Page 56 of Quasim: King Inferno

“How’s Skyler been?”

“Stressed. Her stupid ass baby daddy allowed his mother to talk him into taking her to court to establish paternity since he’s not on her birth certificate.”

“Fuck.”

“Yeah, that whole situation freaked her out, so she basically called off whatever she was building with Corleon. She doesn’t want him to use anything against her during this whole court situation.”

My heart broke because I loved Jeffie, Skyler, and Core together. They were so cute, and there was so much love there between them. “I can understand, though. Men like that will use any and everything against the mothers to get what they want.”

Aimee sighed. “Yeah. Core moved her and Stevie to Brooklyn, even after she broke up with him. Said he didn’t want her living in the Bronx and knowing that her baby daddy had access to where she lives. Skyler is hardheaded, though, and used to doing everything alone. Won’t accept his help to hire a team of lawyers… hardheaded ass.”

“It’s hard when you’re used to having to come through for yourself. You know exactly what that feels like,” I raised my brow at her and she nodded her head.

“She’s working with Capri, going to school, and then she took a job atMantetoo.” She referred to the underground string of casinos that was owned by the Amanté cartel.

“I know those tips looking good, too.”

“Not the point,” Aimee laughed.

“She’ll figure it out, and if things are meant to be with her and Core, then it will be.”

“Amen.”

We both laughed, and I went to grab some menus so we could order something to eat. After finding out that I was divorced, I felt like a boulder had been lifted from my shoulders, and I could finally breathe.

“Fuck.” I muttered under my breath as Betsy decided to pull one of her dramatic acts by not starting. I turned the key in the ignition once more, and it stalled out, forcing me to hit the steering wheel in frustration.

Okay.

Maybe it didn’t force me to hit the steering wheel, but it damn sure felt good to hit it because this was the last thing that I needed to deal with today. All morning, I had been a bum on the couch, thinking about having to see Quasim today after the last time we left things. It was already hard the first time, when he left me to head out to who I assumed was another woman.

This time was even more mortifying because I laid on that bed and begged that man to let me love him. How pathetic of me to do that, and now I had to look him in the face and pretend all was well between the both of us.

“Mommy, you need more salt in there,” Capri answered her phone, chewing in my ear.

I could hear Jean’s infamous kiss of the teeth through the phone. “No more salt. You need to still watch your salt intake from the pregnancy.”

“Um, hello?”

“Sorry, B… are you on your way here?”

“My car won’t start.” I sulked.

Capri sighed. “I told you about your car and did you listen? Even offered to give you the Bronco until you got a new one… but no, you wanna be Ms. Independent.”

“I don’t think I called to hear a ‘told you so’ session. I’ll just see you at the concert tonight.”

Capri snorted. “Nope. Quasim had to drive back to his house for something, and he can pick you up.”

“Fuck no.”

“Blair, it’s only a ride and he’s the one that is closer to you. It’s going to take me two hours to make it to you.”

I huffed. “I guess. You call him, because I’m not calling him.”

“Got it… gonna call him now.”

“Fine.”

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