I didn't expect for me to say all of that yesterday but I'm kind of glad I did. I had been holding some of that in for a while and honestly? It needed to be said. I knew for a fact I scared Cameron, well I wouldn't say scared him but when we went to sleep he wouldn't let me go. And we woke up from our naps he was all on me. I didn't mind at all cause I needed the comfort. My mind was all over the place. I almost canceled on Trey but Cam convinced me to go.

"Ma juice!"

I looked in the rear view mirror at Amaria and shook my head. She cried to come with me and of course I couldn't say no, so I grabbed her car seat from my truck and slid into Trey's car along with her stroller. Airy bad ass didn't even move a muscle when I was leaving. I reached between my legs grabbing Mari's cup from her bag and turned in my seat passing it to her. I looked at her as she grabbed it. "What do you say Mari?"

She titled her head to the side like she was deep in thought and I almost screamed. Lord, Jabari is doing a number on my babies. She smiled at me. "Tank you ma."

I smiled shaking my head. "You're welcome baby."

"Trey what you gotta talk to me about? You and Nova okay?" I turned back in my seat glancing at him.

He nodded his head. "Yea we good, it's some a little personal and deeper than me and her."

I frowned my face up as I looked upside his head. This boy better not be dying on me now. I'll revive his ass just to kill him again for pulling some shit like that. Because what you leaving me for? Despite how we got to this point, he was a true bestfriend. Never overstepped his boundaries or anything. He was also super protective over me and it was vice versa. I don't play about Trey and I had to let Nova know that cause she was doing a little too much. After I checked her about messing with his car, she knew what was up with me and how I was coming behind him.

Looking out the window, I noticed we were pulling up to Soul Lux and I instantly got excited because I haven't been here since Cam took me and because I haven't had a good soul food meal in a hot minute. Think I'm going to host dinner at my house only for everybody in Dallas though because dealing with everybody under one roof? Was a hassle.

It was a Saturday, so the crowd was kind of light. Trey parked and pushed the stop button killing the engine. I threw my seatbelt off and opened my door stepping out. I pulled my pants up and pulled Mari's door open. "Hey stanka!"

"Hey mama!" She started smiling and waving her hands.

Trey popped the trunk and grabbed the stroller pushing the button making it pop out. I unbuckled Mari and scooped her out of the seat. I shook my head once she push her binky in her mouth. She get that shit from her daddy. I passed her to Trey so he could strap her into the stroller. Going back to passenger side, I grabbed Mari's Coach bookbag and laughed to myself. What one year old you know with a five hundred dollar bookbag? Damn shame, only one and rich as hell. I grabbed my Neverfull and pulled my wristlet out along with my gun that I tucked into the bookbag. I'm so glad I'm off probation because I felt naked it in the streets without my piece.

I need it more than ever now. Got two little munchkins to protect. I threw my purse into the trunk and we made our way to the entrance. Trey held the door open as I pushed the stroller walking in. The aroma of fried food and cake instantly filled my nose. Yea, I'm definitely cooking me a hot dinner soon. Been so busy I've only been able to cook quick stuff. I walked up to the hostess.

"Hi! Welcome to Soul Lux, would you like a booth or table?"

"Hi and a booth please." I pulled the covering back on Mari and she was just looking around kicking her feet. The hostess grabbed two menus and motioned for us to follow her. I pushed the stroller following and she led us to the middle in a secluded area which I was thankful for. Didn't want anybody looking at my baby. I locked the stroller and slid into the booth setting the bookbag to the right of me.

"Here are you guys menus. A waiter will be with you shortly."

I didn't even bother looking at the menu because I knew exactly what I was getting, but I did look to find something for Mari. Think I'm going to get her some chicken strips and mashed potatoes with gravy or string beans with macaroni.

"Hi, I'm Joreé! I'll be your waitress for today. Can I start you guys off with something to drink?" She looked at us both and I nodded for Trey to go ahead. She took his drink and turned to me.

"May I have a sweet tea. Raspberry lemonade for the little one and can you add just a little water to it?"

"Yes ma'am, are you guys ready to order as well?"

I looked at Trey and he nodded his head gesturing for me to go first.

"Ok, may I have the rib tip platter with macaroni, yams, and collard greens. May I also have a kids meal chicken strip dinner with string beans and macaroni."

The waitress wrote my ticket down and I looked at Mari who was already staring at me. I smiled and started playing peek-a-boo with her. "Boo!"

She fell into a fit of giggles moving side to side. I shook my head cause she was a goofy little something. I pulled my iPad out of the bookbag unlocking it. I went to the learning app I had installed and put it on fifteen minute timer before passing it to her.

I gave my attention to Trey. "Whatever you gotta tell me better not make me cry."

He shook his head gnawing at his lip. Oh lord, what is going on with this boy.

"I gotta drop outta school and I'm moving back to Florida."

Before I could even speak my piece our waitress was approaching our table. She recalled our orders as she was setting everything on the table. I took the iPad from Mari and gave her a chicken tender. I got my baby situated and put my attention back on Trey and who just dropped a bomb on me.

I looked at him and I knew I had a pout on my face. "You're doing what!?"

He sighed and shook his head. "Don't make me repeat it."

"Why you gotta do that?" I frowned shaking my head because my one and only friend is about to leave me.

"It's kind of embarrassing but I got into a fight with a former teammate. He spoke about how I don't know my parents and how I was in and out of foster homes. It struck a nerve of course, so I popped his ass. I gotta drop out because I lost my scholarship. You know I don't play ball anymore because my eligibility is up and you know I didn't graduate last year cause I picked up another major."

I shook my head because I'm finna go to campus myself and shoot his former teammate because don't nobody make my bestie mad, the fuck?. "First off, there's nothing to be embarrassed about. You did what you had to do and I don't blame you. Two, we can definitely jump or shoot him. Three, you're not dropping out, so go head and get that out of your head."

He dropped his fork instantly started shaking his head. "Nope! I'm not letting you do that."

I smacked my lips and waved him off. I glanced at Mari and looked back at Trey. "Please! I don't even know why you thought I was about to let that fly and before you say anything, I know you didn't tell me this to ask for anything but nigga what the hell did you think? I'm your bestfriend, we three years in! Do you wanna finish the rest of the year out on campus or wanna move in with us?"

Trey looked at me. "I don't have a choice do I?"

"Nope and you know this. Or do you wanna move in with Nova?" I arched my eyebrow as I fed Mari some macaroni.

"Uh uh! I'm not ready for that. I haven't even told her none of this and you finna be mad when I say this, but I've been staying at a hotel."

I dropped my fork and reached across the table punching his dumb ass dead in his chest. "What the fuck Lorenzo!"

"Shit girl!" He rubbed the spot mugging me and I mugged his ass right the fuck back because what the hell is wrong with you.

"Ooo mama."

I glanced at Mari and she was pointing at me shaking her finger. I gave her another chicken tender and looked back at Trey. "I should hit yo ass again! Why you ain't been said nothing?"

He shook his head shrugging his shoulders. "I don't know. I've been staying in a hotel since summer school started. I told Nova that it was a outbreak on campus and they put us up in rooms, so she wouldn't get suspicious."

I shook my head and pulled my phone from my wristlet. I put my face in the camera and instantly went to my bank app depositing fifteen thousand into Trey's account. Once his phone dinged I threw mine back in the bag and looked at him. "That should cover summer, fall, and spring semester being that you're gonna be living with us. We can fix yo room up later but I want your ass at my house tonight. Please tell Nova, because I don't want or need her coming at you crazy."

I pointed my finger scolding him as I went back to eating my food. Boy gonna make me beat his ass!

After we ate at Soul Lux, Trey took us, well he took Mari too the park while I sat my full fat ass down. Yes, I left him to run after her. We were currently on the way back to the house after stopping by the hotel and Soul Lux again. I knew I couldn't return to the house without my babies nothing to eat. Trey pulled up to the gate and I told him the code, so he could enter it. He pulled up the driveway and parked in front of one of the garage doors. I threw my seatbelt off and climbed out going to the back. I shook my head as I was pulling the door open.

Mari was asleep with a chicken tender in her hand and a sticky face from her ice cream cone she had at the park. The park definitely wore my baby out. I unbuckled her and scooped her up walking to the front door. I opened it and immediately heard little feet hitting the floor.

"Mama!" Airy screamed running into my legs.

"Hey stanka number two! Were you good for daddy?"

"Yes!" She nodded her head rapidly.

"HELL NAH! She lying!" I busted out laughing at Cameron as I bent down and scooped her up. I kicked my slides and walked into the living room.

"Hey baby." I walked around the table kissing him and placed a sleeping Mari in his lap.

"Hey beautiful! How was your day with Trey?"

I shook my head and tossed Airy to the other couch making her laughing. "Oh I'm going to let him tell you."

I went back outside to help Trey. It took us a total of three trips. The rest of his stuff was in storage and I told him that we could go get it later. Boy had me fucked up! Talking about he been staying at a hotel. I knew for fact if he's just now telling me, his parents don't know. Ooo I'm going to beat his ass!

"Baby yo phone ringing!" Cameron yelled from the bathroom as I was sitting in the bed on my MacBook. I saw that it was my daddy and answered the call.

"Wassup old man!"

He smacked his lips. "Girl stop playing with me. I'm fine as wine! Ion age!"

"Dakari cut it out!"

"But nah! I called to talk business. Can you make your nameplate necklaces on the spot?"

I nodded my as if he could see me. "Yes why?"

"You know the back to school bash I always host? I haven't been able to do the last three because of what's been going on. You know family come first, but I wanna bring it back. I want you to be one of the sponsors and however many necklaces you make I'll reimburse you for you materials."

"Ooooo! I love daddy's money." I went to my notes on my Mac and started typing what I was going to need and use. I'm thinking majority will be kids and the rest will be free handed as requested.

"I bet yo ass do, but I want Cam's company to be a sponsor too, so I can gloat about my rich son nlaw. I know you probably gonna wanna do something extra, so you can either do book bags or scholarship money for college students."

I smacked my lips. "Not using my husband but I'll do scholarship money because everybody is not fortunate enough like us to have trust funds and rich parents. College is not cheap at all."

I typed full, partial, and book scholarships in my notes and added the amount for each in bold lettering. Think I'm going to use some of the money my husband just gave me.

"Okay I'll let you handle that. I'm thinking about a car giveaway too, but I'm going to sleep on that. I'm pushing for the end of this month or the first week in August. Toot stop!"

Her bad ass. I just know she was being sneaky and got caught. "Okay I'll start getting my stuff together and daddy I need a favor. It's for yo other son."

"Which one? Sorayá you finna get beat. Ashley! Come get yo damn daughter! Lord why I couldn't have a boy!"

I had to let out loud laugh on that one because whew I just know daddy going through it all over again. I eased my laughing. "But Treyvon. You still keep yo ear to the league business don't you?"

"Yes ma'am I do. I need to put a word in for the next draft?"

I nodded my head cause yea daddy you know. "Yes sir. I know he can't make this one, but the next one for sure."

"I got you muffin but I'm finna go before I hurt Toot. I'll probably call you again in a couple days about the bash. Kiss my babies for me. I love y'all!"

"We love you too and tell mama I said hey."

"I got yo—SORAYÁ JONES!"

I heard the phone click and shook my head. That's what their old asses get. Toot giving them a run for their money. I should go check on the twins but their gdaddy done stole the show, so I know they're good. I added some more information for the bash to my notes and closed my MacBook. I slid it under the bed and got up going into the bathroom cause Cam been in here forever.

"Baby what you in here doing?" I pushed the door open and he was standing at the sink.

"Changing my nose rings cause the hoop is a no go until they learn to leave it alone. Especially Loreleí bad ass."

I shook my head cause Airy definitely give us a run for our money. Think she's so bad cause she was a surprise. I love her either way though. "Not too much on my twin."

"You and yo twin can get the business!"

I slapped his bare back and ran out of the bathroom screaming because he was right behind me. I shot out the bedroom and went down the hall. Praying he doesn't catch me.

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