I sighed and shook my head. “I’m so sorry. I’m trying so hard not to let my personal stuff follow me to work. Being completely transparent, I recently separated from my significant other. I was with him for seven years, and we have five-year-old triplets. The adjustment is hard I can’t even lie. But I swear it won’t affect my job. If my energy is off or rude, I'm so sorry." My emotional ass was ready to cry again because I had to get it together. I couldn’t let my feelings get in the way of my bag.
London grabbed my hand and held onto it as she gave me a reassuring smile. “Not once have you come across as rude. My mother always told me the eyes are the window to the soul and even when you smile, you seem sad. It was a personal observation. And might I add, you just scared the crap out of mesaying you have triplets. Isaac wants kids so bad but my God. You had three at one time?”
I had been getting that same reaction from people since I found out I was having triplets, and it was still funny. I laughed, and it was genuine because I appreciated London’s kindness. She was rich as hell. We were sitting in a bathroom that was bigger than some people’s apartments, and she didn’t have one stuck up bone in her body.
“Please don’t be scared. I don’t have triplet fairy dust that will rub off on you. I don’t know anyone else that has triplets. It’s very rare unless you use fertility drugs.”
“Whew chile,” London fanned as if she was hot. “And I’m sorry about your relationship. I love, love.”
“Me too.”
“My first question still stands. Are you hungry? I can run downstairs and make sure you get a plate.”
“Um sure. I could eat.”
The night before, I just didn’t have it in me to go to Alisa’s house and celebrate. Whether Corey got the girls or not, I was going. I had cried enough, and I had moped enough. Seeing other happy couples made me sad. Seeing families together made me sad. Everything made me sad, but I had to get over it. Sitting around acting as if the world ended wasn’t going to help me. I had just got my appetite back. Corey’s infidelity literally had me to the point of not being able to eat. Even if I could stand to lose a few pounds, that wasn’t the way I wanted to achieve it.
The moment we stepped into the kitchen; my heart fell into my ass. There were at least four men sitting spread out around the room. I had only caught a glimpse of one of them before I looked away, but my God in heaven. He was fine as hell, and I was looking like who did it and what. My attire consisted of gray sweatpants, a white tee that was wrinkled, and my hair was slicked back into a low bun. Black framed eyeglasses werehelping me to see, and I didn’t have on a drop of moisturizer or makeup. Hell underneath my sweats I was probably ashy as hell. I had in no way shape or form even attempted to be cute, and there I was in a room full of muscular fine ass men. Rich, muscular, fine ass men. My face burned with embarrassment as London introduced me as her makeup artist.
I wasn’t even making eye contact with anyone as I gave an awkward wave and a shy smile. At that point, I didn’t even want any food, but I had to see the mission through. London pointed out various aluminum pans. “We have steaks, burgers, hot dogs, grilled prawns, pasta salad, corn, chicken, macaroni salad, and baked beans. Help yourself.”
“Thank you.”
The men were talking about football, and London joined in on the conversation. Her and her husband were so cute together. A sinking feeling took over my gut, and I chuckled inwardly. It would bring me so much joy when I could wake up in the mornings and be genuinely happy. Not triggered, not sad, not angry, not bitter. Just happy. I could literally be in the grocery store and flashbacks of Corey with his face buried in the crook of that woman’s neck would make bile rise in my throat. This was some shit I never wanted to feel again.
“Is it too early for shots?” a deep voice sounded off behind me.
“Hell nah, it’s never too early for shots,” London chimed in. “Brion, you want a shot boo?”
“Sure.” I didn’t even turn to face her. I just kept fixing my food. Despite the fact that I was more than ready to flee from the room filled with fine jocks, a shot didn’t sound too bad.
I didn’t have any plans for the rest of the day aside from going to Alisa’s house, so I could get shit faced. From my peripheral, I saw her moving toward a cabinet to get shot glasses out. As I was closing the lid on my Styrofoam container,she pulled a bottle of tequila from another cabinet and began pouring shots. The camera crew was setting up, and more people were arriving. I was ready to get the hell out of dodge. Lauren passed me a shot glass, and I gladly accepted it while still refusing to make eye contact with any of the men.
“To a winning season. Let’s get to the Super Bowl my niggas.”
“Fa sho!” Isaac shouted.
All of us except for one, tapped our glasses on the counter before placing them to our mouths.
“Oh no, Hymn, you gotta fix that. If you don’t hit the shot glass that’s seven years of bad sex.”
“Shiiiiiiit,” I don’t even believe that,” a sexy man directly across from me drawled, but he hit the glass anyway making everyone laugh.
He had to be at least 6’4. Hymn had skin the color of melted caramel and his long hair was in cornrows going straight back. His full beard glistened, and his thick, dark brows only added to his sexiness.
“Thank you for the food,” I turned to London. “And I’ll see you, Tuesday.”
“Sure thing, babe. Let me walk you out.”
As I walked to my car, I passed three women that were walking to the door. I wasn’t sure if they were WAGS or not, but they definitely fit the criteria. Perfectly made up faces, perfect bodies, expensive purses, designer shoes. They didn’t give me a second look. More than likely, they knew I was the help, and that was fine with me.
The tequila had me slightly buzzed, and I promised myself that if Corey didn’t get the girls, I’d just take them with me to Alisa’s house. I finally had to tell them that mommy and daddy didn’t want to be boyfriend and girlfriend anymore, and they did not take it well. Star cried and kept saying she didn’t understand why we couldn’t get back together, so she could go home to herown room. Serenity kept asking what happened and asked me to call her father. Sky was the only that asked me if I was okay. All three girls looked like they wanted to cry. I was drowning with the questions. It was so bad my father came in and offered to take the girls for ice cream. As soon as they were out of the house, I erupted into tears.
We all couldn’t be crying. I was quite sick of it. My babies didn’t deserve to suffer. They wanted to go home and when Corey promised to get them and didn’t show,theypoutedwhile my blood boiled. I hatedwhat he did tome but him hurting my girls wouldmake me hate him. The moment I turned on my parents’ street, I held my breath. I didn’t want to go to Corey’s tattoo shop and show my ass, but I would.
Opening the door, my eyes darted around the living room. My mother was sitting on the couch doing a crossword puzzle, and the girls weren’t in sight. “Did he come?” I asked cautiously.
“Yeah, about an hour ago. He said he was going to take them to school Monday morning.”
