I walked David outside and shook my head as he lit a cigarette.

"What happen to you quitting?"

"When I'm at home I quit"

I nodded "You good bro?"

"Yeah"

"Dave you know what I mean"

"Man fuck her"

"Come on now bro" I laughed "You can't be mad"

"I'm not! If Travis want to fuck with some hoe out the strip club then so be it"

"She wasn't all that when you was fucking her!"

"Yeah well that was before now! She leave me only to fuck with the homie? Any other bitch and you'd be calling her a hoe too"

"You really are selfish as fuck dude" I shook my head "Crazy"

"How? Because the fucking truth aint what you want to here?"

"No! Because you really fucking believe this girl supposed to be down and out about you! She suppose to spear yo feeling but you dance on her all the fucking time! You have a fucking wife David! Instead of worrying about B, how about you learn to be a good husband at home!"

"Now you know everything about marriage?"

"No! But I know how to not fucking cheat on my wife! Face facts man! B gave you her everything! She gave you a fucking child! But time after time you slapped her in the fucking face with her feelings treating her like she was nothing! You broke that girl man! So excuse the fuck out of me for being happy for her! She deserves to that! The least you could do is shut the fuck up sulking and be happy for both of them!"

"Man fuck you!"

David got in his car and peeled out. I shook my head before walking back inside. Travis and Marcus had went to the backyard and were tossing one of my footballs. I joined in and we kicked it. Marcus ended up heading to a midday booty call leaving just me and Travis. We went back inside and headed to the kitchen for drinks.

"So Tim.... what's up with D?" he asked

I attempted to shrug it off "That nigga always tripping"

"Nah.... I mean what's up with him and Micah? Every time she come up he go acting different"

"Trav.... I don't know the full story with that myself... but ask Micah about it"

"You think she's going to tell me?"

"I know she will" we shook hands "Micah really does like you man. And if I know one thing about her, she's the realest chick out here. Don't go assuming shit. Be straight up with her and talk about it. I got mad respect for sis. Just talk to her"

"Bet" he nodded looking like he was thinking "I will.... Tim it might sound crazy man... but I think Micah is it. She's the one"

"How you know that?"

"Because I can see myself falling hard for her man. I can see myself with her forever. I might not be feeling it now.... but I can feel it growing and going there"

"Well my friend, you're suppose to fall in love with your best friend. And you've been calling her that for months"

He laughed "I don't even know if she's wants this"

"She does" I confirmed "But fear is paralyzing you know. You have to take that fear away for her"

"Crazy thing is... I'm a little scared my damn self" he shook his head "I sound like a bitch"

"You sound like a man to me bruh. I was terrified when I caught feelings for Live! She was... she is so perfect"

"She's not"

"For me she is! That's how it feels. That fear is how you know it's real. That fear will be there forever because of who she is"

He nodded "Let me go though. We suppose to hang out and talk"

"About yall fucking"

"About whatever we doing now"

"Remember... be honest"

"I will"

We shook up before I walked him out. As much as I want Travis and Micah to get together, I also know only a shit show would follow.

I pulled up at Travis' condo and parked. We both spent all day with our friends. I headed upstairs with more clothes to spend one more night. When I got upstairs I put his lock code into the door lock and headed inside. Travis stood in the kitchen opening carry-out boxes of fried rice.

"Hey Travie"

"What's up"

"Chinese?"

"Every time we talk we either drinking or eating asian food. I thought we drank enough so why not go with the asian food"

I laughed "Bet"

I dropped my bags in front of the guest room before grabbing plates for us. We both got our food and something to drink then sat on the living room floor. Travis turned on the music station on low before we started eating.

"So how was your day" I looked over at him playing with his food

"It was entertaining to say the least"

"Brunch with your parents?"

"I didn't go" he sighed "I didn't want to be bothered with that so I just grabbed some food and went to Tim's place with the guys"

"How was that?"

"How was lunch with Reagan and Ralph?"

I sighed "I'll just say don't take it personal the next time you see Ralph"

"That bad?"

"He always goes into overprotective brother mode when he thinks I'm getting into something new" I shook my head "I've had so many horrible experiences that he just can't let go of. I mean I get the older brother 'protect my sisters' thing but I'm too old for this shit"

"So he doesn't like me now?"

"He doesn't want me to get hurt.... and I have a habit of getting hurt"

"But I would never hurt you"

"I know" I blushed "But what about your boy time? You didn't answer my question. How'd it go"

"A lot of guy talk"

"About me?"

"Maybe" he smirked

"They knew it"

"What?"

I laughed "Carmen said I was glowing and shit. She said everybody can tell we finally did it"

"Maybe they can just read us well"

"They are our best friends"

"So" he put his plate down "There is something I want to ask you"

"Okay" I put mine down as well

"Marcus and I noticed something today that's being going on for a minute and I wanted to ask you"

"Okay"

"David get strange whenever you come up... Do you know why?"

I dropped my head and gave out a slight chuckle hearing his question. I knew the day would come and I had to figure out how I would explain this. I looked back up at him and I finally felt comfortable giving him all of my truth.

"Travis" I sighed "Just promise me you won't be mad"

"Is it that bad?"

"I don't think so"

"Baby girl I promise I won't get mad. If I get upset then we'll just talk it through"

"Okay" I sighed "When I moved here for college.... I had nothing. My first year was the worst. I didn't get housing and my scholarships were only for that semester. I had just left my boyfriend so I had nothing. I didn't want to ask for anything.... I needed to survive. I moved into a shelter and tried to figure shit out. I met Carmen and we were instantly best friends. We had a dance class together. One day like two weeks into the semester while we were in class talking about money troubles this girl said she had an opportunity for us"

I stopped talking to look at him. He was looking at the tv just listening. He looked at me and smiled. I looked at the tv too before I continued.

"The day I walked into Paradise was the day my worries went away. Six months after we started, Carmen and I were the top chicks in the club. I was Boss man right hand. Tiana started a year after and then we became the trio. I met David in the club. I was his favorite and he tipped big so I wasn't complaining. I don't know how things went the way they did but me and David ended up in a relationship"

"What? Really?"

I nodded and laughed "I mean yeah. I was in school and working so I wasn't always pressed for his time. I didn't know about his wife until they were married. His bachelor party was in the club. That was the point me and Tim got close. He always tried to get David to leave me alone. I would break it off only for him to come back"

"So when did yall stop whatever yall were"

"A little after his wife got pregnant.... I was done before then but I still let him hit my line and give me shit. David wouldn't let go until I left. I was gone for about a month until Reagan called about Olivia's wedding. She said she wanted me to sing. I agreed only for Ralph to call and explain"

"I remember that night. Ralph was pissed at David"

"David did a lot of fucked up shit to me.... Remember when I said I should have four kids by now?"

"Yeah"

"The last one was his... My body suffered a lot when I was in my teens so my doctor doesn't think I can carry a child to full term. I laid in a hospital alone and depressed while he ignored me to spend time with his wife" I smirked "Honestly, I didn't even know if I was over that whole situation until now"

"Why now?"

"It doesn't bother me anymore"

He nodded

"So what now?" I asked "You know the truth... you know everything... does this change"

"Why didn't you tell me before"

"The stripper thing.... I don't know I guess I was embarrassed. When we met I had just given up on that life. I mean I still work at the club. I do the books and taxes and everything related to the business side. I manage the club. They wouldn't run without me"

"But you don't dance anymore"

"I haven't in a long time" I laughed "I'm trying to open this art studio with Carmen. I bought the building already. Carmen and I went there today"

"Really?" he smiled "Damn Micah"

"Don't tell anyone! I want everything to be finish before I tell people"

"I won't I promise"

"Thanks"

He sighed before looking at me "I don't care about the past... I told you when the Tiana thing happen. I'm not trying to judge anybody. To be honest with you, I do want us to be more than this. Yeah we best friends.... but I want to be able to say you my girlfriend. I want to only have you and you only have me"

"Travis are you sure? You could lose a friend.... and David could make it even worse with your mother hating me and all"

"David was never my friend like that. I mean he one of the guys but he's Tim's friend and we all kick it. Marcus and me are best friends. And to be honest if we do fall out.... I wouldn't care. I'd rather be happy with you"

Travis pulled me into his lap so that I was straddling him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and we kissed.

"Is there anything I should know?" I said against his lips "It is honesty hour"

"Nope!" he smile but it quickly faded "Actually——"

"Awww shit! The good guy got secrets!"

"Shut up" we laughed "It's just my ex... Khari is on a whole other planet of crazy. I mean I guess it's my fault but that's something that comes up every so often"

"Why?"

"Our moms are best friends. I was one when Khari was born. Since then they've planned our first date, prom, graduation, and wedding.... Khari fell for me a long time ago. I eventually loved her too... but it wasn't real. I was just doing what everyone said I should. When I broke up with her in college, she could always find a way to get me back. When I was finally done she didn't believe it"

"I mean wasn't y'all messing around"

"Only when one of us was drunk"

"Drunk minds"

"Khari has nothing I want... but she was my comfort zone for so long. Every time I try to date Khari and my mom find a way to sabotage it"

"Two looney toons" I laughed

"Just tell me you won't let that stop us"

I smirked at him "I've always loved cartoons you know"

We both laughed trying to get up. I fell on him landing us both on the couch laughing more.

"I got one more question" he pulled away

"Yes Travis"

"Why does everyone else randomly call you B sometimes"

I laughed "A boyfriend from back in the day use to call me Butterfly. He said I would one day blossom into a butterfly. Since he was in differently things he never called me by my name unless we were alone. He would just say B. Eventually, everyone called me B. Even when I was dancing I went by Butterfly so everyone at the club would call me B too"

He nodded "So are you my butterfly now?"

"I'll be anything you want me to be"

"Right now I want you riding me"

"You just straight nasty" I laughed "And I love it!"

I kissed his neck only to bit his jaw before I got up and run to his room. Travis was laughing and was right behind me. I was almost in the bathroom when he grabbed me and slung me on the bed. Travis tickled me as I screamed for help.

When he finally stopped we just stared at each other out of breath. He kissed my lips then my forehead and pulled me into his chest. We laid there in silence until I grabbed the remote and turned on Netflix. We watched movies until we feel asleep in each other's arms. For the first time in forever I had a perfect night. I just needed God to tell me it was all real.