“He’sa 50-year-old man. He needs to do better than just try,” Shy said.“But I’llwatch the baby if you want to go.”
“Or you, Ellie and Sloan can come as my backup in case I need to get out of there quick,” Courtney proposed.
“I can get Lola to watch the baby,”Shy said, getting hyped.“I love a good corporate party, and my glam team can do everybody’s hair and makeup. I can hit some stylists I know and have them pull dresses because that little Macy’s getupain’t gon’work.”
“The dress is fine, Shy,” Courtney shot back.“But I will take the glam. Okay, now I’m excited.”
“Jamesdon’t even have to be your focus. It’lljust be girls’night out, and you can save him a dance,” Shy stated.“That way, you set some boundaries, and he don’t think he back in from some flowers and a hundred-dollar dress.”
“Okay, you really got to stop doing that,” Courtney said.“Your digs. Theyain’t cool. Everybody can’t live like this, Shy. A hundred-dollar dress is big money to me and my family.”
Shy stood up in shock.“I’m sorry, Court, my bad. I didn’t mean anything by it. I was only joking.”
“The jokesaren’t funny when they’re always at my expense,” Courtney admitted.“Like,damn, bitch, are you my friend, or am I just around to make you feel bigger?”
“You’re my friend, Courtney! Of course, you’re my friend!” Shy defended.
“Thendon’t act like your money makes you better than me,” Courtney said. It was a conversation that was long overdue, and from the shocked look on Shy’s face, she wasn’t prepared for it at all.
“I never said it made me better,”Shy said.“You make it seem like I got to turn down my light…”
“Oh, bitch, everybody sees your light.Ain’t nobody asking you to dim your shine, Shy, but you’re fucking obtuse to everybody else in the room sometimes! You’re my bitch, and I want you to be the biggest. Bitch, you are the biggest! You’re thebaddest. Car the nicest! But don’t flex on us, ho! We cheering you on. You deserve everything you got! I know where you came from. It just seems like you’re forgetting,” Courtney said.
Shy had been slapped in the face, and Courtney was holding a mirror up to her.
“If you feel like that, maybe we not as close as I thought, Court.” Shy was in her feelings, and Courtney knew she would be, which is why she had never said anything, but she couldn’t take the little snipes and jabs. Courtney was going through enough. She didn’t need to be torn down by her friends at the same time.
“Yeah, Shy, I’ma go home,” Courtney stated.
“I didn’t say you had to go home, Court,” Shy shot back.“I don’t trust James.”
“I don’t like feeling like your charity case! Like your little, poor friend!” Courtney shouted.
Baby Christian felt the energy in the room, and he started wailing.
“Iknowwww, nephew. I’m sorry,” Shy soothed as she walked him around the room.“Your ugly-ass mama getting on my nerves.”
Courtney couldn’t help but laugh.“Bitch, have my glam ready with your rich ass,” Courtney shouted as she turned to walk back to her room.“And you better not say shit about my damn dress later!”
The two had argued plenty of times over the years, and there would be plenty of arguments to come going forward. They were friends who had become sisters, not by blood, but by loyalty and love. Arguments came with the territory.
The smell of coffee roused Ellie out of her slumber. Her entire body hummed with satisfaction. All the stress she had been carrying in her body for years had been worked out last night. She could hear Loyal on the phone, and she climbed out of bed, wrapping the white sheet around her body before following his voice to the kitchen. She stood at the edge of the counter, watching him move around the kitchen as he handled business. He was fully dressed in denim, a white, slim-fitted t-shirt, and Alexander McQueen sneakers.
“I’llconfirm the final guest list this afternoon,” he informed.“Are Christmas bonuses set to go out today?”
Whoever was on the other end of the phone confirmed, and he replied,“Good.” He looked to Ellie and walked over to her, pulling her in by the waist, and planting a kiss on her neck.“I might have one morechange to that guest list, but I got to talk to my lady before I can let you know. Give me a minute. I’llhit you back.”
He hung up the phone and gave Ellie his full attention.
“Good morning,” he said, tilting her chin and kissing her lips before picking her up and placing her on the kitchen island.
“Why didn’t you wake me?” she asked.“You seem busy. I can be dressed and out your way. I know you missed a whole day of business for me yesterday.”
“Wake you for what? You were sleeping, E. Just because I got to handle some shit don’t mean you got to leave. Stay if you want. I put the spare key by your bag and sent you a text with the door code and the alarm info,” he stated.
“Loyal, I can just leave…”
“You can just relax and make yourself comfortable in your man crib,” Loyal stated sternly.
