Page 28

"I shouldn't have to tell you. Sweetheart, if you open your eyes just a little, you'll realize Crown has become a permanent fixture in your life. That man loves you."

"I know." I sighed.

"Do you love him back?"

"Ma, please, not today."

"Fine, but eventually, you'll have to have the tough talk with yourself about where he stands in your life and whether you can give him what he deserves from a relationship."

"I know, Ma, damn. When did you join Team Crown? You're my mother. You should be on my side."

"There are no sides in love, sweetheart."

"Yeah, but you never liked Sincere, yet you're standing here with your cape on for Crown when the two of them are the same."

"Crown and Sincere are nothing alike. Sincere was a predator. He was way too old for you. I only allowed it because I knew no matter what I said, you were going to do what you wanted. I preferred you to be out in the open rather than sneaking around. Besides that, Sincere was controlling."

"Ma, he didn't control me."

"He did, and I hate you can't fully see it because he made you think it was love.

Now I won't say much else on the matter because you know I can go on for days.

But I will say Crown loves you for who you are and not who he wants you to be.

Don't think I haven't noticed you wearing your glasses and your hair curly now that he's in your life.

" She winked before starting for my bedroom door.

"Breakfast is downstairs. Put something in your stomach before Chosyn gets here. "

"Chosyn?"

"Yeah, she said something about taking you out with the rest of the girls."

"Why didn't she text me?"

"She knew you'd say no. Come eat, then get ready. She'll be here around eleven."

My mother left before I could tell her to call Chosyn and cancel.

I wasn't in the mood to see anyone, but I also wasn't in the mood to stay in the house.

Staying with my mom was cool, but I missed being in my own space.

Going out with Chosyn would give me the opportunity to get back to my place since I couldn't drive.

Grabbing my phone, I started a new group chat since our old one didn't have Kysre and Kyree.

Me:

Can't wait to see you hoes!

Honey:

Look who found her voice. Lmao.

Kysre:

Not too much on my girl. Happy to see you excited for today.

Kyree:

Big Four!

Chosyn:

Glad I don't gotta drag your ass out the house kicking and screaming.

Me:

Y'all dragging it!

Honey:

We're not, but we'll catch up.

I backed out of that thread and went to Chosyn's.

Me:

How's he been?

"Of course, she calls." I snickered, watching my phone ring. "Yes, Chosyn?"

"Don't yes me, hoe! If you want to know how Crown's doing, call him. Don't use me as a middleman."

"Oh, but he can use you and Ma about me, tho'."

"Crown hasn't called me to ask about you once. I call him to see how he's doing because I know he's hurting."

"Oh."

"Yeah, oh. River, I love you, but I swear to God, you'd better hope I don't slap the shit out of you for how you're acting."

"What?" I smacked.

"You heard me. Wait, hold on, my damn titty is leaking. Wolfie, bring me my daughter," she called out.

"She's chilling, wassup?" I heard him say.

"My boob is leaking. She must be hungry."

"Nah, she's straight. I let her eat some of my eggs."

"Wolfe, she can't have that. She's too young."

"Man, she's good. It wasn't nothing crazy."

"Fine, can you get my pump, please, but the manual one, so River doesn't have to hear all the noise."

"Fuck a pump. I need milk to grow big and strong," I heard him say and groaned.

"Chosyn, I'll call you back. I don't?—"

"No, don't hang up, River. Wolfie, please just get me my pump. Wolfe, what are you... give me back my phone."

I laughed, knowing Chosyn had no wins in the situation. "Wolfe, take it easy on my girl."

"Shit, I can the say the same about you with my brother."

"It's that bad?"

"Depends on how you look at it. The nigga's been moving through the streets with an iron fist, and he hasn't even been joking forreal. He's fucked up, Four."

"I heard he went and saw Rook."

"Old guy with the auto shop? Yeah, he fucked that nigga up. You have Kysre to thank for it not ending in black dresses and tears."

"I'm sure."

"Aye, I don't know exactly what got you hesitant with Crown, but I'ma need you to work through that shit or let him go. Crown's a good dude?—"

"You don't think I know that?" I spat, tired of everyone making me feel like I was at fault. I was the one in the fucking car accident. A piece of my uterus was taken from me, yet I was the one who needed to make things right.

"I never said you didn't, but cut me off like that again, and I'm putting a padlock on your glasses."

At this point, I didn't even know where my glasses were. I've been without them since the crash. I had my mother order me contacts since Crown had somehow always figured out when I did it myself, but they hadn't come yet. For the time being, I was enjoying my limited vision.

"Crown's been through some shit in his last relationship.

The bitch he was with played on his emotions in the worst way.

He spiraled out of control behind it, and it took Honor and me over a year to get him back right.

You got a good heart, but if you love my brother in any way, let him go if you're not ready for what he's offering. "

"Crown won't let me break up with him. He calls Chosyn the fake Mrs. Gravehart." That last part slipped out.

"He calls her fucking what? Take this fucking phone, Chosyn. You gotta take lil' mama with you to the?—"

"No, Wolfe, that's not fair."

"It's not about being fair, my heart."

"Oh, but it is. No one told you to snatch my phone and start talking. Whatever you're about to do, take Phoenix with you. I'll make sure she has extra pampers in case the eggs mess with her stomach."

I couldn't hear what Wolfe said back, but it must've been some type of compromise.

Chosyn got off the phone, saying she had to cater to her man before coming to get me.

I didn't bother asking questions and just got off the phone.

My stomach growled, and the food my mother cooked was seeing more like the move.

Bringing my phone into the bathroom, I propped it up to listen to music while I washed my face and brushed my teeth.

In the middle of washing my face, my phone rang.

I quickly washed the soap from my face and hands, then swiped my across the screen to answer the call.

"Four, where the fuck your other set of eyes at?" Crown's voice boomed through the phone, causing me to smile. He needed a shape-up and his braids re-braided, but he looked fucking good.

"Stop looking at me like you trying to fuck, knowing damn well you can't see none of this sexiness." He chuckled.

"Bye, Crown."

"Hang up on me, and I'm on your ass," he warned.

"What do you want?"

"We need to talk. Come downstairs and eat with your husband."

"Wait, you're here at my mom's house?" I quizzed, trying to get a better look at his background, but his face was too close to the screen. "How long have you been here?"

"Since late last night. I've been sleeping here to be close to you. I dip out in the morning before you wake up."

"Crown—"

"You wanted space, so I gave you that. I wanted to be in your vicinity, so I made it happen while still respecting what you wanted. Now come down and eat, or I'm coming up."

"Fine."

"Hurry up, a nigga's hungry, and Ma threw down. Bring your fucking glasses, too."

I hung up on his ass and wanted to scream.

I didn't have my glasses, and Crown wasn't going to let up about it, meaning I now had to explain to the man who would place hell in the clouds and heaven beneath the earth for me that the night I crashed, I was wearing old ass contacts and that was probably the reason I didn't notice my steering wheel was loose.