Page 65 of Beyond The Stars

“What’s up, Janay?”

“What’s up? Qamar, imagine my surprise when my friend tells me about the newest school gossip.”

“Okay, they always gossiping,” he baited, pretending he didn’t have a clue as to what she was talking about.

Her head snapped towards him, wiping the thin smile off his face. “Don’t bullshit me, Qamar. Did you really get expelled behind a bitch that sells pussy? Oh, yes, I just got a whole earful of that little hoe that takes pictures by day and sucks and fucks niggas by night. Are you really that fuckin’ lost that you’d sabotage everything your family has worked for? Are you crying out for that much attention? Do they not love you enough? What is it? Qamar?!”

The padding of feet pulled her attention to the hall. Siasia wiggled her finger in a taunting wave.

“Un-fuckin’-believable,” Janay groaned. “Then you brought her to the house our baby sleeps in.”

“Oh, shut up.” Siasia rolled her head as she delivered her words. “Me being here ain’t bothering you because your baby be here.”

“I’m not talking to you.” Janay bounced Belinay on her hip while turning her back to Siasia to focus on Qamar. “This is some privileged shit little white boys do when they didn’t get enough of Mommy and Daddy’s attention because they were too busy making sure he can be a fuckin’ nepo baby.”

“Watch yourself, Janay.” Qamar glared down at her.

“Or what?” she challenged, stepping up to him. “What are you going to do? Show out in front of your new flavor of the week?” She focused her attention back on Siasia. Looking her up and down she tried to see what it was in the basic bitch that had Qamar willing and ready to throw everything away. What was between Siasia’s legs to give her more power than a girl who gave him another baby—the semantics of Belinay’s paternity was neither here nor there because on paper and in his heart, she was his. All of that made accepting that he really gave his love and heart to another hard on her. Hard because hope sat in her belly when he decided to love Belinay in spite of. Now, she had to become the baby mama from hell.

“Flavor of the week, real original,” Siasia taunted with laughter in her tone.

“Bitch, fuck you!” Janay yelled.

“You doing too much in front of my baby.” Qamar reached for Belinay but Jany slapped his hand down.

“No!” Janay’s voice shook. “You need to clean up this mess you’ve created. Until then you can kiss Belinay goodbye.”

“You doing too much, now.”

“Siasia, just—” Qamar’s hands rested on his head. “Just chill for a second.”

“Me?!” Siasia pointed at herself. “I didn’t do anything but you know what?” She didn’t say anything else as she went back into the room prepared to put her clothes on. The room felt charged, and she could sense the storm brewing between them. She wanted no parts and didn’t feel like it was her place any longer. The baby was involved and although her heart told her she’d known Qamar in another lifetime, they were still very new.

That put a sadistic thin-lipped smile on Janay’s face.

“See, you haven’t lost your damn mind. If you want to be a father, you focus on that. There’s no time to be out here making new babies.” Satisfied, she took a seat on the couch.

Trying to weight out all his options, Qamar looked from the empty hall Siasia casually strolled down to Janay who had a look of a champion. Right and wrong sat on his shoulders, both pleading their case on what his next move should be.

“I think you should go,” he whispered, hoping she didn’t take offense.

Her eyes doubled in size. “I should go? Are you really putting me and your baby out? What type of drugs that girl got you on?”

“Janay, come on.” He let out a frustrated breath. “I’m not putting you and my baby out but you don’t live here.”

“Since the fuck when?” she yelled. “Me and Belinay stay here from time to time, so don’t act dumb now.”

“Janay!” Qamar hollered. “I’ll come get my baby tomorrow before you have to go to class. Just—” his hand wiped down his face, showing how confused and annoyed he was. There was no handbook on this shit he was currently dealing with but Janay trying to hint at them being something they weren’t, wasn’t sitting right with him. Then for her to threaten to keep Belinay away from him—she had some nerve.

Nodding as she stood, she mumbled under her breath. “You done lost your damn mind but trust I will always get the last laugh. Don’t worry about getting her tomorrow or any other day. I can handle her by my-damn-self.” She stormed out of the house, snatching away when he tried to stop her.

On cue, Siasia came out the room fully dressed.

“Where you going?” he asked, exhausted from the day’s events and the sun hadn’t even gone down yet. His phone had been ringing out of control then the blow up between him and Janay had his battery needing a charge. He wasn’t in the mood to argue with Siasia.

“Home.” Her response was short.

“Go take them fuckin’ clothes off and get your ass back in the bed.” He ripped out his words impatiently. “Every time I get you back in my life, you take off behind any little infraction. We ain’t doing that shit no more. It’s us. Now and forever, mama.”

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