Joi looked at me. “Are you expecting somebody?”
I shook my head and walked to the door. I checked the peephole, and my stomach dropped when I saw Kodi standing on the other side. But since Joi and the kids were here, I felt safe enough to open it. Things had been quiet since he slapped me a month ago. He apologized and cried. I didn’t believe any of it but decided to let it go for the holidays because KJ was excited about Christmas with his dad. Since then, Kodi and I had been co-parenting with a lot of tension between us.
When I opened the door, he looked sad. “Can we talk?”
I could hear Joi groaning on the other side of the wall as she sat at the dining room table.
I didn’t believe the sadness in his eyes. Kodi stayed glued to my social media, so I knew he had seen every ad, every countdown, every piece of excitement I’d posted leading up to tonight. In that moment, it all clicked. He hadn’t been calm these past few weeks because he’d finally gotten the hint. He’d been calm because he was waiting for this night to show out and try to ruin it for me.
I felt so stupid for not seeing it sooner.
I stepped halfway into the doorway. “Kodi, I’m about to leave.”
He looked me up and down, taking in the dress, hair, and makeup.
“Where you goin’?”
I dramatically rolled my eyes. “You know exactly where I’m going.”
Then I just laughed, which only pissed him off. “You think you better than me now?” he growled. “You don’t need me in these streets risking my life to feed yo’ ass no more?! Now you getting a couple of dollars, so you too busy to talk to me?”
I chuckled, shaking my head. For the first time since we met, I didn’t need him to help me this Christmas, and I knew he’d noticed that. Finally, my art was taking off and taking care of my kids better than he ever could, and he knew it.
“You loved the fuck out of me when you was broke,” he barked. “You couldn’t live without me when I was risking my life and freedom for us, but now that you getting bread, you’re done with me?”
Joi sighed dramatically from the dining room as I sucked my teeth, saying, “I can’t do this right now. You know I’m headed to my show, Kodi.”
Something flickered in his eyes. “Oh, so you too busy for me.”
“Kodi,” I warned.
“I’m done with you because you didn’t support any of this when you thought it was a waste of time!”
He stepped closer. “You really leaving me?”
“We’ve been done for a long time.”
He reached for me. “I built you! And now you acting like you outgrew me?”
Before his hand could close around my arm, Joi stepped between us. “Hell nah!”
Kodi tried to push past her. “Move.”
KJ started crying as he watched from the couch. Kinsley followed, confused and scared.
Kodi tried to force his way past her, shoulder first. “Move.”
“No,” Joi shot back, pushing against his chest.
He shoved harder, and our bodies collided into the doorway. I grabbed at his jacket, trying to stop him from pushing through while Joi braced herself against the frame. He was stronger, angry, and desperate to get to me.
“Get out!” I screamed.
Kodi pushed again, and in the chaos, my dress caught on something, maybe the door hinge, maybe his hand, and I felt fabric rip.
“Get the fuck out!” Joi yelled as she tried to shove him back.
He lunged again, and I nearly lost my balance.
