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He said the right things to me and made me feel special even though it was a one-night stand. The way he rushed out that room crushed me even though I knew it shouldn’t. It made me realize how stupid and naive I was being laying down with a stranger. I didn’t bother telling Soulful what Devin did to me, hell I never even had the time to express that to him because it was a one-time encounter.

“I told you, girl, this shit was gon’ move fast. One viral moment and you will become even more known appearing on B.E.T. Let’s bask in that and keep pushing.” I smiled and nodded my head. I was ready, all this hard work was going to pay off one way or the other.

“The bad news is… it’s this weekend. Tomorrow, we have to skip our evening studio time. I need you to leave work early to find the perfect gown and start rehearsing a couple of songs from your EP.” My heart started beating fast, my stomach started cramping from nervousness. I thought of my mom and uncles and giving them the good news. Then my anxiety got the best of me thinking about seeing my mom in the crowd with tears of joy in her eyes being proud of me.

“Thank you, Shelby.” I took another sip of coffee.

“Thank the mic, gon’ get in that booth and sing from the stomach up to your heart girl.” I nodded my head and did just as she said.

“Girl I’m sprung, like the real kind!” I looked over at Ju’well and shook my head. Her and Honor had become close, and I was actually happy seeing my friend so pumped up and happy.

“I can tell you don’t call me for our three-way calls. Hell, not even Pray.” I rolled my eyes and looked at the time. I didn’t want to sound like I was complaining but we all seemed too busy for each other. Pray was wrapped into settling in her place with Heaven and her parents up her back. Not only that, Jarei bitch ass was now secretly threatening to take her to court for Heaven out of spite. I told her not to even worry about that asshole. He didn’t even have a legal job and barely wanted to be a father. I kept convincing her that Jarei was nothing more but a bitter ass baby daddy mad that another man stepped up and was now doing what he should have been doing.

Speaking of Praylah, she walked in looking sluggish and out of touch. She had been coming to work every day, but it seemed like she was super depressed. I didn’t want to press her, but my patience was growing thin. She promised me that it wasn’t Debo and told me and Ju’well that Debo was actually giving her the space to heal. He didn’t pop up or come over unless she called him. What I could say is that he upgraded my girl tremendously.

Her threads of clothing were nice as hell and her once kinky red fro was in some nice small knotless braids going past her curvy backside.

“I want to see that spark in your eyes friend. Not that dull shit, you waking up each day is enough to feel blessed and smile.” I gave her a serious look hoping my good news would hype her up.

“Jarei is getting in my parents head now, trying to get them to believe that my mental is way off and that I’m not fit to watch or have my baby.” She dropped her shoulders in defeat and stared off into space.

“They don’t even know about how that fucker tried to murder me, drown me alive and my only saving grace was Nyla out of all fucking people. I’m still stuck on that Era. I gave my all loving Jarei, literally my all. For him to paint this vivid fake picture is hurting me bad. I feel even more like shit for not really talking and getting to know Matthew. I’m just scared of love at this point.”

I took a step back and leaned on my desk, my hands became clammy as I looked at Praylah with a new understanding.

“Murder you?” My words came out clipped because I was attempting to take deep breaths to really grasp what she had just said.

“What the fuck you mean he tried to murder you?” Ju’well harshly whispered loudly like someone was nearby listening.

“He got mad; I was in my depressed state of mind. The state of mind when I don’t do shit for myself but exist. I hadn’t bathed or even ate, just watching Jr. and dealing with Nyla living there. He ran hot bubble bath water and was saying all kinds of shit and threw me in the hot ass water and started dunking and holding my head underneath the water. Nyla saved me but….” She broke down and my heart cracked. My anger rose so high that I felt dizzy. Ju’wells caramel cheeks were beet red. We looked up at each other and communicated with our eyes.

I had heard enough, I looked at my watch and noticed it was Ju’well break time and I also had free time.

“Ju’well let’s take a ride.” I calmly said. Praylah eyes looked like they were getting ready to pop out of socket.

“What? Where y’all going?” She looked confused and scared at the same time.

“To beat that nigga ass! I’m calling my momma too! I think it’s safe to say we all tired of this nigga. I gave him so many passes for you out of respect but now it’s up and fucking stuck like the clouds on a rainy day! I can’t believe you didn’t let Debo off that nigga!” I was so pissed that I didn’t realize my voice going up a couple of notches. Snatching my purse and stomping out my office with them following close behind me. I gave instructions to my staff letting them know that we would be back in an hour.

I headed out of the restaurant with Praylah begging me and Ju’well to stop. I ignored her ass and texted my mom letting her know to meet me at Praylah’s old house that her and Jarei shared. The whole ride there I hit my vape pen that I kept in the middle console. I cursed myself because I told Shelby that I would quit so that the vape didn’t end up affecting my voice. Right now, my nerves are bad, and I had so much anger flowing through me.

I couldn’t believe Jarei attempted to take the mother of his child out. Praylah sat in the back seat biting her nails and mumbling things that I couldn’t really make out. I looked over at Ju’well and chuckled a little. My girl was always down for whatever. Right now, she was gathering all of her passion twists and placing it into a high bun at the top of her head. She unbuttoned the top button to her uniform shirt and cracked her neck.

It took us about thirty minutes with L.A.’s terrible traffic to pull up to the house. The first person that I spotted was Jarei’s ol’ dusty ass standing next to a nigga on the porch smoking a blunt. He used his right hand as a visor to block the sun to squint and smile at my car. My crazy ass smiled right back at him as excitement started to twist all around inside of me.

“We bout to jump this nigga, Praylah you gon’ step to. I want you to think about all the times he cheated and left you at home with both his kids. All the name calling and treating you fucked up. Most of all he tried to take you from your baby by killing you. Nah, fuck all of that bullshit! You fenna get pay back on this nigga and boss the fuck up!” She quickly nodded her head just as my momma pulled up all crazy. I could’ve sworn her BMW SUV was nearly on two wheels.

My mom pulled all the way into the driveway with her baby deuce deuce out. I was surprised she didn’t pop up with my uncles. She had a blunt between her lips still burning, her hair was protected in a bonnet. We hurried and got out of the car before my mom took the lead and showed all the way out, but it was a little too late.

“Boy, boy, BOY! I been muthafuckin’ waiting for either Praylah or my daughter to call me and tell me to come through this muthafucka!” Each step she took her big breast bounced all over the place like Madea.

“Boy, Boy BOYYYYYA! What you gotta say boy!?” My mom had that deranged look in her eyes as I stepped to the side of her. She had no clue what was going on and that made me smile. I really wanted to burst out laughing because it really made no sense how my mom stayed on go. Her eyes quickly scanned over me and Praylah’s faces to make sure we were okay and hadn’t been touched.

“Ms. Earlene, I don’t want no problems. You overstepping boundaries right now.” Jarei stepped off the porch with his eyes glued to Praylah. “That nigga dressing you up and shit, got ya hair done up. How long this gon’ last before you start skipping baths and acting how you really act? Where the fuck my daughter at Praylah?” He tried to step closer to her and that’s when I stepped chest to chest to him.

“Nigga you ain’t in the position to ask no questions.” My top lip curled.

“You show in the fuck not. We ain’t got much time either, so let’s get to why we here.” Ju’well urged.