Page 72 of Feeling Blue

“Just tell me the conditions.”

“Keep our secret too.”

Without an ounce of hesitation, Zurena’s eyes began rolling. Just when she’d thought he might have been different than Rico, he showed his true colors.

“Side bitch must be stamped on my forehead or something? What do I look like to y’all niggas?” she questioned in true detest. “I know I’m a lil’ chubby, but damn, I’m not desperate.”

In a hurry to get to her car before she started crying, Zurena turned and tried to stalk off again, but wasn’t able to. Pat’s strong grip circled her arm and held her in place.

“I’m tired of telling you to relax. I’m not that kind of person, Zurena.”

“Well, what secret do you want me to keep, Pat? And get off me.” She pushed away.

This time, instead of chasing her or saying anything, he allowed her to gain her footing without touching her. When she finally faced him, he looked her over slowly before giving a faint smile.

“Nothing. Forget it. Just keep all that domestic shit away from my house. I don’t fuck with it.”

With that, he turned and walked back to his house with Zurena watching. When he was gone, she hopped back into her car and sped out of his neighborhood and back to her house. The trip to Pat’s house ended up being disastrous, and she’d give anything to take it back. Now, instead of having one man hate her, she had two.

She’s fine and she’s mine

The green, brown, and nude color balloons were tied together, decorating the arched entrance of the expensive venue. The safari-themed baby shower had been professionally decorated and looked worth every penny that they’d spent to bring Yummy’s vision to life. The large statues of the giraffes, elephants, and monkeys positioned in certain areas of the room added a unique feel, and Forever had been obsessing over it since she’d gotten there.

From the low sounds of the R&B playing in the background, accompanied by the subtle sounds of the water fountain flowing around her, Forever was in Heaven. The room was packed with their family and friends, and a host of Yummy’s clients. All talking and eating, enjoying the brief cocktail hour implemented to allow Yummy and Calvary time to take pictures. The two of them were positioned at the front of the building, Yummy in a fitting mint green dress, and Calvary in all black, looking like the ghetto shooter he was.

Just as pretty as she always was, Yummy’s long sew in hung down her back while her professionally beat face glowed from the growing of her son. With Calvary’s long locs freshly twisted and hanging down around his back and shoulders and his gold grill gleaming every time he smiled, he appeared to be glowing as well. The happiness that overtook them while in each other’s presence made Forever so happy that she felt tears rising.

“I wish you would,” Paradise said from beside her.

“Shut up, Goody. I can’t help it. She’s so beautiful, and he loves her so much,” Forever swallowed back her tears while watching Calvary palm Yummy’s large belly and smile for the photo. “She’s always deserved this. Not that mess Lucky used to take her through.”

“Bitch, you better not be pregnant by that black ass boy from Florida.”

Forever frowned as she faced her sister. “Why do you always have to talk so crazy to people?”

“I’m just saying hoe, what you about to cry for?”

“You know what, don’t worry about me,” Forever’s smile finally showed as she dabbed at her eyes with a napkin.

“I’m not. I’m more worried about my homeboy getting his shit rocked,” her laughter spilled out before she could finish her sentence. “Blue on his ass bad.”

Forever’s eyes widened as she looked around the room for Blue. When she found him, he was standing in the corner talking to Auto. He and Nova had just gotten to the shower, and Forever had been elated to see them. Trying to keep Blue away from Marcellus and Marcellus away from her had been a task, but now that Auto was there, she could kind of breathe. Well, almost.

Auto wasn’t as stable as one should be to prevent trouble. The only reason she’d felt safe enough to take her eyes off him was because Nova was seated right next to them with their baby. If she knew nothing else, she knew Auto nor Blue would do anything to put her and Autumn in harm’s way. Including but not limited to ‘fucking Marcellus up bad’ or putting him in the hospital.

“He’s been trying it since I got here. I’m so sick of him looking at me,” Forever stressed.

“You? Bridges is too, Bitch. Niggas so stupid too, because he’s so busy looking at you that he doesn’t see her looking at him.”

“Goody, this is not funny.”

“What’s not funny?” Yummy took a seat on Forever’s lap.

“Marcellus about to get jumped by Blue and Bridges for staring at Forever.”

Yummy’s smile widened as she surveyed the room quickly, giggling by the time she refocused on their conversation.

“I hate to make it worse, sister-cousin, but here comes your man.”

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