Page 19 of Love Me Now: Adrian & Kwamé
“What?” she asked, bewildered.
“Girl… Did you see the way he looked at you?” Shehadto see the way Russ looked at her. No one could miss the spark in his steely brown eyes.
Ari laughed and pointed to her stomach. “I’m carrying a whole baby, sis. That man is not looking at me like that.”
“He is too,” I stressed.
“I know damn well y’all are not just now seeing how Russ is around you,” Bianca approached us and said. “Girl, he was on yo’ ass at Jessie’s party.”
“Sure was,” Coco seconded.
She waved me off. “Enough with that. I’m already recovering from one dog-ass nigga. I’m good on these niggas.” Something over my shoulder caused Ari’s face to frown.
Carli ignored the mug Adrian shot her as she entered the tent where we were setting up the eating area. She had several gift bags in her hands that she placed on the gift table.
“Hey,” Carli spoke lowly.
Ari looked her sister up and down, then mumbled, “Hey.”
“I’m sorry, Ari,” Carli declared. “I wish I could take back how I handled the situation. Every day, I’ve been wanting to pick the phone up and call you, but I figured you wouldn’t answer.”
“You could’ve tried,” Ari mentioned.
Carli’s eyes briefly shot the ground because she knew damn well that was a half-assed apology and excuse. I was going to mind my business, though.
“Daddy and Mama are on their way,” Carli divulged, bringing a soft smile to Ari’s face.
“Really?” Ari asked.
Carli nodded. “They’ve been fighting their parental instincts to show you tough love versus picking you up and dusting you off.”
The sisters giggled through their tears.
“You forgive me?” Carli questioned.
Ari nodded, then opened her arms for her little sister to embrace her. Truly, I was happy for Ari, but I still wanted to beat Carli’s ass. The joy on Ari’s face died at seeing something behind me. She let go of her sister as I turned to see what had her attention.
Glancing across the park, I saw Rod approaching. He wore a scowl that got him stopped in his tracks. Antonias stopped him from moving toward the tent.
“It’s okay,” Ari stated hesitantly. She looked nervous, which I didn’t like in the least bit. The audacity of Rod to show his face after the bullshit he pulled blew me.
Rod mugged Antonias, which prompted Russ to stop Antonias from snatching up Rod.
Rod glared at me, Carli, and the other ladies. “Can I have a minute with my baby mama?”
I moved to the table where the drinks were and picked up a juice for myself. Although the afternoon was settling in nicely, it was warm, and I wanted to keep myself hydrated.
“You just gon’ block my calls?” Rod questioned Ari.
“How did you know to find me here? And why the hell would I want to talk to you? First, you cheat on me. Then, yo’ bitch and her friends show up at my house and attack me.Then, you let me sit in jail.” Ari placed her hands on her hips and glared at Rod.
“Fuck them hoes, bruh!” Rod blasted.
“No, fuck you!” Ari shot back.
Thick tension boiling between Ari and Rod drew Russ.
“Everything cool?” Russ stepped between the two with his back noticeably facing Ari. He nearly towered over Rod, who looked Russ up and down like Russ was stupid as fuck.
