey Trent." I said dryly. "So wassup witchu? You look good girl!" He smiled at me.

"Thanks." I said looking away from him. "Whatchu doing here by yourself?"

"Um I'm actually not here by myself. I'm watching on some people." I folded my arms. "Mm... Well I heard you up there in NY doing big things mama!" I quickly stopped him.

"Don't call me that. I'm not yo mama." I snapped. Only one nigga can call me Ma or Mama, and that Jaceyon.

He held his hands up and chuckled. "Damn iight iight! You still feisty I see." He smirked.

"Mmhm." I was quickly becoming irritated. "So um can I get your number or some? Yanno to catch up."

I shook my head. "My man wouldn't appreciate that. I'm good luv, enjoy." He laughed.

"Damn so you can't have friends?" He drew back. "Nope." I said dryly. "Can I at least get a hug or some shit?" I took a deep breath.

"Trent, you better get the fuck away from me." I gave him the eye. He knew I'd do some right here in this mall. All those times I beat his ass in high school for trying to play me.

He held his hands up in defense. "So it's like that? My bad babygirl! I still ain't got nun but luv fa you. You look good though girl, you do." He nodded his head as he walked away and I looked at him in disgust.

Damn, don't you just hate when you see your old niggas out in public and they try to talk to you like nothing ever happened? Like nigga you a whole dog, bye.

5 more minuets passed by. I decided to start calling. I dialed Jaceyon's number first. It began to ring.

I soon felt a pair of strong arms wrap around my waist and pull me in from behind. I was about to go off until I felt the familiar pair of lips kiss my neck. "Wassup baby?"

I hung up the phone and turned around. "Where the fuck have y'all been?! I've been sitting here waiting on y'all..." I scolded to them.

"Chill Steph!" Rudy said. "Yeah niecey we just got done shopping." Uncle D said.

I raised my eyebrows. "Together? And no one called me? And where the fuck did you go? I looked up and you were gone." I pointed to Angel.

She frowned and held up a Victoria Secret bag. I sighed. "Come on y'all, we gotta get outta here. It's almost 5." I said walking out the mall.

***

Me, Dave, Angel, Jd sat at the dinner table and ate with my mom and dad. It was quiet and you could cut the tension with a knife.

The only person who said anything was Kairi when she cooed from time to time.

"So Jason, where are you from?" My mom said. "His name is Jaceyon. You know that." I snapped at her.

Jd slightly squeezed my hand under the table. "It's okay mama.." He mumbled and I instantly calmed down.

"Um, I'm from Queens, New York." He replied. "Mm so what neighborhood did you grow up in?" My dad asked.

"I grew up in Queensbridge.." He took a sip of his water. "And what kind of neighborhood is that? Is it like the suburbs?" My mom said as she ate her food.

Jaceyon shook his head. "Um no ma'am... It's public housing. The projects basically..."

"Oh..." They turned to Dave. "So David where did you grow up? I know you're way to put together to have grown up in any projects." My mom said and I scoffed.

I can't believe this...

"Um well actually me and Jaceyon are from the same place. We grew up in the same housing. Same building and everything; he lived in the apartment above me. That's how we met." Dave nodded his head.

"Mmmm.. Mmkay..." My father said. "So, what do you do for a living Jaceyon?"

I turned to him. "You don't have to answer that Bear..."

"Well, actually he does. We need to know how he affords all of these things and his lavish lifestyle." My mom retorted. "He doesn't have to answer t-" Angel cut me off.

"He owns his own business. He's an entrepreneur." She said putting Kai's pacifier in her mouth.

Me, Dave, and Jd looked at her and nodded our heads. I mean, that's basically what it is. It's just not legal...

"Oh really?" My mom drew back. We nodded our heads again. "Yupp." We said in unison.

"Mm." My dad said dryly. "So how old are you Jb?" I stopped him. "JD. His name is Jd.." I said sharply.

"I'm 40..." He mumbled. "Excuse me how old?" They both said.

"40. I'm 40." He said a little louder. They almost choked on their food. "You do know our daughter is 28 right?" My dad said.

"Yes, yes I do." He said nervously. "And you still want to be with her?!" My mom raised her voice. "Oh no Stephanie. This man is to old for you!"

Tears began to sting my eyes and I closed them. "Daddy I'm a grown woman, and I'm very mature."

"Whatever happened to you being with Glenn? We loved him. He was smart and successful. He calls all the time saying how much he loves you and how you two are gonna get married.." My mom started.

I scoffed. "We must be talking about two different people." My mom drew back. "Excuse me?"

"Ma, Glenn didn't love me. He didn't respect me at all. Jaceyon is very intelligent and very successful as well! He treats me like a queen! I don't care about his age! Nobody does, and neither should you!" I began to cry. "Momo nem didn't have a problem with it!"

"Of course the don't! Those people don't know any better Stephanie!" My father yelled. I scoffed.

"He's to old for you Stephanie. We don't care what you say." My mom said and sat back with her arms folded.

I began to feel light headed. "I-I can't do this..." I whispered getting up.

"Wait a minute baby..." Jd grabbed my hand, but I pulled away from him. "No. I tried and I can't J." I mumbled and walked upstairs.

Angel

"I'll go check on her.." I said as I got up from the table.

Once I made it to her door, I knocked on it. "Stephanie... It's me..."

"Come in..." She said barely audible. I walked in and she was sitting on the bed. "Stephanie, baby I am so sorry.." I sat beside her and hugged her tight.

"I don't know why I agreed to come down here..." She mumbled into my chest.

"Listen you're happy and that's all that matters. I love Jaceyon for you and so does everyone else. I wouldn't let what they say change anything." I whispered to her.

"Listen, how about we go out and have fun? It'll take your mind off everything. There's this party that Rudy was telling me about. It can just be me and you. The boys can stay here with Kairi." I said wiping her tears.

"Bitch I tried to tell you about that party. But when I looked up you were gone..." We both chuckled.

"Sorry about that." I said as I fixed her hair.

We heard three knocks at the door and Dave and Jd came into the room. "Steph you good?" Dave asked as they both came over and hugged her.

"Yeah I'm fine now." She weakly smiled. "Baby this is all my fault.." Jaceyon said. She put her finger up to his lips.

"No it's not babe. You didn't do anything wrong. I don't care what they think or what anybody thinks for that matter. I love you Bear..." She pecked his lips. "I love you more baby...." He whispered to her.

"Awwww, Angel look at that.... Two juvenile delinquents." Dave cooed and we laughed.

"Dave shut the fuck up." They both said as they kissed again.

"Hey y'all. There's this part tonight st this club and me and Steph are going. Y'all gonna stay her with Kairi." I spoke up.

"Man what the fuck?!" They both yelled. "We wanna go!" David said as he held his hands up in the air.

"Well somebody has to stay here with Kairi!" I raised my voice. "That's some bullshit." He mugged me.

"Well." I said getting smart. He sucked his teeth. "Man Ion even care." He walked out the room and we laughed.

"You mad David?!" I yelled out. "Fuck you!" He yelled back.

***

After me and Steph got done getting ready, we grabbed our purses. "You ready?" She asked walking to me.

I nodded my head. "Ooh yes bitch... BODY ODY ODY!" She yelled. I laughed as she hyped me up.

"Bitch stopppp!" I blushed. "Come on let's go tell the boys we leaving." She chuckled.

I looked at her as she walked. "Jaceyon is such a lucky man to have you. You're so beautiful." I said to her.

"Awwww.. You gonna make me cry, stop..." She fanned her eyes.

We walked into Dave's room. They were sitting at the end of the bed, laughing about god knows what.

When they saw us, their smiles dropped. "Hey y'all!" Stephanie said excitedly. They just stared at us with blank faces.

"What?" We asked. "Umm... Where the hell y'all think y'all going?" Dave said. "We going out!" I said in a duh manner.

"Yeah we know that much, but in that?" Jd pointed at our outfits. "Yes!" Me and Steph said in unison.

Jd stood up. "Wait wait wait..." He chuckled and walked over to Stephanie. She frowned.

"What's wrong? You don't like it Papa?" She put her arms around his neck and he ran his hands down her sides.

"Y-yeah baby, I love it... And I think you look good, but babe... It's short." He tugged at the end of her dress.

"It's not that short babe.." She whined looking down at it. "Yes it is pooh..." He looked into her eyes.

"Well babe I don't have anything else to wear.." She rubbed his face. "Mmmmm... Mmkay.. Just try to keep it pulled down okay?"

She softly pecked his lips and whipped the lipgloss she put on him off. "Okay..."

"What about me David? Do you like my dress?" I smiled. "FUCK NO! Look at you Angel! Yo bra and panties showing! You can see straight through yo shit!" He exclaimed and walked up to me.

"Well to bad." I said walking over to Kairi and kissing her. "Goodnight mama..." She cooed back to me smiling.

"Angel, Ian playing with you. Go change." He said sternly. I waved him off. "I don't have anything else to wear."

"You staying here then." He said shrugging. "David you can't tell me what to do. You got a whole wife!" I scrunched my face up.

"She ain't my wife. Go change. Or you not going."

"Nigga please, I don't have to do anything you say." I rolled my neck. "You not going anywhere in that."

I looked him dead in his eye and opened the door. "Watch me. Let's go Steph." I walked out of it and down the stairs.

Stephanie unlocked the car doors and we got in. "Bitch he got me fucked up." I said putting my seatbelt on. "Well, on the bright side, at least you know he care." She said smiling.

I straight faced her. "Alright alright..." She said starting the car.

15 minuets later we pulled up to the club. We got out and walked past all the people in the long line.

"Wassup Calvin!" She said to the door man. "Steph! Nobody told me you were in town!" He exclaimed side hugging her. She smiled. "Yeah I am. I've been here for 2 days!"

"Damn ain't nobody told me shit. Yall go on in and have a good time!" He unhooked the rope and let us through.

"Thank you!" We both yelled and walked into the club.

Smoke filled the air. It was crowded as fuck; people were shoulder to shoulder.

"We don't need to get any drinks! I'm sure Rudy nem got bottles up there!" Steph yelled over the music. I nodded my head.

We walked up to VIP and to Deon's section. "Ahhhh wassup y'all!" He got up and hugged us. "Wassup!" We said back and sat down on the couch next to Rudy.

"Wea the guys at?" Kent asked us. "We left them at home." I waved him off.

"Oh nuhhhh! Y'all doing them like that huh?" Marcus asked and we laughed.

"Y'all want some to drink?" Rudy asked and I shook my head. I'm really not a big fan of liquor, but I'll drink the fuck out of some wine.

"Shit I do." Rudy handed her a cup and she began pouring her a drink.

"Ooh y'all! Lemme tell y'all about what mama and daddy did earlier! They showed they entire ass!" She said, taking a sip from her drink.

"What they do?" Marcus said, all ears.

"Hey y'all, I'ma go to the restroom." I said standing up. They nodded their heads.

I walked away from the and down the stairs. I found the restroom and used it. I washed my hands and walked out.

I looked down into my purse as I walked, but I bumped into someone. I gasped. "Oh my gosh I'm so sorry!" I immediately said. But when I looked up, a pair of dark brown eyes were staring into mine. I stared back, taking in his beauty.

He was tall, brown skinned, and beautiful. He had a low hair cut, full lips, and a smile that could shine through any darkness.

"N-no no, it's okay..." He said softly. We stared at each other for what seemed like forever. "My name's Cameron... What's your name?" He mumbled to me.

"A-Angel..." I whispered. He grabbed my hand and softly rubbed his thumb on the back of it. His touch was so gentle; it made my heart flutter.

"Nice to meet you Angel..." His voice flowed smoothly from his plump lips, like butter.

"Nice to meet you too Cameron..." I started to walk away. He slightly gripped onto my hand tighter, but soon let it go.

I took a few steps away from him only for him to hear him call my name. I turned around. "Yes?"

He walked back up to me. "I'm so sorry to bother you but you're just so beautiful... Do you have a boyfriend?"

For some reason, Dave's face flashed through my mind. I'm not sure why though...

I shook my head. "No, no I don't.."

"Is it okay if I get your number?" He asked. I nodded my head and he gave me his phone.

I saved my number in it and gave it back. "Thank you..." He said, still gazing at me. "You're welcome.." I slightly smiled and walked away.

I walked back up to where Stephanie was. "Bitch I just met the cutest guy coming from the bathroom!" I exclaimed to her, sitting down.

"Who the snack you done snatched up?!" She asked excitedly. "Ummmmmm..." I scanned through the entire club and spotted him.

I repeatedly tapped her. "Him! Him right th-" I soon stopped and frowned when I saw him hug a girl from behind and kiss her face.

Stephanie grabbed my hand and help it. "Sorry best friend..." She laid her head on my shoulder.

I sat back shocked.

Man, he was really cute...

***

I stumbled down the hall of Stephanie's parents home with an extremely tipsy Steph on my arm.

"Come on best friend.. We gotta get you to Jaceyon." I said as I walked her to her bedroom door. "Mmkay.." She slurred and giggled.

Once we made it to the door, she opened it and threw her hands up in the air. "DADDYYYY, I MISSED YOU!" She yelled and shut the door.

I chuckled at her and walked to my room. I kicked my heels off and stood there, enjoying the instant relief it took off my feet. I sat my purse down and phone down on the nightstand.

I unzipped my dress and slid it off. I walked into the bathroom and stuffed my hair in my bonnet that was sitting on the counter.

I began to take my makeup off with makeup remover wipes. I grabbed my spin brush and facial soap, and began to wash my face.

I pat it dry with a towel and walked out the bathroom.

I pulled the covers back on the bed and slid into it.

I sighed thinking about the events that happened tonight. I was still bummed about Cameron, but I'm glad I saw it before I started talking to him and it led to something more.

My phone vibrated. I picked it up off the nightstand.

(504) 577-1279: Hey Angel! It's Cameron ❤️ Did you make it home safety?

I rolled my eyes and blocked his number. I sat my phone back down on the nightstand and closed my eyes.

Just as I was about to doze off, my door opened and shut. I opened my eyes.

That's probably Stephanie drunk ass...

I closed my eyes. The covers were pulled back and I felt the bed dip. They slid up behind me and held onto me from behind.

Chills ran all throughout my body. I know that touch anywhere...

Tears fell out of my eyes as they put their head in my neck, taking in my smell.

Usually I would stop him or tell him to get out of my bed, but this time, I didn't... I let him hold me.

I turned around in his embrace, facing him. He held me tighter and kissed my forehead. I felt something wet fall onto my forehead.

He was crying and so was I.

Neither one of us said anything; nothing was said. The only thing you could hear was the silence that rang throughout the room.

Neither one of us asked "Why are you crying?" I think we both knew why we were crying...

David is getting married in a week and all of this will be over. Everything we once had will be over. This will be no more.

The more time passed by, the more my heart ached. Why didn't I just say yes when he asked me to be his woman the first time...

My eyes soon felt heavy. I closed them, falling into a deep sleep.

6,018 motherfucking words.... 😭

Love y'all ❤️ Excuse any mistakes!