Upside of Love

by Dominique Thomas

  Normani closed her eyes as her heart raced.

  “And that makes what he did okay? He constantly hurts me, and I’m tired of taking it,” she said, becoming emotional.

  “I’m sure he knows that now, baby. Talk to him. Tell him how you feel then you do what's best for Normani. Okay?”

  Normani wiped her face as a call came through. She looked at the screen and rolled her eyes.

  “Okay, I love you and I’ll call you later,” she said before switching calls. “You finally decide to call me? I could still be in that parking lot fighting for my life,” she said sarcastically.

  Azariah cleared his throat.

  “I’m sorry. I had to make sure she was good. I didn’t want her to get locked up while being pregnant, Normani,” he said sincerely.

  Normani nodded. River smiled at her before playing with her toys.

  “And it was okay for me to die? What about my daughter?”

  “I took her with me. I made sure she got dropped off somewhere safe. I need to see you. Shit got out of hand, but we can get back on track,” he replied.

  Normani shook her head. It was crazy because in her mind she was so damn sure that Azariah was the man for her. Even while with Tru she’d tell herself that Azariah wouldn’t do her like that. That he’d be the one to treat her like gold yet here, they were having issues that she never foresaw coming.

  “Azariah I wish you the best in the world, but I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t call me anymore,” she said slowly.

  “What? Where is this coming from? You around that, nigga?”

  Normani’s eyes slid over to the fresh flowers Tru had waiting on her when she’d woken up that morning. For the last two days, he’d been staying in the bedroom downstairs, giving her the silent treatment and Normani could admit she missed his presence. She actually missed that handsome ass face of his that made her heartbeat at unnatural rates.

  “Actually, I am. I don’t know where I’m headed to in life, but it won't be with you. It kills me to say this, but we gotta stop. We have to. Goodbye, AZ,” she replied and ended the call before he could say anything else.

  Normani immediately placed his numbers on her block list and blocked him on her social media pages. She set her phone down and looked at her daughter. River seemed so carefree, and she envied that at the moment. Life was so hard and sometimes unbearable.

  “I don’t know what to do, Lord. Can I forgive him? Or am I once again wasting my time?”

  Normani sighed and fell back on the bed. She would miss Azariah, but she needed to cut him out of her life. Whether she stayed with Tru or not, Azariah wasn’t the man for her.

  Two days later Normani sat inside of Tru’s fathers’ home with his father by her side. He was up out of bed for the first time since she’d been in Memphis and was showing her photos of Tru. Tru’s father Trevor was handsome and charming, and Normani was certain that was where Tru had gotten his looks from.

  “He was always messing with drums and keyboards. But I wasn’t surprised that he liked music. Memphis is the heart of the blues. It was in his veins for him to love music,” his dad said and coughed.

  Normani smiled. Tru’s baby pictures were adorable, and she could see River in all of his photo’s.

  “He got a lot of things from me even his philandering ways,” his dad said, and Normani stopped smiling. His father winked at her, and she giggled. He was that kind of man. The type that from just one look, you could feel special. “He told me what you all are going through right now. He asked me for help.”

  Normani closed the photo album and looked at Tru’s father. Everything concerning Tru made her emotional nowadays.

  “And what did you say to him?”

  Tru’s father chuckled.

  “I told him to pray then instead of saying how sorry you are show her. Words mean nothing without action behind them. I wasn’t able to be faithful to any of my kids' mothers. It took me losing the love of my life to change my ways. I think for my son it took him taking a bullet. People can change. I did,” his father replied before standing up.

  Normani watched him slowly trek over to his walker and use it to exit the family room. Normani looked over at Tru and watched him interact with his younger cousins who were up and coming rappers. Tru was talking with them animatedly about music as River climbed all over him. Her eyes skated down to his wedding band, and it was still on. She didn’t even know where the hell she’d tossed her ring at.

  Normani stared at Tru one last time and his eyes connected with her’s. He smiled at her, and for the first time in months, she smiled back.

  9

  #ohyoucraycray

  “Is everything okay?”

  Billie glanced around the bedroom with her brows pulled together. Something was off; she just wasn’t sure what it was. She sniffed the air and Reese sat up abruptly on the bed.

  “Billie what’s wrong?” she asked loudly.

  Billie walked over to the closet and opened the door.

  “Billie, wait!” Reese shrieked.

  Billie ignored Reese and pulled open the door. At the top of the closet was an alcoholic’s heaven. Opened bottles even a few empty ones sat on the shelf reserved for boxes and shoes. Billie’s eyes roamed over the liquor, quickly reading the labels before she swallowed hard. She wanted to help people — nothing more, nothing less.

  “Reese, wow. Like wow,” Billie uttered in shock.

  Reese slowly eased off the bed. Her eyes were wide as she stared at Billie.

  “I’m sorry. I have bad anxiety, so sometimes I relapse. I have it under control, though. You didn’t even know I was drinking. I swear I’ll throw it all away right now!” she promised.

  Billie snorted and shook her head. She’d come in to speak with Reese about going back to the dorm and had discovered things she wasn’t even searching for.

  “I know you fucking will, and after that, you can pack up your things. You have to go Reese.”

  Reese’s shoulders fell as her eyes saddened. Almost immediately they teared up as she swallowed hard.

  “What? Because of my drinking? I thought you wanted to help me? What kind of fucking sponsor are you?”

  Billie walked over to the bed and sat on the edge. Reese’s anger didn’t offend her. She prayed that Reese got some help, but it was now clear to Billie that the help Reese needed she couldn’t provide.

  “I tried to, but I took things too far this time. I shouldn’t have crossed the line from sponsor to a caregiver. I have a lot going on Reese, and I need to focus on that. You’re wasting my time, and while I’m not giving up on you, I do need a break from all of it,” Billie admitted.

  Reese shook her head as her tears fell quickly down her face.

  “You're just like them! Claim to love me and pull this mess. I can't believe you!” she raged and began snatching her clothes out of the closet.

  Billie sighed feeling guilt but forcing it away. This was needed for both of them.

  “I’m not sure who you're speaking of, but I’ve done nothing but supported you, Reese.”

  Reese stopped pulling out the clothes from her closet to glare at Billie.

  “But you put me out? Wow, you really are something else. Exactly how he said you would be,” she replied.

  Billie stood up and looked at Reese. Reese was pushing buttons that Billie felt didn’t need to be pushed because while Billie was sweet, she had a side of her that was vicious when awakened. She didn’t wanna fuck up the young woman that she cared for. No, she wanted the girl to leave and find the proper help to aide with her addiction.

  “Reese get your things and go. I’m not trying to do this with you. The last thing we should be doing is arguing. Especially in my house.”

  Reese laughed as she tossed her clothes from the closet onto the bedroom floor.

  “That’s what I’m doing! You claim I’m your family and you put me out. I have nowhere to fucking go now! What the fuck don’t your prissy ass get? I’m going to be homeless be
cause of you!”

  Billie rubbed at her temples. Reese was trying to take her there. She closed her eyes and counted down from ten before looking back to Reese.

  “Reese, you can go back to your dorm or your parents’ home.”

  Reese snatched a hanger out of the closet and glared at Billie.

  “If I could go to any of those places, don’t you fucking think I would be there? Use your brain for once Billie and stop acting like a dumb model bitch,” she quipped sarcastically.

  Billie’s feet moved before her mind could protest, and she snatched Reese up by her hair. Reese gasped before grabbing Billie by her hair. Both women shared an intense staring match as Billie tightened her grip.

  “Reese let my fucking hair go,” Billie gritted out.

  Reese snarled. She was nearly foaming at the mouth as she stared at Billie.

  “I did so much for you! I was there when your ugly ass nigga disappeared on you! I was there to watch your spoiled ass kid, and I even checked your slutty ass friend. I had your back, and you wanna switch up on me, fuck you!” Reese yelled and tripped Billie.

  Billie fell onto her back, and Reese climbed on top of her. Billie began to hit Reese in the face as Reese choked her.

  “None of you understand me! Billie, you said you would never give up on me!” she cried and choked Billie harder.

  “What the fuck, aye!” Dreux yelled, running into the room.

  Dreux slapped Reese so hard she flew into the side of the bed. Billie gasped for air as he leaned down to check her pulse.

  “You good? What the fuck is going on?”

  Billie coughed until she could breathe again. Tears clouded her vision as she stared up at Dreux. She was so shocked at what had transpired that she wasn’t sure what to say.

  “Dreux, get that hoe up out of here,” she whispered.

  Dreux nodded. They glanced over and noticed Reese was gone. Billie frowned as Dreux stood up.

  “I knew that lil bitch was crazy. I’ll be back, man, I might have to shoot this hoe,” he grumbled, leaving out of the room.

  Billie slowly sat up and rubbed her neck. Her eyes slid to under Reese’s bed, and a giant pink box caught her eye. She grabbed the box and removed the lid as her chest heaved up and down.

  “What the fuck,” she whispered as she looked inside the box.

  Pictures of Billie naked in the shower and even in bed stared back at Billie. Photos of Billie and Dreux having sex also sat inside of the box along with sex toys and lubricant. Billie shut the box and looked up. Dreux stood in the doorway wearing a deep scowl as his chest heaved up and down.

  “That bitch stole my fucking Vet. When I see that bitch I’ma knock the crazy up out of her ass,” he snarled.

  Billie smiled. It wasn’t funny. Shit, the situation was far from that, but she had to laugh to keep from crying.

  “She has pictures of us having sex and God knows what else. Did you call the cops?”

  Dreux nodded with knitted brows.

  “I reported it stolen. You need to hit up her people now. Them niggas need to come get her shit and let us know where we can find her Chucky looking ass at,” he replied and walked away.

  Billie sighed, feeling the weight of the world fall onto her shoulders. She was still in shock at what had gone down. Reese had assaulted her when all she did was look out for her. The more Billie pictured Reese choking her, the angrier she became. She had taken it light on her but was now wishing she hadn’t.

  “I should have beat that bitch’s ass. I just wanted to help her ungrateful ass,” she mumbled, leaving out of the bedroom.

  Two hours later, Billie and Dreux sat in front of Reese’s parents. Billie held Dreux’s hand as she listened to Reese’s mother discuss her daughter.

  “She is a charming girl when she wants to be, she just has some issues. When she was ten, she was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. She began taking, and she was fine. It wasn’t until she reached college that we saw another side of her. We are a family that expects a lot, but we never put more pressure on her than she could take. Until Reese is back enrolled in school, taking her meds and free of liquor, she can't stay here, and I would advise you to not take her back if she comes crying on your doorsteps as well. It only enables her irrational behavior,” Reese’s mother said blandly.

  Dreux sat up and stared at her mom. His anger with the situation showed on his handsome mug. He cleared his throat as he held Billie’s hand.

  “Trust Billie not letting her back in, but we need to know where she’s at. She took my fucking car.”

  Reese’s father looked at Dreux and frowned.

  “Do you not have car insurance, and why would you go along with Reese living in your home? Where you having sex with my daughter?” he asked calmly.

  Dreux and Billie sat stunned in their seat at his line of questioning. Dreux glanced down at his Patek before turning his attention back to Reese’s father.

  “It's all good. Forget we even stopped by this bitch. Let’s go ma,” he said and stood up.

  Billie slowly stood with her eyes on Reese’s parents. Yes, Reese had acted a complete fool on her still she felt bad for the young girl.

  “Reese is sweet, she’s funny, and she’s very smart. I had no clue she wasn’t in school because I wouldn’t condone that. What I do know is that your daughter has some serious issues and if she doesn’t get help, I’m not sure where she’s going to end up at. Don’t give up on her,” Billie said, and Dreux led her out of the living room.

  Quietly they exited the large home and got into Dreux’s Maserati.

  “Maybe I should—"

  Billie stopped talking when she noticed the look Dreux placed on her. He kissed the back of her hand as he pulled away from Reese’s family home.

  “You have to know when to pray for people from a distance. She’s dealing with some stuff that goes past drinking ma. You can’t save everybody, Billie. Okay?”

  Billie nodded feebly. She didn’t know why, but she felt bad for Reese.

  “I guess,” she mumbled.

  Dreux kissed her hand again before turning up the radio. Before long they were arriving at a place Billie hadn’t ventured to in months. Outside of Dreux’s mothers home sat four cars, and one of them belonged to Malachi. Just seeing his tricked-out car made Billie angry. He still hadn’t reached out to Kawan and had even recently quit his job so she couldn’t get child support from him. He turned out to be everything that he claimed she was to their child.

  Irresponsible.

  Unreliable.

  Uncaring.

  It was sad, but Billie was forging ahead and trying to shower Kawan with enough love for the both of them.

  “Let's make this shit quick,” Dreux said and exited his car.

  Billie followed suit and held his hand as they marched up to his mother’s home. Dreux’s brother came to the door before he could use his key, and Billie took note of how handsome he was looking. She prayed Donny wasn’t back hustling but wasn’t so sure. It was something in his light brown eyes that told Billie he was back to his old ways. It also could have been the expensive timepiece he wore. He’d had money put up, but Billie didn’t know it had been that kind of money.

  “Shit getting heated in here bruh,” Donny muttered stepping to the side.

  Billie stepped into the home and was met with arguing from Dreux’s mom and biological father. Malachi sat inside of the living room with a scowl on his face while his mom sat beside him, sipping a personal bottle of pink Moscato from a pink straw.

  Billie shook her head as Malachi glared her way. His jaw tightened, and she watched him look down at her and Dreux’s joined hands.

  “Dreux long time no see. You haven’t checked on your brother since you been home,” Cindy snapped before burping.

  Dreux and Billie sat down, and all eyes in the room shifted to them.

  “What’s the point of this shit?” Dreux snapped, making his mother look his way.

  Dreux sat angrily in his seat
and Billie tugged on his hand.

  “Be respectful baby,” she whispered.

  Dreux nodded before clearing his throat.

  “What’s good?” he asked more calmly as his brother sat down beside Malachi.

  “Yeah cause this shit like twenty-six years too fucking late,” Donny grumbled.

  Dreux and Donny’s mother sat up in her seat and looked to the man that was their biological father. Billie looked at him as well, having never seen him before and saw that her baby did look like him. In fact, Dreux and Donny looked more like him than Malachi. Malachi looked more like his mother.

  “I first have to say that I’m sorry for how things went down at your party Dreux. It was never our intention for you all to find out like this. I promised Cindy and Deidra that I would stay away. It was easier that way,” he said in his deep voice.

  All of the men in the room scoffed. Billie squeezed Dreux’s hand for support.

  “Easier for who? Us or you? That was some bitch nigga shit to do,” Donny fussed with his thick brows knitted together.

  Deidra stood and frowned at her oldest son.

  “Mark is trying to explain himself, Donny. I know you're mad, but what you won't do is disrespect me.”

  Donny shook his head.

  “You had two kids with your sisters’ man, ma you disrespected yourself. I can’t do this shit right now,” he said and briskly left out of the room.

  The front door slammed, and Deidra went after her son. Dreux looked at his father and shook his head.

  “What’s the point of all of this?”

  Mark looked at Malachi and Dreux with remorseful eyes.

  “To apologize for leaving you all as I did and to right my wrongs. I fell in love with two sisters. I never meant for it to happen, but it did. I always had a thing for Deidra, but she was into school and church. Cindy hung with me in the neighborhood, and we became close. We started having sex, and people just assumed we were together. I liked her, but it never lessened the things I felt for Deidra. Cindy ended up getting pregnant with Malachi, and we got married before he was born. Like all couples we had problems—"