Page 134 of I Don't Want You Back

“Thanks Malia. I appreciate that.” Landon smiled.

He really did appreciate what she said because he did feel that way when she first left. Landon kept trying to think back to anything that he could have done wrong as a husband, but he was coming up short. He was happy that Malia had matured enough to take full responsibility and clear the up the confusion. Landon hated to admit it, but he’d carried over some of his insecurities from his first marriage into his second. Faryn always reminded him that she wasn’t Malia, and she was right. His family’s happiness was all that mattered to him, especially his wife.

“When are you moving mama?” Lennox asked when he and Lance walked back inside.

“I hope to have everything in place by next weekend. I’m gonna start moving some things in here throughout the week though. I have two days off this week,” Malia replied.

“I’ll have my wife to get on that other stuff as soon as possible. Hopefully, it can be in place by then too,” Landon said.

“Okay, just let me know so I can make sure I’m here,” Malia replied, as they all walked out together.

She saw Landon and her boys off before she left to go do some shopping for her new apartment. Malia had never had a place of her own without a man and she was excited about it. Cora was right when she said that she had to learn to be alone. She was loving the single life and it was definitely stress free. Men tried to talk to her all the time, but she wasn’t interested. She had enough on her plate already and a relationship would only complicate things.

***

“I can’t believe you moved in those high ass apartments. Can you even afford that?” Monica asked as she, her sisters, and her friend sat at the bar at one of her favorite clubs.

“I’m sure she wouldn’t have moved there if she couldn’t,” Felicia replied with a frown.

“Do you ever have anything good to say Monica? Damn, be happy for somebody for once in your life,” Malia snapped.

She was sick of Monica and her negative attitude. She was always hating on somebody for one reason or another. Felicia had recently gotten back with the father of her kids and she had something to say about that as well. He had been in and out of jail for a while, but he seemed to be trying to get himself together. He and Felicia both worked, and they were trying to get their family out of the projects. That was more than she could say about Monica though.

As soon as she walked into Malia’s apartment, she started finding things wrong with it. Landon had kept his promise, like always, and purchased everything for his sons’ room. Malia still had a little ways to go with making her house look like a home, but it was getting there. She needed a tv for her living room and a few decorations for her walls. Aside from that, her place was fully furnished and comfortable.

“I’m just saying,” Monica shrugged uncaringly.

“Just so damn negative. I can see that I’ll be leaving early. Even if I have to call a cab,” Felicia said.

“Girl, is that Roman and Chad sad asses over there?” Monica said out loud as she looked at a group of people huddled in the corner across from them.

There were a group of half-naked women popping bottles and twerking on the men who were seated in the area. Monica clearly recognized Roman and Chad, but she couldn’t make out who the other men were.

“I might be leaving right with you, Felicia. I’m not in the mood for the drama,” Malia said as she discreetly looked over where the men were.

Monica was right. Chad, Roman, Aiden, and Raheem were all sitting over there with a bunch of thirsty bitches all vying for their attention. Raheem seemed to be trying to separate himself from the madness, while the other three men were eating it up. Malia cringed when she locked eyes with Roman and he raised his glass and winked at her.

“Bitch, he’s coming over here,” Monica said when Roman got up and headed in their direction.

Malia didn’t care one way or the other and she didn’t have anything to say to him. She didn’t hate Roman because she allowed him to treat her like a door mat.

“What’s up Malia?” Roman asked as he walked up a little too close for Malia’s liking.

“Hey Roman,” Malia spoke back.

“What’s up with it? You trying to get a room with me tonight or what?” Roman smirked, already knowing that she wouldn’t go for it.

“I don’t think so boo. Go on back over there and finish entertaining your groupies. Let me enjoy my drink in peace,” Malia replied.

“I can respect that,” Roman said as he nodded his head.

Malia had matured a lot since the last time he saw her. She was being more active in her sons’ lives and Faryn hadn’t had any more problems out of her since she was pregnant with the twins.

“Nigga act like he got it like that or something,” Monica spoke up, even though she had nothing to do with it.

“You got a lot of mouth for a bitch with dirty feet,” Roman said while looking down at the wedge sandals that she had on.

“Your sister and her ugly ass kids got dirty feet,” Monica said, as her friend laughed. She was with the same girl that she was in the mall with when she and Faryn fought not too long ago.

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