Azariah chuckled.
“Tru is ugly and a dog ass nigga to you. Really Normani?” he mimicked her.
Normani pouted while folding her arms. She rolled her eyes and Azariah sat back in his seat.
“What the fuck do you really want from me? You said friendship so that’s what a nigga giving you. Now when you ready for more let me know. I can’t sit around with a hard dick and no woman. That’s fair to me? What the fuck,” he grumbled.
Normani sighed. She watched him tear into his steak salad as her heart grew heavy.
“Whatever. Thanks again for the money. I promise to pay you back.”
Azariah watched her stand. He took a few bites from his food before standing up. When he walked up on her Normani swallowed hard.
“I’m not gone beg you to be with me, ma. I’ll take you however I can to have you in my life but as long as you with that nigga I’ma do me. You still my favorite girl though and you know that shit. Come here,” he said and pulled her into his arms.
Normani hugged Azariah tightly before leaving his office. Normani grabbed her daughter from daycare before heading home. Azariah and his tacky broad plagued her mind as she pulled into her driveway. When she spotted Tru’s newest toy a white two door foreign car she sighed.
“I thought his ass was going out of town,” she mumbled not in the mood to see him.
Normani grabbed her things and got her daughter out of her car before heading into her home. Rose petals greeted her at the door along with soft R&B music. Normani’s face lit up as she stepped through the door.
“Tru! What’s going on!”
“Dada-dada!” River yelled while wiping her eyes.
Normani smiled at her baby girl.
“There go my two favorite girls. Come here,” Tru said walking towards Normani.
In his hand was a small Louie carry all. Normani’s carry all to be exact. Normani sat her daughter down and watched her baby girl charge towards her father at lightning speed. Normani soaked in the romantic ambience of the room and sighed.
“What’s going on Tru?” she asked again.
Quieter this time.
Tru sat the luggage down and picked up River. He kissed her cheek before stalking over to Normani. His intoxicating scent made it to Normani before he did and once, he reached her he planted a wet, soft kiss to her heart shaped lips.
“Us, that’s what’s happening,” Tru replied and dropped down to one knee.
Normani’s mouth fell open as she watched him pull a small red box from his left pocket. Tru looked nervous as he gazed up at her.
“For any pain I ever put you through I’m sorry. It was never my intention to bring pain your way. I know I can be a lot but I’m yours and you mine. I love the hell out of you Normani. You gave me something priceless and you the only woman I can ever see myself being with. I need for you to marry me beautiful. Can you do that?” he asked sincerely.
Normani stared down at him in shock. He wore a black tux that fit him to a “T.” Her favorite scent wafted over the space surrounding them. Instead of thinking about how he was she envisioned who he could be. She envisioned him being a better man to her. A better father to their daughter and her heart swelled with love. The fear of missing out on giving her daughter a legit family hit her. She wasn’t brave enough to say no. Azariah was doing him and she needed to do her. She needed to at least see if being Tru’s wife was for her. Normani nodded slowly and Tru grinned.
He opened the ring box and a stunning solstice diamond shined in the dimly lit hallway. He pulled the ring from the box as River slept peacefully on his right arm. That quick she’d gone back to sleep.
“Normani Marie Royale will you marry me?” he asked slowly.
Normani nodded while cheesing hard. She leaned down and allowed for Tru to place the stunning diamond onto her finger. He gazed up at her intently as his body relaxed.
“Tonight,” he added in quietly.
Normani looked up from her ring and her eyes connected with his.
“What did you say baby?”
Tru stood and licked his lips. He adjusted his daughter so that she would be more comfortable and cleared his throat.
“I want you to marry me tonight. I rented out a jet. Its waiting on us right now. Let’s do it with just us,” he said lowly.
Normani gazed up at him with her heart racing. She looked at her daughter and swallowed hard. This was what she’d been wanting. A real commitment out of him. They would now be an official family. A unit and then he’d listen to her. He’d value her needs as well and she wanted nothing more than to make that happen.
She stepped closer to Tru and grabbed his hand. A big smile covered her pretty face as she nodded.
“Yes, let’s do it. Let’s get married tonight,” she replied making him smile.
Relief flooded Tru’s face as he stared up at her.
“You don’t even know how happy you just made a nigga,” Tru replied before giving her a kiss.
7
#backtoback
“What’s really going on in that pretty little head of her’s? She up and do some shit like marriage without consulting me and that illiterate fool Tru! How dare he ask my daughters hand in marriage without speaking to me about it! I can’t believe them,” her mom vented.
Novah’s heart seemed to temporarily stop. She stared at the white plastic stick once more as she listened to her mom rant.
Pregnant.
How?
The fuck?
He’d worn condoms all that night. He’d ensured that she not drink over the limit and she remembered it all. The passion. The pleasure. His big ass dick. The orgasms—
“And she calls me once it’s done like everything is all good. I know no one is perfect but Tru has a lot of things he needs to work on before being my baby’s husband. If only your father was still alive none of this mess would be happening,” her mom said and Novah was pulled into another emotion.
One of grief. She closed her eyes and prayed that she was dreaming. None of this was real. Her sister hadn’t just up and married her sometimes good baby daddy and she wasn’t pregnant. All was well and she was just in a sick ass nightmare.
Novah opened her eyes when she heard her mom sniffle and she cleared her throat.
Nope it was very much happening.
“Mom it’s okay. I wish dad was still here too. I’m sure a lot of things would be different had he still been alive. I need to get ready for court. Can I call you back?”
“Yes, is my nephew coming with you?” her mom asked.
Novah thought of her cousin Arquez and smiled.
“Yes, he is. He’s actually on his way right now. I’ll let you know what happens when I leave.”
“Okay baby and don’t be worried. The Lord has already handled everything,” her mom assured her before ending the call.
Novah put her cell away and stared down at the plastic stick. She looked up at the ceiling inside of her large bathroom and swallowed hard. She wasn’t on birth control, but she didn’t feel the need to be. She wasn’t consistently having sex. Now that she was possibly pregnant, she regretted not being on at least the damn pill. She’d only taken the test because of her missed period.
“A baby, but how? I don’t even know this fucking man. Another public figure. Another person I’m not married to. Hell, we’re not even friends let alone in love and I may be pregnant by him. This is un fucking real,” she griped.
Novah forced herself to get up from the toilet. Her ass had gone numb anyway from sitting so long. As she rubbed her bottom, she looked at herself in the mirror. Her mocha skin shined under her light’s vanity. She smiled wryly at herself and licked her lips. Her eyes slid down to her flat abdomen and uncertainty ran through her. She rubbed her belly as thoughts of being pregnant filled her mind.
“I can barely handle the twins I have. I don’t need this right now God. I’m not ready for another kid,” she said silently and walked away from the mirror.
Nova
h took a hot shower making sure to not get her bouncy curls wet. She then got dressed putting on a coral colored two-piece suit with a white blouse. On her feet was a pair of nude heels while gold jewelry decorated her neck and wrist. Novah ran her hands through her hair making her bouncy curls appear messy in a cute way and she grabbed her clutch.
Her cellphone rung as she ascended the stairs. Novah rushed to open her door and standing on the other end was her cousin Arquez. He held a serious look to his handsome face as he stared down at her. Arquez looked nice in his white Fendi crew neck monster tee that he’d paired with dark jeans and Off-White sneakers. A diamond Cuban chain hung from his neck as a diamond watch adorned his wrist. Novah smacked her lips as she gazed up at him.
“Who told you to do all that? We not hitting up somebody’s runway show. We just going to court,” she joked.
Arquez chuckled. He waved her off as she locked up her home.
“I dress like this every damn day. Stop playing with me. You good?”
“I am,” Novah lied wishing she was as they headed to Arquez’s white Mercedes.
They slid into the sleek sedan and as Arquez pulled off Novah received a text from her sister. She pursed her lips as she opened the message thread.
You and mom is acting real funny style right now. I expected for my family to be happy for me. Not this but regardless of your pettiness I wish you well. I pray you don’t have to split custody with that fuck nigga. Keep me posted sis.
Novah sighed as she text her sister back.
I pray I don’t either and we are happy for you. We just don’t appreciate how you did it. We would have liked to be included in your plans but whatever. If you’re happy then we are too. I’ll call you when I leave.
“Normani?”
Novah nodded peering over at her cousin. The fact that he was taking time out of his hectic schedule to attend court with her meant a lot.
“Yeah. She’s upset that me and mom is mad about the marriage. Well not really even the marriage. I hate that we had to wake up to news online that she’d been married. It’s like why the rush?”
Arquez shook his head. He pulled onto the freeway and briefly glanced over at Novah.
“Normally I would keep my fucking mouth shut. I don’t like to be interfering in people’s business. That aint never been my style but some shit with Palmer’s people happened awhile back and it had me wondering if things could have played out different had I spoke up? I could have at least told Palmer, but I didn’t so I’ma lace you with this. Word on the street is that Tru got a kid. I never seen or met the bitch but a few people I fuck with say its legit. That could be why he rushed and did that shit. I think they said the kid is only a few months old,” Arquez replied.
Novah’s heart fell to the pit of her stomach. Her sister could scream fuck Tru all night and day, but she loved him. Loved his dirty damn drawers and she knew Normani would be crushed if this rumor was in fact true.
“I don’t know what to say,” she mumbled shocked by her cousins’ words.
Arquez shrugged while frowning.
“Just tell her now and let her check into the shit. That’s all you can do,” he told her.
Novah nodded praying that the stories of Tru having a kid was just that, an over exaggerated tale from people with too much time on their hands.
Thirty minutes into court Novah was ready to blow a gasket. Her narrowed eyes couldn’t help but to glare over at her shady ass baby daddy. Carter sat in his seat wide eyed and arrogant. The black two-piece suit fit him perfectly as he like always rocked his jewelry showing off his wealth. Wealth that he claimed was dwindling down.
Carter’s lawyer stood infront of the judge with a manila folder. Novah’s chest heaved up and down as she pondered over what they were up to.
“Your honor my client simply wants more time with his sons. Ms. Royale is denying him of that time while living a reckless life. I have photos date and stamped with Ms. Royale partying recklessly. Even a video of her engaging in public sexual activity while under the influence of alcohol,” Carter’s lawyer said loudly.
“What the fuck!” Novah yelled outraged.
Novah’s head snapped Carter’s way and he winked at her. She looked to her lawyer and her lawyer, a pretty brown skinned woman stood abruptly.
“Your honor my client was asked to give the defendant more time because of his own drug abuse. He was charged for dropping dirty and that is why we are in court. How my client spends her time is irrelevant to this case,” Liberty spoke up.
The judge looked from Novah’s lawyer to Carter’s handsome lawyer. She sighed as she took the folder.
“Let me check these out. The case is about a parenting agreement. Mr. Edmonds would like to split custody and if Ms. Royale is using her time to party then I see no reason as to why he shouldn’t be able to have more time with his children,” she replied snidely.
Carter’s low chuckle made Novah sink her teeth into her bottom lip.
“What video could they have of you?” Novah’s lawyer asked sitting down.
Novah shrugged. She did nothing. Had no fucking life outside of her kids. Yes, she went to the bar every blue moon but not enough for Carter to have a valid case against her. He partied way fucking harder than she did.
“These my people, relax. This not no industry shit. Is it?”
Durand’s words came back to Novah full force as she stared straight ahead. She remembered the fingering, the lust, the passion she felt in the room and her shoulders sagged. He swore they would be fine, and she prayed that the video Carter had of her was not that.
“I’ll need a few minutes,” the judge spoke before exiting the room.
“Bet you wish you would have just taken my offer. Now your ass might have to pay me child support,” Carter hackled.
“Ignore him,” Novah’s lawyer advised lowly.
Novah glanced over at Carter and wondered just when did he become so hateful? She shook her head wishing she could slap the smile from his face, and he laughed.
“I mean this shit is fucking comical to me. You gone learn who you fucking with, ma. You know I play to win, with your hot ass pussy,” he jested.
Carter’s lawyer leaned over to whisper in his ear and Novah’s leg began to shake. Knots formed in her stomach as she leaned up to rest her elbows onto the table.
“What’s the matter? You good? Looking a little sick over there,” Carter laughed.
“That would be enough,” the judge said entering back into the courtroom. She sat down and licked her thin lips. Her ocean blue eyes peered at Novah and Carter as she cleared her throat. “After reviewing the paperwork, I see no reason as to why Mr. Edmonds can’t split custody with Ms. Royale. The new support order is as follows. From Thursday to Sunday the children, King and Karter Royale will be with Mr. Edmonds. From Sunday through Thursday the children will be with their mother Novah Royale. The new child support order is $5,000 per child. Ms. Royale I would watch my behavior when in social settings because it is important to behave in a good manner at all times,” she said before standing up.
Everyone in the room stood with the judge and Novah stared blankly ahead as the judge exited the courtroom. Carter laughed rambunctiously as Novah’s lawyer turned to her.
“Aww man this shit is hilarious!” he cracked while laughing as hard as he could.
“We can appeal. Don’t worry,” Novah’s lawyer told her.
Novah looked past her lawyer and over at Carter. He stood tall and handsome as he smiled back at her.
“Nigga went from paying $24,000 to $10,000. I’ll be to get my boys on Thursday. You have a good day Novah. Maybe use your extra time to spend with that hoe ass nigga you was chilling with. A fucking rapper, like you aint getting enough money from me. I see your hoe ass still on the hunt and shit. Guess you’ll be popping out his baby soon too. You know you bitches love to come up on a nigga real quick and shit,” he spoke harshly.
Novah’s feet moved with no permission. Within seconds
she was running up on Carter. He smiled until her fist flew into his nose. The bailiff along with Novah’s lawyer pulled her back.
“Novah, relax,” Arquez said stepping into the room.
Carter held his bleeding nose as he looked from Novah to her cousin.
“Mam we’ll have to take you in for that,” the bailiff said pulling out his hand cuffs.
Carter quickly shook his head. He wiped his nose that didn’t seem to want to stop leaking.
“I’m not pressing charges. She’s good,” he said to the guard.
The bailiff shook his head.
“It’s not up to you. I have to do this,” the bailiff insisted.
Novah glared at Carter as she was being obtained. If looks could kill Carter would have died on the spot. The hatred in Novah’s eyes was enough for him to take a step back.
“Why?” she snarled bitterly. “I didn’t ask for any of this. I didn’t ask for you to cheat on me. I didn’t ask for you to be a hoe ass nigga. You did all of that on your own. You are making my life a living hell. I hate you! I fucking hate you Carter!” she screamed with tears flowing down her face.
Carter’s eyes softened. He swallowed hard before quickly exiting the room. Arquez stared him down and once he was gone, he walked over to his cousin.
“I’ma take care of you. Just relax cousin and don’t fight with these niggas in here.”
Novah nodded. Sadness covered her frame as she was taken away in handcuffs.
“I love you and I want you to pick up every time I call. Okay?”
Karter nodded while gazing at her while King did nothing. He stood immobile inside of the foyer with his Avenger backpack on. Novah kissed Karter’s forehead and looked at King.
“I will call every hour to check on you—”
“This isn’t necessary, and can I come in? I really have to relieve my bladder,” Mrs. Peterson said walking up.
Novah stopped looking at her boys to cut her eyes at Carters mom. All that nice shit was dead. Even after Carter played her, broke her heart, and ruined the trust they had she gave him the benefit of the doubt. Played nice when she should have been raising hell and this was the thanks, she got for it. Novah was over being the good one.
Upside Down In Love Page 13