When Charlie’s name came up on her phone, Stassi was overwhelmed to tears. She had been too embarrassed to disclose everything she had been doing with Day fully. The sisters hadn’t caught up at all, and Stassi had an immediate need for Charlie’spresence. Even if Charlie came with no advice, if she offered no solutions, she just needed the bond right now.
“Charlie, I messed up so bad,” Stassi cried as soon as she answered.
“I’m on my way,” Charlie said. It was that level of loyalty, the dropping of everything to cater to her needs, the no questions asked, the immediate recognition of hurt that Stassi needed. Women needed other women. It was just the way of the world. Through their ups and downs, disagreements, and petty fights, Charlie and Stassi were unbreakable. When you were loved by the right types of women, the bond could withstand anything because it was necessary for survival. They had realized long ago that they needed one another more than they needed any man that would come into their lives. Women made the mistake of giving up their girl tribes when they fell in love, but Stassi knew that it was Charlie who would be there through whatever. When niggas switched up, Charlie would remain. Her calling at the exact moment she was needed proved so.
When Charlie arrived, Stassi was almost skeptical about opening the door. She looked pathetic, crying over a man that wasn’t hers over some shit she had agreed to.
“Oh, Stass,” Charlie said with a sigh as soon as she saw her face.
Stassi shook her head in disbelief.
“It’s everywhere. My business is literally everywhere.”
“Our business, sis,” Charlie corrected. “Hoes talking about me all over the place too. Hoes gonna talk and we gonna drink,” Charlie paused, realizing their sister time would need to look a little different now that she was pregnant. “Well, you’re going to drink because I’ve decided to keep this baby.”
Stassi looked at her in stun and amazement. “Oh my God, Charlie, really?” Stassi might have hated Demi, but the ideaof becoming an aunt endeared Stassi to this miracle. Charlie nodded, smiling.
“Yeah, and its crazy because I went from not wanting a baby at all to a full blown obsession with having it,” Charlie chuckled. “I love him. This is the start of our family, you know?”
“I’m so happy for you,” Stassi said sincerely.
“But don’t think I’m a bad wingman. I’ma eat my face off and you’re going to drink for us both until we don’t give a fuck about what these hoes out here saying. I’ll make your drink while you tell me how you got pulled into all this with Day, and tell me how much he paid you, cuz for the right price I don’t know a bitch alive who won’t do something strange for a piece of change.”
The laughter that erupted between them was needed. It was refreshing, and Stassi hit a little twerk, touching her knees as she stuck out her tongue. This no judgment zone was safe. Thank God for sisters.
“He paid me a quarter million Charlie,” Stassi said.
“Wait, bitch what?” Charlie exclaimed.
“I gave it back though!” Stassi defended.
“Wait, girl what?! What the fuck you do that for? Now you just regretful and broke!”
Charlie headed to the kitchen. “I’ma need a drink for this conversation I see. What you got up in here?”
The second knock at her door came as a surprise.
“You expecting somebody?” Charlie asked.
“No,” Stassi answered, frowning as she approached her door.
She looked through the peephole. Day stood outside, hands in the pockets of his denim, as he waited for her to open.
“It’s him, isn’t it?” Charlie asked.
“Open the door, Anastassia.”
“Anastassia?” Charlie asked, astonished. “Oh, bitch! I see how you got caught up.”
Stassi pulled open the door.
“This is done,” Stassi said.
The regret in him could be seen. He knew he had fucked up. She didn’t care. She wasn’t with this being courted in private to be played in public bullshit he was into.
“Can I come in?” He asked.
“No,” she answered.
