Page 36

"River, you have a man now, so I'm sure he wants to do something special for you."

"Yeah, okay," I scoffed, rolling my eyes.

"Uh huh, what's with the attitude? I thought you and Crown were good. I see he gave you your glasses back."

"Bitch!" I laughed because she didn't even know the half of what I had to do to get my glasses back. "That nigga didn't have a choice but to give me my glasses back. At first I played along using the cane, but then I saw how serious he was so I sucked his dick."

"Yesss! That's my muthafuckin' friend!" She giggled. "Put that wet ass mouth to use!"

"Wait, how do you know how wet my mouth is?" I laughed.

"Don't act like we didn't sleep in the bed together. Every morning you woke up with drool around your mouth."

"Shut up! Anyway, when that didn't work, I took it a step further and threatened to take my ring off."

"You didn't," Chosyn gasped, glancing from the road to look at me.

"And did!"

"What he say? I know he was pissed. That man doesn't play about your glasses or those rings."

"He said if I take the ring off, I'ma have to see him. I don't know what he meant by that, but you see, I got my glasses back right." I smirked.

"Trust me, seeing Crown is something you don't want." She snickered.

"Why not?"

"Because that nigga is crazy."

"Okay, but so is Wolfe."

"That's different. I match Wolfe's crazy. He and I can go toe to toe. Crown's crazy is unpredictable. He'll do some outlandish shit, then look at you like you're the crazy one."

"Bullshit."

"Okay, don't believe me." She shrugged. "But I heard from Wolfe that Crown killed his last girlfriend with his dick."

"What!" I blurted, spitting out the water I'd just sipped.

"Bitch, don't be spitting in my car."

"Fuck this car, Chosyn! What do you mean he killed her with his dick?"

"I don't know the specifics. All I know is Crown caught her doing something foul and killed her with his dick."

"How is that even possible?"

"I don't know, but don't say anything to him about it. Wolfe said his ex is a sensitive subject."

"Then why tell me? You know I have a million questions."

"I told you because you need to understand just how crazy the man you fell in love with is. What he's shown you thus far is child's play. If you ask me Crown is taking it easy on you."

"Easy on me?" I frowned. "What the hell has Wolfe done to make you lose all common sense?"

"Fuck me right. Love me right. You know the regular stuff.

" She laughed. "No but forreal, had I been your nigga, and you told me that you needed space after getting in a horrible accident, I would've tied your ass up in a crib where only I could find you.

The two of us would've been on bed rest together.

Then your stupid ass had the nerve to wear some old ass contacts just to feel closer to a nigga who is six feet in the dirt, body probably decomposing and covered in maggots. "

My brows rose in shock.

"Don't look surprised hoe, I know you, River. Crown might not know River, but I do."

"Chosyn—"

"Nope, I don't wanna hear it. I get that you loved Sincere.

Y'all relationship was perfect, but that nigga is dead, River.

He's not coming back and while you're pining for a fucking corpse you have a man willing to do whatever behind you.

Crown can be a lot at times, but one thing you can't deny is his love for you. "

"I know."

"Then fucking act like it. Talking about why can't we do brunch on your birthday ," she smacked. "It's not just us anymore. You have a man who wants to go above and beyond for you, so let him."

"I'm trying, but it's hard."

"Why?"

"Because Sincere—" I shook my head. Telling Chosyn that the man I couldn't let go of, put his hands on me and my tainted my birthday right before he died, felt like a betrayal. Not toward Sincere, but our friendship.

"Tell me something, River," she urged, softening her tone.

"I... Sincere... do you remember my birthday that started us doing brunch together every year?"

"Yeah. You were upset but wouldn't tell me why. I didn't pry, instead I got you turnt."

"Right!" I giggled, remembering how Chosyn was practically feeding me shots. "The night before, Sincere never came home. On my birthday, he came home around eight or nine with roses. They were apology flowers. Anyway, we got into it because he hadn't planned anything for my birthday."

"Yeah, but Sincere never planned anything for your birthday."

"I know, and normally it didn't bother me, but this time it did. We weren't in the best of places, and I thought he might've been cheating on me."

"River—"

"Let me finish, Chosyn. We got into it. He choked me, then asked who I wanted to spend my birthday with... you or him. I picked you, thinking he was going to fight for me to spend time with him. He didn't, and then he died." I stared down at my hands, fighting back the need to cry.

"River." She sighed, pulling into a parking spot. "Why didn't you say anything? You paint Sincere to be this perfect man when he was flawed, just like any other man."

"I wasn't painting him to be anything. I speak on Sincere, how I remember him."

"Well, maybe that's the problem. In your mind, Sincere is this perfect monumental figure, but that's not an honest depiction of who he was. I won't say much else, but you're lying to yourself, River."

I sighed in frustration.

"Whatever he's done wrong in your relationship, you're suppressing it. I'm not sure why, but maybe if you start back your sessions with Monica, you’ll figure it out, move on, and be happy with Crown."

"Is that why we're here?" I asked, noticing she was parked in front of Monica's office.

"I'm here for a session. I brought you along so you can talk to Rook. Crown fucked him up, so he's scared to come see you or call."

"Oh, okay."

"I wouldn’t force you to do anything you don't want to, but if you keep going down this path, you might lose Crown." With that, Chosyn hopped out the car and headed into Monica's office.

I stayed behind, allowing myself to go through the emotions our conversation stirred up.

Some time passed, and I remained seated, staring at nothing and letting tears fall.

My chest ached, but I kept my breathing controlled.

Falling apart quietly made it hurt less.

Hearing my phone ring, I grabbed it and saw it was Crown, wanting to FaceTime.

I quickly wiped away my tears, forced a smile onto my face, and answered the phone.

"Hey," I sang, only for my voice to tremble.

Crown's stare deepened, his brows drawing together.

"Crown," I croaked.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." The second I said it, dissatisfaction plowed his brows. "I'm fine, Crown."

I wanted him to believe me, but knowing Crown, he wouldn't. The man had my moods, expressions, even the different tones of my voice, mesmerized like grandma's favorite bible verse.

"You gon' lie to me again?" he asked, and I instantly felt like shit.

"Crown, it's?—"

"Is that River? Tell her I said to make sure Chosyn took her ass to see that therapist," I heard Wolfe yell from the background.

"Tell him that she did." I giggled.

"Hol' up, Four," Crown said.

He turned back toward Wolfe and the two shared words.

I started to tell Crown to call me back but stopped when I saw a body approaching from my peripheral. Looking over, I saw it was Rook and smiled. I hopped out of the car, leaving my phone on the passenger seat, and gave him a hug.

"I'm so sorry?—"

"Don't apologize. Your boyfriend?"

"Yes, my boyfriend, but if it were up to him, we'd be married," I joked.

"He did exactly what he was supposed to do. You got hurt, and he came looking for answers."

"Yeah, but he didn't have to get so... violent."

"Something tells me this isn't violent in comparison to what he'll do to someone who actually hurt you. Plus, I brought it on myself. He asked what we talked about that night, and I didn't tell him."

"What happened isn’t your fault."

"Not directly, but I did have your car towed here, and instead of checking it out to see if it was tampered with, I went home to check in with Monica. When your boyfriend showed up, I was just getting back here."

"I don't blame you," I told him, meaning every word.

"I appreciate that." We hugged once more, then Chosyn came out calling my name.

"What?" I playfully smacked.

"Your man is on my phone talking about you hung up on him."

"I did not. My phone is in the car. He had me on hold."

"Yeah, well, take this phone. Blowing my phone up while I'm in the middle of getting the help his brother claims I need." Scoffing, she passed me the phone, and I saw she had the call muted.

"Wait, you came here because of Wolfe?"

"Yup. After I set his house on fire and told him that if he allowed my child to be around my sister again, I would burn him in his sleep. He told me I had to get some help to better communicate my feelings." She shrugged and headed back inside.

"Four where your ass go?"

"I was speaking to Rook while you had me on hold."

"You with him still?"

"Yeah."

"Put me on speaker."

"Crown," I groaned, knowing he was about to show his ass.

"Four, you keep makin' a nigga repeat himself. I'm not a parrot speaking for the first time. Do as I fuckin' say or I'm on your ass."

"Be nice," I mumbled, then put the phone on speaker.

"Aye, Rook, you there?" he asked.

"I'm here," Rook answered, glancing at me.

"I don't gotta say much 'cause you've seen how I get 'bout Four. While she's with you, you're responsible for her well-being. Something happens to her, and you gotta see me. Understand?"

"Crown, please stop..."

"Four, pipe down while your husband is handling shit. I'ma get back to you. Just stay pretty for a nigga." I blushed and didn't have a clue why.

"Back to you, Rook. Do we have an understanding?"

"Yeah, I got you," Rook answered with a twinge of laughter in his voice.

"Good. Now go back in your shop and give me and mine a second to speak."