Page 70

River Ashland

" I s Navy coming?" I asked after Chosyn hung up.

"Why? When I know your nosy ass was all in my conversation?"

"Just to confirm what I heard." I laughed.

"She's coming. I'm sure she needs to vent about Honor."

"They're still having problems?"

"I wouldn't say problems because it seems to be one-sided. Honor is in love, and Navy is in question. But none of it is my business. I'm a listening ear when she needs one, but I keep a lot of my opinions to myself."

"As you should."

"Right. Now what's going on with you and Crown?"

"Bitch!" I laughed with my whole chest. "What happened to keeping your opinions to yourself?"

"That was strictly about Honor and Navy. I'm too invested in your business to mind my own."

"Thanks." I chuckled. "Honestly, there isn't much to say. He dropped me off, then came back, and woke me up, aiming his gun at me."

"He did what?" Chosyn blurted.

"Relax, he wasn't going to shoot me."

"Is that supposed to mean something to me? I don't care what trinkets that nigga found in his closet, his gun shouldn't have been in your face," she ranted, her eyes narrowing with each breath she took.

"I know, but I think he did it because he found out I was driving the car the day he got shot."

"Wait, what?" Chosyn leaned back in her seat, staring straight ahead.

"Yup. When I was at the remembrance, Rakim brought it up that I drove the car when Sincere was shooting, and his target was Crown."

"Crown heard that?" she asked.

"No. That was before he got there, but girl..." My eyes bucked as I remembered that I never told Chosyn what happened. Honey was the only one who came over and got the full rundown.

"What? Don't tell me he etched I love dead niggas onto the lenses of your glasses."

"What... no!" I laughed even though I wouldn't put it past Crown. "Tell me why Leah was there with Rakim."

"I knew I hated that bitch. You really should've let me get a kill for beating your ass."

"For the last time, she didn't beat my ass, and it doesn't matter because Crown killed her."

Shaking my head, I filled Chosyn in on the rest of what happened.

"Let's go upstairs because I need a cup of Zenade to make sense of all this shit."

"Who you telling?" I joked even though the situation wasn't funny.

We hopped out of Chosyn's car. She went for the trunk while I stayed by the door, reading through a work email on my phone.

"Excuse me, beautiful, I was wondering if I could get a minute of your time?"

Not thinking the guy was talking to me, I continued reading until I felt his presence too damn close, and his hand touched my elbow. My head snapped toward the touch.

"Excuse you," I sassed, looking the stranger in the face.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. I just wasn't sure if you heard me when I spoke." His lips curved into a handsome smile that might've gotten a blush out of me if I weren't already spoken for. "You're beautiful. You do know that, right?"

"Yeah. My husband..." holding my left hand up at a respectable distance, I showed him my rings, "tells me every chance he gets."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Not sure how I missed that. Tell your husband he's a lucky man."

"I don't have to. He knows, and I'm just as lucky."

"Touché, beautiful. Enjoy the rest of your day, Four."

"I'm sorry, what did you call me?" I asked before he walked away.

"Four because of your glasses. You know, people who wear glasses have four eyes," he said.

"Oh, I know my husband calls me Four , so it caught me a little off guard."

"Again, lucky man. Enjoy your day."

"What was that about?" Chosyn asked as she closed the trunk.

"Nothing. I told him I am married."

"But you're not. Crown fucked you, then dipped and left you crying once again."

Her words stung, but I shook them off.

"He fucked me to make it clear that I'm his. That man couldn't get away from me if he tried."

"That's my bitch!" Chosyn squealed. "I just had to make sure you were still in the game."

"You get on my nerves, you know that?" I laughed.

"Yeah, whatever. Take this bag since you had to have your fancy ice cream and tortilla chips."

Chosyn shoved the bag into my hands, and I took it happily and walked into the building.

"Van Leeuwen ice cream is not fancy. It's French, bitch!" I laughed.

"Keep laughing. When you pee on that stick and see double lines, keep that same energy."

"How did you get pregnant from French ice cream?" I frowned.

"It's the tortilla chips and the ice cream. No one eats that except serial killers."

"Oh, I know you're not judging Ms. Keep A Blade Under Her Tongue."

The elevator doors opened, and we stepped out with Chosyn turning to face me and flashing me her blade.

"And do! Never leave home without it."

All I did was shake my head and knock on Gigi's door.

"'Bout damn time the two of you got here. Lakelyn and I have been sitting here looking stupid, waiting on the two of you." Gigi swung the door open and stepped to the side to let us through.

"Mom, what are you doing here?" I asked, walking over to give her a hug.

"Trying to see my damn daughter who apparently only comes around when she wants something," she scolded, giving me the stink eye.

"Not true. I talk to you every day."

"I would love to see my daughter, too. Keep playing, and Crown will be the only child I claim."

"Um, I didn't do anything, so why am I getting tossed out with her?" Chosyn butted in.

"Y'all are a package deal." Lakelyn shrugged.

"And is!" Chosyn and I high-fived.

"Ice cream and chips?" Gigi pursed her lips together, eyeing me through tight slits.

"Damn, does no one like salty and sweet?"

"Lord, now that dream about the jumping fish makes sense. I thought this one was pregnant again." Gigi tossed her head in Chosyn's direction.

"Never me. I'm one and done."

"Yeah, okay," we all recited in unison.

"Whatever. Navy is on her way, so we still can't eat... now laugh at that!" Stomping off, the three of us shook our heads.

"River, are you..." My mother nodded toward my stomach, and I laughed.

"I don't know. It's possible, but Crown and I aren't on the best of terms."

"I know."

"You know? He told you?"

"Yup." She shrugged. "Come on, Gigi, and let's make ourselves a glass of Zenade — well, everyone except River."

"Chosyn can't drink either. She's breastfeeding," I pouted.

"Phoenix has milk on ice at home. She's good. I'ma pump and dump too, so you're on your own, snitch." Chosyn laughed and walked into the kitchen.

Rolling my eyes, I went and sat in the living room, pulling my phone from my pocket to text Crown.

Me

So, you've been talking to my mom, but you can't reply to me?

Crown

Replied... happy?

Me

Fucking asshole!

"Where's Honey?" Navy asked, helping Gigi to clean off the table.

"I haven't seen her since she came to Crown's house. She rushed out after I told her what happened," I answered, taking a sip of my Zenade.

"She didn't say why?" Chosyn yawned.

"Not really. She said she had something to handle and left." I shrugged.

"Is that normal for her?" Gigi asked suspiciously.

"Sometimes. Honey is into things that aren't favorable to the law," I said.

"In other words, she robs niggas," Chosyn clarified.

"Who's the snitch now?" I laughed.

"Still you. Gigi doesn't judge."

"Right, because if she did, it would be a little hypocritical," Navy added, coming back to the table with Gigi right behind her.

"I know that's right. You raised three menaces," Chosyn commented.

"I didn't raise those boys. When they came to me, Honor was already eighteen. Crown was fifteen and Wolfe was twelve if I'm not mistaken. They were all young but trust me when I say they didn't need any raising. Honor raised Crown and Wolfe," Gigi stated, shaking her head.

"Who raised Honor?" my mother asked.

"Lucian," Navy mumbled.

"Who is Lucian?" she asked.

"Mom, don't pry," I hissed, seeing how uncomfortable Navy looked.

"It's okay, River," Navy stated. "Lucian is my father."

"Wait, you're dating someone who your father raised?" My mother leaned in, lowering her voice. "I don't mean to sound judgmental, but shouldn't he be like your brother?"

"Mom!" I shouted.

"Okay, that's enough Zenade for you, Ma. I'ma create a lightweight version just for you." Chosyn slid her glass closer to me, and I gladly took it and chugged it down.

"Now, River, I should pinch the shit out of you. Why would you drink that, knowing I had a dream about fish?" Gigi scolded.

"You're pregnant?" Navy blurted, causing the entire room to laugh.

"No, I'm not pregnant. At least I don't think I am, but seeing how this convo is going, I need something to mellow me out."

"Oh," Navy said, then looked toward my mother. "When Honor started living with my father, I wasn't in the house. I went over there on weekends."

"Oh. I apologize if my question made you uncomfortable. River doesn't bring me outside much."

"Mom!"

"You don't." She shrugged. "Navy, I saw you and Honor at Chosyn's wedding. The two of you are a beautiful couple."

"Thank you." Her voice was too somber for this to be Navy. Usually, anytime someone complimented her relationship, she couldn't stop smiling. However, what my mother said barely earned half a smile.

"Alright, I'ma tell y'all this now because I can already see it's going to be a thing," Gigi said, gathering our attention. "Whatever you three have going on with your men, get it out now. This is a safe space, and nothing said here will be repeated."

Chosyn, Navy, and I all looked at each other.

"Fine, Chosyn, you go first because you shouldn't even have man problems. Navy your next and River your last."

"Why am I last?"

"Because Crown isn't the problem in your situation. You are," Gigi answered.

"I second that!" my mother agreed.

"Of course you would." Turning away from my mom, I rolled my eyes hard as hell. I hated that she didn't get along with Sincere. Now she gets along with Crown, and I was pissed about that, too.

"Chosyn, go. I have a date and don't need any of y'all's man-bashing energy on me when I leave."