Page 24

nariah

. . .

Rolling over in bed I tugged my duvet over my head and slid down, burying my head under the cover. It had been four days since Julius, and I argued at my front door. And it had been three days since I last saw Juju.

He’d been calling me from his iPad trying to see me, but I didn’t want to face him until the bruise on my cheek healed. I still couldn’t believe that Julius struck me like that. And granted I said some foul shit but even still he should’ve had enough restraint than to do some shit like that.

I was so embarrassed that I’d pretty much shut myself off from the world and laid in bed like my life was over.

I mean—in a way it was. My relationship issues were being spread across every blog site there was.

Not only that, but someone had also leaked Julius arrest to the public and someone had come out with this story about him beating me to a bloody pulp.

The fact that I hadn’t been on social media made the shit sound true.

Julius would never beat me. Hell, I didn’t think he would ever hit me either, but he had.

When he apologized, I knew he was being genuine because that’s the type of person he was.

Julius wasn’t a bad guy he just had fucked up ways.

All day I had been lying here blaming myself for how out of control things between us had gotten.

Had I kept not giving him any play the two of us wouldn’t be here right now.

But then Juju also wouldn’t be here so it’s kind of like I don’t really regret it because this relationship gave me my son shine.

“Sissy!!!” Lariah yelled from the front. I knew this was all my mamas doing. She’d been over a few times trying to get me out of the house and I refused to leave.

Groaning I kicked my feet like a child throwing a tantrum and flipped the covers back. “Why are you here? Didn’t you just leave town?”

“I surely did.” She popped. “Then mama called and said you was hiding out in the house.”

“I think I got a reason.” I sighed and turned over to face the door.

One look at my face had Lariah’s nostrils flaring. “I’m going to kill Juice ass.”

“Now you see why I’m still in the house.”

Sauntering over to the bed Lariah sat on the side of me and ran her finger across my bruise. “Really it looks better than what I thought. Probably because it’s been a few days.”

“Yeah, it was fucking purple.” I chuckled softly.

“What the fuck were y’all thinking? Mama said Juju was home.”

“He was. Saw it all happen.” I whispered the last part.

“Did he have questions?” My sister probed.

“He did. And I left it up to Julius to clear up.”

“Well seeing as though he did it, I think it’s only fair.”

“So did I.” The look on my baby face was one I would never forget. Had Jude been a few years older I had no doubt in my mind that he would’ve killed Julius. My baby was torn for starters but once the initial shock wore off, he kept telling me how much he hated his father just like I did.

I had to tell him that adults go through things sometimes and it’s during those times where we say things that we really don’t mean. I explained that I didn’t hate Julius, and I could never hate him, but I was disappointed in his actions.

Not once did I make an excuse for Julius because it wasn’t my place to reassure our son that he wouldn’t do anything like that again.

As I’ve stated before Julius is a damn good father to Jude, I couldn’t have asked for a better one.

The two of them had a special bond just like Jude and I had one.

I would never come between that. I left it up to Julius to fix that problem, which is why when he called asking for him, I let him know his mama had him.

“Have the two of you talked since then?”

“Who me and Julius?”

“Yeah. I know he’s not over there letting your mind wonder. I know he’s tried to get you back.”

“He has. I’m not going back.” Concierge called and let me know that I had a few items that needed to be delivered to my condo.

When I found out where they were coming from, I refused them and all future packages.

Since I’d powered my phone off, I didn’t know if Julius had tried other ways to contact me.

Hopping up Lariah rounded the bed, kicked her shoes off, and slid under the covers with me. Pulling me into her she grabbed my head and laid it on her chest. Nestling up to her I closed my eyes and listened to her heartbeat while tears pooled on my lower eyelids.

“Are you sure you’re done Nari?” she queried after a bout of silence.

“I am.” I sniffled. “Two years. They’ve been messing around that long. She’s been at shows with him when I wasn’t there. Been around everybody. They all knew ‘bout this girl and nobody thought to tell me.”

“I’m mad that you expected them to.”

Lifting my head up I looked at her. “That’s my family too, Lariah.”

“Okay and. I’m not refuting that they are. However, that’s a family you inherited , they’ve known that nigga longer than they’ve known you.” Lariah grabbed my head and pulled me back down. Stroking my hair, she hummed while I lay there mulling over her words.

After a minute I finally said. “It’s not fair.”

“Nothing about life is. Juice fucked up Nari, but he’s human.”

I tsked. “Sure.”

“He is.” Lariah laughed. “A fucked up one but you knew that he had it in him. This isn’t the first time.”

“He promised he wouldn’t do it again.”

“And the nigga lied.”

“He did more than lie.” I scoffed. “He was in a whole ass relationship with this girl. They went out on dates and shit while I’m at the crib taking care of his kid.

He was tricking off on her and shit. Flying her out to be with him.

The nigga was really in another relationship. ” I chuckled at the thought.

Julius didn’t just cheat he did his biggest one on my ass. Like what we had didn’t even fucking matter to him.

“So again. What happens next?”

“Well… For starters I’mma drop the charges on him. It wasn’t like the nigga whooped my ass like the blogs seem to think. If I drop them then he should get off with a slap on the wrist.”

“Okay we dropping the charges.” Lariah rattled off like she was making a list. “What else?”

“The two of us will coparent. Eventually I’ll move on and find me a new nigga.”

Lariah stopped rubbing my head. “See bitch I was with you until you said that last part. Now you tryna get all of our ass killed.”

“Girl.” I giggled. “Julius don’t do shit but make a bunch of threats.”

“That he is capable of following through on. Are you crazy?” She fussed.

“Can’t no nigga that I’m not with clock my pussy. Julius and I are done. Fuck y’all think I’m supposed to do. Sit around like I’m fucking Amish.”

“Aye them Amish hoes be fucking more than anybody.”

“Exactly!” I boasted. “Eventually I’mma move on.”

“Yo ass better pray when that time come that yo nigga done went through a few anger management courses.”

“That man no longer belongs to me.”

“He doesn’t have to belong to you. Bitch you belong to him.” Lariah chided. “No seriously though. I’m proud of you for choosing yourself. The last time you went back because you were determined to give Juju something neither of you had growing up.

Just because there’s a kid involved doesn’t mean the two of you have to be together.

Juice knew this was a possibility when he was out tricking off on the next hoe.

Let him deal with whatever being separated comes with.

In the event that you decide to forgive the nigga and take him back I’ll put a ‘dumb bitch’ sticker on your forehead, but I’ll still have your back. ”

“Girl go to fucking hell.” I laughed. “Thank you sissy. I needed this pep talk.”

“I know you did. That’s why I’m here.”

Holding my pinky out I waited for her to wrap hers around mine. “I love you, Lariah.”

“I love you more sissy.”

I won’t sit up here and pretend that my talk with my sister cured my broken heart.

I was hurt as bitch and probably would be for a mighty long time.

I’d been with that nigga since I was eighteen.

Everything I knew about love and relationships was tied directly to that man and now I had to pick up my life and unlearn some shit.

Would it happen overnight? Hell nawl. I can’t say for sure that I won’t double back a time or two.

What I will say is, heartbreak isn’t forever. At some point the rain gotta dry up and the rainbow has to come out. It’s all a matter of hold long it takes.

Turning around in my seat I pulled the Beats headphones down. “Jude, you wanna go eat first or you ready to go jump?”

Pausing his iPad, he looked up at me. “Can we eat there?”

“Sure. If that’s what you wanna do.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Okay cool.” Turning back around I let my driver know we could head to Ninja Kidz .

It had been six months since Julius and I split up.

Julius pretty much got Jude anytime he wanted, the only time the two of them spent more than a few days apart was when Julius would be travelling.

Other than that, my baby was bouncing from house to house.

While it wasn’t the most ideal situation, we dealt with it as best as we could.

Anytime I had to travel for a hosting and wanted Jude with me my mama would travel with us.

Like today, I was booked for an appearance at Omnia nightclub and brought my baby along so that the two of us could spend some time together.

Jurni had my ass so busy that we hadn’t had the chance to have a mommy/buddy date.

When I told him that he and his Meme were joining me on this trip he was so excited. He gave me a list of activities that he was dying to do and before we hopped on a flight back home, he and I was going to do it.

Since I had missed Shunta’s birthday trip, I hit her up and invited her to tag along and since she was still kicking it with her Vegas boo, she was down for the ride. Once we landed and checked in, she parted ways and promised to be back before I left for the club.

“What all you got planned for the day?” My mama asked.