I shook my head. “No, Jay.”
My attention went to my sister, who sat there with a snotty nose and teary eyes. “I don’t trust you no more, Lee. Find somewhere else to go.”
Jayda shook her head. The disappointment on her face was crystal clear. “I’ll take you to my house. Tranae probably not there.” Helping her up, she led her to the car while I stood motionless, trying not to break down.
Before she got in, Leah turned to me. “I’m sorry, Baby.”
My whole body trembled as I watched them drive away. I couldn’t believe I let her go like that. With shaky hands, I put the key in the door and opened it. As soon as I shut it behind me, I leaned against it, sobbing loudly. Dropping everything on the floor, I cried into my hands. Her whole life, my sister counted on me because she knew I’d always clean up after her and make everything better. This time, it broke my heart into a million pieces knowing I couldn’t.
“Baby! Open the door!” I woke up to banging in my ears.
Peeking one eye open, I realized I was still on the floor by the door, lying in the fetal position. My neck strained as I lifted my head up. The sun was slowly shining in, which let me know it was morning already.
“Love?” I asked, voice groggy from sleep. My face felt stiff from crying, and I probably had bags under my eyes.
“I’m at the window. Open the door, Baby.”
Huh? Sitting up, I could see his figure looking at me through the side window in the living room. Groaning, I struggled to stand, my body was sore from the hard tiled floor. Twisting the lock, I walked over to the couch, waiting for him to come in.
“What’s wrong?” He strolled in with a confused expression, sitting down next to me. “Why was you sleeping at the front door?”
“Rough night.” I yawned, wiping the sleep from my eyes.
“Rough night?”
Thinking about it all over again, my chin quivered. I laid my head back on his chest, curling against him while he wrapped his arms around me. “Leah came by last night. It’s why I told you it’s not a good time. She was busted up, and just got into a fight.”
“Ain’t she pregnant, though?” he questioned, his chest vibrating as he spoke.
“Uh huh, she said T.K. kicked her out of his house.”
“That nigga ain’t no good,” he said, looking over the couch towards the hallway. “Where she at?”
“Not here.” I swallowed deeply. “Told her she can’t stay.”
His neck stretched as he glanced down at me. Moving from his hold, I brought my knee towards my chest. Jayda was already mad at me for turning her away. He probably thought I was a bad person, too.
“You think I’m wrong for sending her away?” I watched as he sat with his elbows on his knees. He stroked his jaw in thought.
“Nah.” He looked at me. “Do you?”
“A part of me, yeah,” I nodded, biting into my bottom lip. “I guess I wanted to teach her a lesson.”
“Did it make you feel good?” he asked, leaning up to throw his arm on the back of the couch. I shook my head back and forth.
“Sometimes, you got to do things you don’t wanna do to protect your peace, Baby.” He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “Nobody will fault you for choosing yourself.”
Blinking back tears, I let out a sigh. “How you always know what to say?”
He gave me a quick peck on the lips. It happened so damn fast, I ain’t have time to enjoy it.
“Because I see you.” We locked eyes intensely, my face breaking into a small smile.
44
LOVE
“So,your mom apologized for how she treated you?” Baby and I were chilling in her living room talking about my childhood.
