Page 18 of Their End Game

I looked at Ja’vari, and his expression was still of pure confusion, but I wasn’t buying the act he was putting on. “Radiance?” he called just as I passed him. I only had on a robe, but I didn’t care. My room wasn’t far, and I needed out of Ja’vari’s space.

With my back to him, I handed Ja’Lani off to Santia. “Give me a moment?” I asked just above a whisper, and though she nodded, she didn’t move nor actually speak. Exhaling, I turned to face Ja’vari. This man held my heart. I loved him more than I could have ever imagined, and for one second, I just knew he felt the same. “You didn’t have to do it this way, Ja’vari. I would have easily given you a DNA test if I knew you had an ounce of doubt.” My voice cracked as I spoke because the longer I stared at him, the more I realized I was truly hurt by his actions.

“Ja’vari, what the hell?” I heard Santia say.

“Um, I’m gonna grab my things and go.” That was Vanessa.

I could hear the movement around me but didn’t know who was moving as my eyes were fixated on Ja’vari, and as if something clicked, his eyes widened. “Nobody fucking move.” His deep voice startled me, and any and all movement ceased. Ja’vari didn’t talk like that, even when extremely angry. “Vanessa?” he called out firmly, his eyes still on mine.

“I have to go.” I couldn’t see her, but she seemed scared, and I heard her movements.

“I said nobody move!” This time, his voice was a little louder, and through his authoritative shouting, I was surprised Ja’Lani hadn’t reacted. “You did this?” he questioned.

My brows furrowed. Wait, so it wasn’t him? I stared at him as he pleaded with me with his eyes, though I saw rage filling them.

“Ja’vari, listen…” Vanessa’s words trailed, and both Ja’vari and I shot a look her way. She stood there with her eyes doubled in size, her bottom lip trembling, and fear as her expression.

“Oh gosh.” I heard Santia, but it was hazy, as I was too focused on Vanessa.

Shocked, I looked to Ja’vari as he pressed his hands together as if he were praying, bringing his hands to his lips. “Please tell me you didn’t do what the hell I think you did.” His voice was calm, but a blind man could see he was anything but that.

Vanessa’s eyes began to water as she looked from Ja’vari to me, and then Santia and Ja’Lani before they settled back to Ja’vari. “Ja’vari, we were just fine before you ran into her.”

This bitch, I thought. I heard Ja’vari, even saw him, realized Santia and Ja’Lani were still in the room, but in the moment, my tunnel vision was on Vanessa. Casually, I walked to her, and before anything could process, I had punched her, sending her to the ground. I may have played with and about a lot of things, but Ja’Lani Daire St. Clair wasn’t one of them. I blacked out in the moment, throwing punches, each one landing some place on Vanessa’s body. I wasn’t only fighting her for crossing the line with my child, but I was releasing punches for the many times she came at me. Just as I landed a right punch to the side of Vanessa’s temple, I felt my body being hoisted in the air, but it was not before my bare foot collided with her side. “Get the fuck off me.” I squirmed, still swinging and kicking, trying to get at Vanessa.

“Yo!” Ja’vari placed me firmly on my feet when one of my wild hits connected to his jaw. “You gotta chill.”

“Chill?” I questioned in disbelief. “How you telling me to chill when yo’ bitch violated in the worst way possible? Nah, ain’t no calming down, Ja’vari.”

“I get it. She violated, and I will deal with that, but you ’round here socking me like you Muhammad Ali not it.”

Vanessa lay on the floor, whining like a big kid, and had it not been for Ja’vari standing in the way, I would have kicked her ass again.

“This shit ain’t my fault, Radiance.” Ja’vari sounded defeated, and I could tell he felt bad that it had happened.

Feeling bad or not, I had to protect my child as I always had since she’d been born. “She is my child, and I have to protect her, and what happened here wasn’t protection.”

“Ourchild, Radiance! Ja’Lani belongs to the both of us.”

Looking to Santia and Ja’Lani, I smiled weakly. Ja’Lani seemed to not care, and Santia just stood there, her mouth agape. Ja’Lani was my reason and purpose, not this bullshit I was standing here facing. Here I was, in my mid-twenties and a mother, fighting, something I hadn’t done in years. This wasn’t how I moved. I turned back to Ja’vari. “You’re right. She is ours. The thing is though, I’ve protected her since day one, and you had her for one day and couldn’t do the same. You and Ms. Weird Ass Lady over there can have the bullshit. I walked away years ago and looked back this weekend, Ja’vari. I am walking away this time, and it’s no coming back.” I said those words, and my voice cracked as my heart shattered. This time seemed to hurt worse than the first time, and he and I weren’t even together.

“Radiance…”

I held my hand up while shaking my head. “Nah, Ja’vari. It’s cool,” was all I said before turning and walking to Santia, taking Ja’Lani from her. “You’re a psychotic hoe, and you should seek help instantly.” I looked over at Vanessa as her silly ass still rested on the floor. With that, I was out the door with Santia in tow. Ja’vari called after me, but it fell upon deaf ears, as I never looked back.

17

Ja’vari:

“Ja’vari, I’m sorry.” Vanessa spoke slowly.

Radiance had just walked out the door, and I still faced it as if she would turn around and come back. It was hard to process all that had taken place in such a short time. We’d gone from reconciliation sex to her telling me she never wanted to see me again, almost in one breath. I couldn’t process the thought of what Vanessa had done to me, not even knowing she’d scandalously gone behind my back and done such vile shit. Before this trip, she hadn’t given off crazy, but in the last few days, she’d displayed every inch and more of it.

“Get out,” was all I could say, my back still to Vanessa. I was so furious that had I said anything else, it wouldn’t have been good for either of us. Not hearing any movement, I turned, noticing that Vanessa had stood but hadn’t moved. Radiance had done a number on her in such a short time. Her hair was disheveled, face was red, scratches decorated her face, and blood slowly trickled from somewhere. I would never lay my hands on a woman, so I appreciated Radiance getting the job done in such a short time.

“Vanessa, I said get out.”

She parted her dry lips to speak, but nothing followed, so she attempted again. “Can you please let me explain?” The sound finally caught up with the movement of her lips.

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