Page 21 of Loving a Libra
“We’ve met her?” Ma asked, and I nodded.
“Son, you don’t introduce us to women you aren’t seriously dating, so how is it that we’ve already met this young lady?”
I sighed and rubbed my hand down my face before leaning forward and resting my elbows on my legs.
“I don’t know how it happened, but?—”
“You broke the bro code. Tell me I’m wrong, Son.”
My eyes widened, but I wasn’t surprised. I opened and closed my mouth a few times, but nothing came out.
“I told you he was in love with that girl,” Ma said. “You kept talking about the bro code, and I told you when it comes to love, codes don’t matter.”
“Are you talking about Devyn?” They nodded. “How did y’all know?”
“I don’t know if you realize it, but she’s all you talk about when you come to visit,” she said.
“Not to mention you can’t keep your eyes off her. I don’t know how Maurice didn’t catch on. Ain’t no way another man can stare at my wife the way you stare at Devyn and me not notice,” Pops added.
“It wasn’t just you. At the anniversary party forERL, she was stuck to you like glue and looked at you with googly eyes,” Ma told me.
I thought back to the celebration and recalled it being a very enjoyable night. Part of the reason was that I spent the majority of my time with Devyn while Maurice worked the room . . . and the women, although he was discreet about it.
“It was that obvious?”
“Yes. It was that obvious. Can we assume Maurice doesn’t know?”
“Not yet, but soon.”
They shook their heads. “This ain’t good, Tariq. This ain’t good at all. People lose their minds over stuff like this. I don’t know how you plan to tell him, but you better be careful and ready,” Pops warned.
“She found out Maurice has been cheating on her, and she?—”
“Hopped in your bed for revenge?” Ma questioned with her lips pursed.
“Nah, Ma. That ain’t how it happened. Devyn’s not even like that.”
“I don’t get that kind of vibe from her, but a woman scorned will do things outside of their character,” Ma said.
“Not her. She’s not like that,” I repeated.
“How did she find out he was cheating?” Pops asked.
I hesitated for a moment but eventually said, “I told her, but not how I’m sure you’re thinking. It wasn’t my intention, but after a series of events that had nothing to do with me, she overheard him with another woman having sex. After that, she asked me to be straight up with her and tell her what I knew.”
“And you agreed,” Pops pressed.
“I did because I was tired of covering for him. He doesn’t deserve a woman like Devyn.”
“Whether he deserves her or not ain’t the issue, Son. In his mind, that’s his woman, and you’re his friend. That’s really all that matters at the end of the day,” Ma said.
“When do y’all plan to tell him?” Pops asked.
“She wants to wait until she’s completely moved out of his condo before telling him.”
“I like her style. His reaction will likely be extreme if she tells him about you. Are you ready and willing to lose your friendship with Maurice for this woman?” Ma asked.
“Me and Maurice are partners. We haven’t been friends for a long time.”
