Page 21

“Friend, you gone come to Vegas for my birthday?”

“It’s in two weeks, right? The nineteenth.”

“It is.” She confirmed.

Taking a sip out of my drink, I nodded my head. “That’s the plan. Julius has a show that weekend in D.C and he’s taking Jude with him so I’m available.”

“Good. My new friend gon’ fly us out on his private jet.”

“What new friend?” I queried, cause the last I heard Shunta, and her baby daddy was back fucking off.

“Somebody I met at Allure the other night.”

“I thought you was?—”

“You thought wrong.” She frowned and waved me off. “I gave him some pussy a few times and had the nigga thinking we was ‘bout to be a family again. Yeah no.” She shook her head. “I tried and failed.” The way her eyes dipped down I could tell it was more to the story, but I wasn’t going to pry.

Hell for once Julius and I were back to how we were before the whole Miami debacle. The night of my fashion show had ultimately put us in a better position. I wasn’t looking over my shoulder at him or doubting anything he was saying. Can’t really say why it changed but I was happy that it had.

“I’m sorry friend.”

“Don’t be. He did it.”

“I know but still.”

“Truthfully Nariah it’s cool. I knew better than to double back with Rome.”

“You got kids with the nigga though Shunta so it’s perfectly okay if you wanted to give it another go. Can’t nobody fault you for that. And definitely not me.”

“The last thing I’m worried ‘bout is a bitch judging me. Hell, I’m judging myself. Should’ve fucked that nigga and ran his pockets like I usually do. Thinking with fat ma had my ass all sad. I see the light now sis.” She giggled and stuck her tongue out.

“Okay girl. I hear you.” My phone buzzing inside of my purse put the conversation on pause. Pulling it out, I unlocked it and narrowed my eyes at the screen. “This nigga.”

“Nari, what’s wrong?”

Instead of telling her I decided to just show her. Turning the phone around I held it up. Snatching the phone out of my hand Shunta swiped through the pictures. “I know like hell Juice ain’t go out like that.”

“Apparently he did.” Licking the corner of my mouth I thought of every lie that nigga had told me.

According to the post Lariah had sent me Julius had been fucking around with the bitch I asked him about in Miami.

Sis decided to air the nigga out ‘cause he abruptly stopped paying the rent on her condo.

I guess she thought airing him out was going to do something.

If anything, she had pissed him off ‘cause now I had proof that he had really been fucking around.

Handing me back the phone Shunta asked. “What you gone do now, Nari?”

“Oh I’mma leave that nigga.” I stated with conviction. “In fact.” I paused to pull a few bills out of my wallet. Dropping them on the table I excused myself. “I’mma hit you up later.” Thank God my shit was already in my truck. Racing out of Neiman’s café I dialed my mama number.

“Nariah, I already know. Your sister sent it to me.”

“Oh, I didn’t call for that. Can you get Jude from Ms. Norma house. I’m ‘bout to run home and pack us some clothes.”

“Yeah, I can leave right now.”

“Bet. I’mma come get him from you when I’m done.”

“Nariah.” My mama called out. The beeping in my ear indicated that another call was coming through.

Pulling the phone down I glanced at the phone. “Give me a second I’mma call you right back.” Clicking over I sucked in a deep breath before answering. “What’s up?”

“Nariah, where you at?” The desperation in Julius’s voice let me know that he’d been made aware of the post circulating the internet.

Deciding to play like shit was all good I said “At Neiman’s with Shunta. We just finished eating.”

“Bae.”

“Why you sound like that?” I asked his ass. Handing my ticket to the valet I stood off to the side while he ran off to retrieve my truck.

“Like— “ He cleared his throat before recovering. “What I sound like?”

“Like you nervous or some shit.” I giggled to throw him off. “Thank you, sweetie.” I said to the valet after taking my keys out of his hand. After slipping him some money I hopped in my truck.

“Where you headed?”

“To the house so I can put all of this shit up. What time you hitting the stage?”

“Shit.” He dragged out. “In like fifteen minutes. Aye Nariah you good?”

“Yes.” I drawled. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Oh okay.” He sighed. “No reason. I was just checking in with ya. Say Nari, you know I love you right.”

“I do. And I love you more.”

“I’m coming to the crib as soon as I’m done.”

“I’ll be waiting.” I lied.

Julius didn’t let me off the phone for another few minutes. He kept asking if I was okay and every time, he asked I lied. I knew the minute he finished his performance he was gone do the dash getting back to the house. Unlucky for him I would not be there.

The first time Julius cheated I purchased a three bedroom, three and a half bath condo in Buckhead. When I moved back in with him, I kept it. It’s where Lariah stayed anytime she came into town and didn’t feel like staying with my mama.

Julius knew about my condo, even tried to convince me to rent it out but I refused. Lucky enough for me I kept it furnished and move in ready. By the time Julius made it back to the house me nor Jude would be there to greet him.

When I made it to the house I shared with Julius I stripped out of the clothes I had on and threw on a set from Alo.

I took my time packing up everything that I needed because I had no plans on coming back over this way.

I had even went as far as removing my degrees from the wall as well as taking me and Jude’s birth certificates out of the safe.

In the event that I missed anything I had no doubt that Tito or one of the other guys would bring it to me.

Once I had my truck packed down, I stopped by my condo and unloaded everything before going over to my mama house to get my baby.

As soon as my feet hit the pavement my mama was standing in the doorway asking questions.

“Nariah, you sure you wanna leave?”

“As sure as I’ll ever be.” Kissing her on the cheek I stepped around her and entered the house with her trailing a few paces behind me. “Jude.” I called out.

When he ran from the back I smiled. “Hey baby. You have fun at your Meme house?”

“Yes ma’am.” He beamed.

Crouching down I wrapped my arms around him and pecked his forehead. “Good.”

“You ready to go home?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Alright.” I stood. “Ma, I’mma call you when we get settled.

“Nariah, think about him.” She nodded her head toward Jude.

I know my mama wasn’t encouraging me to stay with Julius.

That was the least of my concern, her plight was how all of this was going to interrupt my son’s life and I understood that.

However, I also knew when to hold and when to fold.

And right now, I was choosing me. Nibbling on my bottom lip I looked down at Jude before bringing my eyes back up to my mama.

“I am.” I muttered before giving her a faint smile.

Julius should’ve thought about Jude before he fucked off. Now he was going to have to face the consequences and explain to his son why the two of us were no longer living with him.