Page 92 of Arris, Jayme & Dyani
“Thank you, Jay.” Arris leaned in and kissed me quickly.
Then we both looked back when Blake came out of his room squealing.
“Yani said we can all color pictures and play games tonight,” he announced.
“And if Yani said it, it’s true,” Arris said and climbed to his feet.
I watched him circle the couch to get back to Blake. I let my head fall backward and resisted the urge to groan or let this shit ruin the amazing day Dyani just had. I plastered a smile on my face and hopped up to join Blake, Dyani, and Arris talking about our plans for the night.
Reena was going to get hers, but tonight, luckily for her, the bitch was safe.
Chapter 20
Dyani
I looked down at yetanother call from Darryl and declined it. We were two entire weeks from his fight with Arris and I was going to answer his calls and talk to him today. I told myself I was going to give him some time to calm down then check the temperature. I was just also running around right now.
Arris had changed the locks on my apartment but I’d pretty much moved in with Jayme and Arris anyway. I loved it. I was happy there and Blake was the cutest kid I’d ever met. I felt happier than I had in a long time and Jayme and Arris were proving to not only be passionate lovers but the most considerate and present people I’d ever met.
I went to my message thread with Arris and sent him a quick text before dropping my phone into my purse while I stepped into the building’s elevator. I had a meeting only a few blocks from the tattoo shop where Arris had returned after realizing who’d vandalized it in the first place.
After finding out I was going to be that close, we agreed to get lunch together, so I wanted to make sure he was on his way.
I looked toward the tattoo shop when I walked out of the front door of the building and a scream tore from my mouth when a strong hand gripped me by the top of my arm. I spunaround and Darryl quickly walked us to the side out of the foot traffic.
“I let you throw your little tantrum, Dyani, but I’m done waiting around for you to grow up and have a conversation with me.”
“Excuse me?” I jerked my arm free. “Darryl, you’re the one who threw a fucking tantrum. Not me. You shoved your way into my spot, tried to fight my boyfriend, and called our dad, who you don’t even like, when you didn’t get your way.”
I watched him clench his jaw.
“Look—”
I cut him off. “Darryl, I’m a grown ass woman and I’m going to date whoever I want. You don’t have to like it or give your blessing or clap it up for me or anything, but you’re going to, at bare minimum, respect them or stay away from me and them.”
“So, what? You’re going to throw your brother away for some nigga you just met?”
“No. I’m giving you an option I never once had to give Arris. He doesn’t have a problem with you. You have a problem with him. Heneverasked me to choose. You are. And if you’re the one putting me in this fucked up ass position, then you should be the one to go.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “I want you in my life, Darryl. You know that. I’m not going to lie and say I don’t, but I also want Jayme and Arris in my life, and they’d never put me in a situation to lose you. Why do you think it’s fair to do that to me?”
“Dyani, Arris?—”
I cut him off again. “Is one of your best friends.”
He licked his lips and shrugged. “I mean, I thought he was.”
“And what changed?”
“He fucked my baby sister.”
“Who is a consenting adult,” I added. “And he didn’t hunt me down or manipulate me or anything. I approached him onthat type of time and he made it clear that he wasn’t down for anything without strings attached because he cared about your friendship and didn’t want to risk it for something stupid and meaningless.”
“He said that?”
“Yeah, Darryl. He said that.” I exhaled and let my arms fall to my sides. “Darryl, you know Arris and you know me. I’m asking you to just let me make my own choices and trust that your best friend who you obviously thought was a good guy is still a good guy.”
“Dyani,” he exhaled. “Look, I love you and you mean the world to me. I just… I don’t want you caught up in this DP shit and the same way you said I know Arris, I know you. You’re a good girl and?—”
I cut him off. “Woman,” I corrected.
