Page 32 of Session 33

The woman in question appeared at the doorway, looking bewildered. A man stepped out behind her, moving to shield her. "What’s going on here?" he demanded.

Jonas looked at the woman, then back at Naomi. "Are you serious right now? Showing your ass on these people’s lawn? I was here to pick up clothes," he snapped. "She’s donating all her dead son’s stuff to the kids I help."

Naomi's face turned a shade of red, and she dropped her head.

My mouth fell open when she shouted, "I’m pregnant!"

Jonas froze. I stared at Naomi, stunned that she was telling him like that, but then again, she needed something to get her out of trouble. All I could do was shake my head.

Jonas’s face softened immediately. He dropped the garbage bags and took a step toward her. "Naomi, I... baby, you for real?"

Jonas nodded to the man and woman apologetically. Naomi was crying now. Jonas pulled her into the street, trying to calm her down. "I’m sorry, babe. I should have told you where I was going."

Naomi sniffled, wiping at her eyes. "I thought you were cheating on me again," she admitted, her voice trembling.

Jonas hugged her tightly. "No, never again. A nigga promise that."

I couldn’t believe how quickly Jonas forgave her. I would have beenmad madif I was Jonas. Her embarrassing me and fucking up my car?

Then they left in Jonas's car, leaving me to drive Naomi's car home.

When I got to my place, Cassius was waiting for me, sitting on my sofa. He had his shirt off and boxers still on. I guess he had just gotten up from the bed where I’d left him.

"Baby, you won’t—" I started to tell him what had happened, then stopped when I noticed his face was twisted with anger.

"What’s wrong?"

"Why would you get involved with Naomi’s shit?" he yelled.

I took a step back even though at least twenty feet separated us. "I didn’t know what Naomi was planning!" I defended myself.

He sneered at me. "The fuck you didn’t. You around here acting like a typical-ass bi—" He started to call me out of my name but caught himself, though the damage was already done.

"Getting caught up in drama. It’s pathetic," he finished.

A surge of anger I hadn’t felt in a long time flooded me.

I covered the distance between us until I was right up on him and mushed his head. "Who the fuck you think you talking to?"

prided myself on not being like my daddy, on not letting my temper take over. But Cassius had me deadly mistaken if he thought he could talk to me like I was weak.

His face dropped, then softened. "Angel," he started, reaching for me like that was gonna fix it.

"Nah,” I snapped, stepping back. “As a matter of fact, I don’t want to hear shit you gotta say. Get the fuck out," I said quietly, my voice shaking.

He stared at me, stunned. "What?"

"I said get the fuck out!" I yelled, my voice echoing. "Ain’t shit in this house too good to hit your ass with, and that’s where I’m about to take it if you don’t get the fuck away from me. Fucking go!" I didn’t give a fuck that he was barely dressed.

Cassius glared at me for half a second before storming out, slamming the door so hard I thought the hinges would snap.

As soon as the door shut, I started pacing, my chest heaving, my blood thumping so loud in my ears it felt like I might explode. My hands were trembling. I couldn’t breathe right.

"Who the fuck does he think he is?" I muttered to myself, my voice rising with each word. "Coming in here, talking to me like I’m one of these dumb-ass bitches he used to fuck with? Like I’m Keisha or somebody? Nah. No. Fuck that."

I stopped pacing and pointed at the door, even though he wasn’t there. "If you EVER come at me like that again, Cassius, I swear to God, I’ll show you exactly who the fuck I am. Try me one more time, and it’ll be your last time, I promise you that."

I was so mad I could barely stand still, so I stomped off to the bathroom and got in the shower, hoping the hot water would cool me off.

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