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Chapter Twenty-Five

The next day, Priest's voice tunneled onto Britain's ears as her eyes fluttered open from her night’s slumber. Despite the fact that she wanted to sleep until the last minute before her alarm went off, she woke up anyway.

"J'Ru, she hasn't called. The fuck do you want me to do?" Priest huffed out a heavy breath. Not only was he annoyed by the fact that J'Ru had awakened him out of his sleep with a slew of phone calls, but he was also annoyed by the fact that J'Ru found it necessary to screech at him from the other side of the phone.

Britain sat up and made her way over to Priest who was sitting at the end of the bed. She wrapped her arms around his torso, applying a kiss onto his shoulder. He didn't think she would be awake, but because of how loud J'Ru was shouting, he wasn't too surprised.

"She's your nineteen-year-old sister! You don't think you need to get on that ASAP?!" J'Ru jeered, causing Britain to furrow her brows.

"Yo, calm the fuck down. It's only been a fucking day. Like she said, she's a grown-ass woman who doesn't need shit from either of us. Just let her live. I realized that's what I've been preventing her from doing."

Priest shrugged his shoulders. He didn't want anyone thinking he just didn't care about Jazzy because that was all he did. However, he didn't think he should be killing himself to find out exactly where she was. It had only been a day. She hadn't sent for things from the penthouse. Plus, she had both J'Ru’s and Priest's numbers blocked. They were sure she was still mad as hell, but they still expected to know her location at all times, especially now that she found it necessary to just vanish.

As J'Ru was about to respond to Priest, he quickly cut in and urged the end of the phone call. "Listen, I got shit I gotta do. I'll hit you when I can. If she gets in contact with you, let her know I'm ready to talk when she is." With that, Priest ended the phone call before tossing the phone off to the side.

"Care to explain?" Britain asked as she got out of the bed and made her way to the bathroom to clean herself up from her slumber.

Priest let out a sigh. "Jazzy and I got into it the other night about her quitting school. I wasn't too happy about it, so certain things were said that shouldn't have been said." He shrugged his shoulders, not wanting to dwell on his actions too much.

Britain appeared in the doorway of the bathroom with toothpaste suds crowding her mouth as she brushed her teeth. Priest couldn't help but to chuckle at the sight of his t-shirt she was wearing that hung down to her thighs, while her hair was wrapped up nicely in her silk hair bonnet. To anyone else, she looked crazy to say the least, but to Priest, she looked like the Britain he enjoyed the most, the pure one.

"What did you say?" Britain tilted her head as she spoke through her mouthful of toothpaste.

"I was hot, and I had a few drinks in my system, so shit went south. I ended up telling her I was gonna cut her off financially if she didn't return to school," Priest said to Britain.

"Priest!" she scolded him.

"I was mad!" He came to his own defense. "She's just so hardheaded and stubborn at times. Gets on my last fucking nerve, son," he fumed in frustration with Jazzy. She knew all the ways to get him worked up.

Britain held her finger up, indicating that she needed a second to go rinse her mouth out. Priest granted her that. He eyed her as she made her way back to the sink, rinsed her mouth, and then returned. "That's understandable, but there are two things I know you are: humble and patient. You threatening her with money isn't in your character. You only did it because you felt as though that would hold her. Did it?"

Priest shook his head. "Fuck no. Maybe I taught her too well," he sighed, causing both he and Britain to chuckle. "Looking back at it, it was a very proud moment as a father figure, but I wish she could just understand where I'm coming from," he shrugged.

Britain raised a brow. "Where exactly are you coming from?" she asked.

"I want nothing but the best for Jazzy. She wants to be around me, not knowing that I keep her away for her best interest. Jazzy loved fashion, so I did what I could to send her to the best of the best. If she wasn't feeling it, she should've told me instead of just dropping out without consulting me first." Priest sighed in distress.

"Maybe she didn’t consult you because she's afraid of disappointing you and J'Ru," Britain shrugged. "From what I know, you've given her everything she's ever wanted, but you've also made her work for it. She just doesn't want you thinking that strong work ethic you've instilled in her disappeared." Britain knew first-hand how it felt to not live up to the expectations that were thrown at her. Let Britain tell it, she failed at life before, and at 28, she finally realized she didn't start succeeding until she tossed everyone else's expectations out the window.

As much as he didn't want to admit it, Priest knew Britain could’ve been right. He hated that he and Jazzy didn't get the chance to talk anything out. Instead, they just began arguing. Yeah, he was still disappointed with his sister, but he still wanted to be on good terms. She was his baby he raised while he was still raising himself. He and Jazzy had never gotten this angry at each other. Priest now saw that J'Ru had a point. Maybe he should expedite the search for Jazzy. Knowing her prideful ass, she was probably sulking in a hotel room, waiting for Priest and J'Ru to track her down, despite her taking steps to cut all contact with them such as blocking their numbers.

Priest smacked his lips like a spoiled child before letting out a heavy groan and putting a pillow over his face. Britain laughed as she waded over to him. "Go find your baby sister." She tugged the pillow out of his grip, forcing him to face her with a light frown.

"Like now?" His eyes shifted side to side.

Britain's laugh immediately drifted out of her as she stood over him with her hand pressed on her hip. "Yes! Now, get up," she ordered him.

"This your way of kicking me out, huh?" He side-eyed her.

Britain rolled her eyes with a laugh. "You're stupid." She shook her head. "I would never put you out. Stay as long as you want. Just make sure whenever you leave, you're going in the direction of your sister."

Priest nodded before reaching his hand out for her to take. Britain eyed him with a light smirk before she placed her hand in his. He pulled her down to straddle his waist. "What's bothering you?" Priest’s eyes seared deeply into hers.

Britain looked away briefly before shrugging. "Just some things from my past. Caroline kinda resurfaced a lot."

Britain felt like she had done enough crying. Tears wouldn't change anything. Her sadness had now transitioned into anger. Caroline had no business running her mouth about anything; however, she couldn't even find the energy to be as mad as she should’ve been with Caroline when Jadey was the one telling her things that were meant to remain between them. One thing Britain made sure of was that she was choosy about who knew things about her life. Her pregnancy was something that only her family and Jadey knew about. Britain had taken extra precautions to stay out the mix, like being home just to have that piece of her life to herself.

There was no way Caroline would have known about her pregnancy unless Jadey told her. Britain didn't even consider Caroline as an acquaintance, let alone a friend, so Britain was pissed at Jadey for letting some random in on something that was so dear to her heart.

"You need to talk about it?" Priest raised a brow.

Britain shook her head. "No. I'll just take it one day at a time." She shrugged her shoulders. "I have to get to my fitting for my dress. You'll be here when I get back?" She quickly changed the subject, causing Priest to sigh.

"Probably not," he said to her while removing his hands from her rear, allowing her to get up. "Gotta find Jazzy."

Britain nodded as she got out of the bed with him towing behind her. He draped his long arms around her waist before craning down to place a kiss on her cheek. "It's cool to dwell," he preached. "Seems like you need to."

Britain hiked her head up to look up at him. A light smile formed on her face before she puckered her lips to initiate a kiss. Priest met her for the kiss on her lips before securing his arms around her tighter. "I love you, playa," Britain teased, causing them both to laugh.

"I love you too, playa," he replied with a smile.

Once they were all ready to leave the house together, they went their separate ways after saying their goodbyes. Britain wasn't too thrilled about being around Jadey at the moment, nor did she even want to be out the house, but she was putting her best foot forward and going anyway.

By the time Britain arrived at the boutique, she had sung her way through a catalogue of music. Parallel parking in front of the boutique, Britain shut her car off and inhaled a deep breath. Looking down at her attire, she was sure everyone would catch the hint that she wasn't in the mood to lollygag and chit-chat amongst them with a nice glass of wine. Her oversized Palm Angel’s shirt matched a pair of sweats she dug from the bottom of her hamper. She tried her best to dress the outfit up with a few pieces of gold jewelry and an oversized denim jacket, while her hair was pulled into a slick ponytail with two curly strands dangling in front of her face.It was unlike Britain not to dress it up and make it look good for everyone since she knew everyone would be looking at her sideways. Even Priest had a few joking words about her attire, especially since she was sporting his shirt, but Britain simply waved him off.

Saying a short prayer, Britain got out of the car. Instead of her purse, she carried her small leather backpack that fit perfectly with her attire. She dropped her keys into the bag as she made her way into the entrance of the boutique. Britain masked her face with a smile while greeting one of the employees who led her toward the back of the boutique where Jadey and the rest of her bridesmaids were being fitted for their dresses.

While all the ladies surrounded Monica, one of Jadey's other bridesmaids who was trying on her dress, Britain took a seat, distancing herself. She wasn't sure if anyone even noticed she had arrived, and she definitely didn't care to make her presence known.

It took the ladies a while to finally reclaim their seats once Monica gave her thoughts about what should be readjusted on her dress. They were all pretty shocked to see Britain sitting alone, especially Caroline, who was prepared to cheer Jadey up about Britain flaking once again.

"Brit-Brat, why didn't you tell me you were here? I was about to get in your dress and resize it for you." Jadey laughed lightly as she plopped down and took a seat next to Britain. She wrapped her arms around her for a one-sided hug while Britain gave a tight-lipped smile.

"Yeah, I've been here for a while," Britain sighed.

Jadey side-eyed Britain. "Who pissed in your cereal and called it milk?" She raised a brow, not really liking Britain's slight attitude.

"We'll talk later. Let me just try on my dress and get going," Britain told her as she stood up.

Jadey nodded and directed her to the back where her dress was awaiting her. While on the way to the back, Britain noticed Caroline giving her a snotty look. She decided to take the high road and not say a word about it. In the dressing room, Britain inhaled a deep breath to keep her composure. Quickly, she slipped out of her personal clothes before slipping into the gown Jadey wanted her to wear.

She made her way out so Jadey could see how the dress looked on her. All the ladies gravitated toward her, but Caroline stayed behind. "It needs to be tighter around the waist so my good sis can look snatched." Jadey smoothed her hands along the sides of Britain's dress.

Britain nodded her head. "That's it, right?" she asked, ready to head back home.

Jadey sighed while nodding her head. "Yeah, just let her get the measurements and you're free to go." Jadey wasn't too pleased about being on the receiving end of Britain's attitude. Sometimes Britain had one of those days, so she was hoping it was just that.Britain okayed her before allowing the seamstress to take her measurements and pin her adjustments.

After that, Britain waded back to the dressing room to put her clothes back on. "That was quick," Britain mumbled to herself, happy the time spent was shorter than she expected.

Exiting the dressing room, Britain swung her backpack over her shoulder, making her way to Jadey. "I'll see you later," Britain told Jadey. "We'll talk then."

"Wait! You're not staying?" Caroline jolted from her seat with her face screwed.

Both Jadey and Britain turned their heads in Caroline's direction with their brows furrowed. "Yeah, is there an issue with that?" Britain tilted her head to the side.

Caroline folded her arms across her chest, causing her already perky breasts to sit up practically below her neck. "You're the maid of honor, Brit. I'm sure you're not that busy," Caroline scoffed.

Britain let out a sharp breath. "See, there you go speaking on my life again! What I have going on is none of your fucking business!" she snapped at Caroline, causing all the ladies’ eyes to widen.

"Britain, calm down." Jadey grabbed Britain's wrist in hopes of easing her.

"No! I've let her slide numerous times, and now I'm fed up! Everybody can stop looking at me like I'm a mad woman! This bitch had it coming!" Britain pointed her finger aggressively in Caroline's face. "Slick shit is constantly coming out of your mouth, and yesterday, you took it upon yourself to run your tired, lip injections-ass mouth to my man about my pregnancy!" Britain blurted out carelessly, so riled up in anger, not realizing that she had mistakenly let the fact that she and Priest were in a romantic relationship slip out. "If it's my friendship with Jadey you want, have that shit. I can't fucking trust her anymore anyway!" she jeered before roughly snatching her wrist out of Jadey's grip.

Everyone was stunned that Britain even had it in her. She was usually the quiet girl who spoke when spoken to. Jadey looked as if she had a big pile of shit smeared all over face. Her carelessness led to Britain being hurt. She never fathomed being the one to inflict pain on Britain, nor did she ever fathom her snapping on Caroline the way that she just had.

Not willing to listen to any apologies or pleas to hear anyone out, Britain stormed out of the boutique and made her way to her car. She sped away, going to the only place where she knew she could get the comfort she needed: home.

She dialed Priest’s number and began to feel discouraged once it got onto the last ring. Luckily, Priest answered before the call failed. "Hey, you good?" Priest asked.

Britain sniffled back the tears of anger she had brimming in her eyes. "Can you just come over when you can?" she asked as she sped home to avoid crying on the road.

"I'm on my way," he told her.