Page 36 of Love's Most Wanted

“Hello?” I picked up, not even taking the time to peer at the screen. I didn’t talk to many people, with the exception of my aunt, previously AJ, and lately Unique.

“I thought public embarrassment was enough for you.” The soft voice came through, making me pull my iPhone from my ear to see who it was.

Zosia.

I remembered her soft, airy voice from the party as she asked AJ what the hell was going on. I tried not to call her names in my head because she had the right to be mad but it was getting harder and harder.

“Why are you calling my phone?” I frowned, shutting my laptop.

“Why the hell were you calling a married man’s phone? You can’t claim you didn’t know now,” Zosia replied.

Exhaling, I chuckled. “Trust me, girl. I wasn’t calling him for the reason you think I was. And that was weeks ago. Why the fuck are you just now making noise about the shit?”

“Oh, I know exactly why you were calling him, Kabrina. What the fuck kind of name is that anyway?”

“Look, I get that you’re upset, but this ain’t the way. If you wanna know why I was calling your nigga weeks ago, ask him and let him tell you. I don’t want his ass. I didn’t know about you. No one knew about you. The public may be on your side, but they didn’t know you were his wife either, and the nigga wanted shit that way. So if you wanna be mad at someone, be mad at his ass.”

Ignoring everything I’d just said, she hollered, “Bitch, I know you called him for money! You’re not getting shit anymore! The days of him funding your broke ass life are over!”

“No, bitch. I called him so he could pay for my abortion! And you know what he said when I asked? That he wanted his child!” I barked into the phone, now standing instead of sitting on my bed.

I didn’t want to be this girl, arguing with the wife over an ain’t shit nigga, but she was tapping on my last fucking nerve. I just prayed she had even a piece of all the smoke she had for me, reserved for her damn husband.

“Abortion?” Her snarky tone had vacated the premises. “You’re lying.”

“Okay. I’m getting off the phone now. And I’m blocking this fucking number, so don’t even try to contact me again.” I hung up, not allowing her to say shit before blocking the number.

I couldn’t stop shaking my fucking head. I wondered if AJ’s punk ass was sitting right there as she talked on the phone.

This whole debacle bothered me probably more than the average woman because of my mother’s life. I hated AJ for all he’d done, but especially for publicly painting me out to be the very type of woman I despised.

I plopped back down on my bed, no longer in the mood to do research of any kind. I started to wonder what was the fucking point when I was a pariah at the moment. People barely wanted me to do their makeup, so why the fuck would they buy my products? I could feel the depression seeping in just as my phone rang again, Unique’s name popping up.

I didn’t want to answer, but the man had saved my ass on several occasions, and maybe he had an update on our annulment.

“Hey.” I did my best to sound like I wasn’t on the verge of tears.

“Sup. What you doing?”

“Just doing some research.” I dabbed my eyes with my wrist. “Why, what’s up?” I queried in an exasperated tone.

“I’m hungry.”

“Okay?” I felt my brows dip.

“So let’s get something to eat. I know you got time for yo’ fucking husband, Kabrina. It’s imperative that we spend some time together. You know, keep shit fresh.”

“Unique, I am not your wife in that… sense. Secondly, you have two women that would be happy to accompany you while you eat.” I exhaled. “Plus, my day is not going well, and I’m not in the mood for company.”

“I do have two girlfriends, but I want to go on more of a friendly outing. I ain’t trying to be boo’d up.”

I chuckled unintentionally.

“So you’d rather go with your wife? That’s the epitome of being boo’d up.”

“Not really, ’cause like you said, you ain’t my wife in that… sense.”

“Unique, no.” I shook my head. “I don’t know what the hell you’re trying to do, but it’s not going to work. In fact, it’s only going to piss me off,” I stated honestly.