Chapter 25 -> Letting Go Pt 3/3

It was when Nicki got home from dropping Jhené and Tay home that she realized SB’s car was missing. She took her phone up from the passenger’s seat and called him several times but his phone went straight to voicemail.

Nicki: Oh he thinks I have the fucking time

She said out loud. She got out the car and head inside; she walked to the front door and armed the alarm. She stormed up to her bedroom mumbling as she went.

When she woke up the next morning and looked at the clock it read 11: 53 am, she was in bed alone. She looked to his side of the bed and rolled her eyes. She reached for her phone and called his number again. It rang but he ignored it. She tried once more and it just rang until it went to voicemail. She texted him “you know I absolutely HATE it when you don’t answer my calls” after waiting for a while and getting no response she called Lauren

Lauren: Hello

She answered with sleep on her voice

Nicki: did you see when Safaree left last night?

Lauren: Good morning to you too bitch and yes I did.

Nicki: *takes deep breath* did he say where he was going?

Lauren: you know Nicki s-

Nicki: Spare me the fucking lecture right now Lauren

Lauren: fine! What the fuck ever! But just don’t come running to me crying in the end. He’s in New York!

She said in an angry tone and hung up.

Nicki: fuck you too.

She responded as she took the phone from her ear. She threw the covers back and made her way to the bathroom. After completing her morning routine she got dressed and called her driver. She had studio time and she didn’t feel like driving. She was off the whole session. She did one verse like 12 times tryna get it right and she still didn’t like it. She didn’t even bother trying to work on the second.  She had the driver take her home. She dialed her number as she took the turkey bacon from the fridge.

Nicki: hey baby

Jhené: hey, what’s up? Aren’t you supposed to be at the studio?

Nicki: *sigh* yeah but… didn’t go so well

Jhené: babe why do you sound like that?

Nicki: we need to talk, can you come over?

Jhené: can you give me an hour?

Nicki: ok

She hung up.

**

Jhené called her as she pulled in the gate

Jhené: front door

Nicki: it’s open

Jhené: ok

She walked in and closed the front door gently then locked it.

Nicki: I’m upstairs baby!

She heard Nicki shout after the lock clicked. She ran her hand through her hair and looked over the black and white image in her hand. She had to tell her no later than today. Jhené made her way up the stairs and to Nicki’s room. She was in bed. She put the image in the side of her bag and walked over to the bed, bent down, kissed her then sat dropping her bag to the floor beside the bed.

Jhené: what’s up?

She reached around putting the ice cream she was eating on the bedside table and scooted over patting the spot she was just in. Jhené got in and faced her. Nicki pushed her hair back from her face and ran her thumb over her lip. Jhené kissed her finger.

Nicki: may I ask you something?

Jhené: anything babe

Nicki: *looks down* how far do you think our relationship will go? I mean what if there are things you want that I can’t give you?

Jhené: like what baby? I already have all I need and that’s you. Our relationship will go as far as you want it to go. I’m down for whatever it takes to make you happy.

She said as Nicki looked into her eyes

Nicki: but what about Safaree?

Jhené: what about him?

Nicki: you don’t mind having to share me with somebody else?

Jhené: when we started this it was you and him. I don’t expect you to break that off because of me. I told you before that I don’t wanna be the reason y'all break up.

Nicki: but… what if I have a problem with it?

Jhené: with what?

Nicki: being with both of you.

Jhené was silent for a minute.

Jhené: Then it is what it is Nicki and I’ll just have to accept it. You were with him in the beginning and I knew exactly wha-

Nicki leaned in and kissed her

Nicki: I wanna be with you… Only you…

Jhené: Nicki-

Nicki: Baby I'm sure. You are who I want to be with

Jhené: There’s something I need to tell you…

** New York

Neeqa: you gonna stay moping around my house?

SB: you gonna stay nagging me about it?

Neeqa: yes!! You’re not even fighting for your relationship!

SB: I’m done fighting for shit with Nicki.

Neeqa: just like that huh! You can’t be my fucking brother!

She said shaking her head then walking out the room. He tossed the pillow at the door and laid back. A few minutes later he got up pulled his shirt on and left. His sister just shook her head as he went through the front door.

Shaneeqa scrolled through her phone and found Nicki’s number. The phone rang twice before a sleepy voice answered her on the other end

Neeqa: Nicki?

Jhené: No she’s a sleep

Jhené looked at the caller ID

Neeqa: Jhené right? So you’re answering her phone now?

Jhené: Yes this is her and I got permission to.

Neeqa: Just tell my sister to call me

She said then hung up.

*Later Evening*

He was at the club with a few of his friends when he ran into Shanell. They sat talking at the bar.

SB: so what happened to you? You just disappeared?

Shanell: well Wayne and I broke up a while now and I’ve been out here just to get away. I’m still with Young Money I’m just not living in LA.

SB: Word

He said and sipped his drink

Shanell; so how’d you and Ms Nicki work out? Is she here in New York with you?

SB: Well it was working out… No she’s not here. Doubt she knows where I am to be honest. Or if she even cares

He mumbled the last part as he took another sip of his drink.

Shanell: Oh… What do you mean “was working out?” aren’t y’all still together?

SB: Long story I’d really rather not get into it right now

Shanell: ok… So what’s the plan for the rest of the night?

SB: none why you got something in mind?

Shanell: I was thinking we could go back to my place and chill. I have drinks

SB: yeah that’d be cool. I’m not really feeling the crowd anyway

Shanell: did you drive?

SB: Nah Vince did. It’s cool we can just leave

He followed her out the club and to her car.  His phone rang as he sat in the passenger side; he looked at the caller ID and saw his sister’s name so he ignored it.  Shaneeqa tried his number over and over again but he wouldn’t answer.

They were at half a bottle of Ciroc sitting on her couch laughing their asses off.

Shanell: Can’t believe she left you for another woman though.

SB: Well she didn’t leave me yet but I’m over that shit to be honest. I agreed to that whole thing and look what it got me. I walking away from it because it makes no sense sitting around waiting for her to tell me it’s over. I might end up doing something crazy if that happens

He said as he turned to face her on the couch. Their faces were so close and felt to be getting closer by the second

Shanell: I’m really sorry that happened to you. *looks down* She has no idea what she’s losing

As she finished her sentence she felt his lips on hers.

When he woke up the next morning and looked over at the sleeping body beside him he felt a pain in his chest. He was hurt that it wasn’t the woman he had spent his life loving but he felt like it was something he needed to do. He sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. He checked his phone and saw 44 missed calls from his sister and a few from his boys but no recent ones from her. He sighed and put the phone back down then got dressed. He left her sleeping and called him a cab to get back to his sister’s.

When he got in she was sitting in the kitchen stirring her tea. She looked at him shook her head and sipped

Neeqa: which ho you were out with?

SB: I wasn’t out with no ho and who I was out with is none of your concern

Neeqa: wow! I’m trying to help you save your relationship and you’re on some bullshit

SB: there is no relationship to save. I lost her the day I agreed to that relationship between her and Jhené

Neeqa: Safaree I-

SB: No! Just let it go ok

He walked off to his room leaving her. She took a sip of her tea and dialed Nicki’s number again

** (back in LA)

Nicki was sitting on her bedroom patio her legs folded under her, a glass of OJ beside her as she sat taking in the morning sun. She was out thinking about what Jhené had told her. She looked down at the little grey and white image before her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath the reopened them and took a sip of her orange juice. Jhené had told her the about the baby and now she wanted even more to find Leah. She drank the last of her orange juice and got up to go inside only to meet Jhené in the patio door. She was going outside to see what Nicki was doing. Nicki draped her arms around her neck and pecked her lips

Nicki: Good morning sleeping beauty

Jhené smiled and kissed her

Jhené: Good morning luscious

She said against her lips. Nicki smiled big.

Nicki: What do you wanna do today?

Jhené: anything you wanna do? I just needa check up on Tay.

Nicki: k and I just wanna stay inside *pecks lips* in bed *pecks lips again* and have some fun with you *kisses her deeply*

Jhené moaned in her mouth.

Jhené: I love the sound of that *smiles*

They were about to kiss again when Nicki’s phone rang she reached into the pocket of her robe and looked at the caller ID then answer

Nicki: what you got?

Caller: She’s in your area. I’ve got all the details on her and her family. I’ll drop them off for you later. I have some other info you may be interested in

Nicki: about?

Caller: Safaree. He was seen leaving a club in New York last night with Shanell and leaving her place this morning

She remained silent

Caller: Nicki?

Nicki: I’m here just make sure you drop that off by 12

Caller: aight

She hung up

Jhené: who was that?

Nicki: someone I have doing some business for me. Now where were we?

She said and they began kissing again.

**

Candi and Tay were laying in her bed giggling.

Tay: I have something to tell you

Candi: what?

Tay: promise you’ll remain cool

Candi: *pecks her lips* I promise

Tay: I have her phone

Candi: whose phone?

She asked scrunching up her eyebrows

Tay: Leah

She said softly

Candi: wait… what? How?

Tay: since I went to see her at the cabin. I took her phone from her

Candi lay shocked

Candi: are you serious?

Tay reached down to the floor for her bag and pulled the phone out and showed it to Candi

Candi: giiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirllll Uh uh! How dare you keep this from us *burst out laughing* you a g.

Tay laughed.  They heard Candi’s door close and keys landing on the dining table. They both got wide eyed.

JB: Candice baby you in here we need to talk

Candi fell back on the bed and closed her eyes

Candi: fuck

Tay: you still haven’t told him about us?

Candi opened her eyes and looked at Tay/. Tay shook her head and wrapping the sheet around her head for the bathroom.

Candi: I’m in here

JB: is that her car behind yours in the driveway?

Candi: J-

JB: It’s cool just… We need to talk. I’ll wait out here

Candi: I’ll be out in a min

She responded before pulling the pillow over her head and screaming into it.

OK this chapter was suppose to be waaaaaaaaaaaay longer but I didnt like it :/ so after a bag of editing this is what's left. I really hope you all enjoyed it even though it was short. Look out for the next chapter -> Choices We Make.