***

I stood on my tiptoes to grab the box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch off the top shelf. I tossed it into my shopping cart and pushed my cart down the aisle.

"They nasty as hell for making this" Michelle says as she picked up the Dunkin Donut cereal box. She tossed it into the shopping cart "I'm still trying it"

I laughed and rolled my eyes "You nasty as hell just like them"

We continued walking down the aisles getting groceries for the house. I was tired of ordering UberEats every night so I was finally going to stop being lazy and cook.

"Excuse me" I hear a voice say. Michelle and I both stopped and turned around to see who it was.

"I know you right?" This guy asks looking at me. He takes a few steps closer "You do only fans right? You're Chocolategoddess?" He whispered.

Michelle and I both look at each other and she starts laughing.

"Nah that's not me" I replied shaking my head.

"I know them titties from a mile away" He replies licking his lips as he looked me up and down.

"Aye move around before I stab your ass" Michelle said reaching into her purse.

"Make sure you post tonight sexy" He says biting his lip before turning and walking away.

"Cause why the fuck would he even walk up on you like that" Michelle frowned. "His dirty ass. I should've tased his ugly ass"

"My page don't even got enough followers for niggas to even be walking on up on me"

"Shit apparently it does." Michelle chuckled "Time to get a lil piece or something. Never know when you might have to pop a cap in somebody ass"

My phone started to ring in my hand and it was Quincy facetiming me.

"Wassup?" I answered the phone.

"Quick whatchu doing next weekend?" He asks me.

"Uhhh-" I started to think about my work schedule.

"Nothing? Cool. I'm having a pop up art exhibit and I want you to be there."

"I wanna come!" Michelle said getting in the camera "You got any cute friends? Preferably some that don't look like you"

"Man fuck you" He laughs shaking his head "I gotchu though my boy Jalen a fuck with you. Y'all gon come?"

"Yeah of course. Just keep me updated"

"Alright cool, Imma hit you later"

"K" I replied and hung up the phone.

"Jalen is the one you said was cute right?" Michelle asked me and I nodded my head.

"He's fine as hell you'll like em" I replied to her.

"Can you take me to my parents house?" I asked Michelle as I pushed the cart towards the cash registers.

"Yeah. You want me to wait on you?"

"Nah, they still want to talk about the New York thing." I sighed rolling my eyes "They blowing this out of proportion."

"They think you're still a child" I replied.

"Most definitely. Imma let them say whatever they gotta say so we can move on"

Once we left the grocery store Michelle drove me to my parents house. I unlocked the front door and walked inside. I walked upstairs and headed to my dad's office.

I peaked my head inside and he was sitting at his computer desk on a business call and my mom was sitting across from him.

I knocked on the door to get their attention. I plopped down on the couch and waited for him to get off the phone.

"Alright Jim that sounds great. Fax over the paper work and I'll look over it. Okay. Alright. I will be in contact" He hung up the phone and looked over at me.

"Hey" He finally says to me.

"Hi" I replied.

"I just wanna start by saying that we aren't mad at you" My mom states.

"Yeah I know, you're disappointed in me" I retorted.

"Paris w-" My mom began to speak but my dad cuts her off.

"Yes. Yes we are. C'mon Paris you know that was dumb. You know how many girls are getting sex trafficked nowadays. I don't care how much you think you knew him, you didn't know him. That was a big risk you took and a lot of responsibility you put on Michelle shoulders. If shit went left that girl would blame herself forever over a mistake that you made." My dads states.

"I understand, you're right. I totally agree with what y'all are saying" I replied back. "I just feel as though, I'm grown and should be able to make my own decisions. I made the decision to go there so that should just be the end of it"

"I don't care how old you get, you're still my daughter. If you're making a stupid decision I'm gonna call you out on it. At the end of the day you was gonna go to New York whether we liked it or not but at least we would've known that you were there" My mom says.

"I'm happy that you were safe and that he's actually a good guy but remember you got lucky this time. Don't do no stupid shit like that again" My dad tells me.

"I won't." I nodded my head. I really just wanted this conversation to be over.

"So when are you going back to New York?"

"He's having an art show next weekend and he wants me and Michelle to come" I stated.

"Please just be safe Paris. I am begging you" My mom says with a sigh.

"I will"

"Alright I need to get to the gym before the game come on" My dad says standing up from his chair.

"Can you take me home?" I asked him and he nods his head "C'mon"

I stood up from the couch and followed him out of the room. He stopped in the room to grab his stuff meanwhile I waited in the car for him. The talk definitely went smoother than I expected it. I watched as he walked out the house and over to the car.

"Why didn't you drive? What's wrong with your car?" He asked as he got into the passenger seat.

"Nothing I was at the store with Michelle so I just had her drop me off here" I replied as I buckled my seatbelt.

"Awe okay" My dad started tapping away on the screen on his car radio before Jay Z started to play. He pulled out the driveway and headed to my apartment.

"I love girls girls girls girls I do adore" I rapped to myself nodding my head to the beat of the song.

"So you and ya boy pretty serious?" My dad asks reaching to turn down the radio.

"Yeah I mean he's my boyfriend" I shrugged my shoulders. That was my first time ever saying it out loud and it just felt weird to say. It's been a minute since I've been in a relationship.

"How's that long distance thing working for you? You know you got attachment issues" My dad laughs.

"No I do not" I laughed rolling my eyes.

"You've had em since you was little. We couldn't even go to the bathroom without you"

"See now you're just talking"

"That's probably why you got sleep paralysis cause you can't sleep in the bed with mommy and daddy no more." He chuckles "Damn, I just solved your case. All those doctors appointments was pointless"

"You are so annoying." I laughed "The long distance is fine. We talk all day, everyday "

"Mmh what's his ex situation looking like?"

"I actually met her when I went out there, she's bougie as hell"

"You met her?" He frowned looking over at me. "Why?"

"Yeah we went to hang out with his friends" I replied.

"He friends with his ex? Yikes." My dad said scratching the back of his neck. "You don't see a problem with that"

"No" I replied shaking my head.

Of course I see a problem with that but I knew I couldn't control who he's friends with. Especially if we're not even in the same state.

"How you gon be friends with somebody you did the nasty with? Shit I couldn't be friends with ya momma if we ever broke up. I'd only be thinking about all the positions I had her in"

"I'm finna throw up" I said covering my mouth.

"But hey that's just me. If you trust him, then so be it. I wouldn't trust him though, niggas ain't shit."

I don't know why this has never crossed my mind. This man sees his ex whenever he's with his friends. She part of his fucking friend group. How can you get over somebody you see all the time. Yeah, this shit is not gonna fly.