Page 27

FEW DAYS LATER…

“Longtime no see.” My aunt Rosabel scoffed as I walked into her home, closing the door behind me.

Sighing, I took a seat next to her on the couch, staring at her side profile since she refused to look at me.

“Aunt—”

“What was that bullshit, Kabrina?” She cut me off, finally giving me eye contact while frowning.

Shaking my head, I replied, “I know it was bad, but I had to have my man’s back. What Kyle did is fucked up, Bell.”

“But did they even think about how his preaching is the way he provides for his family? That’s how he puts food on the table, Kabrina.”

“I get all that, but what about Unique and his brothers? What about the food they needed and the providing they didn’t get from him when he decided he was just going to leave his family?” I felt myself getting upset. I hated this world and how a man’s actions were always excused.

I felt bad for Pastor Manning to a certain extent, but at the end of the day, he chose to be a deadbeat and abandon his children, not giving a damn for one minute how they got by. And to know he had a sick child in the mix but failed to even inform Lisara the insurance was canceled was on another level. I just couldn’t find full compassion inside of me. I mainly felt for Sharon and their children.

“You told me he had a stepfather that came in and did a good job with them. Which now I’m questioning because of their behavior, especially Unique’s.” She rolled her eyes.

“That is true, Auntie, but it’s not the same. I don’t get why men and some of these pick me women think just because a stepfather is present it means that the real father doesn’t need to do anything.” I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter what their mother’s new husband did for them; he was their father. Not to mention, he lied to Sharon. She had no idea he had six kids, a different name, an ex-wife, or that his parents are very much alive. He only cut them out because they wouldn’t cut off his sons.”

Aunt Bell inhaled and exhaled sharply before bobbing her head in agreement.

“I guess I just feel bad for Sharon.”

“So do I. Her children too, but that is it.”

“And I wished it wasn’t in the church.”

“Yeah, that wasn’t the best place, but I also get why they chose for it to be done there. It wouldn’t have the same effect in private,” I explained.

“You gon’ take up for your man, huh?” She simpered, making me grin slightly.

“Always, so long as he’s right, and in this case, he is. I don’t even know my father, but somehow, I think I would feel worse had he been in my life consistently and then just stopped.”

“Why would he even do that?” Aunt Bell shook her head, eyes filled with confusion. “I knew he was suspicious. I’d never heard or seen him in the church circles, and he was always too quiet, never wanting to talk about his background.”

“Yeah, and I think he did it because he could. He knew his ex-wife was a good mother, and because of that, he felt okay with abandoning his children. And because they turned out better than okay, with an even better father figure, he probably fooled himself into believing he did them a favor. But he needs to face what he did.”

“He does.” My aunt looked me over like she was thinking deeply. “I don’t know how you came out the way you did, being raised by me and my sisters, but I’m thankful.”

They always said that some kids grow up to be identical versions of their parental figures and other kids make a point to grow up to be the opposite. I could definitely say I was the latter.

I hugged her, then said, “And you’re wrong about questioning any of the boys but especially Unique. He’s a great man, the best one I’ve ever met. I won’t speak on his behalf because he wants to make it right with you and Aunt Rosette himself, but he is sorry for how he behaved at the reunion.”

“Well, if you say he’s a great man, I believe you because Lord knows your radar is better than mine.”

We laughed in unison as she stood up, asking me if I wanted one of her famous onion and cheese pinwheels.

I, of course, told her I wanted one, so we relaxed together while eating them for the next hour or so, before I let her know I’d figure out when Unique planned to take her and Rosette out.

When I got to my studio, where Unique and I had been staying while we house hunted, I felt overjoyed for absolutely no reason until I realized it was because I knew Unique was upstairs.

I couldn’t remember if someone had ever made me feel like that—just excited to see them or be around them.

Entering through the front door, I spotted my man in all his fine dark chocolate glory, pacing as he mumbled his script lines with a sexy look of determination.

“My bad.” He dropped the thick script he was holding onto the coffee table and started over to me. “I ain’t even hear you come in.”

His once scrunched face was now relaxed and smiling, making mine mirror his.

“Some drug dealer you are,” I jested, throwing my arms around his neck as he picked me up and kissed me.

“That’s why I play a drug dealer. I ain’t got time to be creeping and suspicious of every fucking body. Next time we all out to eat or some shit, pay attention to Sif and Lequay. Them niggas’ heads be on a swivel the whole time. Ain’t nobody got time for that shit. Nigga, we at a fucking baby shower; the Feds is not here.”

I guffawed at the thought while Unique carried me to the couch.

“That is hilarious. I’m surely gonna see next time.”

“Watch what I tell you. Lequay really ain’t got a reason ’cause he ain’t even got a job.” He smirked, throwing his arm around me as I sunk into him while cackling. “How it go?”

“Not too bad. She was angry until I explained it to her in a way where she understood everything. Like I knew, she was more so feeling upset for her friend and her children than Kyle or Devante.”

“Cool. So she down for me to take her out to eat or some shit?”

“She is.” I looked up at him.

“Good. My mama still a little peeved but not like she was when we first told her.”

“Yeah, I knew she would see it you guys’ way. I get her though. I think she took it the wrong way. Like you guys weren’t satisfied with how she raised you. Also, it probably felt like a slap in the face to the man who has.”

“I could see that.” He nodded, peering out of my floor-to-ceiling windows with his lips tucked in. “Long as Prime know that ain’t the case, ’cause it’s not.”

“Better make sure,” I said, and his eyes squinted as he if were weighing my words.

* * *

I was a little nervous as I pushed my cart full of gloss samples out from my kitchen and into the living room where Presley, Analicia, Scotland, Anastazia, and Couture were seated, waiting for me.

Yolani couldn’t make it, which wasn’t surprising considering she was a busy global superstar, but she’d had me mail hers to New York where she would be right this moment.

“Okay, ladies.” I stopped in front of them as they sat on my couch. “So we have three lip colors here, and they are Honey Bun, Strawberries and Cream, then lastly, Red Velvet. I have samples for each of you to try, so you don’t have to share.”

“Okay, because I was about to say I’m sharing with Stazi,” Scotland called out as I handed everyone their gloss kits while we laughed.

“Damn, okay.” Couture commented, pretending to be offended.

“No, I know all of y’all are clean, but if I had to choose…” Scotland shrugged while giggling, eyeing the product in her hand.

“She got a girl crush on Stazi, that’s all,” Presley replied.

“I don’t have girl crushes. But if I was a man or a lesbian, she would be my choice.” Scotland began applying her gloss, literally confirming Presley’s comment. “Yolani too, but I think everyone would go for her.”

“Oh my gosh, not the Stazi Effect working on friends too,” Analicia said, and the girls erupted in laughter. I didn’t know what the Stazi Effect was, but seeing them crack up made me smile anyway. Peeping that I didn’t get it, Analicia added, “My sister—when she was single, let me be clear ’cause we don’t need Asif popping up—used to have men eating out the palm of her hand and trying to marry her in two weeks.”

“Lies.” Anastazia giggled, checking the color on her lips in her compact mirror I’d provided them all. “And I love you too, Scotti.”

“That’s a good problem to have, Stazi,” I said.

“Yep, until a man goes too far,” Couture said, and the ladies agreed. “These are all beautiful, but I think my favorite is the baby pink color.”

The ladies followed Couture’s lead, commenting on what their favorites were.

“Any critiques? Be honest because I want to take these to a distributor after I launch, and I need them to be perfect.”

The women looked at each other before they all shook their heads to say ‘no.’

“It’s thick but not too much, and I can tell it’s going to last me for hours,” Anastazia said, smiling, and the other ladies had the same sentiments.

“Well, since you guys like it, would you be up for doing a photo shoot? I wanted to have everything set up to show the distributor, and I figured why not use the beautiful ladies I knew. I could pay you something but?—”

“You don’t need to pay me,” Presley interjected.

“Me neither,” Analicia replied just as the rest of the ladies said the same.

“Okay. Well, I will, at the least, set shit out for you, so plenty of food, desserts, and the best champagne on set,” I promised.

“Sounds perfect. I can’t wait to see this blow up because it definitely will. Don’t forget us little people when you start selling out,” Couture said, and I thought that was nice of her.

It meant a lot hearing such encouraging words from a successful woman like her. This whole friend group was inspiring to me, none of them riding the coattails of their men and making their own very good money. Even better, they still got spoiled, and that was my kind of living.

We all agreed that we were a bit peckish, so we left to go to the café down the street from my studio apartment and had lunch there.

During, we planned the best day and time for everybody since all of us were pretty busy, especially them. Yolani had texted me as we left, parting ways, to ask if I could send more glosses to her video shoot and she would pay for it. I didn’t even need her to pay because her using my shit on set was promotion I could never pay enough for, but she refused to take it for free.

I was on cloud nine by the time I got back home, running a warm bath and picking out my clothes for the night with no issue. And because of that, by the time Unique got to me, I was ready, surprising him.

“I just knew I was gon’ have to wait at least an hour for you to get yo’ shit together.” He pecked me lightly so my lipstick wouldn’t transfer much.

Chuckling, I replied, “I know, but I had a good day today. Also, the new stuff you took me shopping for made it easy to pick out an outfit.”

“Word?” He smiled, towering over me and just staring down into my face. “I like seeing you like this, love.”

“Me too.” I hugged his torso because, even in heels, reaching his neck took effort. “Most of it, thanks to you.”

He kissed my forehead, then my lips before saying, “I can’t believe I was in ya presence for years and almost let you slip through my fingers.”

“Good thing you didn’t. You would’ve missed out.” I grinned, but he kept a serious face.

“Real shit.” He pecked me again then asked, “Got everything?”

“I do.” I grabbed my tiny Chanel bag that cost way too much from the kitchen bar before walking out with Unique hand in hand.

Tonight was some industry party that Unique and I were attending. It was being thrown by the head of the network, and though he said he didn’t want to go, it was good for him to show his face. He let me know we’d only be staying for about half an hour because the people at these parties weren’t his scene. Most were implants and not LA natives, who were often the ones contributing to the LA people are fake narrative.

We made it to the big venue in Bel Air where valet took the car, giving Unique a pickup ticket. The music playing inside of the place was like some instrumental R&B, which was expected.

“These niggas don’t want nothing interfering with their boring ass conversations,” Unique explained as I held onto his arm as we entered the party.

“Makes sense.” I laughed, taking it all in.

There were so many celebrities, even ones I recognized from movies when I was a child. It was surreal, and I realized some people were at a level of famous that would have you starstruck no matter how many celebrities you’d been around, like Yolani.

When we bypassed a table covered in lines of coke, it took a hell of an effort for me to not stare at the ones who were partaking. Unique caught my eyes, so I bucked mine. He could only shrug and shake his head.

“That’s normal.” He grabbed me a flute of champagne.

“You’ve tried?” I took a sip.

“No. The most I’ll do is hit the blunt here and there—my own shit only though. I’m straight on all that other shit,” he replied, and I nodded, already figuring just that.

He and I meandered through the party meeting all kinds of people until it was time to sit down and have a meal. I had to pee, so Unique escorted me to the bathroom after making it clear that us parting in any way, shape, or form at this party wasn’t going to happen.

The bathroom was beautiful and luxurious as ever. So after admiring it for a few, I relieved myself then stepped out to wash my hands while my husband waited outside of the door.

Shortly after I did that, so did Tamira Weathers.

I tried to ignore her, but of course, she couldn’t let me be great.

“I mean, I guess I get it.” She looked at my ass and chuckled before soaping up her hands.

“What?” I frowned, unable to just ignore the bitch.

“You’re cute, and you have a nice body. I get why Unique wants to ruin his career over you.”

“Ruin his career?” I played dumb as if I didn’t know what her predator ass had going on.

“Yep. You’ve made him lose focus. He’s not performing like he usually does.” She snatched up one of the thick paper towels to dry her hands as she looked herself over in the bust mirror. “This’ll be the last season of Dough Boyz, and who knows what work Unique will be able to find after that.” She began touching up her lipstick.

“I see.” I nodded. “I find it odd that you’re supposedly happily married, yet you’re so hard up for dick you have to threaten careers over it,” I said, and that caught her by surprise. She almost broke her neck to look my way. Moving closer and leaning on the porcelain sink a bit, I said, “If you do anything to jeopardize all that Unique has worked for, I will tell everyone what you do. I’ve already met other young actors who said you did the same shit to them, and they’re more than ready to tell it all if they can get Unique on board,” I lied.

I knew no one she’d done this to, but predators like her didn’t just have one victim. I was sure the bitch had a whole arsenal.

Tamira opened and closed her mouth before, I guess, realizing she had no comeback and storming out.

As soon as she left, Unique cracked the door, looking me over to see if I was okay. He was just as surprised as I was that she was in here. It was clear that she’d been in the bathroom prior to me arriving.

“You aight, love?”

“I am.” I faked a smile, drying my own hands and meeting him at the threshold.

Deep down, I felt terrible for what I’d just said to Tamira. Not because of her but because I knew Unique didn’t want their situation being exposed, and he’d told me in confidence.

While I didn’t think Tamira would go telling, the fact that she knew I knew could possibly have terrible repercussions, and it would be all my damn fault.