The sun shone on Chalynn's face through the crack of her gray black out curtains. She stretched in her bed and yawned looking over to see Key was gone but she smelled food being cooked and light talking coming from down stairs. She had to work in a few hours but that wasn't going to stop her from eating first. She used the bathroom and brushed her teeth and washed her face before heading downstairs.

"Good morning sunshine." Marlee smiled as she spun around in her bar stool at the high counter. Chalynn forgot she wasn't really talking to her sister but after her night last night she decided to let it go. Lay kissed her sisters forehead, "Good morning Mar Mar." Marlee cheesed happily and ate her eggs.

"Hi boo." Chalynn got on her tip toes to kiss Key's cheek, "Good morning." Bria came flying down the stairs making a whole lot of noise.

She had a wide smile on her face, "Lay, your phone still missing?" Marlee asked sipping her orange juice, she didn't know why but she felt as if Bria had something to do with it, "Yes."

She got salty thinking about how it grew legs and ran away. "Oh, I thought I told you I found it." Bria said slyly as she dug in her purse to pull it out.

"So then why is it in your purse?" Marlee asked not believing her, "I found it outside in the grass. Maybe it fell out when you went to grab your keys or something." Bria shrugged going to make her a plate of whatever Key was cooking. There was none left for her, "Dang there's no break feast for me?" She thought that because she knew his secret he would play nice to her and that wasn't the case.

"So, Chalynn. He told you?" Bria smirked getting cozy on the couch for all the tea she was about to spill. "Yeah he did. But it's okay we're going to work it out together." Bria looked at Key who had stopped what he was doing to give her a death glare.

"How did you know?" Marlee asked Bria, "What do you mean? It's my niece." Chalynn stopped chewing confused as to what she was talking about.

"What? I thought you were talking about him going on tour. What does that have to do with Eliana?" She asked hoping that it wasn't what she thought it was, "Key is Eli's father." Bria crossed her legs and put her interlaced fingers on her knee she carried this devilish grin on her face. Marlee almost jumped out of her seat, she knew that Bria only said it to be messy. Not for the good of her best friend.

Chalynn's heart dropped as she turned to Key with watery eyes, "Tell me she's lying.." She pleaded, he couldn't even look her in the eyes. The fact that Eliana was only a few months old really blew her too, that meant he could still very well be sleeping with the baby's mother. Marlee felt her sisters hurt, she knew how much of a risk it was to try and date Key and he held such a big secret from her sister.

"Dang Key, I was rooting for you." Marlee shook her head, she smeared her cream cheese over her toasted blueberry bagel.

"Say something!" Chalynn yelled folding her arms across her chest and putting her full attention on Key. Marlee jumped because Marlee never raised her voice at anybody, "Can we talk somewhere else?" He asked searching her brown eyes that tears threatened to spill out of.

"You had so many opportunities yesterday. I proved to you that I was down for you but you can't even do the same for me." Bria covered her mouth to keep from laughing, "I had to know if I could trust you. My mama don't even know that I have a baby." He admitted, he wished he could take her to a private location and talk to her not talk to her in front of everybody.

"So when were you going to tell me?" Chalynn didn't know what to think, her heart was telling her they could work it out but her mind was in defense mode.

"I was going to tell you yesterday." He said honestly, "No Markeyvius, you should've told me on the first date. Or hell maybe even the second one. I would've accepted any other time before Brianna came in here and ran her mouth. You're supposed to let me decide if I want to be a step mother or not, you don't make that decision for me." Chalynn's hand was on her cocked hip with her finger moving rapidly pointing at him.

"I apologize, forreal but imma rap-."

Chalynn held up her hand to cut him off, "I don't care about any of that rap shit. You rap about being a real nigga and all this other shit but can't keep it real with me. Ugh, I fucking trusted you. But that was my fault and I'll never in my life do that again. I promise." Marlee gulped she was so close to having Lay out of the house with a man and now that was ruined.

Lay wanted so badly for them to go back to yesterday, she could've handled it she could've made it work if it came from his mouth and not Bria's.

"Lay, maybe you just need to calm down and think about it. You did just say, that you wouldn't mind a man with a kid on your live." Marlee tried to help Key, he wasn't a bad guy, he was definitely wrong for not telling her.

Chalynn took a deep breath and wiped her face, the tears already staining her face. Key mumbled a thank you to Marlee. Marlee was right, that is what she said and she stood on that but for Bria to have told her is what she's upset about.

"You still love her? Are y'all still messing around?" She asked him, he scrunched his face up.

"Nah, I never loved Brit. I haven't touched her since she got pregnant." He spoke honestly but how could Chalynn trust him when he didn't tell her that he had a child. Bria grew furious, he didn't even disrespect her sister but Bria, being her typical self had to stir the pot some more.

"That's why you kissed her on your way out huh?" Marlee's mouth hung open, but she didn't know how much to believe.

"I-" Key felt himself start to disappear, Chalynn started to shake.

She felt played as hell, "You laid up with me and you're still kissing your baby mom?" Her alter ego was beginning to come out, "You're going to listen to this bitch ? The signs are right there Chalynn, she wants your life. She's trying to break us up." Marlee had to agree with him on that one, she definitely wanted Chalynn's life.

"You're starting to sound like Marlee." She scoffed waving him off, Bria was happy she wasn't believing him and she had just hoped he wouldn't show her the pictures.

"So, you're not Eliana's father and you didn't kiss Brittany yesterday?" Chalynn asked getting annoyed with the conversation.

"I am her father but I didn't kiss her in the way she was saying. It was a simple forehead kiss." He argued his eyes slowly getting darker, Marlee was getting bored and irritated because this was all some he say she say bullshit that ruined a potentially good relationship.

"You know what. Everybody that's not on the lease get the hell out." Marlee threw up the deuces to the two people who didn't belong.

"Shit, I'm out." Key shrugged his shoulders and brushed passed Chalynn who's eyes said the opposite of her words.

"What did I do bestie?" Bria asked almost innocently, "Bye." Chalynn descended to her room where Key was grabbing his belongings from upstairs.

"I just need some time Key. That's it." She sighed sitting on the edge of her bed. "Take all the time you need." He walked out with out saying another thing to her. Her heart reached out out to grab him but his was too far gone.

*

"Best friend. I know you're upset but let me take you out to eat or something." Chalynn groaned hearing Brias voice. Food did sound good though, plus she had been cooped up in the house for three going on four days. It was time for her to get out and get some fresh air.

"Okay." Bria opened Chalynn's curtains and light flooded the room.

"We're leaving in an hour to find you a new man." She giggled, Bria was so happy that Key and Lay weren't talking anymore that she felt like she could be nicer to Chalynn. She left her room and walked away as Lay groaned rolling out of the bed.

She took her time in the shower going over every inch of her body with her wash cloth. The steam began to fog up the mirrors and the warm water penetrated her skin. Once she was satisfied with how clean she felt she stepped out of the shower allowing the cool air to hit her. She looked down at her breasts as she tied the big warm mint green towel around her body. Thoughts of Key's hands squeezing her breasts came to mind but she quickly shook it off.

After getting dressed and going downstairs she saw Marlee on the couch with her best friend Javon. Chalynn loved Javon, he was Jasmines little brother, he was a year older than Marlee and always looked out for her. Jasmine and Chalynn have been best friend's ever since high school and of course Bria hated that.

"Hey Lay Lay how are you?" He asked giving her a hug, "I'm good Vonny, how's basketball? We're going to have to come to a game when the season starts." She hugged him and set her heels down on the floor beside her.

"Yes, I will get ya'll tickets for free." He smiled taking a seat back by Marlee, "Where there's free. There is me." Chalynn laughed hugging Marlee next.

"You look good, where you going?" Marlee asked rolling up her blunt, "Out with Bria." Marlee looked up from what she was doing and locked eyes with Bria.

"Bitch if my sister come up missing. I'm on your neck. I already owe you an ass whooping." The look in her eye showed Bria that she wasn't kidding and that she needed to tread lightly but Bria was already plotting her next move on getting Marlee out the house.

Bria simply smirked at her, "Come on bestie. They're already going to be packed." Vonny shook his head, he knew how much his sister hated Bria, she was a snake and he was surprised that Chalynn even let her stay here.

The ride to Another Broken Egg was long, and Bria was right they were packed which is why they called in and put their name in on the way over there so they got a table right away.

"Hi Susan, may I please have a lemon blue berry mimosa and to eat can I have the strawberry shortcake french toast with a side of the baked bacon as well as the small order of shrimp and grits?" Bria looked at her as if she had two heads, as soon as Chalynn labeled off the items on the menu Bria was looking at the price.

"Can I have a strawberry mimosa and everything she wanted to eat and can you hurry up with that drink?" Bria shooed the waitress away, Susan smiled at Chalynn who began to apologize for Bria's behavior before Susan walked off.

"I'm so happy you dumped Markeyvius girl. He was not good for you." Chalynn looked at her confused, they weren't technically together but they weren't broken up either. She was just taking time to herself to see if she could handle being a step mother to her best friends sisters child.

Chaylnn honestly could believe if Brittany trapped Key, she had always talked about it when they were younger. Not Key per se but any fine nigga with money.

"I bet you are. You always want all of my attention." Chalynn wasn't going to share what she told Key in her bedroom with Bria because of how happy she was that they weren't 'together' anymore.

"And I'll always get it bestie." The familiar smirk sat proudly on Bria's face as Susan brought their drinks out, she smiled once again at Chalynn and walked off. Chalynn sipped hers casually while Bria tossed hers back calling for somebody to bring her another one.

"Brianna, please do not act a fool in this restaurant we're supposed to be having a good time." Lay covered her face to keep her embarrassment levels at a low.

"Here is your food." Susan delivered Lay's plates first and then a few minutes later Bria got hers. Bria dug right in while Chalynn said grace before eating, something in Lay's heart told her to say no to going out with Bria because she ate so annoyingly. She sucked on the shrimp loudly before actually chewing it and throwing the tail on the floor. Lay's face shriveled up in disgust and opened her mouth to speak but somebody came up to their table.

"Hey Lay Lay. Long time no see." Jasmine spoke with a genuine smile on her face, "Oh my gosh Jazzy ! When did you get back from Africa?" Chalynn stood to her feet and hugged her close friend, Jasmine hugged her back tightly and noticed Bria's glare.

"I got back a few days ago, I texted you when I landed but you left me on read." Chalynn pulled back and looked at Jasmine confused, "I never got a text from you." She grabbed her phone and showed Jasmine that she never got a text from her but Jasmine did the same and showed her that it was read.

Bria knew that she deleted the text as soon as it popped up on Chalynn's phone while she had it the other day.

"Hello Jasmine." Bria's words sounded so fake, Jasmine nodded towards her. "Call me later?" Jas asked about to go back to her seat, "Yes ma'am." Chalynn sat in her seat and wondered how the message said read but she never received it. She was definitely going to call her later because she needed advice.

Once the check came Bria picked it up and her face fell, the bill was 89.53 and that wasn't even including the tip. "Just pay so we can go, I will tip." Bria faked like she was looking for her card,

"Damn, I think I left it at home." She lied, Chalynn sighed, she was beginning to grow tired of paying her way. Forty dollars fell out of Bria's purse and Chalynn saw it, "Pay your half, I'll pay mine. Susan, we're ready to pay darling thank you." Lay pulled her platinum card out of her yellow Telfar purse.

"Put here forty and charge the difference on my card. Here's your tip." She handed her a one hundred dollar bill and her card. Bria threw her cash at Susan and she bent down to pick it up, but Chalynn stopped her. Jasmine watched the whole thing go down.

"Pick that shit up, neow." Chalynn got tight lipped like a black mother who was tired of her child playing around in the store. Bria scoffed and did what she was told, Lay was tired of her behavior and damn near wanted to kick her out of her home. Jasmine didn't know how she could be friends with somebody like that.

Susan thanked Chalynn, "You don't know how you just blessed me. Thank you so much, your friend has an evil spirit and she's trying to dim your light. Get her out of your home." Chills ran up and down Chalynn's spine when Susan said the last few words.

Everybody was telling her the same thing and she was slowly starting to see how many marbles she was missing. Chalynn nodded her head and when she turned around Susan was gone.

"What did that freak say to you?" Bria asked carrying her to go box to the car, "She just said that I blessed her and things like that." Chalynn waved it off, "Can you take my picture?" Lay handed her phone to Bria, and Bria took a lot of blurry photos of her.

Jasmine came outside and took a few pictures herself because she knew that Bria was going to take them ugly. Chalynn took her phone back and thanked the both of them. She waved by to her friend before getting in her car and driving off.

*

Later that night Chalynn called Jasmine on face time, she wanted her advice about Key.

"He did lie about the baby but he is famous and Key Glock is known for his life being private. He didn't really know if he could trust you until you hid his gun in your purse. Plus knowing Bria's ass you never really know with her, you kiss Mar Mar on the forehead. They do have a baby together too, it could just be a kind gesture." Jasmine spoke brushing her hair and tying her scarf on first and then her bonnet.

"That's very true, I wouldn't mind being a step mother but I wish he would've told me. I just don't want another Bryson situation." Chalynn sighed doing the same thing as her close friend, "Should I call him?"

Jasmine took a minute before she responded, "I would give him some time too. You did believe Bria over him, granted thats your 'best friend' but when you start dating you have to start thinking about their feelings too." Jasmine used quotations when she said best friend.

"Okay you're right. Maybe when he comes here for his tour, I'll head out there." Chalynn sighed, she missed him a whole lot.

Marlee was even beginning to miss him, "I wanna go too !" Jasmine said, she wanted to go to support Chalynn because she needed a whole lot of that.

"I'm so happy I saw you today." Chalynn spoke honestly, it was a breath of fresh air to see another kind soul.

"Yes. Let's link tomorrow for mani, pedi's? We can talk more there, there's probably listening ears." Jasmine twerked in the camera and Chalynn smiled, she needed energy like that in her life.

"It's a date. I'm heading to bed though, I love you." She waved bye and hung up after Jasmine said her good byes and I love you's as well.

Chalynn tried to go to bed but the television down stairs was way too loud. She stomped down the stairs she knew it had to be nobody but Bria and in fact it was. She did it on purpose because she wanted to stir the pot with Marlee who was in her room cackling because she knew Lay was about to go off on Bria.

She tip toed to her door and cracked it so she could hear the action. Lay hated the tv's being too loud especially at night when she had an early morning the next day.

"Come on Bria, please turn it down. You know I have an early morning tomorrow." Chalynn rubbed her temple as she was on the bottom of the stairs.

"Okay, but I had something to run by you. Don't you think it's time for Marlee to leave?" She asked, Lay for the fiftieth time scrunched her face at her.

"My sister will always be welcome at my house. I don't care if she's 60 years old, she's my baby and she's not going anywhere." Lay slid her hand under her neck to indicate 'period'. Marlee smiled to her self, yeaaah get her ass.

"I think she's freaking on these boys." Marlee put her bonnet on and tossed her phone on her bed.

"And if she was, she can do that shit. Her body, her choice." Lay was over it, she knew what Marlee was doing being even though Chalynn didn't want to hear it her sister still told her.

Marlee was happy to know her sister was sticking up for her but like she said earlier, she owed Bria an ass whooping.

Marlee came flying down the stairs pushing past her sister, "Wassup bitch." Marlee swung on Bria dragging her off of the couch, Marlee was notorious for fighting at her school (only when they needed to be fought) but she was pretty good at it too. She held Bria by her hair and swung her fist into her face, in the midst of dragging her she broke a few of Chalynn's lamps.

"Keep my fucking name out your mouth." Once Bria got a few hits and looked like she was about to tackle Marlee, Chalynn stepped in.

"Come on ya'll!" Marlee was still getting her licks in when her sister was dragging her off of Bria.

"Stupid bitch, I told you I had something for you." Marlee kept talking her shit and kicked Bria as her sister was pulling her away. Bria licked the blood off of her lip and held her eye.

"That's exactly what I'm talking about, she's unstable as fuck." Bria said sitting on the couch, "Ya'll both are out of pocket. We just need to go to bed and talk about it in the morning."

Marlee's chest heaved up and down and she readjusted her bonnet, "Kick this bitch out!" Marlee screamed at Chalynn, "It's ten o'clock at night Marlee. This can wait till tomorrow." Marlee shook her head and ran upstairs to grab her pre packed bag.

"It's me or her."

"I'm not putting her out in the middle of the night. And you're not grown Marlee you're not leaving either."