Chapter 23 --> Letting Go Pt 1/3

ummm enjoy

SB: Nicki… It’s not what you think. I was just-

Nicki: Don’t! I don’t wanna hear it!

She looked at Jhené who still had her fingers on her lips where he had kissed her and she felt the tears in her eyes. She looked up blinking away the tears then walked away. They heard her bedroom door slam shut. Jhené ran her hand through her hair, got up and went to the bathroom. She closed the door and leaned against it sliding to the floor.

Nicki walked into the kitchen later that evening to Terrence, TT, Lauren and MJ. She didn’t say a word to anyone as she made herself a bowl of cereal and sat at the counter eating. When she was done she got up, washed her dish and went back to her room. As she was pulling the covers over her leg she heard the door and heard MJ’s babbling as he tried to say Aunty.  Tyesha walked into the room put MJ on the bed then laid down facing her best friend.

TT: what’s going on Nic? Safaree just left looking upset, we haven’t seen Jhené and you just came in and out of the kitchen without saying a word to anyone.

She didn’t respond

TT: *sigh* Nic

Nicki: he kissed her

She said softly cutting Tyesha off

TT: wait… what? Kissed who? What are you talking about Nic?

Nicki: He kissed her

Was all she said again and closed her eyes at the end of her statement.

TT:  Safaree? Kissed Jhené?

Nicki turned onto her back resting her forearm across her eyes.

TT: did she kiss him back?

Nicki: No… She pushed him away

TT: I really don’t know what to say. How do you feel about it?

Nicki: My best friend kissed my girlfriend TT! How do you think I feel about it?

TT: your best friend? Is that all he is to you now Nicki?

Nicki: *sigh* TT I didn’t mean it like that

TT: then how did you mean it Onika?

When she didn’t respond TT chuckled, shook her head, picked up MJ and walked out leaving her. After TT left she laid there staring at the ceiling for a bit before she decided to go check on Jhené. When she got to the door and turned the knob it was lock. She knocked gently

Nicki: It’s me. May I come in?

But she didn’t hear a response and she stood there waiting for a bit before she decided to leave. As she turned to walk away she heard the door unlock and open. Jhené stood holding the door her head leaned against it as she waited for Nicki to enter. She closed the door as she did and walked over to the window. Nicki stood a couple feet behind her.

Jhené: I’m sorry

She said almost whispering.

Nicki: It’s not your fault

Jhené hung her head.

Jhené: but you’re upset with me

Nicki walked closer to her and she turned around

Nicki: I’m-

Jhené: don’t tell me you’re not cause then you’ll be lying

Nicki stood looking into her eyes

Jhené: kiss me

She looked away

Nicki: I… *looks back at her*

Jhené: now you need time to think about it?

She stood awaiting her answer and when she didn’t she turned back around looking out the window. She felt Nicki hug her from behind

Nicki: It’s not like that. It’s just… he kissed you

Jhené turned back to face her and Nicki raised her hand to her face then ran her thumb over her lips.

Nicki: these lips are for my kisses only. For tasting only me

Jhené held her hand and kissed the inside of her palm and each finger.

Jhené: then kiss me

She was hesitant but she pushed the thoughts of his lips on hers out of her mind as their tongues intertwined. Their kiss was full of hunger and passion. By the time they got to the bed they were only in their bras and thongs. Jhené lay between Nicki’s legs just looking into her eyes for a good five minutes before kissing her again. They made love until in the wee hours of the night. Tomorrow would be their last day at the cabin and Nicki thought about what she wanted to do as she laid watching Jhené sleep. Her hair was a messy bundle over the pillows and her face. She smiled as she moved the hair and kissed her forehead, her nose and then finally her lips.

Nicki: I love you

She whispered as she turned onto her back looking up at the dark ceiling wondering if what she had decided to do when she got home would be the right choice.

**

When Candi woke up the next morning Tay wasn’t in bed. She thought she was probably somewhere around the house. She checked her phone she had 8 text messages and 15 missed calls. Three of the texts were from her boyfriend they had recently started dating people knew about them cause of the pictures she posted on Instagram and Facebook. The others were from friends. She read his messages

Candi: Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

She let out a deep sigh and checked her missed calls they were mostly from him.

Candi: just fucking great Candice! What the fuck were you thinking?

She asked herself as she got out of the bed and head for the bathroom. After doing her morning routine she head out to the kitchen to get breakfast. TT was in the kitchen feeding MJ

TT: Good morning

Candi: Morning

TT looked her in the eyes and shook her head

Candi: What?

TT: nothing

Candi: Have you seen Tay?

TT:  She left pretty early looked like she was going for a jog. She had on sweats.

Candi: oh

She said as she took the bacon from the fridge

TT: nice picture

Candi didn’t say anything.

TT: he called me you know. When he couldn’t get through to you

Candi: who called you?

TT: JB

Candi: Great. *rolls eyes* what did he say?

TT: he asked me who she was, if it was just a onetime thing. He asked her name…

Candi: and what did you tell him?

TT: That it wasn’t my place to answer those questions. How could you not tell him Can?

Candi: I was going to?

TT: when?

Candi: look I don’t need this from you right now ok.

She turned and continued preparing her breakfast. TT chuckled as she wiped MJ’s mouth then left with him.

**

Tay read over the information she had gotten from the young man who worked at the front desk. He was the manager’s son and she had charmed him into giving her the information she needed. She walked along the lake until she found the cabin she was looking for and stopped in front of it. She walked up the driveway and up to the front door. She tried the door and it was unlocked so she walked in and slammed the door shut. She smiled as she and hurried off to the kitchen. Leah freaked when she heard the door slam and rushed from the bedroom to see who it was. As she opened the front door and peaked out she heard a glass fall and break but it didn’t come from the kitchen it came from the direction of her bedroom. She slowly walked back the direction she had come from and poked her head in the door. She noticed her phone missing from the spot on the bed where she had left it and rushed over.

Leah: what the fuck?

The bedroom door slam and she spun around clutching her chest

Tay: hi bitch!

Leah: Tayihé? What are you doing here?

Tay: No what the fuck are you doing here Leah? I’m the one asking all the questions.

Leah noticed her phone in Tay’s hand

Leah: What are you doing with my phone?

Tay kicked the door and stepped closer to her

Tay: I just said I’ll be asking all the fucking questions!!

Tay shouted putting the phone in her pocket.

Tay: how did you get our numbers? And how did you know where we were?

Leah: I know people, I have my ways. Now may I have my phone please? And how did you even know which cabin I was at?

Tay: bitch you no longer own this phone! And just like you I have my ways. Now shut the fuck up and don’t speak unless I ask you a question and you’re giving me the correct answer!

Leah: Ha! Do you think I’m scared of you Tay? What are you gonna do? *sucks teeth* Walk up in here in sweats and sneakers like you finna do shit girl sit. I go wherever the fuck I wanna go. Jhené is mine and ain’t shit you or Nicki can do to keep me away from her.

Tay: My sister is not your property Leah. She’s over you, she’s moved on and you will NEVER be together again. Try getting your tiny ass brain to process that and let it the fuck go! You ruined your relationship with her-

Leah: No she did!! Every damn day it’s something about Nicki. She’d be either on twitter laughing at her tweets or around the house listening to her music.

Tay: That was no reason for you to cheat on her.

Leah: oh so I guess it’s also ok for my girlfriend to call another woman’s name while we’re fucking?

Tay: No it’s not Leah but at least she didn’t sleep with anyone else. You act like you didn’t both use to sit around giggling about what you’d do to Nicki. You know, maybe if you had done it once you could have worked shit out. But what were your reasons for the second, third, fourth and fifth times Leah? And that’s just what I know about. How many others were there?

Leah didn’t respond

Tay: oh you have nothing to say now? You wanna run around here playing fucking innocent when you know you aren’t. You fucked up and she asked you about it you respond by hitting her? Telling her she was accusing you of something you knew damn well you were doing.

Leah: I didn’t mean to hit her that hard

Leah said tears forming in her eyes

Tay: I suppose you didn’t mean to push her either? And when she hit the side of the tub and you saw the blood soaking her robe you didn’t mean to walk out leaving her? You didn’t mean to pick your phone up and walk out that apartment door right?

Tay got quiet after Leah’s hand went across her cheek. She turned her head back and looked at her tear stained face

Tay: she agreed to have that baby to make you happy and that’s how you thanked her after 3 months. Even after all that she stayed with you, she tried to work on what was left of your relationship but you kept fucking around. Don’t try to play the victim Leah! Look at you! Pathetic with your crocodile tears! You’re a murderer!

Leah made to grab her by her neck but Tay grabbed her hands and pushed her backwards. She fell on her butt. Tay walked over to her and slapped her across her face with the back of her hand

Tay: that’s for my sister *kicks her* that’s for that innocent baby *kicks her again* that’s for Nicki *spits on her* and that’s for me!

She walked out leaving her on the floor sobbing.

**

Nicki was standing out back when Tay walked up on the back porch

Nicki: What the hell happened to your face?

Tay: nothing! Where’s Jhené?

Nicki: she’s not feeling well. She’s in her room. Now what happened to your face? And don’t think about saying nothing again because those finger marks and the blood by your ear doesn’t say “nothing”.

Nicki responded holding on to her by her arm. Tay looked away as tears ran down her cheek and Nicki pulled her into a hug

Nicki: hey… what’s wrong baby girl?

Tay just cried into her shoulder.

**

Lauren was putting MJ down for a nap for TT when her phone vibrated and then stopped. She looked at the screen to see she had a missed call from Safaree. She sighed and called him back. His phone rang straight to voicemail. She put MJ in his bed and tried calling him again. He answered on the third ring

Lauren: you called me

SB: yeah… I just wanted to know how she is.

Lauren: where are you Safaree?

SB: home

Lauren: what the hell?

SB: look I’ll be back. Is she ok?

Lauren: honestly Safaree I don’t know. You know how it is when it comes to hiding her true feelings.

SB: So I guess everyone knows about the kiss?

Lauren: no. Tay and Candi don’t. What were you thinking?

SB: *sigh* I’m about to head back up there. I’ll see you in a couple hours.

Lauren: Safaree…

He hung up. Lauren walked back to Terrence’s room where he and TT were talking.

Terrence: finally

Lauren: Safaree is home!

TT: what?

Lauren: Safaree

TT: I heard what you said but what?

Lauren: -_-… Where’s Candi?

Terrence: her room

Lauren: Jhené?

Terrence: haven’t seen her all morning

Lauren: Tay, Nicki?

TT: Tay isn’t back and Nicki is out back

Lauren: I’ll be back

Terrence: so much for having fun this weekend

Lauren walked out to Nicki comforting Tay.

Lauren: hey… she ok?

Lauren asked. Tay had stopped crying but still had her head on Nicki’s shoulder

Nicki: I don’t know. She just started crying. Did you wanna talk to me?

Lauren: umm yeah. I called Safaree.

Nicki: Laur-

Lauren: he’s home Nicki. I just thought you should know

Nicki didn’t respond to what Lauren said she just looked away. She put her attention back on Tay as she tried not to think about him.

Nicki: lemme see your face

Tay raised her head up, her cheek was swollen and red with finger marks well defined. The spot at her ear that had the blood looked to be a fingernail scratch

Lauren: what in the hell? Who did that to you?

Tay stepped away from Nicki and went to stand over by the wooden rail of the patio

Tay: promise me you guys won’t freak out or do anything crazy

She said not looking back at them.

Nicki: Tay what’s going on?

Tay: Especially you Nic

Nicki: I can’t promise you that and I don’t know what happened. Who did this to you?

She turned around and looked from Nicki to Lauren but didn’t say a word. She knew all too well that all hell was gonna break lose if she told them the truth. But then she couldn’t lie either. Especially not to Nicki

Lauren: Ok that’s it.

She pulled her phone out and sent the call

Lauren: can you get out here please? It’s urgent… Back…

Tay: who was that?

Lauren was about to answer when Candi walked onto the back porch followed by TT and Terrence. Tay turned her face away. Candi walked over to her and turned her face gently

Candi: what the fuck?

Terrence: Oh shit!!

Tay: please just… It’s not a big deal

Nicki: what do you mean it’s not a big deal look at your face!

Candi: you went to find her didn’t you?

Candi asked in an angry tone. Tay didn’t say a word.

Candi: tell me where she is, cause I’ma fuck that bitch up.

Nicki: what? Who are y’all talking about?

Lauren: wait she’s up here?

Tay: yes. She got a cabin up the lake

Candi: where up the lake?

Nicki: hold the fuck on are you guys talking about Leah?

Tay looked at Nicki and by the look she saw in her eyes she knew she’d better answer her question quickly

Tay: yes. She’s at cabin 26.

Candi was the first one down the back steps with Nicki, Lauren and TT hot on her trail.

TT: Watch the baby

She said as she passed her.

Tay: aren’t you gonna stop them?

She asked Terrence

Terrence: do I look like I wanna get my ass beat. *sucks teeth* I’ll be back

He said as he ran down the steps and went after them

To be continued…