Page 4 of For the Lover in You
Kyle scanned Trina up and down. He'd seen Trina take on two people and whoop them both. He saw Trina help in a bar fight when he and another one of our guy friends were getting whooped. Kyle knew not to fuck with Trina. He looked past Trina and made eye contact with me.
"Where are you taking my son?" he asked me.
"Where we go is none of your concern. You're starting your own little family, so there is no need to worry about us."
He scoffed and paced back and forth. "Mila, you sound dumb as fuck! You think I'm just going to let you run off with my son? I knew your ass was dumb, but I didn't think you were this dumb."
"Motherfucker, you must've lost your damn mind talking to her like that!" Trina yelled.
"Man, Trina, shut the fuck up and mind your business!"
Trina lunged at him, and he dodged her. The two shouted and cursed at each other. Trina reminded Kyle he wasn't shit. Kyle reminded her of her imperfections, but it was nothing compared to how Trina was cursing him out.
"You ain't shit and never will be shit! Had it not been for Mila, your ass would still be struggling to get through medical school!"
"Fuck you, Trina!"
"No, fuck you! I been told Mila to leave your sorry ass!"
"You ain't try hard enough!"
"You're so lowdown!" Trina shouted.
The two continued fussing while I stood there, watching it all unfold. This was not how I expected my life to be. My best friend and my husband were supposed to be best friends because each of them was my person, yet here they were, throwing insults at each other. My sight landed on the table, and divorce papers still sat there. I walked over to the table and scanned the papers. I made sure that there was nothing in it about Kyle having full custody. All that was in it was him asking for a separation and then divorce. I walked toward the bookshelf, grabbing a pen. My movements must've hauled the insults because the room went quiet.
"Mila, what are you doing?" Trina asked, her voice turning gentle.
Tears had soaked my face. I could no longer sit here and deal with the man Kyle had become. He was once sensitive tomy feelings, encouraged me, and loved me aloud. Now he looked and treated me like gum on the bottom of his shoe.
"I'm giving him what he wants," I declared.
Trina ran toward me. "Mila, let me have my lawyers review this before you sign. He owes you alimony. Hell, you can take that motherfucker for everything that he's got!"
I shook my head. "All I want is KJ. There is nothing in the document regarding joint custody or any other relevant information. I just want to take my son away from this man," I explained, low enough just so Trina could hear me.
Trina looked at me and sighed. "Well, at least, let me take pictures of it."
She pulled out her phone and took pictures of the divorce papers. Once she was done, she looked at me with a soft smile.
"I've got you, no matter what."
I smiled. "I know."
Tears were steadily falling because it was something I could control. My life had undergone drastic changes in a short span of time. I was oblivious not to see that Kyle wasn't the man for me anymore. My heart knew, but my mind wouldn't let me accept it. I knew I could no longer live like this. The evil smirk on Kyle's face let me know I was making the right choice, no matter how badly it hurt. The more I looked at him, the more hate built up in my heart. Kyle transformed into the one thing I feared: an ain't shit man. I would read social media posts, listen to podcasts, and listen to what my friends would say about men in today's society. I jinxed myself. Here I was experiencing the same thing I told myself I would never have to deal with.
I pressed down on the paper, signing it, big and proud. The tears were no longer a source of pain but had turned into a seething hatred.
"Damn, thank you," Kyle said, letting out a sigh.
I stared at him with hate in my heart. Kyle could be on fire, and I wouldn't even piss on him.
"Fuck you, Kyle."
His eyes ballooned. I had never spoken to Kyle the way I just did. The respect and submissiveness had gone out the window along with this marriage.
"I'm getting KJ's and my shit. Don't bother looking for us."
"Mila, I already told your ass you're not taking KJ from me."
