Page 78 of I Heard It All Before

Chapter 27

Laila was bored out of her mind as she walked around her house, trying to find something to do. She’d already cleaned and cooked, so her house was in order. She didn’t have many friends and Asha was acting like she couldn’t do anything since she was pregnant. She stalked and chased Cam like it was a sport and that was all that she seemed to do. Asha had moved back in with her mother and nobody saw Randy anymore. He was trying to sell his shop, but he hadn’t had any luck with it.

Just like he’d told Asha, he stopped paying rent on their condo and she didn’t know where he was living. He told Asha that he was done with her manipulative ways and he wanted nothing else to do with her. Since the baby wasn’t his, he didn’t feel the need to stick around. Asha had been ignoring her calls since the day before, but maybe she was ready to talk now. When Asha sent her to voicemail once again, Laila decided to scroll on Facebook for a while. She hadn’t been on her page in a few weeks, so she knew that she’d missed a lot.

As soon as she logged on, Laila got in her feelings when she saw a post that her auntie Nora had put up. Apparently, Cam had a cookout and seafood boil at his new house and she didn’t know anything about it. Everybody seemed to be in attendance, including her mother. When Laila saw Nia’s smiling face on some of the pictures, she was ready to snap. They appeared to have had fun eating, swimming, and playing cards. Cam’s house was the shit and his new girlfriend seemed right at home. She couldn’t wait to tell Asha about that. Laila felt like an outcast, as she dialed her mother’s number to see what she had to say.

“Hey baby,” Nadine said when she answered for her daughter.

“I guess I wasn’t invited to the party at Cam’s house, huh?” Laila asked, getting right to the point.

“I asked your sister where you were and she said she didn’t know. I figured you had to work or something,” Nadine replied.

“I didn’t have to work, but I didn’t know anything about it. I see Nia got an invite though,” Laila noted.

“I’m sorry baby, but I was only a guest. I think Lacey and Cam’s girlfriend put that together, but we had a good time,” Nadine said.

“I can tell. I saw Auntie Nora’s pictures,” Laila replied.

“I’m with her now at the hair salon. I’m next, so I’ll call you later,” Nadine said before hanging up the phone.

Laila was still in her feelings, so she called her sister to see what she had to say.

“Yes,” Lacey answered like she had an attitude.

“I guess I’m not a part of the in-crowd anymore. Why wasn’t I invited to the gathering at Cam’s house?” Laila asked.

“Because nobody fucks with your snake ass, that’s why,” Lacey replied.

“Snake? You must have me confused with the next bitch!” Laila yelled.

“No, I got you right. Only a snake would let her first cousin’s girlfriend and best friend use her house to do him dirty,” Lacey replied.

Cam and her husband told her about what they suspected, but they didn’t have any proof besides seeing Asha and Randy meeting Lo there. They assumed that Laila knew what was going on and Lacey was fishing for more information.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Laila questioned.

“I’m talking about you being so damn stupid and desperate for Asha’s friendship and approval that you would let her cheat on your cousin at your house. And for what? To please her brother, who probably doesn’t want you anyway. Then, you smiled in Nia’s face for months, knowing what was going on. It’s because of her pulling some strings that you got that lil job in the hospital’s cafeteria. Ungrateful bitches like you make me sick,” Lacey rambled, hurting her sister’s feelings.

“Nia was always more of your friend than mine and you know that. And whatever Randy and Asha did has nothing to do with me. I didn’t make them mess around,” Laila defended.

“Yeah, but you knew and didn’t say shit. Even if you didn’t want to tell Cam, you shouldn’t have let it happen under your roof,” Lacey told her.

“I’m grown and I pay my own bills. This is my house and Quincy is the only person who helps me. Y’all don’t do shit for me but talk behind my back. Asha has been more of a sister to me than you’ve been, since you’re always so team Camden,” Laila snapped.

“You sound stupid as fuck with that dumb shit. I hope Asha is always around when you need her, since she’s so much better than I am. And you don’t ever have to worry about being invited to nothing that me and Demi are hosting. We don’t need no ants at our picnics,” Lacey said, right before she hung up on her.

“Stupid bitch,” Laila said in anger.

She didn’t know how her sister had found out about what was going on and she really didn’t care. She did feel bad about the part that she played in everything, but it was too late for regrets. She was sure that Lacey’s anger was only the beginning. She was gonna catch hell once her mother found out. She warned Asha about being careful; now, she was about to be shunned by her family, all because she wasn’t. Laila needed to tell her what was up, so she dialed her number yet again. Instead of being sent to voicemail, Laila’s call was quickly answered, but Asha didn’t say anything. She heard Asha and some more people talking in the background and realized that Asha must have hit accept instead of decline.

“That bitch is so fucking annoying,” Laila heard Asha say.

“Who?” another woman questioned.

“Laila’s disgusting ass,” Asha replied, making Laila’s heart free fall in her chest.

“That’s your best friend though,” the other woman laughed.

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