I angled my face away from hers. “Mmhm.”
“You sure?”
I looked at her and shook my head. “It’s Omar. He called.”
Her brows creased as she rested her hands on her hour-glass hips. “Did you answer?”
“What you think?” I asked, rolling my eyes.
“I mean, maybe he wants to talk it out. You said he just up and left with no explanation. I’m not saying you gotta take his foul ass back, but maybe you should hear him out.”
I sighed, knowing she wouldn’t be saying that if she knew the truth. “Okay, listen. What I’m about to tell you, you cannot repeat to any fuckin’ body. Not Donovan, and definitely not Shauna or Bri, okay?”
“Um, okay. What the fuck are you about to tell me, Cass? And do I need a shot before it hits my ears?” she questioned.
“Yeah, go ahead and pour one for both of us,” I told her.
“Aight, let’s go sit down,” she said. “I’m baking under this sun.”
I nodded, feeling my own skin sizzling under the sun’s rays. Once we were seated and shots were poured, I spoke up. “So, um about Omar and me…he didn’t exactly just up and leave…”
“Well, bitch, I knew that!”
My face clouded with embarrassment. “How?” I asked.
“Um, because that’s some weird ass shit. I just thought that you would tell me when you were ready, and I guess now you are.”
As my best friend and blood, Lauryn knew me like I knew the back of my own hand. I was famous for putting off difficult conversations or making difficult decisions for as long as I possibly could. “He cheated on me, Lauryn. Me! And not only did he cheat, but he’s having a—a baby with the bitch!”
Lauryn’s almond shaped chestnut eyes widened as her eyebrows jutted in surprise. “Oh shit, Cass.”
“I was so fuckin’ embarrassed about it that I just couldn’t tell anyone. I didn’t want anybody to know. I just—I did a lot for that mothafucka, you know?”
“Oh, girl. I know. You sure love a good project. I’ve told you that before. Wouldn’t be me.”
“I’m a Libra, and I want to see the good in damn near everybody. It’s like my only downfall,” I admitted.
Lauryn smacked her bow-shaped lips. “It’s not but continue.”
I huffed. “I just thought it would pay off in the end, you know? I spent the last eighteen months of my life grooming a nigga for the nextbitch. Well, not even. The bitch he cheated on me with is his fuckin’ ex!” I announced, dropping the next bomb.
Lauryn turned up her lips while shaking her head. “Girl, fuck him! Fuck him for life! You just need a nigga to match or exceed what you bring to the table, and that’s not just money. You just haven’t found the yin to your yang yet, that’s all. But he’s out there, I promise.”
“What y’all talking about?” Shauna asked, making her way over to us and plopping her mocha-colored body down beside Lauryn.
I cut Lauryn a quick look, and she shook her head. “Girl, niggas. Wait, what happened to the jet skis?” she answered, trying to change the subject.
“Bitch, Brielle’s high ass got out there and realized she couldn’t swim and started crying,” Shauna announced before bubbling over with laughter.
Lauryn’s eyes crinkled with laughter. “I swear she’s a trip.”
“Where is she now?” I inquired.
She pointed her white-painted nails toward the lower level. “In the bathroom. She’s okay.”
“Oh okay.”
“So, what about niggas?” Shauna asked, returning to the previous topic.
