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Tiffany let out a nervous giggle. “Y-yeah. I’m going down to Florida next month.

Dr. Miami gave me a price I just couldn’t refuse—” As soon as she said Dr. Miami, I tuned her silly ass out.

It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Arnold was denying my vacation so she could go get plastic surgery, and that only had me more certain that I was going to follow through with my plan to take the time anyway. Fuck him, her, and this bar!

The next morning, I still hadn’t heard from Javon, and I wasn’t even surprised.

He’d been showing his ass, but the way he was acting now only cemented that he wasn’t shit in my eyes.

After realizing I wasn’t going to be able to get through to him, I hit up his fiancée, Neveah.

We’d never been the best of friends, but we’d been cordial enough that I thought maybe she would talk to him.

In my mind, no real woman would knowingly be with a man who was ditching his responsibilities to his kids, but the joke was on me because she wasted no time messaging me back to say that the only kids her man was acknowledging were the ones she was pregnant with.

I read that message ten times to be sure I wasn’t tripping before cursing her the fuck out!

As a mother—shit, as a woman—I would never let a child go without if I could help it.

Even if the roles had been reversed and Javon had made a baby on me, if I was desperate enough to stay with him, I would’ve made sure he took care of his responsibilities.

That was law! But obviously, Neveah was holding on to some resentment, and now was the perfect time for her to let her real feelings show.

The shit had me wondering if she’d low key been mistreating my kids when they were in her care, and I made a mental note to ask them about that, but first I needed to go to the aid office.

I’d really been sparing Javon because I’d fallen into that whole spiel about putting the white man in our business shit that niggas loved to revert to, but now since it was clear that he was really out here only worried about himself, I needed to do the same.

My kids were lacking behind his selfishness, and while I was trying to rub two nickels together and give him the benefit of the doubt just so he could be in their lives, he was barely helping out or being active for them.

I really felt stupid for allowing him to play with us like that, but I was definitely seeing the light now.

I didn’t have any feelings as I drove to the aid office and filled out an application for food stamps.

All of my pride was out the window when it came to Kari and Kani’s needs, so when they asked if I wanted to apply for cash assistance also, I didn’t hesitate.

I needed all the help I could get, honestly.

They even helped me fill out the child support forms. I knew Javon was going to be pissed off once he found out, but at least my kids would have a full refrigerator and proper fitting clothes in the meantime.

The process took much longer than I expected, though, and by the time I was leaving, the waiting area was full, unlike when I came in.

As I stopped at the front desk, I could hear the two girls closest to me giggling and trying unsuccessfully to whisper, but I heard them loud and clear talking about my viral video.

It had been so long I’d damn near forgotten about that shit, but it was obviously living rent free in their heads.

They really should’ve taken it as a warning, though, because if I’d clown at the Gucci store, best believe I’d do the same at the aid office.

“You good?” I questioned, cocking my head at the louder of the two when I caught her staring. She’d tried to play it off like she was just looking around, but I saw right through that shit and clocked both of their uneasiness at me being so direct.

Wisely, she sucked her teeth but still diverted her eyes.

“Giiiirl,” she breathed lowly like I was doing too much, even though she’d started it.

Little did she know, with the way I was feeling, I barely needed a reason to escalate this shit to the moon, but I took her and her friend shutting the fuck up as a sign that they didn’t want that and continued on about my business.

I barely made it out of the door before my phone was buzzing with a FaceTime from Avery, and I tried to shake off my irritation as I answered. “Hey boo, how’s the bride-to-be doing today?” I grinned when her face filled the screen. Being loved on had my girl glowing, and I loved to see it.

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t fight her own smile. “Girl, stop with that bride-to-be stuff. You’re acting like I’m not already married.”

“Tuh, semantics.” I shrugged, finally reaching my car as she giggled at my foolishness. “Anyway, what you doing?” I couldn’t help asking once I noticed the trees behind her, and she let out a low groan.

“Ughh, I’m adding walking a few miles to my daily routine until the wedding.

I don’t know if it’s nerves or what, but I’ve gained a couple pounds, and it has my dress fitting kinda tight.

Shit’s weird to be honest.” Her forehead creased as she spoke, and I couldn’t blame her for her irritation.

If I was in her shoes, I’d be feeling a way about that shit too, especially after dropping twenty racks on my dress.

I’d be on all types of diets and exercise routines.

“Yeah, that is weird, but you know you’re not supposed to weigh yourself too often because our hormones fluctuate daily.

You should’ve called me though. I’m definitely in need of some laidback exercise like walking.

” I wasn’t really a fan of working out, but I’d heard that walking had many benefits, and considering how it was free and something I could bring the kids along for, it seemed like a win-win.

“I did call you before I left, thank you very much,” she said, giving me a look.

“Oh, my bad girl, they were holding me hostage in the aid office. I never would’ve thought that shit would take so long.

” I frowned just thinking about it before noticing the concern etched on Avery’s face.

“What? Why you looking like that?” I could already feel myself getting defensive.

The last thing I wanted was anybody feeling sorry for me, not even my best friend, and despite her not having said anything yet, I already knew what was coming.

“Nothing, I just… I know you’ve always been totally against putting Javon on papers, so I’m just wondering what happened that made you change your mind that you haven’t told me about.”

I shifted in my seat like I was being questioned by the feds instead of my bestie.

I didn’t want to put a damper on her day by telling her about Javon’s latest bullshit or my money woes, but the way she was staring into my soul had me sighing heavily.

“Okay, okay. I tried to reach out to Javon for some help, but he’s still being a deadbeat, so I broke down and messaged Neveah?—”

“Wait, you texted that bitch?” Avery’s eyes damn near popped out of her head.

“I know,” I groaned. “But I thought by now she would’ve let that old shit go.

For the most part, we’d been making things work as far as the kids were concerned.

She wasn’t stepmother of the year or nothing, but I didn’t think she’d be cool with Javon abandoning the kids.

The joke was on me though, ’cause that bitch made it known that her and Javon don’t give a fuck about no kids but the ones she’s currently pregnant with.

” The shit tasted bitter just saying it out loud, and I got pissed all over again.

“Ones, as in plural?” she quizzed, and I nodded to confirm, sending her on a tirade.

“Oh, them babies got her feeling real bold! She must think being pregnant can protect her from getting her ass beat, but I don’t got no problem letting her know her face ain’t pregnant!

I do not play about my godbabies!” As mad as I’d just been, I couldn’t help busting out laughing at Avery’s tough act.

Maasai must’ve rubbed off on her because she was talking like a real mob wife.

“Girl!” I cackled, making her eyes narrow as she brought the phone closer to her face.

“Oh, you think I’m playing? Let me go get my husband just in case Javon’s goofy ass try to jump in! He been needed his ass beat! We can definitely tag team those bitches!” Her breathing got heavier, and the camera began shaking from her picking up speed like she was really going to get Maasai.

I bit my lip in an effort to keep myself from cracking up before speaking.

“Okay, killer, I believe you, but we don’t need you and your groom going to jail while we’re still getting ready for your wedding.

Javon and his seven-year fiancée aren’t worth it.

” And they weren’t. I believed in reaping what you sowed, and I knew at some point, Javon and Neveah would get exactly what was coming to them.

She let out a low hum, still feeling some type of way, but at least she’d slowed down and was no longer power walking to get her husband.

“We definitely wouldn’t be seeing the inside of nobody’s jail, but I’ll let you have that.

I guess I should at least be happy you’re finally putting yourself before what Javon’s bitch ass wants. ”

Nodding, I tapped my fingers together. “And did! Enough about him though, I’m bouta get the kids, and we gone come help you get fit.

Nothing like chasing their bad asses around to get you sweating,” I said, only half joking.

I was ready to move past talk of Javon, but I had to admit, I was in a much better mood since getting on the phone with her.

Using what was going on with Avery as a distraction to my own problems had been getting me through a lot lately, and although it wasn’t sustainable, I was willing to take whatever I could get for as long as I could get it.