Page 182 of Save Room for Us

So while I didn’t fuck with having two women, maybe the shit would work for his ass.

“My one fucking wife is enough. I would never sign up to deal with two females’ emotions, mood swings, and all that other shit.” Khari spoke facts. “Marley live in her own spot, and she was a lot to deal with at one point. I couldn’t fucking imagine if shelivedwith Couture and I.”

“Fuck around and ask her to suck you up like she did last time, and now she mad ’cause that was ya other bitch,” Cemone joked.

We guffawed heavily at the thought of that shit.

“It’s all jokes now, but I don’t want y’all coming to me later saying you wish you did shit my way.” Unique bit his burger.

“I can’t wait for Pops to hear this shit.” Bashar shook his head, everyone’s faces saying the same shit.

SOMETIME LATER…

Everyonein the courtroom rose to their feet as the judge got ready to read the verdict. Bashar had assured me not to worry and that it was looking good for me, but how many times did people think that and it turn out not to be good? How many innocent people had gone to prison, even in this day and age?

The prosecutor, Emilia, was damn good at her job, and a few times, I saw the jurors look at me skeptically after she’d ask a certain question.

I licked my lips as I watched the judge read the verdict silently before handing it back off to the clerk.

“In the case of The State of California versus Chase, the jury finds the defendantnotguilty.”

I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that when the courtroom erupted into loud shouts, clapping, obscenities being thrown, and just a lot of pandemonium in the midst of the judge banging his gavel, I didn’t know what the fuck was going on.

“What?” I looked up to a grinning Bashar.

“You ain’t hear him? He said not guilty.”

“Oh shit,” I mumbled, looking at my family already approaching to hug and congratulate me.

“You lying bitch!” I heard Allyson, Cedric’s stepsister, yell out, but I ignored her, gripping Analicia tighter when I felt her try to pull away and respond.

I didn’t give a fuck what she thought. I was free, not only from going to prison, but this trial, not having custody of my baby, and most importantly, from Cedric.

Asif approached me, saying nothing before kissing my forehead, then my lips. I loved him, the thought making me bury my face into his broad, strong, good-smelling chest.

Finally, we left out of the courtroom, security helping us navigate the crowd and reporters that were blocking the entrance and exit. As Asif helped me down the steps, I spotted Jacinta, fidgeting a little bit. Stopping when I got to her, I regarded her for a minute before we embraced.

“Thank you,” I said, happy she’d gotten up there and testified against Cedric. Many may not have agreed, but it was brave of her to do that for me.

“Of course.” She pulled back. “It wasn’t only for you though; it was for me too.” She smiled.

“What are your plans, because he is still free?” I kept her hands in mine.

“I didn’t want to, but CJ and I are gonna fly to Minnesota where my parents are and stay there for a while. Might stay forever depending on how the hospitals are run.” She looked back in the direction of where Cedric, Emilia Finley, and Cedric’sfamily were talking to reporters in the distance. “I doubt he will follow. I don’t think he ever really cared about me like that. It was just you. I was something to keep his bed warm when he woke from a coma and something to belittle you with before all of this.”

I nodded to say I understood.

Jacinta and I hugged once more then parted ways.

“Is Maestro’s aight?” Asif asked me once Jacinta had walked off.

“I don’t care where we eat, but the girls and I do love the Lychee Martinis, so that works.” I smiled at him.

Asif returned the gesture before nodding to Bashar and Prime as they took their women plus my mother to their vehicles.

As our families drove out of the parking lot, Asif quizzed, “What you wanna do after? We gotta celebrate, but I do have to handle some shit?—”

POP! POP!

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