Page 20 of Love Me Now: Adrian & Kwamé
“Who the fuck you ‘posed to be? You fuckin’ this bitch?” he barked at Russ.
Ari and I audibly gasped as Russ stepped in Rod’s face with a menacing growl. His handsome face contorted into something dark and sinister. The music still played and, as I discreetly glanced around, I noticed that many were preoccupied and didn’t notice the drama taking place inside the tent.
“Watch ya fuckin’ mouth,” Russ warned Rod.
“Mane, move the fuck out my way,” Russ demanded. “That’s my bitch—”
Russ pushed Rod so hard, his chest nearly caved in.
“I want you to leave, Rod,” Ari announced. “If I would’ve listened to my sister, I wouldn’t have gotten caught up wit’ yo’ ass in the first place,” Ari told Rod.
Rod chuckled. “If you would’ve listened to ya sister? Oh, what? She told you we fucked?” Rod confessed, causing my eyes to bulge out of my head.
“What?” Bianca, Coco, and I had the same reaction. The music drowned out our loud shrieks of disbelief.
Carli’s face resembled a dear caught in headlights. Her mouth moved to tell a lie that wouldn’t spill forth. The ass whooping I wanted to give Carli returned full-fledged.
“Carli?” Ari’s soft voice was filled with disbelief.
Carli looked at her older sister and snapped, “I’ve been telling you about this nigga formonths. Yet you wouldn’t listen. I fucked him months ago. Why the hell do you think I’ve been trying to warn you?”
Stunned into silence, all Ari did was stare at the younger version of herself. She and her sister were too close for this not to have shattered Ari’s heart. I saw it in her eyes. Incensed, I stepped to Carli, ready to knock her head off her shoulders.
“Kwamé!” Adrian barked. He snatched me up just as I swung on Carli. My fist connected with Adrian instead.
“Ho!” I shouted at Carli. “I should drag yo’ ass all over this park!”
“Everybody out!” Russ commanded. His voice rose over the music, drawing attention.
“Fuck you! Ari, let’s go!” For Rod to think Ari was leaving with him was yet another sign of audacity.
“No!” Ari shouted. “How could y’all do this to me?” Her tear-filled eyes broke my heart. Carli stormed out of the tent and toward the parking lot.
Having had enough, Antonias yoked Rod up. The two started tussling, but my brother didn’t tussle—he knocked niggas out. While he was busy beating Rod’s ass, I tuned in to Russ standing in front of my best friend. With one hand on her arm and theother using the back of his knuckles, he blotted away some of the tears that fell.
“Stop that shit.” Russ’s tone was low and gentle. “You too beautiful for that. Fix ya face, and I meanright now.”
Ari waved her hands in front of her face to stop the tears from falling.
“The people who need to be here are still here. Fuck er’body else,” he continued.
She nodded and hiccupped as she tried to fight the emotional current rushing through her.
“You look good as fuck, and you smell even better. Don’t let a couple of sorry muhfuckas ruin ya day.”
The baby shower hadn’t even started yet, and Rod and Carli nearly ruined the vibe.
Ari sniffled, then chuckled. “Thanks.”
Adrian practically had to drag me out of the tent, even though I wanted to ear-hustle on whatever else Russ was lowly saying to Ari. He kept touching her, too.
“Shit!” Maddie exclaimed, garnering several pairs of eyes. “My water just broke!”
All hell broke loose again. This time for a different reason.
Hours later, after putting Jessie down for the evening, I undressed to prepare for a shower. After Ari’s baby shower commenced, everything went well. Her parents finally showed, which put her in a better mood. Like she initially forgave Carli, she did the same with her parents. I wasn’t sure how she and Carli would move past Carli and Rod’s transgressions, but I prayed my friend found peace about it.
After the baby shower, most of the family gathered at the hospital to see Baltimore and Maddie’s baby. Baltimore Junior was a baby doll and was fully welcomed by his older siblings. Maddie was a gem and deserved every blessing she had coming her way.
