someone shouted from the other side of the room as I sat down attempting to get my first meal of the day in.

With a undetectable grunt, I sat my plate down and walked over to where the woman was flagging me down. As she wanted me to, I tried on the last two dresses of the show so that she could see whether there needed to be alterations or if I was too big and had to sit the show out.

One thing about designers is they made dresses for a certain size. If you made the casting for your banging body and beautiful face, but made it to the fitting and couldn't fit the outfits because of your breast, ass or hips, you were knocked to the curb. They weren't afraid to let you know you could no longer walk. The designer has specific directions for the model's size and if you just can't wear the items then you can't walk. No changes were made to the clothings.

"A perfect fit." she tugged on the dress in every direction so that it properly hugged my body. "Can you give me a walk."

I stepped down from the small step and walked across the floor and back to her. "It's comfortable and not too difficult to take long strides in."

"Great! Is that all for Korin, Manny!?"

"Is she good with every dress!?" he hollered back.

"Yeah, she good to go. No changes are needed!"

"See you next week Korin! Remember no pounds need to be added so keep your diet Hun."

Without responding to him, I stripped from the dress and walked back over to the sweat suit I wore here. I changed into my clothes as quick as I could and made my way toward the door with my plate in hand. It was a spicy chicken salad and it had been calling my name since I first arrived four hours ago. But because they needed to find specific hairstyles and makeup looks that fit the dresses, I sat in a chair all day before I actually tried anything on.

Outside of the building, in his car waiting, was Asani. I'd called him half an hour ago – when I first expected to leave – to pick me up. He reached over and pushed the door open for me, allowing me to simply climb inside. A smile spread across his face.

"Don't you look annoyed." he chuckled.

"Yeah, because I am. I hate when they constantly throw diets in the model's face as if it's so necessary to be skinny."

"Aw, you chose this career babygirl." he kissed my pouted lips. "And you love it so don't let them get to you."

"It's just annoying because it's always the fat ones who say it. If anything you need to focus on your diet and get off of mine."

He laughed. "Well, are you hungry?"

"Yes. The chicken in my salad is all cold."

"What do you want?" he pulled away from the curb. "I was thinking about sushi."

"Yes, yes. That's sounds amazing right now." I pulled on my seat belt. As he drove, I pulled out my phone to see what I'd missed while at the fitting.

Nothing much of my concern had taken place upon my social networks, well that was until I scrolled past Giovanni's post. He wasn't really a poster, but he'd uploaded a video of his third day in recovery training. His fans were going crazy in the comments. They were all excited to see that he was working on himself so that he could return for next season.

I double tapped the video then commented the flexing bicep emoji. Asani glanced over at me. "That's your boyfriend?"

"Asani don't start." I huffed, closing the app.

"What? All I did was ask a question. Y'all on bad terms or something?"

"Stop calling him my boyfriend and I don't know what's going on. He hasn't reached out to me. Maybe he still wants me to leave him alone, I don't know." I locked my phone.

He placed his hand on my thigh. "You don't have to get all sad over this man. If he wants to kick you out of his life what can you do about it?"

"I guess you're right but I just thought I was getting my bestfriend back. I guess I was wrong."

Asani's phone began to ring throughout the car, catching my attention. I glanced at the screen to see that it was someone stored under 'Dont Answer'. He mashed the end button then picked up his phone and disconnected it from his car. I chose not to comment on it until his phone started to ring two more times and he declined both calls.

"Why don't you answer it? It's obviously important."

"It's not important." he placed it on silent.

The minute it began to vibrate on his lap, I reached over and picked it up. He swiped at my arm to try and stop me but I was quicker than he expected. I answered it and placed it on speaker.

"Asani Clarke." I spoke into the phone.

"Hey Penelope, it's me Jennyfer." she thought that I was his assistant. "Can I speak with Asani for a minute? Tell him it's important."

I gestured for Asani to speak. He looked at the phone then me before sighing and focusing back on the road. "Hey Jennyfer."

"Sorry to keep calling but I wanted to know whether you were coming to the appointment. Either we can meet there or you can pick me up."

"I'm not on your side of town so I'll have to meet you there."

"Okay, I'll send you the address. Bye." the call ended.

"Who's Jennyfer?" I sat his phone in the cup holder. He closed his eyes for a brief second while rubbing over his hair. "Asani? I'm asking you a question."

"I know, I know....she's the girl from Harlem I told you about."

"From Harlem? Ohhh the one with the good pussy."

Before Asani and I chose to start dating, he had a situation with a women in East Harlem. From what he told me, everything was good between them. The sex and the conversation. But unlike her, he was focused on someone else outside of her. That someone being me so when I green lighted a date with him, he dropped her.

"Come on, you know I hate when you talk like that?"

"It's a word, Asani relax. But why are y'all still in contact? What is this appointment you're meeting her at?"

He pulled into the parking lot of the sushi restaurant. "Baby can we talk about this after we eat? I'm hungry, you're hungry."

"Yeah well it can wait. If it's nothing you should be able to tell me now, not later."

"But I just wanna—"

"Asani tell me." I cut him off, growing frustrated with his attempts to push the subject off.

"She's pregnant and she thinks it's mine."

"Excuse me?" I blinked a couple of times. "She's pregnant?"

"Yes. Three months and we're supposed to take the dna test today to know whether it's really mine."

"You didn't think to tell me this? Were you even planning on telling me about this?"

"Not if it isn't mine. It's not like I cheated on you, it was before we started dating."

"That does not matter. You're with me now so I should know about things like this. Say it is yours, then what? Those are two more people added to your life and they're put in front of me. I should have the opportunity to make a choice of staying or leaving."

"Come on, Korin." he grabbed my hand.

"No, because there is a fifty fifty chance that the baby is yours and I'm not ready for that life. Do you think it's yours?"

He laid his head on the steering wheel. "Yes."

"I'm not hungry anymore." I turned toward the window. "Can you take me home please?"

I could feel his eyes boring into me while I stared out at the moving traffic along the streets. After a minute, he backed out of the parking space and headed in the direction of my place. I sat in my seat with teary eyes — which seemed to become a norm for me as of lately. But I was hurt over the fact that if it was his child, I would have to let him go. I was overlooking the bad sex because I loved the type person he was, but a child and babymother, I could not overlook.

With a baby and babymother added to his roster of loved ones, there wasn't much room for me. He and I already had trouble squeezing each other into our schedules and once the baby arrived, it would be impossible to get his time. I cared for him, but I wasn't selfish enough to put him in the position of choosing. I didn't have the heart for that especially when I know for a fact that he wants a family. If anything, I'd be giving him the opportunity to build one with her.

He turned into a guest parking spot and I reached down for my purse and cold salad. He sat back in his seat and watched me like he wanted to say something. "I'm pretty sure it's my baby so what does that mean for us?"

I looked over at him and his entire face read dismal. "You should try and build the family you want. You and her got along well and now you two will have a child together. I don't want to stand in the way of the dream life you want."

"There's nothing I can say or do to change your mind?"

"You now have your hands full. I don't want to add on to that so focus on your child, Asani. You'll see me around."

"It won't be the same."

"I'm sorry." I leaned over and gave him a soft kiss. "Congrats."

«»

"In all honesty, I believe that every officer that has been acquitted should never have the opportunity to work in another authoritative position. They have shown that they do not know how to obtain power properly, therefore, it shall be taken from them. I also suggest that officers be retrained. Not with the same training as before because obviously it isn't effective, but with something new. Something more thorough."

Jefferey pointed toward his watch, signaling that I only had time to answer one more question. I put my eyes back on the reporters and pointed at the man directly before me.

"One last question."

"There was a video that surfaced yesterday of MissTeen USA saying that you are her role model. That she aspires to be both beauty and brains with a voice for the African American community. How did that make you feel?"

"Oh wow, I haven't seen that video but just hearing it makes my heart smile. For the longest women have been categorized as trophies, to be looked at but not heard so when women choose to speak up for what they believe in, I cheer. And I'm happy to hear that a young woman has already made the decision to speak for herself and stand in her beliefs all while showing that she's as beautiful as can be. What is her name?"

"Kaleigh Garris."

"Noted. Thank you everyone. Enjoy your day."

The security guard reached out for my hand, I took it and allowed him to help me down the stairs. The camera men assembled against the wall began to snap more pictures as I grew closer and closer to them. I smiled for a few but continued my journey for the exit of the conference room. That was until a woman with a blonde bob stepped before me.

"Hey Brittney!" I gave her a hug. "What are you doing here?"

Brittney Stephenson was the most notarized writer at GQ Magazine. If you'd ever flipped thru the magazine, stepped foot in their headquarters or attended one of their parties, then you knew Brittney. She was practically the face of the company due to her popularity amongst the people. However, it wasn't always that way which is how we met.

She and I met back when I'd first entered the modeling industry at a women's brunch in Miami. The both of us was new to the scene and extremely nervous. We didn't know what to say or do and had unintentionally excluded ourselves from the other women whom all knew one another. Somehow we wound up in the same corner and felt comfortable enough to speak to each other. Since then we've been friends.

It's not often that we see each other because we never built a super close bond, but when we did have a run in, we made sure to make it a good one. It was always one for the books.

"I came to listen to the panel. You know I have to see what everyone has to say so I can add my two cents."

"You headed somewhere after this? We can grab lunch and catch up with each other. It's been what? Almost a year since we've run into each other?"

"Almost." she nodded. "But I'm free, just let me finish up my rounds then I'll meet you out front. You took a car right?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, me too. We can ride together just give me like five minutes."

I nodded, causing her to rush off to complete her rounds as she'd said. The security guard that I had on payroll for the day, walked me through the building and out into the hot Atlanta heat. I hadn't been in the city for more than twenty four hours and I was already tanner than when I arrived. I loved it. The southern heat reminded me of my childhood which sometimes made me smile.

As we waited on the car to come around and for Brittney to come out of the building, I discreetly honed in on Jeffery's phone conversation. Per usual, he was trying to set up a gig to keep me booked and busy. It used to annoy me how he always tried to keep me on the go, but once I realized that was how the money never stopped I fell in love with being on the move. Plus he always made sure I had time for myself in between. He never lets me over work myself and I was grateful for that consideration.

In perfect sync, the SUV pulled up to the curb and Brit stepped out of the building.

"What are you in the mood for?" I asked while climbing inside of the truck.

"Honestly, a good burger. I'm tired of these fancy restaurants people have been taking me to. I need my arteries clogged."

"Yessss." I moaned. "A burger sounds amazing. Can you go to the Slutty Vegan food truck please?"

"Yes ma'am." the driver responded.

"Vegan? Now Korin, you know better." Brittney gave me the side eye while typing against her phone.

"I've heard nothing but good reviews about it and I no longer eat beef or pork so I want to try it."

"If I don't like it, we're throwing hands. Period."

"Girl bye. What have you been up to? From Instagram I see that you've been all of the country."

"Just living life to the fullest!" she cheesed. "You know I find a way to make money wherever I go so I've just been traveling and doing what I do best."

"Still single?"

"Very much so but Twitter told me that you're off the market and I just want to know why I ain't receive an announcement? Shit I must not be important."

I laughed. "You didn't know because I'm single. I just don't feel the need to go out of my way and clear up a rumor. Now if they ask me, I'll then clear it up but until then I have nothing to say about it."

"You're much better than me because what the media is not about to do is attach my name to nan nigga I'm not with. But I mean you and Giovanni would be cute."

"Nah, we're just friends. However, you need to find a man so that you can push out a lil mini Brit that I can take care of."

"Excuse me bitch!?" she pulled her neck back. "Aht aht, don't try and put a baby on me. I got three to five more years to enjoy."

"Girl you can enjoy life with a baby."

"No ma'am. I'm hoeing right now. A baby will stop my mojo and that, I'm not having." she shook her head with pursed lips.

"You a whole lie." I rolled my eyes. "Don't worry about it because I'll make sure to sprinkle my wish into some voodoo potion and then you won't have a choice."

"Like hell I won't. Abort!" she joked, causing us both to fall out into laughter.

With all that has been going on in my life, Brittney's upbeat energy was what I needed. I needed laughs and smiles. It helped me forget about the tears I couldn't seem to shake or the pushing and pull of the men in my life. I merely needed a moment to breathe.

Chazmon yelled at the television screen, seconds away from throwing the controller.

The team was back in New York for the week and of course my boys came to see me. I was happy when they showed up to my door because I was starting to grow miserable lying around my place by my lonesome. My pops worked everyday of the week and they were practically my only friends, and it was playing season. Being injured was no fun at all.

"Break my controller if you want to. I'll whoop yo ass, boy. Kinda like I'm doing now. LET'S GOOO!" I shouted as my player dunked on Chad's.

"Man fuck outta here." he paused the game and tossed the controller to the side. "Y'all ass cheating."

Pete started to laugh. "You a sore loser, man. As soon as you start to lose you wanna pause the game and quit."

"Nah, fuck that. Where the food at? I thought you said you ordered us something to eat."

"I did. Give her time to get here with it with your big hungry ass. You keep eating the way you do you gonna be big as hell."

"And your auntie will still suck my dick."

I jumped at him, making him hop up from the couch while laughing. A knock sounded on the door and I told him to go open it, knowing it was most likely the food.

"Whoa shawty, where you think you going?" I could hear Chad say from the door.

"Let her in, Chad!" I called out to him.

The door shut after a few seconds and Eliana entered the living room with two bags in her hand. Ever since my surgery, she had been a big help for me. I won't be cleared to drive until after a week of rehab so she had been stepping out of her way to get what I needed. Brielle would too but she'd taken on double shifts to get her own place. That was when Eliana stepped up for me.

Upon her entrance, Pete froze. She was garbed in a blush pink button down that was tucked down into a charcoal gray skirt. I was pretty sure she was just getting off work down at the News station. However, the attire was enough to have him locked in on her every move as if he was mesmerized. Knowing that he was in a relationship, I hit his leg to catch his attention. He looked over at me and cleared his throat while shifting in his seat.

"Hey." she spoke to him before putting her eyes on me. "I have to go but you never responded to my text of what drinks to get so I just got all Mountain Dew."

"That's cool. Thank you Eli. I really appreciate it."