Clicking out of the video, I filled my fork with the last of the cabbage before throwing my trash away. My dad crossed my mind and I needed to talk to him about letting me come visit. There was so much shit I needed guidance on and I only trusted him. I could call Uncle Dennis ,and he’d be there, but he wasn’t my dad. Lighting another blunt, I went to my home studio and listened to beats. Whenever my thoughts were too much, I relied on the melodies to provide an escape.
CHAPTER 8
Celeste
“How do you think Erick has been doing so far? I talked to him earlier and he said everything was fine, but is there anything I need to work with him on?” I asked Jade as we ate our lunch.
Erick had completed his first week of working at Luxe Addiction and he was a great fit. Just like I hoped, he was great when it came to interacting with customers and did everything I asked when we had any downtime. Jade worked more with him when I wasn’t present, so I wanted to make sure he was still doing okay even when I wasn’t there.
“He’s good. The first day I met him I was a little iffy, but he’s grown on me. He’s very sweet and funny. Any time he goes to get coffee, he brings me something back as well. He’s also pretty good at helping with the online orders when he can.”
“Good. I told you I liked him. He was always sweet when I’d go into Coffee King. I’ll check in with him at his ninety-day mark and go from there.”
“Girl, fuck all of that. I need to know what’s going on with you and Allen. When are you leaving that nigga, Celeste? I feel like things will only get worse from here. How many times does thisman have to publicly embarrass you before enough is enough?” she questioned.
Exhaling, I put my fork down and relaxed my body into the booth. I’d been doing my best to keep this conversation off the table. Since the night everything happened, I made it my business to keep my distance from Jade. I knew how the conversation would go. Since I had no solution, I wanted to keep quiet.
“I’m coming up with a plan. I sat down the other day and calculated all my bills. I make enough to cover everything, but shit will be extremely tight. I’ve been trying to find a location I can afford that will still be in a decent area. I don’t have a problem changing my lifestyle, but I need to keep my mother’s facility the same. I hate that I let Allen pick that expensive ass place, but it truly is worth the money. The nurses and doctors are on top of everything. Like, I truly couldn’t find better.”
“Have you looked into an at home nurse? I’m sure it has to be much less than paying for a facility.”
“I thought about that. If I go that route, I need the new store location already up and running. You know I never moved my mother under Allen’s roof. I’d move her into my townhouse. Every avenue ends with me having my new location first. He’s gonna pull the plug on everything he helped me with as soon as I end it. I think he knows it’s coming, but he’s trying his hardest to keep me under him right now.”
“Girl, I can’t wait until you have everything together. I hate that he’s holding you and your mother’s livelihood over your head. A real nigga would’ve at least put the building in your name.”
“I know. I swear not pressing him to do that is my biggest regret. He didn’t do it out of spite, but I never asked because we were good at the time,” I expressed.
“I understand, friend. That man isn’t your husband though. That right there makes all the difference.”
“Trust me, I learned my lesson. Had someone told me two years ago we’d be here, I would’ve told them to kiss my ass.”
“You can still tell a motherfucka to kiss your ass. It’s your life at the end of the day. I’m only giving my input because you’re my best friend. I actually give a fuck about your well-being.”
Before I could respond, my phone dinged, alerting me of a text. Confusion swept my features when I realized I didn’t have the number saved. Outside of my mother and Jade, not many people tried to contact me. I had a business phone for Luxe Addiction, so I knew it wasn’t business related. Picking up my phone, I tapped and pulled the text thread up.
“Who the hell got you smiling from ear to ear?” Jade questioned as she took a bite of her chicken salad.
“I’m not even smiling that hard,” I countered.
“Girl, I’m looking right at you. Now, spill the beans. Actually, don’t tell me shit if it’s a message from Allen’s baldheaded ass.”
“Allen wishes he could make me smile. Him making me smile sounds like a nightmare,” I said with my head tilted in disgust.
“Well, proceed.”
“So Allen’s jeweler?—”
“Bitch.”
“Girl let me finish, damn. Allen’s jeweler came by the house not long ago and brought his nephew with him. Jade, that man is so fucking fine. I wish I could show you a picture of him. He’s caramel skinned and muscular as fuck. Tattoos from the neck down and smells so damn good.”
“What’s his name?”
“Shane. The only thing is, his ass is also a producer and I don’t know if I wanna open that can of worms. But anyway, he ended up bringing his mother into my store the same day we met. It was a crazy coincidence. The night the shit went downwith Allen, he saw me outside the club and gave me a ride. I was out of my mind and didn’t wanna go home, so he took me to his mom’s house.
“Remember when I called you that morning from that random number? Well, that was his number. He took me to get a new phone, then I had him drop me off at my townhouse. I haven’t talked to him since then. I forgot I even gave him my number.”
“Damn. You just been keeping all the tea from me, huh?”
