Page 94 of Played
Noise crashes inside my head, and my knees tremble, wobbling under me. I bend over at the waist, sucking in air. Funny how I haven’t eaten a thing today but my stomach churns with nausea.
“Dina. Dina, are you still there?”
“Yeah.” I close my eyes. “Did you say ... Minnie recorded us in that bathroom?”
“Yes. I’m so sorry, Dina! I swear, I didn’t know until last night when I mistakenly picked up her phone, mistaking it for mine. I saw the video in her photos. She didn’t even have the decency to delete it after causing all this shit and so much fucking harm.” Disgust drips from her words.
Noni loves her twin; even though we haven’t gotten along in the past, she’s stayed Switzerland, somehow remaining understanding andpatient with Minnie. So to hear her ... revulsion shocks me almost as much as this startling news.
Almost.
Because,what the fuck?
Gathering myself together, I slowly straighten, focusing on my best friend. She’s hurting, and I need more answers.
“Why are you apologizing?” I ask. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re not responsible for what your sister did. But God, Noni, I’m still having a hard time understanding this.”
“Same. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, hell, I wouldn’t believe it. How could she ...?”
Noni goes silent, and I ask, “Why? Why would she do that to me? I mean, sure, we don’t care for each other, but I’ve never done anything to her. Called her a bitch or two in my head, but never anything that called forthat.”
“Once I busted her ass out and she stopped trying to lie her way out of it, she admitted something I didn’t know. Trust me, if I had, I would’ve handled a lot of things differently. Remember when I told you she fucked a hockey player and deluded herself into thinking that they could have a relationship?”
“Yes.” Oh shit. I think I have an idea where this is going.
“That hockey player was Solomon.” I knew it. Damn. “She never said anything when she knew you had your little situation with him. Didn’t say a word when I invited her to the club, knowing he’d be there. She said her feelings were hurt when he didn’t recognize her. Like, bitch, is that a reason to disseminate porn?” Noni sucks her teeth. “Minnie didn’t admit it, but she was on some get-back. For both of you. She’s always been jealous of you. No matter how many times I tell her I love both of you, she’s felt like I favor you. And then you ending up with the man she wanted? I guess it was all just a little too much for her.”
Her sarcasm reaches through the phone, and I cup my forehead.
“She humiliated me and him over a quick fuck, an imagined connection, and some petty bullshit?” I question, because I’m hearing everything Noni said but I’m still not fully grasping that Minnie would try to ruin my career and destroy my reputation over nothing.
Literally nothing.
“Yeah, Dina. God, I’m so sorry. And yes, yes, I know you said I don’t need to apologize, but she’s my sister, my twin, so I have to. What do you want to do?”
“What do you mean?”
“What do you want to do? I can go to the police and report her. If you or Solomon have an attorney, I can speak with them. Just let me know what you want.”
“Seriously, Noni? You would turn in your sister? For me?” I quietly ask.
“Hell yeah. You’re my sister too. Not by blood, but most definitely by choice. And right now, you are my choice. What she did was foul as fuck, and she should face consequences. She’s not some toddler having a tantrum. And doing that to another woman? Oh no, I’m down with whatever you want to do.”
Love for this woman fills me so fast and so hard I spread my fingers over my heart. For so many years I focused on people who didn’t prioritize me, when I had a friend who’d been doing it all along. Like now.
“I love you, Noni.”
“Girl, don’t—”
“No, I mean it. I love you, and thank you. Let me think on it? Solomon had the video taken down, but you’re right. The harm was done. So let me think on what I want to do, because I don’t want to decide on emotion. And right now, my emotion is all about strangling the shit out of your sister. But at the end of the day, she’s still your sister. I don’t want to be like her and cause further harm.”
“You better than me,” she grumbles. “But it’s on you. And as far as my sister, I’m good on her for a long while. I’ve been thinkingabout getting my own place for a while, and now seems as good a time as any.”
“I ain’t wanna say it, buuut ...” I chuckle. “Let me go, though. Malcolm said he had some kind of surprise for me.”
“Now, he knows good and damn well you don’t like surprises.”
“Tell me about it. As a matter of fact, I should letyoutell him.”
