Page 12 of The Best is Yet to Cum

“Thanks for the reminder, Karla, but I needed time to focus on myself.”

“I get that, sis, but it looks like you brought back a little souvenir from NOLA, and you need to tell that man he’s about to be somebody’s daddy,” Lariah said.

“I know, but I haven’t communicated with him since he left New Orleans.”

“Do you have his number?” Karla asked, and I nodded. “Then call him.”

“I can’t just call him. It’s more complicated than that.”

“We’re listening,” Lariah pressed.

I took a moment to gather my thoughts. “His name is Clinton, and New Orleans wasn’t the first time I’d met him.”

“And the plot thickens. Tell us more,” Karla prodded.

“He’s kinda sorta, but not really friends with Winston.”

“Shut up!”

“Are you for real?”

They were in shock, understandably so.

“Clinton said he met Winston through his business partner, who met him through someone else. He referred to them as associates, not friends.”

“If this doesn’t prove how small the world is, I don’t know what does,” Lariah said.

“Seriously, but I don’t care if they are or were best friends. It would serve Winston’s punk ass right to have a front seat to watch you be happy with another man,” Karla proclaimed.

“I know that’s right! Them being friends would make it so much sweeter,” Lariah agreed.

“I agree, and before we had sex, I thought about using him to get revenge.”

“That’s understandable,” Karla said.

“But it was only a passing thought. Me and Clinton had an authentic connection, and it didn’t have shit to do with Winston’s trifling ass. This man… he’s quite literally everything. Well, at least he was in New Orleans.”

“Then why did you send him off?” Karla asked.

“I told you I needed to work on me. Even though my divorce was a long time coming, it was hard and…”

Tears filled my eyes as I thought about what I’d almost done in that hotel room three months ago. I hadn’t told a soul besides my therapist, who I’d been seeing since I returned from my trip.

“And what, Mo?” Lariah questioned.

I shook my head. “All I can say is therapy works wonders. Everyone should partake.”

“Ain’t that the truth! Mine tried to fire me, but I had to nip that in the bud,” Karla agreed.

“Mine too, girl. Life gon’ keep life-ing, so I don’t know what makes her think I don’t need her anymore,” Lariah added.

“I should’ve been in therapy years ago. Maybe I would’ve left Winston much sooner, or maybe never married him in the first place.”

“Don’t dwell on the past. You’re getting the help you need now, and that nigga is old news. That’s all that matters. Now, back to Clinton. When are you going to call him?”

Lariah was the pushy one of the three of us. If I didn’t tell her when I planned to call Clinton, she’d bug me until I did.

“He probably gave up on us reconnecting.”

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