Page 5

Chosyn Gravehart

S eeing River so distraught brought me back to the night we found out Sincere had died.

The far-off gleam in her eyes was the entryway to the zombie-esque state I found her in that night.

Whatever Leah said, cut River deep, too fucking deep, because my girl was destroying shit she'll have to come out of pocket to replace.

Unsure of what to say, I pulled River into my arms. Sobbing against my chest, I did my best to soothe her with soft hums like I did my daughter.

At this point, being a mother was all I knew.

The woman I was before my baby had stepped aside.

I missed her like crazy but welcomed this new version of me.

"Bitch, are you humming a lullaby?"

"Yeah! It works for Phoenix, so I thought it might help you. Not like I can pop my tittie out and feed you." I shrugged as River moved away. Through the tears, she laughed, and that's all I was looking for.

"Nobody wants them saggy titties but Phoenix and Wolfe."

"And do! Wolfe thinks I don't know that he likes the way my milk tastes. He lowkey will suck on 'em randomly just to get a little."

"Ew!"

"What?" I laughed.

"I can the fuck not with you and that man. Come on, so I can get you home. The last thing I need is Wolfe kidnapping my car 'cause he missed his feeding."

"I'ma tell him you said that and ride shotgun when he hot-wires your car."

"Really? What happened to us being a team?"

"We were until you dissed my man."

"Oh, we're picking sides," she quizzed, unlocking her car and then sliding into the driver's seat.

It took me a second to lower myself into the seat. My c-section scar was healed, according to my doctor, but I still felt sharp pains depending on how I moved.

"If we are, then you know I'ma ride for you always. Wolfe, who?"

"Chosyn, please! We both know the tough act goes out the window when it comes to your love ."

Unintentionally, my shoulders hiked as I tilted my head and smiled.

"Blushing ass."

"Whatever, get me home so I can clean the shit off my baby's ass. I swear if Phoenix gets a rash, I'ma kill that nigga."

"Wolfe should be ashamed."

River continued to laugh while I filled her in on my conversation with Wolfe.

For the moment, she needed a distraction, and I was cool with being one.

I waited until we were fifteen minutes into the drive to circle back to the conversation about Crown being a liar.

I'd known Crown for a little while, and that nigga ain't ever told a lie.

"Did everyone pay their dues?" I asked, starting off light.

"Yup. I have to talk to the twins about their Roth accounts since they don't know about them yet."

"They're going to be hype, especially Kyree." I giggled, just thinking about their reactions.

The way River ran Briar Beauties was unlike anything I've seen before.

Most of the girls came from broken or dysfunctional homes, and a few were homeless until River's mom, Lakelyn, found them housing.

River participated in a lot of speaking engagements, thanks to her mom.

Some of the girls and even women who attended would go over to River and tell her what an inspiration she was to them.

River took what was simply a name her nigga gave us and turned it into a street racing team.

From there, she blossomed Briar Beauties into a foundation, giving back to her community and helping women and teens in need.

Every Briar Beauty was set up with an investing account managed by River.

"I hope so. I always try to do the right thing regarding the girls, but maybe I'm doing something wrong."

Hearing River question her motives bothered me because she's the walking testament of selflessness.

"What did Crown lie about?"

Sighing, River rolled her eyes over the conversation before it even started. "Leah used to fuck with Crown."

"What? You never told me." I always knew Crown fucked a few of the BBs, but no one ever said anything about it.

"Honey told me Leah was talking crazy about me at one of the races.

Honey checked her, but we both knew that wasn't going to stop Leah, so I had a conversation with her.

She claimed she didn't care, and honestly, neither did I because Crown and I were only fucking.

He locked this damn ring on my finger, and that's when things changed with her. Our friendship has been rocky since?—"

"I came into the picture," I finished for her.

"Yeah, but after meetings, she and I would go out for drinks or sit around and talk. Once she saw the rings, that stopped. Her dues were always on time, so I chalked it up to her being in a mood or whatever. I guess the rings hurt her feelings."

"Yeah, but y'all didn't become official until my wedding, and the ring isn't locked on your finger anymore."

"I know, but she doesn't. Instead of coming to me with her issues, she let them fester. The fight with you must've been the last straw 'cause she wants out."

"I hope you told her miserable ass to get the fuck on."

"Yup, after she told me that all the shit Crown said to me, he said to her."

"River—"

"I'm serious, Chosyn. Leah told me he promised her forever and everything. I'm not mad, though. I like Crown, but I can't give him what he's looking for. It's only a matter of time before he says I love you forreal and not just in his sleep ."

I caught the way her face scrunched as if Crown saying it was the worst thing in the world.

"Would it be so bad if he did?"

"Actually, it would. I'm not ready. I'll probably never be."

"River." I sighed.

"It's not up for debate, Chosyn. You don't get it, and I'm not asking you to. King was easy for you to forget because that nigga wasn't shit. Sincere was different. I can't just move on and fall in love with the next man like what Sincere and I had never existed."

"All I'm saying is Sincere would want you to move on and be happy. Any nigga who'd be mad about you finding happiness and love again is selfish as fuck."

I snapped my mouth shut and left well enough alone. If River wanted to live in the past, then that was her business, but I was going to let Crown know he needed to get his hoe in line before I really set it off on that bitch Leah.

Since having the baby, Wolfe and I moved into the house he had on the cusp of The Grove and Briar Ridge that he swore no one knew about.

There was more room here than in each of our places, so it made sense to make that move.

River turned onto our block, and in a few minutes, she was pulling into our driveway.

Before I could text Wolfe and let him know I was here, he walked out the front door with our child strapped to his chest.

"This man can never be serious." I laughed.

"He seems like the perfect dad." River smiled.

"He is."

Wolfe opened the door, then held his hand out for me as best as he could with our daughter strapped to his chest. He helped me out and then pulled me into him.

"You changed her." I smirked, not smelling my child's funky butt.

"Stop playing with me, my heart. I'm gon' always get my twin right. I just wanted you home."

"So shady," I smacked, rolling my eyes.

"Call it what you want, but yo' ass came home."

"Always."

Wolfe gripped my jaw, and any thoughts I might've had fled my mind. He brought our lips together, and my body melted.

"Mhmm," I moaned.

"Man, move yo' horny ass." Mushing me out of his space, Wolfe laughed. His laugh grew louder when our daughter started blowing spit bubbles in my direction. As much as I loved Phoenix, at times, she got on my nerves, especially with her looking exactly like her damn daddy.

"Yeaaahhh!" Wolfe hyped Phoenix. "Let yo' momma know we're not on that type of time."

"Wolfe, shut up because we both know I'm her favorite."

"Nah, she fucking with me." Wolfe grinned some more.

I walked over to my child, poking her in her chunky cheeks. Her toothless smile grew with each poke, warming my heart.

"Y'all are really a beautiful family."

I turned to look at River and caught the emotions clouding her eyes.

"Wassup Four." Wolfe smiled. He slipped the baby from his chest, passed her to me, and then went to hug River.

"You tell me since you keep threatening to steal my car." She giggled.

"I gotta make sure I have something to hang over your head to ensure you bring my heart back to me in one piece."

"If she doesn't make it home, then you can trust I'm not making it either."

"This why I fucks with you, Four."

"Let me ask you something, Wolfe."

"Wassup?"

"If you died, would you want Chosyn to find love with someone else?"

My eyes bulged when River asked him that shit. Wolfe wasn't right in the head, making his answer null and void.

"Fuck no."

"Wolfe," I bickered.

"I'm deadass. If you died, you wouldn't have to worry about me fuckin' on another bitch let alone looking for love elsewhere."

"Oh, you'll be celibate?" I quizzed.

"Fuck no. I'ma fuck the ghost version of you."

"Wolfe!" I laughed hard as hell, scaring my child.

"Deadass. Yo' ass glued to me in real life. You think you gon' be any different in the afterlife? Nah. Every night you bring your ass in my room, I'ma be balls deep in that ghost pussy."

"Okay, I'm going inside. River, call me when you get home. Love you, BB."

"Love you more, BB."

Rocking Phoenix in my arms, I carried her into the house, humming her favorite lullaby.

I brought her into the living room and then laid her down in her playpen.

Going into the spare bedroom I used on the first floor of our house while recovering, I changed my clothes, putting on a two-piece pajama set.

I walked back into the living room, grabbed my child, and then sat right in the bay window.

I watched Wolfe and River talk, then smirked when I saw a car speed down the block, hit a U-turn, and slowly pull up, blocking my driveway.