Page 33 of Plea
“We fight for each other. I’m a feminine woman, but I get very aggressive when it comes down to the people I love. I will beat her ass and turn into a demon if I even chip a nail.”
I was glad he was laughing so much because I knew that would alleviate the stress, but I didn’t think he realized just how serious I was.
“I appreciate you wanting to protect ya man, but I really don’t think that will be necessary, sunshine. Plus, she’s pregnant. You can’t fight a pregnant woman.”
Confusion filled me. My brows knitted and head jerked. “I can hit her in her face. Specifically in her mouth for talking all this fake shit.”
“Baby,” he called through his laughter, squeezing my thigh. Carson pulled his phone out of his pocket, and my eyes rolled at the sight of Asia’s name. “I’ma drop you off so you can get your car and then go meet her ass.”
“Alright, babe. Call me if you need me.”
I wanted to go and see my parents. Even though they’d met Carson once, it was at the party and before I fully realized who he was to me. Who he was to my heart. They’d respected my wishes for space and privacy, but I knew they were anxious and wanting to talk to me after what went down. If it wasn’t for the fact that they were expecting me, I would have been going with Carson to see Asia. I trusted him, but I also knew he was a good man and probably would handle her with more respect than she deserved.
When my sistersfound out I was coming over, they pulled up too, which didn’t surprise me. They were just as nosy as I was. I was barely able to get in the door good and take my shoes off before Mariah was flying down the stairs in my direction.
“I wanna know it all! That man really came and got you from your wedding! Where my new brother at?”
I laughed as we hugged. “He’s handling some business. Plus, I wanted to see what your parents had to say before I brought him around.”
“Chile, please. They’re happy you didn’t marry Trevor’s ass.”
“Really?” I asked as we headed up the stairs.
“Yep. Especially Daddy. He was cheesing when he found out you’d left. The man saidthatwas a reason to celebrate.”
A breath of relief escaped me at the sound of that. I knew they’d respect and support any decision I made, but it felt good to hear that. A part of me wished they would have just told me straight up not to marry him, but my parents weren’t that type. They knew if I wanted to do something and they tried to get me not to, that would only make me want to do it more.
They had a little cubby set up against the wall by their bedroom door. Since we often migrated to their bed when wecame over, Mama had customized robes and house shoes for us. Mariah was already in hers, so I grabbed mine, went to the guest bathroom to take off my clothes, then slipped into mine before joining them in the bedroom.
As was to be expected, Daddy was in the sitting area reading and Mariah and Paisley were in bed talking Mama’s ear off. I greeted everyone and gave them hugs before laying on the edge of the bed.
“I see you remembered where home was,” Mama teased.
“I needed that time away, Ma. Things were crazy, and I didn’t want to immediately face the consequences of what I’d done if there were any. I didn’t want to see Trevor or any of his people for that matter. I just… wanted time to accept the decision I made.”
“That’s fair. So how are you feeling now?” she asked, causing Daddy’s eyes to lift from his book and focus on me.
“I feel great. I don’t regret ending things with Trevor at all.”
“And what about this… Carson fellow?” Daddy asked. “I vaguely remember meeting him the night of your party, but I don’t know anything about him.”
I shared facts about Carson and his family that he’d shared with me, and they seemed impressed. I agreed to having him over so they could meet him soon. Paisley didn’t say much, but I could tell something was on her mind. It wasn’t until I’d been there for an hour or so that she met me in the kitchen.
“Let me have it,” I said, popping the top off a bowl of fruit. “What’s wrong?”
“Did Carson tell you he has a baby on the way?”
I chuckled. “That’s not his baby. How do you know about that anyway?”
“Me and Asia follow each other on TikTok. I wouldn’t say she’s a friend or anything like that, but she does goodrecommendations for different brands, and we talk when I go to her store.”
“Wait. She said that bullshit on TikTok too?”
“Yep, and it went viral. She was on there crying about being a single mother and not having her man by her side. She said Carson made it clear getting her pregnant didn’t change his feelings for her and that he’d never marry her. She said he wasn’t going to be there for their baby and they have been on there dragging his ass.”
My breath came out shaky as I pulled my phone out of the robe pocket to text Carson and let him know she was talking about him on TikTok as well since he didn’t have a profile on there. I thought my loyalty to Trevor was insane, but at least we were in a relationship. She was being loyal to a man that wanted nothing to do with her and dragging the man that had done right by her. All I could do was hope their conversation led to her leaving him alone, because if it didn’t, she would have to see me.
Before going back home,I decided to stop by the salon. I missed my girls and being in my element. Regardless of if a man paid my bills or not, I’d never stop working. When you truly loved what you did, it didn’t feel like work. That’s how I felt every time I went to my salon. There was nothing a man could offer me to make me stop going.
