Page 41 of Anything Goes

My eyes widened, confused as to why Latrell's mother would be calling me so damn early in the morning. “I don't believe this.”

“What?”

I held the phone up just so he could see the bullshit that I had to endure so early in the morning. “You would think that her old ass would be sleep, but no, she’s blowing up my phone.”

“Damn.”

Shaking my head, I wrapped the sheet around me and eased out of the bed. “I’m just going to answer it. If I don’t, she’s just going to keep calling and the next thing she’ll do is pop up at the school. I really don’t need that.”

“Well, if you want me to step out, I can.”

“No, it’s fine. You might as well stick around. It won’t be the last time that you have to listen to us go back and forth.”

“Nah, I’m going to go whip up some breakfast or something. If I stick around, I’m going to be tempted to say something and it’s in everyone’s best interest that I don’t.”

Realizing that he was probably right, I leaned in and gave him a kiss. “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

Watching as he slid into his boxers, I answered the phone.

I was so caught up in the sight of him that I didn’t even entertain Rochelle with a greeting, but she made sure to let me know that she was on the line. “Alauni, why in the hell haven’t you been answering my calls?”

“Because I know why you’re calling.”

“Which is exactly why you should be answering my calls. I don’t care what went down with you and Latrell. There’s a child involved, so you need to fix it.”

“I need to fix it?” I shouted. “Why in the hell do I need to fix it? I’m not the one that broke it.”

“Look, I know you want to try and put all of the blame on him, but this relationship is made up of two people.”

I spun around, my eyes tightening as I glared in the mirror that sat above the bed. “First of all, there isn’t a relationship between Latrell and me. That shit has been over for a minute. Second, don’t tell me who I can and can’t place the blame on in this situation. You don’t know what the hell I’ve been through, and clearly, you’re only concerned with believing one side.”

“That’s not true. I’m not taking sides here.”

“Oh, please. You can say that all you want, but at the end of the day, that’s your son. You’re going to take his side…even when his ass is dead wrong. This fool has a whole bitch calling my phone.”

“Say what?”

“Yeah, you heard what I said. The hoe that he’s sleeping with, or whatever he’s doing with her, she called my phone questioning me about what I’m doing with him. I’m trying to take the high road, but if y’all don’t leave me the hell alone, all of that shit is going to end real soon.”

Sighing, she said, “I’m not aware of all of the details and I’m sorry that my son has put you in this situation. But we both know that you are the one that’s going to have to be the bigger person in all of this. Just talk to him…please.”

“No, I'm not doing that. I'm tired of going through the same mess with Latrell. It's time out for that. Whatever he has going on with this other woman is his business, but she and I should never cross paths in any way.”

“I agree.”

“Also, I think Latrell is doing shady shit to get back at me for not wanting to be with him. He might not have told her to message or call me, but he made her aware of who I was. He gave her enough ammunition to make her feel like it was okay to act a damn fool with me. That shit isn't cool. So, until he gets a handle on himself and his bitch, I don't have anything else to say to him. Oh, and feel free to relay that message and any other message that I decide to give you. That's the only way he's going to hear from me at this point.”

“Alauni—”

“No, Rochelle, I’m done with all of this shit. I need to focus on me and Layne. I wish that he could do the same, but he’s too busy playing games.”

“Okay, don’t say that. Don’t act like Latrell isn’t a good father.”

“I’m not saying that he’s not a good father. I’m just saying that he needs to put his energy into that instead of worrying about us getting back together…oh, and who I’m messing around with. Clearly, you decided to tell him that too.”

“Excuse me?”