Page 52 of The Best is Yet to Cum

The ladies looked at me for too long without responding, making me nervous as hell.Were they about to tell me some shit about Mona that I wouldn’t like?

“We started planning the baby shower and wanted your input,” Karla announced.

“And we want it to be a surprise, so we’ll need your help getting her there,” Lariah added.

“We’d also love to know the baby's gender, if possible. If not, we’ll work around it,” Mrs. Blackwell said.

A baby shower?Thank God for her mother and friends because I hadn’t thought about having one.

I finally responded after sighing with relief. “I’ll help as much as I can.”

20

Mona

“Damn, sis. We don’t talk to you for a few days, and you have a whole new address. What’s going on?” Lariah questioned.

I wasn’t sure if Clinton felt comfortable with my friends being in his space, even though he’d told me repeatedly it wasourspace, so Lariah, Karla, and I met at a restaurant for brunch.

“Honestly, it happened so fast I barely had time to think.”

“Last time we discussed, you didn’t want to move in with Clinton, right? Wasn’t that why you alternated weeks at each other’s places?” Karla asked.

“Yes, but Winston showed up at my apartment, enraged.”

“What?”

“No lie?”

My friends were shocked, speaking at the same time.

“I wish I was lying, but maybe it was what needed to happen for me to face my fears about moving forward with Clinton.”

“Possibly, but Winston showing up at your apartment is wild. How the hell did he get your address?” asked Lariah.

“I’ve been wondering the same thing. Even if he’d been following me, he wouldn’t know my apartment number. He was banging on my apartment door when I got off the elevator.”

I shared the experience with them, becoming angry and a bit shaken as I recanted what happened. Karla was noticeably quiet and didn’t ask any questions or have any comments.

“It’s a good thing Anton was with you. I’m sure Clinton was pissed,” Lariah said.

“Honestly, he was fairly calm, but I think it was because he wanted me to stay calm.”

“Niggas that can remain calm in situations like that are the ones that lowkey be crazy,” she surmised.

“You good, Karla? You haven’t said much.” When she looked at me, I noticed tears in her eyes. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

“It was my fault. I can’t believe I gave him access to you and put you in danger,” she confessed through tears.

“What are you talking about?” I pressed.

“Yeah, sis. You sound crazy right now.”

“Did you get any flowers from Cairo?” Karla asked me.

“No, why would he send me flowers?”

“He asked me for your address, saying he wanted to send you flowers to apologize for what happened on game night. I thought it was a sweet gesture and gave it to him without thinking.”

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