Page 53 of Ony If It's You
“Yeah?” His eyes widened to sell the shock that he was giving her. “Well, you’re catching up with me because I’ve been seeing a princess all week.”
She blushed and wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed tightly. He smiled and returned sentiment. I hated him for being so sweet and fine.
Stupid ass nigga.
Celeste and Si had found their way back over to us with Dominique in tow. Now it wasn’t really a mystery on why and how we were found.
“The circus show is about to start, Mommy, we have to go.” Si grabbed my hand and started to pull me in the direction of where I assumed the show was taking place.
The rest of our time was spent at the live show and in the arcade. Dominique and Javyous really went all out for the twins. They made sure they were able to get whatever they wanted. It was really heartwarming.
Pharaoh was a great provider for the kids, but that was as far as it went for him. He thought all that it took to raise kids was money. When I would fuss about him spending time with the twins, he would argue that he needed to work to be able to make money to provide for them. The conversation had become so redundant that I said fuck it and let him parent the best way that he saw fit.
I appreciated Javyous taking the time to spend with them. Our situation didn’t call for him to do that, but he did it and he made sure that we knew that it was genuine. Simple things such as watching cartoons in the mornings with Jocelyn or SportsCenter with Messiah, even explaining things to him so that he would understand them.
Too bad he was an idiot.
Looking down at my vibrating phone, I noticed Jasmine calling. I leaned into Celeste to tell her to keep an eye on the kids so that I could take the call. Javyous looked my way when I stood, likely wanting to know where I was going, but I ignored him and found a place quiet enough for me to take the call.
“Hey, Jasmine, is everything okay?”
I had one finger pressed down on my ear as I pressed the phone into my face like that was going to make me hear better.
“Girl, when I tell you we have been swamped all week! I wanted to call yesterday, but I knew you were at your husband’s fight.”
“How do you know that?”
“Social media.”
“Figures.” I rolled my eyes. “What’s up though? I’m at the circus with the kids.”
“Girl, they look so freaking cute!” she squealed. “Okay, sorry, I saw them on social media too. I was just calling to let you know that we are sold out ofallof the JoSi skincare stuff that you had in the store. Also, we have been overbooked too. Tell your husband thank you for mentioning our place on his social media.”
“What?” I asked more to myself than to her.
“Yeah girl, that man of yours is something else. Anyways, there’s a convention here in a couple of weeks, invite only. Samiya Grey came by and personally delivered yours.”
“What!” I squealed.
Samiya was one of the first women in Crescent Falls to start her own business. She held a Brown Girls Convention every year to encourage Black women to go into business for themselves and gave tips on how to grow an existing one.
My beauty bar had been up and running for a few years, but I had been wanting something bigger and better. I’d recently learned how to do lash extensions, so that was a service I wanted to start offering as well as hiring two nail techs. I hadn’t done it yet because I knew that I needed a bigger space.
Also, I wanted to grow JoSi, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the demand handmaking my products. I needed to start having them manufactured, I just didn’t know which route to take to make it happen. This convention would give me some insight, so I was ecstatic.
“You still there, girl?” Jas asked.
“Yeah, I am. Look, I need to get back to the kids, but thank you for this. Thank you for calling me. I’ll be in touch with you soon.”
Disconnecting the call, I shoved my phone into my pocket and headed back to my seat. Javyous watched me the entire time, so I rolled my eyes and took my seat. I could tell that he wanted to say something, but I was sure that he could tell that I didn’t want to hear shit that he had to say so he kept quiet.
Chapter Fifteen
Javyous
“Bringing the kids to the weigh-in last night was perfect!” Cheryl boasted. “The media is really loving you guys.”
“Word, the kids enjoyed that shit.”
