Page 24 of Love's Most Wanted

For a second, I thought she was serious, and I was low-key with the shit.

“Right. Niggas gon’ forget about this shit and start booking you again, watch.”

“No.” She shook her head, gripping the edge of her couch and looking down at her slipper covered feet. “Society doesn’t forgive women that easily. I will always be the home wrecker.” She picked her head up. “But makeup is what I love, so I’m going to have to pivot because I can’t give it up. I’m thinking of starting my own makeup line. I’ve always wanted to, but the current events have forced me to focus on it sooner. I’m gonna start small with some glosses or lipsticks or both and then expand.” She shut her notebook that sat on the coffee table and said, “Gonna get my business plan together so I can hopefully get a bank loan for startup money.”

I liked listening to her talk, and I guessed it was because I wasn’t used to females like Kabrina. Daisy didn’t speak on shit like goals and what she had planned for life. She posed for social media and collected a check for it. As for Aurora, she did YouTube and worked front desk for some cosmetic company and seemed to be content with shit staying that way. At least that was what I assumed because she never spoke on what her actual fucking plan was.

“That’s a good ass idea. You a hustler, I see.” I nodded in approval.

“I have to be. I’ve never really had anything given to me or done for me, and I guess that’s why I took it so willingly and happily when AJ offered it.” She shook her head at herself seemingly. “It was nice to kick my feet up for a while, but I realize all that shit comes with a price.”

“Not always,” I said, making her look my way for a moment. “Sometimes people do shit for others because they care and don’t expect shit back.”

“I can’t see you doing that, so you must be speaking on someone else,” she jested, flashing her pretty smile.

“Nah, I am talking about me. I didn’t rent out my studio for a little bit of nothing because I want something or need shit from you, Kabrina,” I replied, making her smile drop. “I did it because I give a fuck.”

“Why though?”

“To keep it real, I don’t even fucking know, but I do. You just seem like you don’ had it hard for a long time, and a nigga wanna provide you with some relief.”

She stared at me for a while, her brown eyes moving across my face for a beat.

“You’ve done enough.”

“Well I got connects within St. Thomas Financial, so when you ready for that bank loan, let a nigga know.”

“Oh yeah, your stepfather started it, right?”

“Nah,hisgreat grandfather did, but it’s been passed down, so now my brother is running shit.”

“That’s amazing. Our people need to keep doing shit like that.” She nodded. “But again, I appreciate you, but I cannot keep taking things from men whether it’s given freely or not. I don’t ever want to be in this position again.”

“No offense, but you took shit from a boy. Men don’t take shit back.” She shifted uncomfortably at the sound of my statement, darting her eyes away from mine. “Can I use ya bathroom or nah?”

“Of course, Unique.”

“I don’t know. You females be funny acting with shit like that.” I stood, making my way toward the bathroom as Kabrina talked her shit.

After taking a piss, I washed my hands, smirking a bit at all the girly, frilly shit she had in this fucking bathroom, including the loud ass scent plugged into the wall. Everything Kabrina did made me feel some type of fucking way.

After dropping the paper towel to dry my hands into the trashcan, I stepped out into the hallway to overhear Kabrina on the phone. I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop on her ass, but when I heard the word termination, I couldn’t help the shit. I waited as she finished gathering all the information like prices and shit, then started out into the living room once I was sure she’d hung up.

“I know you were back there listening,” she said as soon as I pulled up and sat on the couch. She chuckled subtly when I couldn’t think of a timely response. “I’ll be seeing the doctor in two days, and she will be able to give me the conception date. I want an abortion regardless, but I am sure this is AJ’s, and I will let you know what she says.”

“How you feel about that shit?” I quizzed, and my question seemingly caught her off guard.

“Umm, I’m okay. I guess. It’s an unnecessary expense, and though I never saw myself getting this done, I know I would regret it if I didn’t.”

“Even if it’s mine?”

“Unique.”

“Aight.” I threw my hands up.

“I don’t want you to be offended by anything, but you know deep down me being pregnant by you isn’t ideal for either of us. Just like this marriage. We want different things in life. I want a monogamous relationship, a marriage built on love, and children made out of the same. You want to be a playboy superstar.”

“Yeah. Sometimes.” I leaned forward.