Jahlil groaned inwardly at the confession. It was back on him again. He nodded and Ashton chose this moment to put the spotlight on him.
“Now, if I say what I want, Ky is going to throw me in the pool so I’m gon’ keep that with me,” Ashton grumbled, picking up a card. The game seemed to flow until Ashton drew another card. “Jah, you still in love with your ex?”
“That wasn’t love,” Jahlil replied after swallowing his food. “That was infatuation and settling.”
“So you lied to us when you said she was the one?” Ashton asked and Jahlil nodded.
“I lied to myself, for real. Instead of fixing what I fucked up, I moved on trying to find what I had. It wasn’t until I was in my house with Andrew crying and a newborn crying that I had to come to grips with that,” Jahlil shared. “Any other questions?”
“Nah, I’m moving on to Emani,” Ashton rumbled.
“Don’t come bothering me after I let you look at my booty,” Emani said.
“‘Cause that’s the only thing on you he can reach, E,” Carson added.
“I am. You got a problem with that?” Ashton asked, earning him a middle finger from Kyrie. “Your mother.”
“Anyway, what you want nigga?” Emani grunted.
“You still love Jah?” Ashton asked.
Everyone paused briefly trying to see if Emani was going to let them off the ride or continue. She leaned up and collected thirty cards. Ashton kissed his teeth.
“Damn, Malik is really turning you into a punk. Carson, tell us.”
“I don’t know why you’re surprised,” Donnée huffed.
“I’m not telling none of y’all her business. Move on before baby hulk gets mad.” Carson’s statement cut Ashton’s meddling at the knees.
“You two just had a whole thing upstairs and you come down here and go right back to your troll ass ways?” Donnée huffed.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Emani spoke. “He doesn’t do nothing else but stir the pot and I’m just not doing it right now.”
“I’d like to know though,” Jahlil’s voice came out shocking himself. “I mean if everyone at this table knows, I should know too.”
“Jahlil,” Emani warned. “You don’t want to do this with me, right here. Not right now. I already told you.”
“Yeah, right now. There is no better time. You could’ve had any nigga but that one.” He dropped his cards on the table. “So yeah, let’s do it right now.”
Emani looked at him in his face and chuckled. That chuckle was a warning, everyone picked up their plates and drinks, moved away to the porch to watch from a safe distance. “Why can’t you just let it the fuck go? You told me you were coming back. That’s what you told me, right? You were getting drafted to take care of Andrew. I was cool with that. I was supportive of that like I always fuckin’ was. Got drafted to Ocean City, no call. I called, no answer. I texted, no reply. So I got busy. Stopped focusing on you and put myself on. When I looked up, you were engaged to be married to the next bitch!
Please, don’t ask me why I chose him when you were the nigga who actively didn’t choose me. What was I supposed to do, Jahlil? Huh? Wait on you? Stay around hoping you’d wake the fuck up! Put my life on pause for you? Get a grip. I chose that nigga because he chose me without wanting shit from me in the beginning. Because for the first time since you and I were done, someone looked at me and saw me. While you were making a home with the next bitch, I was trying to move the fuck on.”
Jahlil reached out to swipe her face free of the tears, earning him a swat. “Do not touch me. Leave me alone. I’m done playing this bullshit ass game. Y’all enjoy.”
Carson started to stand. “Let me walk you back-”
“Nah, I’m good,” Emani stated, walking into the house.
No one else moved. It was now on Jahlil to put an end to the feud. He drew in a deep breath and followed her out of the house. Sure not to cause a scene while he was walking behind her, he waited until she reached the door and tried to hurry inside. Grabbing the knob, he maneuvered inside behind her and closed the door behind them.
“I’m going upstairs so I can cry these stupid tears in peace. Move,” she grumbled as he blocked her path. “Jahlil, I’m not playing with you.”
“I’m not playing with you either. Let’s talk this shit out.”
She folded her arms and looked away.
“I hurt you,” he said evenly. “I know that. It’s a daily reminder.”
