"Let me ask you something," he coldly said, erasing the subtle softness that had been in his voice a second ago.
"Okay."
"When you heard about Chosyn's pregnancy and engagement, how did you feel? You fucked her over, but finding out from someone who wasn't her… that hurt, right?"
"Damn… wasn't expecting that," I whispered, leaning back in my seat.
The easy answer would have been a simple yes, but the fact Honor asked made it clear he didn't want a generic response. He needed to see how I felt, maybe to help process his own feelings.
"I wouldn't say it hurt because it was deeper than that. Finding out my father pawned me off to his boss's gay son hurt, but finding out Chosyn had gotten married and had a baby, that was pure sorrow. The day I found out, it felt like my heart had been snatched from my chest. Like I was grieving a loss I didn't fully understand. The bond we had as kids died that day, along with the part of me she mothered. I don't know if any of this makes sense, but that's how I felt. Knowing I missed two monumental moments in her life crushed me in ways she probably won't believe, given what I've done. I’m not trying be in your business, but whatever is going on, fix it. Don't let bullshit that won't matter ten years from now be the reason you miss the moments that matter most," I finished, my voice barely above a whisper.
I let the silence press between us, my chest tightening as his eyes turned toward me. They weren't unreadable, and they weren't hidden behind his armor. They were inviting with a warmth I've never seen unless he was looking at Navy. For a fleeting heartbeat, I swore Honor felt what I did.
"Honor, I?—"
Before I could finish, the moment shattered, taking my courage with it. His jaw clenched, the warmth vanishing and replaced by the coldness I knew all too well.
"Get out," he flatly asserted.
My heart shattered, but I listened. I opened the passenger door, hopped out, and slammed it behind me. Honor started the engine and pulled off. I stood there, watching, unable to shake the memory of what I'd just been privileged to see… and how quickly I'd lost that privilege.
Navy Achebe
"I can't believeyou let him dick-boozle you," Chosyn smacked after sipping from her wineglass. We were laid out in Wolfe's man cave with wine and Chinese food, while Wolfe and Crown kept Phoenix occupied upstairs.
"No forreal! That nigga wouldn't have gotten any of my goodies after biting my ass up like that," River added, biting into a shrimp roll that wasn't even hers.
Before going to the spa, I showed them how Honor had decorated my neck and shoulder. Of course, Chosyn lost her mind. Luckily, Honor had left the house before I did, so I didn't have to worry about her going off on him. Chosyn spit that blade out and ran upstairs so fast that my head twirled in River's direction.
"Don't look at me. I'm not running behind her crazy ass. I'm carrying twins."
I sucked my teeth so hard because River was five minutes pregnant and milking the hell out of it. When I got upstairs, Chosyn's crazy ass was slicing up this nigga's shoelaces. It took me almost ten minutes to calm her down and explain that they were passion marks. She was still pissed because she didn't wantthe people at the spa looking at me funny. We agreed we'd do manis and pedis only, then go back to Chosyn's house to relax.
"Didn't Crown have you sucking dick in the back room of that church after disappearing for two months?"
"And I oop!" Chosyn laughed, high-fiving me.
"Really, hoe? I told your ass not to tell anyone," River pouted. "That was low, Navy."
"Shouldn't have ate my damn shrimp roll." I laughed.
"Damn, that was yours, wasn't it?" She giggled.
"It was, but it's fine. As for being dick-boozled, as Chosyn put it, I don't know what it is about Honor. It's hard for me to tell him no and stand on it."
"It's not just Honor. It's all these Gravehart men. Like you said, Crown had me on my knees, gagging in the house of the Lord," River said, shaking her head.
"You're going to hell for that." Chosyn laughed.
"It's cool, I'll be there with my man." River shrugged, and I died laughing.
"I can't with y'all," I said, wiping my eyes of tears.
"No forreal, we need to find a way to get these men to work this shit out. I want Honor to walk me down the aisle like he did Chosyn," River said, and I felt for her. Honor wasn't close to the girls, but they knew without a doubt he would give his life for them.
"Well, no sex won't get it done, obviously." I laughed and pointed at my neck.
"That's 'cause y'all some weak hoes. Y'all let Crown and Honor control y'all. Wolfie knows who wears the pants in this relationship. What I say muthafuckin' goes! If I say this pussy ain't bussin' open and no throat, then that's what the fuck it is because who gon' check me?"
