Page 14 of Buy Back My Love

“Don’t start crying,” she warned, even though her own voice sounded shaky. “Because then I’m gone cry again.”

“I’m not crying,” I told her while wiping under my eyes.

“You definitely crying,” Wren said from behind us.

I laughed and looked back at her. “Shut up.”

Everybody started laughing, which gave me just enough time to pull myself together before JB walked over to the kitchen counter and picked up a large black Chanel box with the name printed across the center of the lid.

Nina let out a whistle. “Here he go.”

I looked from her to the box as JB brought it over. “What is that?”

“A gift.”

“I can see that. What’s in it?”

He held the box out to me. “Open it.”

I gave him a look before taking it. There was tissue paper inside and a black dust bag with CHANEL printed across the front. I already knew whatever was in there cost too damn much, and when I pulled the dust bag open and saw the black quilted purse inside, I looked right back at him.

“JB, boy...”

He laughed. “You like it?”

“Do I like it? This bag cost too damn much.”

“That ain’t what I asked.”

I ran my fingers over the leather before lifting the purse out. It was the kind of bag I’d saved pictures of years ago while knowing damn well I wasn’t about to spend that kind of money on one.

The purse felt heavier than I expected, so I opened it and just stared. Bundles of cash filled the bottom. “What the hell is this?”

“Ten.”

I looked up at him. “Ten what?”

“Thousand.”

My fingers tightened around the bag. “You put ten thousand dollars inside a Chanel purse?”

JB reached into it like we weren’t already past ridiculous and pulled out a black credit card.

“And this.”

I looked at the card, then at him. “What about it?”

“It ain’t got no limit. Use it for furniture, clothes, whatever you need.”

“JB, I can’t take all this.”

“You can.” He put the card back inside the purse. “You need a whole new wardrobe. Furniture. Groceries. Whatever else you need to get yourself straight.”

Then his eyes dropped to my mouth. It only lasted a second, but I caught it before he added, “And make an appointment to get your tooth fixed.”

Just like that, some of the excitement drained right out of me. I pressed my lips together and looked down at the purse, suddenly too aware of the chipped corner of my front tooth.

Of course JB noticed the change in my face. “I ain’t saying nothing wrong with you,” he said. “I know it bother you.”