“Like I said, once a hoe always a hoe. And to think he fell for the trap like I did. Now that man bout to pay like he weigh once that hoe is done with him,” Carter quipped.
The female host swallowed hard.
“Wow, well with that we're going to a commercial,” she said and smiled at the camera.
Novah turned off the YouTube video and clicked on the next one. It was TMZ with day old news that she wasn’t green too. In fact, she was still in her feelings behind the fiasco that had recently taken place.
“You guys heard it here first. Platinum-selling rapper and business owner Durand from the publicly known Luca Gang has just assaulted his girlfriend’s NFL player ex. It happened in Detroit at the MGM Casino and hotel. Witnesses say that Durand pulled up irate and sought out NFL player Carter Wilson. Both men were obtained for brawling inside of the beautiful establishment and have both been let out on bail. No word yet if Carter will press charges.
112ololo: Damn, this broad must have the best pussy in the world.
Cripbluefromthewest2200: I’d fight for that hoe too, you see that ass, my nigga? She thicker than Bernice and her body real! Fuck you mean!
Jadawinsome100: nigga her body fake af!
Kendo22: Fake or not I’d hit!
Novah swallowed hard as she forced herself to leave the websites discussing her personal life that had been once again made public.
“Did Malano and your ex go through anything like this before?” she asked peering over at her friend.
Quinn shook her head. She continued to braid her son’s hair.
“Unfortunately, they did fight. I believe it was at Malano’s show. Hayward attacked him, and things got ugly. It was only once, but it was enough to worry the hell out of me. I wasn’t with Hayward, wasn’t even in love with him, but I didn’t want harm brought his way. We share Harley, and because of that, I will always wish him the best. I also needed him to respect Malano. Malano was now the man in my life, and if his black ass didn’t like it, then oh well.”
Novah groaned and rubbed her belly. Since everything had gone down, she’d been having Braxton hicks’ contractions.
“I’m pissed at both of them Quinn. Carter was showing his ass even when he told me he wouldn’t, and Durand played right into his game. I get that he was defending me, but he should have taken the high road. That’s the best way to handle a man like Carter.”
Quinn nodded with knitted brows.
“I get what you're saying, but Durand had no choice but to pull up on your old nigga. Carter seems like one of those people that you have to show things to. You can’t just tell him to stop. You need to make him do it. Durand is a good man, and he did what any man in love would do,”’ Quinn replied.
Novah shrugged. Quinn was cool, and she understood her plight, but she needed Billie. For months now they’d been in a dark place that wasn’t sitting well with her. Novah also felt that with certain situations, Quinn would always be team, Durand. He was like a brother to her, and she didn’t feel like convincing Quinn how wrong Durand was. Novah appreciated him but knew that he could have handled things differently. Now all of their business was on social media, and Durand had a hand in that.
Novah slowly stood and grabbed her oversized designer bag off Quinn’s black island.
“I’ll call you later boo,” Novah said before leaving out of the beautiful home.
Novah left the vast estate and wobbled to her truck. She quickly slipped in and started it up. She returned Durand’s call as she pulled out of the circular driveway.
“Hey.”
Durand sighed into the phone.
“I know shit with us moved fast but I will never deny my feelings for you, and I won't let nobody including your bitch ass baby daddy disrespect you. I already handled them hoe ass niggas that was in the room with us that night when we was kicking it on the couch, and I took care of your ex. Can you fault me for getting him together?”
Novah cleared her throat as she mulled over his words.
Could she?
“It's not that I’m mad that you checked him. It's just when Carter and myself are at odds; it makes it very hard for us to co-parent. I don’t have time for all of that. I should be planning for the delivery of our baby not worrying about if he will press charges against you,” she replied.
Durand chuckled.
“I wish he fucking would. You were nice enough to let that bullshit go with your son getting sick after they left him with the sitter so that nigga better tread lightly. Look…” Durand cleared his throat. “I’m not trying to make nothing hard for you. I apologize for making the news, but I won’t apologize for defending you. Where you at? I wanna rub on you and put you to sleep,” he said with yearning in his deep tone.
Novah sighed. She could feel her anger with Durand slowly dissipating.
“Headed to Billie’s house. For a while now she’s been distant as hell and I don’t like it. She didn’t even stay at my shower the whole time. Like that’s best friend duties 101. She’s pissing me off, but I miss her, and I need her. I don’t like this not talking everyday thing we have going on.”
“Aigh’t well fall through to my condo when you done. I need you to come lay with a nigga. You know I’m leaving out tomorrow for that London gig. We need to get some us time in before that, and my mom wanna talk about possibly doing an interview to clear up your name. She said that if they saw how nice you are that your personality would resonate on camera — just something to think about ma. You don’t have to do anything that would make you uncomfortable. Come see me, though. I need your pretty ass like now and shit,” he said before ending the call.
Novah sat her phone down and headed to Billie’s place with Durand’s words on her mind. She’d never thought to tell her side of the story and wasn’t sure if doing so would make shit better. She’d learned that with social media, people never got enough. They always wanted to know more about you even when they didn’t fuck with you, to begin with.
After driving for thirty minutes, Novah pulled up to Billie and Dreux’s home. Because of the cold weather, she grabbed her jacket and headed for the door. Before she could knock the door was pulled open by a pretty, short brown skinned beauty. The girl wore leggings and an Allure Boutique sports bra with a big smile on her face.
“You must be Novah! Come in!” she said and stepped to the side.
Novah smiled politely at the young girl.
“I am. Who are you exactly?” she asked, not trying to be rude but confused as hell.
If Dreux had some hoe up in the house pregnant or not it was about to go down.
“I’m Reese. You could call me Billie’s little sister. She’s upstairs asleep. Her and Mickey went out last weekend and partied all night. She stayed out, and Dreux was upset. I think he found her though because they came home together that following morning. I’m really worried about them, you know?”
Novah nodded with furrowed brows. It was so much happening that she wasn’t sure what to say or do.
“Okay, and who exactly are you to Billie?”
Reese laughed. She ran her hand through her hair, and Novah took a step back. She wasn’t sure what it was, but lil miss Reese wasn’t giving off good vibes. The bitch looked sneaky as fuck to her.
“She sponsors me, but for the moment I’m staying here. She’s like family to me. The sister I never had, and I, along with my family, adore her. I’ll also handle anybody that wants to bring stress or harm her way,” she replied and walked off.
Novah scoffed before frowning.
“Bitch. What the fuck does my friend have going on in here?” she asked, walking towards the stairs.
“Hi!” Kawan yelled, running down the steps.
Novah dropped down and hugged her nephew tightly. She’d missed him terribly as well and was regretting staying away for as long as she had.
“I missed you so much and so do the boys! You’re staying the night with me next week!” she said, and he smiled before letting her go.
>
“Kawan let's go watch TV,” Reese said, standing at the end of the staircase.
Novah detected the attitude in her tone and glanced back down at the young woman.
“Billie has been and will always be my best friend, Reese. Do you and I have a problem that I don’t know about?” she asked her.
Reese gasped. She touched her chest as Kawan walked towards her.
“A problem? I don’t even know you. I’m sorry if you took it that way it’s just, I see how you’ve been handling Billie, and it offended me. She’s a great person, and she doesn’t deserve that. Not from any of you,” Reese said and walked off with Kawan trailing behind her.
Novah shook her head and rushed up the stairs. Unlike how Reese had brazenly opened the bedroom door, Novah knocked loudly. Seconds later, Billie answered the door in her underwear. A small frown marred her pretty face as she looked at Novah.
“Look what the belly dragged in.”
Novah simpered at her joke.
“Very fucking funny. Who is that crazy ass girl you got living up in here Billie? Bitch act like she paying the mortgage.”
Billie went back over to her bed and laid down. She pulled the covers up over her body and closed her eyes.
“That’s my sponsor, Reese. She’s dealing with some things, so I allowed her to stay here. What happened?”
Novah inspected the bed for fluids, Dreux’s to be exact before sitting down on it. Her hands went to her belly as she looked at her friend.
“Nothing, she’s weird. She checking me about you and telling me all of your damn business in the process. She acts like y’all fucking or something,” Novah quipped.
Billie gave Novah a sly grin.
“Maybe we are,” Billie laughed.
Novah shook her head. She began to tickle Billie’s foot, and Billie jumped. She hated being tickled.
“Okay! She’s sweet, and she’s like a little sister to me. Hell, you been off with your new man and your new friends. I was left to fend for myself out here. Couldn’t even help plan a baby shower for my own damn Godchild. What kind of shit is that?”
Novah shrugged. With the way Billie worded it, things sounded fucked up on her end, but it was everything but that.
“I knew you was dealing with some issues, so I wanted to let you be. I called you numerous times, Billie to see what was up.”
Billie rolled her eyes.
“I was too distraught to talk on the phone. I needed my friend in person. Don’t I always show up for you?”
Novah nodded, feeling guilt consume her. Her intentions had been good, but as she sat on her friends’ bed, she did have to admit she could have done more to check on Billie.
“You do, and It won’t happen again. Now, what’s the tea? Where’s Dreux? When is that lil hoe leaving, and how have you been doing?”
Billie smiled. She sat up and looked at Novah. Novah noticed the numerous passion marks decorating her upper body and laughed.
“Well Dreux can’t be too far away and again I’m so happy you got Kawan back. I’m sorry because I should have been there for all of that as well. Tell Mickey she’s not having my spot. I’ll die for that shit,” Novah said jokingly and garnered a laugh out of Billie.
“She already knows she can’t. You need to tell Quinn and whoever else to back the hell away from you as well. I’ve been good. Dreux has been back for a few weeks now, and things are okay with us. We still have issues to iron out, though, like Kylie and her baby. He said the girl isn’t his, but now I need to see the test with my own two eyes then there’s his mom and Malachi. We’re having dinner with his mother and real father soon and I’m scared to see how it will all play out, but we need to come to some resolution because it has Dreux in his feelings.”
“Well, he has every right to be upset. That was some real-life Jerry Springer mess. Has his mom at least called you?”
Billie shook her head while sighing.
“Nope. She has been ghost. Probably up at that church praying around the clock.”
Novah snorted before laughing.
“That is not funny. She’s a good woman she just made a mistake.”
Billie cocked her head to the side.
“Not one but two. Once is a mistake. Twice was intentional but I’m not judging. How have things been going with you?”
Novah shook her head while looking at Billie.
“Well, Carter went onto the radio and acted a fool on me. Claimed I was this money hungry hoe that was trying to get him back. He even showed them a video of Durand fingering me girl. He’s mad that I’m pregnant,” she replied.
Billie scooted closer to Novah.
“Wait, so he didn’t know?”
Novah cleared her throat as she felt the tips of her ears grow hot.
“I hid it from him, and before you trip, it was to keep the peace. That’s it and well once the show aired Durand lost his shit. He tracked down Carter and beat his ass. Now I’m pissed at both of them,” Novah vented.
Billie looked at Novah, and they both laughed. Novah shoved Billie playfully as she shook her head. Already she was feeling better. She just needed a dose of her BFF to calm her nerves.
Good friends had a way of doing that to you.
“Girl, please tell me he tagged Carter’s ass good,” Billie said, wiping the tears from her eyes.
Novah nodded while holding in her laugh.
“He beat his ass, Billie. Carter’s mom text me all this crazy mess about Carter needing to get his jaw checked out. I think he might have pistol whipped him too.”
Billie laughed harder.
“I’m sorry! I know this only makes shit harder for you and him to raise the twins. Did Carter go to the cops?”
Novah shook her head. He hadn’t yet and honestly; she was shocked.
“He hasn’t, and I’m just waiting on him to do so. You know he’s a snitch ass nigga,” she snarled.
Billie smiled.
“Oh, he definitely is! Maybe he’s scared Durand gone come back and tag his ass again,” Billie murmured as she rubbed Novah’s belly.
“Maybe so. I’ve been stressed behind this mess, and I know that’s not good for me. I’m even having Braxton Hicks contractions. This pregnancy has been all over the place Billie,” Novah admitted.
Billie stopped rubbing Novah’s stomach to smooth down her fly a way’s.
“But you’re happy. I saw it at the shower. I’ve never seen you smile like that before. You love him, Novah,” Billie said with squinted eyes.
Novah blushed. She dropped her head, and Billie clicked her tongue against her teeth.
“Wow, Carter didn’t even have you smiling like that. Is he the one?”
Novah looked up at her girl and smiled.
“His ass better be. I can’t take another heartbreak. I wanna tell him that I love him, but I’m nervous. He hasn’t said it before, so what if he thinks I’m rushing?”
Billie waved Novah off.
“Bitch you about to have his baby. Aint no rushing, shit y’all moving too slow,” she joked.
Novah laughed as she held her lower back.
“Yeah, well, I wanna make sure he feels the same way. Nobody wants to be in love alone. You know?”
Billie nodded with knowing eyes.
“Trust me, I know, and you’re not. I never told you because I thought he was trying to fuck, but he’s been checking for you for years now Novah. If I had known he was on some settle down type stuff, I would have been said something. I say give it a chance. Embrace all that love has to offer. Like my mom told me recently. Enjoy the upside of love.”
Novah’s nose crinkled.
“The upside of love? Billie what Lifetime movie you been watching?” she asked, knowing how soft her girl could get.
Billie laughed.
“Dreux and I went to see my mom, and she was telling us about enjoying the good things that love has to offer. She made a lot of sense, and now I’m advising you to do that as well. You have a man that is good to
you, right?”
Novah nodded. Hell, he was great to her. Because she was beautiful, she had no shortage of men trying to bed her, but what she did have a hard time with was men trying to get to know her genuinely. Durand had tapped into Novah beyond the physical. They were friends, they understood one another, and it was all of those things combined that made Novah fall in love with him.
“Yes,” she murmured.
Billie smiled.
“Then enjoy that. Stop fighting it. As women, we can be so guarded and scared to put ourselves out there that we can miss out on our blessings. Durand wants you, and it's not temporarily. He’s planting seeds to be with you forever. Bask in that and thank God. He’s nothing like Carter, so don’t make him pay for Carter’s mistakes.”
Novah groaned. She fell back on the bed, and Billie rubbed her arm.
“It's hard being a grown-up, isn’t it?” Billie asked softly with amusement in her lids.
Novah laughed lightly before pouting.
“I don’t wanna grow up. I’ma Toys”R”Us kid. There’s a million toys at Toys”R”Us that I can play with.”
Billie’s eyes perked up.
“From trucks and trains to video games, it’s the biggest toy store there is…”
Novah cheesed while laughing.
“And gee whiz!” they both said excitedly.
“Y’all both crazy as fuck,” Dreux said, stepping into the room with a dozen red roses.
Novah smiled as she stood up. She gave him a quick hug before punching his arm. He chuckled as he grabbed where she’d hit him at.
“I’m sorry for walking out on our girl. It won’t happen again,” he told her.
Novah nodded. She believed him. Dreux loved Billie, and she’d known that for years now. Hell, even before Billie realized it Novah had.
“You better not. You know we keep them choppas on deck,” she warned him.
Dreux chuckled.
“Yeah, I bet. You been good? I see you ready to have another badass kid,” he joked.
Novah rolled her eyes. Dreux loved her boys.
Upside of Love Page 13