Page 17 of I Heard It All Before

Once again, she and Savoy went back and forth while Isis and Demi just listened. Demi waved her waitress over as she looked around the semi-crowded restaurant. She pulled some money from her black Birkin bag and made a quick decision.

“Here’s your check.” The waitress smiled while handing Demi her bill.

“Thanks. Here’s your tip and I want to pay for the people at the three tables in the back. Is this enough?” Demi asked while counting out a few twenties to the other woman.

The waitress excused herself to go double check the amount of the other customers’ bills before she rushed back over.

“It’s too much, but I got your change,” she replied.

“No, just pay for another table or two and you can keep the rest,” Demi said as she grabbed her iced coffee and stood to her feet.

“That’s so sweet. Thank you so much. I’m sure you’re going to make their day. You’ve already made mine,” the waitress said with a bright smile.

She was in a foul mood when she got to work earlier, but Demi’s act of kindness put her in a different head space.

“You’re welcome. Have a good day.” Demi smiled right before she walked away.

“Mother Theresa strikes again. This bitch act like she’s rich. Always paying people’s tabs and shit,” Savoy laughed.

Demi always did the same thing when they went out to dinner, and that drove her cousin crazy. Most of the time, the people that she helped didn’t even seem like they needed it. Demi felt compelled to be a blessing to someone else, being that her husband grew up in foster care. Kamari told her the stories of how he went hungry some days and that broke his wife’s heart. He and Demi donated to the boys and girls club all the time, but Demi took it a step further.She was financially stable and she loved to do for others. She didn’t want another person to experience the things that her husband had to endure.

“You didn’t say all that when I had to paid your light bill last month, did you? I wasn’t Mother Theresa then,” Demi said, putting her on blast.

Savoy was really starting to get on her nerves with some of the shit that she said.She always tried to be funny, but nobody found humor in her words.

“Girl, I was just playing with you. You didn’t even have to take it that far. But, you’ll have your money back as soon as my husband gets paid next week,” Savoy said angrily.

“Haaaaa! That shit is hilarious!” Imani yelled as she cracked up laughing.

That was good for Savoy’s ole messy ass. Demi shut her ass up and not a minute too soon.

“Whatever,” Demi said in disgust. “I need to get to the office. Let me know how much I owe you when you finalize everything Isis. I’ll talk to y’all later.”

Demi dropped her phone in her purse after their call was disconnected and headed for the door. She was sure that her cousin felt played, but she just didn’t give a fuck.Savoy had been the same way since they were kids and it was time out for her negative attitude. Demi was in a good mood and nobody was going to ruin it.

***

“I hear you, Ma,” Cam said as he talked on the phone with his mother.

“You hear me, but are you listening?” Nora asked her son.

“Nah, not really,” Cam replied honestly.

“I can’t believe you right now Camden. I thought you were taking a step in the right direction, but I see that nothing has changed,” Nora argued.

“How was your trip Ma? Did you enjoy the Bahamas?” Cam asked.

“And don’t try to change the subject!” Nora yelled.

“I love you, so I’m trying to change the subject to keep from saying something that I’ll later regret.”

“You try it and I’ll be on my way to IHOP to whip your high yellow ass,” Nora fumed.

“Man,” Cam said, blowing out a breath of frustration.

“Man, my ass. A five-minute visit won’t kill you, Cam. You’re too young to harbor so much hate and bitterness,” Nora scolded.

“I keep telling you that I don’t hate that dude and ain’t nothing bitter about me. Stop acting like he’s always been in my life. I’m twenty-seven years old and the first time we did anything together was a few weeks ago, when he invited me to the car show. I just got his number for the first time in my life and you want me to act like everything is all good. I’m not breaking my neck to run up there to see him and I’m sorry if that upsets you,” Cam argued.

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