“You told that nigga? You really went and fucked me over like that?” he shouted.
“He already knew!” she screamed.
“Bullshit! You told him, Irish. I ain't no fucking fool!”
“Told him what?” Ivory asked confused.
Irish shook her head, slowly approaching a frazzled Jovanis.
“Listen to me, I would never tell your business. He already knew. I don't know how because he refused to tell me. But he knew, Van. It wasn’t me.”
Tears gathered on the brim of his reddened eyes. He was so hurt, so broken that Irish wished she could’ve wrapped her arms around him. Still, she was no fool. He was a ticking explosion ready to detonate at a moment’s notice.
“Fuck!” he whispered, resting his hands on top of his head.
“Is anybody going to tell me what’s going on?” Ivory demanded.
“Sis, it’s okay. Just give me and Jovanis time to talk right now.”
Ivory defiantly shook her head. “Hell no! He was just trying to choke you. I don't trust him right now.”
Jovanis kicked over a vase before shaking his head. “Damn, Irish… you really fucked me over.”
“It wasn’t intentional. It just happened, Van.”
His gaze seared into her. “It just happened? You really gon’ tell me that? So what? You love this nigga?”
Her mouth clamped closed as she rubbed the back of her neck.
“Do you love that nigga?” he interrogated her.
“I do.”
Irish couldn’t afford to suppress her desires anymore. She was done putting Jovanis first. She had been his confidant since they were teenagers. Irish was ready to move on. She had a life awaiting her with a man that she adored. Giving that up for Jovanis was a tall order she couldn’t fulfill. For the first time in her thirty-two years, she was choosing herself.
Ivory gasped. “Irish, you’ve been dealing with another man?”
She nodded, unable to voice her betrayal. On the outside looking in, she appeared to be an unfaithful wife, who had just destroyed her husband. However, their arrangement was far more intricate. Jovanis was a closeted gay man, and Irish was a long-suffering wife, who wanted to be loved.
“Fuck,” he gritted. “So, now what?”
“Irish, you cheated?” Ivory asked, still stuck on that fact.
“Now what!” Jovanis hollered.
“I want to—”
Before she could utter the words, Jovanis approached her. He stood in her face while Ivory hurried over with the knife still in her hand.
“I’m not ‘bout to do shit to her!” he spat.
“I don't trust you, so I’ma be right here to make sure you don't touch her.”
She loathed how Ivory felt the need to be her protector in this moment.
“Me and you.” His hand skated back and forth between the two. “We locked in, Irish. Do you remember we made that promise to each other? ‘Til death do us part, baby. We done been through some shit, and we donedidsome shit. Remember that.”
Irish’s eyes widened as he backpedaled toward the door.
