by Lexi Reign
"I got you," I said to her. My moms stared at me. It would be crazy to say I actually felt and saw her compassion through her eyes.
"Son, I don't even know what to say. Call us in the morning" my pops said as he and my moms walked out.
Maurice pushed me out of the way and hugged Nia.
"Fuck what Lauryn is talking about. Yes, she's hurting, but it doesn't matter. Nothing justifies anything she just said to you. You are more than that. You are strong and I am proud of you. Fuck your stupid ass mama and fuck your stupid ass sister. I don't even know what to say about them." Maurice said, shaking his head as Terry hugged Nia.
"Girl, I told you before, you are a queen. Stop letting what people say about you control the way you see yourself. Honey, we all make mistakes. Some bigger than others, but it shapes us. I love you, Nia. Now, stop all that damn crying before you hurt out niece" Terry said rubbing her stomach. I smiled. I hugged them both and they both walked out of the house.
"You good," I asked Vedo. He shook his head.
"I've had enough for tonight. Fuck, Naomi, I ain't about to chase her ass. If she wants me, she knows where I'm at" he said as he walked upstairs.
I looked at Nia and she sighed.
"What about the police," she asked.
"I got it handled," I said to her as I started to clean the kitchen up and put all of the food away.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Yeah, baby," I said to her.
"We said no more secrets and you still hid that from me. I deserve to know things. Lorenzo, you are all I have" she said pouting.
"Stop all that crying, girl. Daddy ain't going nowhere, I promise. I'll tear this world up if I have to be without you" I said to her as I kissed her lips. She wrapped her arms around me and I picked her up.
"Don't drop me, Lo" she warmed.
"Girl, ain't nobody about to drop you or my baby," I said as I carried her up the stairs. I laid her in the bed and laid next to her. She got closer to me and snuggled in. She got real quiet. I already know her mind is running.
"Lorenzo, I'm such a bad person," Nia said breaking the silence.
"No, you're not," I said.
"Y-Yes, I am. I really hurt Lauryn. My intentions were never to hurt her" she said.
"I know, baby. It's okay, though" I said.
"Lorenzo, you act like you weren't there. You heard what she said to me" she added. I stared down at her.
"Yeah, I did hear her and I'm trying my hardest not to think about it. I don't feel like being mad at Lauryn all night" I said honestly.
"Lo, I'm so sorry. All of this is my fault. And she's right, I won't be a good mother" Nia cried.
"See, you are overthinking. I thought we were going to sleep, but your ass can't stop thinking. Fuck Lauryn and fuck what she said. She has no right to point fingers at you when she cheated on her damn husband to get CJ and she knew he was with Violet the entire time. What do y'all women say? You lose him the same way you got him huh" I asked.
"Now, take your ass to sleep. If you think you won't be a good mother, then nobody will be. You are an amazing woman and I love you. I wouldn't want any other woman to be the mother of my child. Our child will be lucky to have you and me" I said to her honestly. She smiled.
"I love you, too," she said.
"But she said our bab-" she started to say as I cut her off.
I don't want to hear that bull shit. For Lauryn to say our child would be better off dead hurts me and makes me angry. I don't give a fuck what CJ does to me, I will never say anything I don't mean about him or his unborn child. The same goes for Lauryn and Maurice.
"Baby, please. I don't care about what Lauryn said. If she wasn't my sister, I would've knocked her ass out like a man. And Lauryn cannot damn talk" I said to her.
"Yes, she can, Lo. All she has ever done is mess around on Kyree. And her and Kyree weren't even married when she and CJ first started having sex" Nia said. I sighed.
"Baby, I know. You think I didn't know CJ and Lauryn were fucking around, but I did. Right before she married Kyree, I knew her and CJ fucked. He never admitted it and she didn't either. I just figured it was a one-time thing and it was something they'd bury. Turns out, she got pregnant. She had an abortion because she didn't want Kyree to find out. Now, you see. She has no room to talk about you. Now, let's go to sleep" I said to her. She got comfortable on me and I wrapped my arms around her.
"Did she really?" she asked, breaking the silence.
"Yeah, I overheard her and my moms talking about it. They lied and they don't know that I know. They lied to everybody saying she had a miscarriage and everyone thought it was Kyree's. I ain't never want to say anything because I wasn't 100% sure, and I knew it would hurt CJ" I said honestly. Nia sighed.
"Wow, I can't believe that," she said.
"You ain't got no abortions or any other secrets I got to worry about do it," I asked looking down at her. She shook her head quickly.
"Not an abortion. I would never, but I did get pregnant at 17. It was Andre's. I had an ectopic pregnancy and my baby was stillborn" she said sighing. I sat up and stared at her.
"For real," I asked. She nodded.
"You don't think that's something you could've been told me," I asked. She nodded.
"I'm sorry, I just hate to think of it. And tonight really made me face those feelings" she said.
"That's what this means," she said, showing me her tattoo. I rubbed my hand across it. She never wanted to open up about her tattoo on her arm, but now I see why.
"It's okay," I said to her as I rubbed my hands down her back.
"I'm so scared, Lorenzo. I'm scared of failing, I'm scared of losing you, and I'm scared that I might lose my child because of my own selfishness" she said as she started to cry again. I wiped her eyes.
"None of that will happen. You have no reason to be scared because I'm right here with you. I'll never leave you alone and whatever happens, we will get through this" I said to her as I held her. I kissed her forehead and she got comfortable. Within minutes, I heard her light snores.
I can't help but think about all this shit. It's too much shit that needed to come out tonight and I already know that it isn't over.
Chapter 31: Love Is Pain
Nia's POV
February 12th
6:30 am
"Come on, Nia," Lorenzo said to me.
I am still trying to finish my makeup and his ass is standing in the doorway waiting on me.
"Man, why are you even doing your makeup. Ain't nobody gonna see you" he said.
"Don't rush me and I hate when you stand in the door like that. Don't watch me cause it's not going to make me go faster" I said to him. He smacked his lips.
"Can you at least grab my bags?" I asked him.
"I hate going anywhere with yo ass. It takes us 10 hours to leave" he said sighing. I put on my lip gloss and turned around.
"See, I'm ready," I said smiling as I followed him down the stairs.
"I really don't want to go," I said to him. He sighed.
We are headed to Georgia. Lorenzo's mama's family are all from there. She insisted that we all came because it'll be fun. She called me and asked if I wanted to come. I couldn't believe that she was even talking to me. It was very awkward.
"I don't either. But I haven't seen any of my people from down there. You'll love them" he said.
"Vedo, let's ride" Lorenzo yelled to him.
He walked down the stairs with his suitcases and he looked very handsome. I still haven't apologized to him for what I said. I should've never done that. He's growing into a good man, though.
"Is Naomi going?" he asked. Lorenzo looked at me and I shrugged.
"I haven't talked to her and I ain't trying to after that shit she pulled that night," I said shrugging.
"You talked to her," I asked. He nodded.
"Yeah, but it was weird," he said, shaking his head. We followed Lorenzo to the door and we all walked out but was met by an all-black on b
lack Corvette flying into the driveway.
"Who is that," I asked as Lorenzo dropped the bags and reached for his gun. He pushed me behind him as Vedo stood next to him. The car door opened and CJ's big-headed ass got out.
"Wassup family," he asked smiling.
"Man, I could've shot your ass. When you got this" Lorenzo asked as he dapped him up.
"Yesterday, but I'm riding with y'all," he said smiling as he started to put his bags in Lorenzo's RAM truck. He seemed a bit off. He was too cheerful and jittery. He's usually like that, but it's like 2.0.
"Y'all ready to ride, let's ride," he said laughing as he got in the backseat.
"Is he.." I trailed off.
"Okay?" Vedo asked.
"Nowhere near it. This is how he copes with shit. He's 10 times worse than he normally is when he's in his feelings" Lorenzo said chuckling as we all got in.
Lorenzo cranked the truck and sped off.
"Y'all want some snacks," CJ asked as he unzipped a big ass bag. I turned around to look at him.
"Damn," Vedo said chuckling.
"Why you got so much shit," I asked.
"You must not know how far Georgia is," CJ asked chuckling. I shook my head and looked at Lorenzo. He didn't look my way.
"Like 10 hours," Vedo said. My mouth flew open as I pulled out my phone to look it up.
"Y'all lying," I said as I typed in the distance. It really said 10 hours and 39 minutes.
"Lorenzo, are you fucking kidding me? I am a pregnant woman. I can't ride for that long. My ankles are going to start swelling" I whined.
"Man, why the fuck y'all say some" Lorenzo asked. CJ laughed.
"You acting like she wasn't going to find out. What were you going to do? Knock her fat ass out for 10 hours" he asked laughing.
"I am not fat, you asshole," I said as I started to hit him.
"Ouch, man. Chill. I'll give you a Big Deborah" he said, making Lorenzo and Vedo laugh.
"A what," I asked.
"A Big Deborah, see," he said, digging through his big ass bag. I can't believe he had a bag full of snacks.
"There's no such thing," I said.
"Shiddddd," he said, handing me a Swiss Roll. It was in a clear package with a label that actually said "Big Deborah" with the fat girl on it. I looked at him as if he was crazy. He had a straight look on his face as Lorenzo and Vedo kept laughing.
"She ain't little no more," he said, making me laugh.
"I don't want that dry ass shit," I said to him.
"Y'all all make me sick," I said as I leaned my seat back.
"Can I smoke?" CJ asked. Lorenzo quickly let his window and locked it.
"No, my baby ain't about to come out barking," Lorenzo said.
"That's right, baby," I said kissing his cheek.
"Man, fuck y'all stupid asses. The baby is going to be barking anyways. Look at y'all" CJ said as Lorenzo threw on brakes.
"You want to get out," he asked him. CJ shook his head quickly.
"Ain't no way I deal with your crazy ass for 10 hours," Lorenzo said.
"Let all the windows down and the smoke will blow out. I'll go to sleep then" CJ said smiling.
"If it's going to help him go to sleep, then fine. Just crack all the windows" I said to Lorenzo. CJ lit his blunt and I got comfortable in my seat.
"Is Lauryn going to be there"' I asked CJ.
"Man, don't bring up that damn girl name. I don't know cause I don't keep tabs on her ass. Her brother sitting right by you" CJ said with venom in his voice.
"I don't know. She won't talk to me and Maurice ain't say shit about her earlier" Lorenzo said.
"Is Naomi coming?" CJ retorted.
"No, because I haven't talked to her," I said as CJ looked at Vedo.
"Don't even look at me. I don't know where she at" Vedo said. I sighed.
"Wake me up when we are there," I said as I closed my eyes.
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7:00pm
I opened my eyes and looked around. It's still a little daylight out and the sun was starting to set. My back is killing me and I have to pee. I hope we're almost there. I saw a sign and squinted my eyes.
Welcome to Union Springs
Lorenzo pulled into this gated ass neighborhood. It was like a mansion with a lot of acres. I heard loud music playing.
"I'll be back," Lorenzo said as he got out of the car.
"Y'all ever been here," I asked.
"Nah, but I've met a few of Lo's cousins from out here before," CJ said.
"Same" Vedo said.
"Hey, Vedo" I called out.
"Hmm," he asked.
"I'm sorry about how I acted that night at home. I never told yo-" I started to say as he cut me off.
"Nah, you good. I already know. You like my big sister, you don't have to apologize. I know you were just feigning" he said chuckling. I sighed.
"I love having you around. You help me out a lot, especially when Lo isn't there" I said to him. He smiled.
"Shutup with all that sad-ass shit, damn," CJ said.
"I wish Lauryn was here. I'm tired of you" I said.
"Fuck that damn girl," he said.
"You don't mean that," I said.
"Shiddd, I'm not about to chase her ass either. I hope she's not here. I'm trying to fuck some. I'm tired of trying to be some, I'm not" CJ said.
"And what's that?" Vedo asked.
"A boyfriend. I rather just pimp these hoes" CJ said, making me shake my head.
"Yeah, right," Vedo said as Lorenzo walked back to the truck. He looked so good in his white t-shirt and jeans. I bit my lip.
"Come on," he said as he started to grab our bags.
"We're staying here," I asked. He nodded.
"Yeah, this my auntie's crib. Come on" he said as we all got out.
We walked down the long driveway and up the steps leading to the front door. The butler was standing next to the door.
"Damn, they got it like this" Vedo asked as an older lady opened the door. She favored Lorenzo's mama a lot.
"Hey, my sweet nephew," she said hugging him. She nearly took his breath away. I laughed and she looked at me.
"Lord, you're beautiful. Hey, I'm his auntie, Vera. I can't wait to meet that baby. It's nice meeting you" she said smiling at me as she rubbed my belly.
"Calvin," she said to CJ rolling her eyes.
"How are you doing Ms. Vera," he said smiling.
"Fine, boy. You're still looking good" she said to him.
"I know it. You, too. I'm single now. Don't make me put it on you" he said chuckling as he walked past her into the house. Lorenzo slapped his neck. My mouth flew open. CJ really doesn't have any filter.
"Auntie, you remember Delores James, doesn't it? This her grandson, Vedo" Lorenzo said to her. She looked at him as if she was thinking. She smiled. She embraced him into a hug.
"Yes, I remember Delores. How are you doing, baby? Oooh, you look just like your mama. How Delores doing" she asked which immediately made me buck my eyes. CJ was behind Vedo and started making the "stop talking" gesture with his hands at his throat.
"She passed away about 2 months ago," he said.
"Oh my Jesus. I'm so sorry. Lord, I didn't know. Delores was my friend back in the day. I have some stories to tell you about that lady. She was hell" she said laughing.
"I'd love to hear them," he said as she led us through the house. It was a long hallway from the front door to the kitchen.
"COUSIN" I heard someone yell from behind us, which immediately made me jump. We turned around and I met eyes with Lucky. I rolled my eyes and looked at Lorenzo. I frowned at him.
"You didn't tell me that Vera was Lucky's mama" I mumbled lowly to him.
"I told you Lucky was my first cousin on my mama's side. My mama only has one sibling, what you think" he asked. I cocked my head at him. I don't know who he thinks he's getting smart with. I pinched his arm.
"DAMN. I knew it" Lucky said as
he looked at me from my head to my toes.