“I think that you should go home for a few days. I know you wanna see Ariel and I’m not trying to stop that. I also don’t wanna be around you right now. To know that you had me around this woman even watched her play with my sons without telling me about your past with her hurts. It was deceitful and shady as fuck. It makes me not want to trust you, Durand.”
Durand flicked at his nose as his jaw tightened. His eyes peered over at Novah, and he cleared his throat. Ariel lay between them peacefully as her almond eyes curiously peered around the room.
“I should have told you about her. I’m one of those people that stop fucking with you when it's over, so when we called shit off; I didn’t think about her in that way again. We haven’t fucked in over a year. She wasn’t on my mind ma, but I should have said something. The last thing I wanna do is jeopardize what we have,” he said sincerely.
Novah rolled her eyes. She wasn’t impressed with his response.
“But you have, and now I have doubts. I didn’t sign up for this bullshit. We went from a one-night stand to a fucking kid, and now I learn that you’ve been wanting babies. It just shows me that you found any available woman and got her pregnant. Nothing about us was special,” she said and closed her eyes. “I just need you to go, because I really can't be around you right now. I played it cool at the hospital, but I draw the line here. I don’t want you in my bed right now,” she said sadly.
Durand placed Ariel inside of her bassinet before coming over to Novah. He carefully pulled Novah into his arms and buried his face into the crook of her neck. His sexy smelling cologne wafted over their space as he kissed behind her ear.
“I’m sorry. The whole thing looks bad, but I promise shit didn’t go down like that. I have a million and one fucking groupies ma. If I was looking to get anybody pregnant, I would have done that by now. You already know how I feel about that kind of shit. How the fuck could somebody as beautiful as you be number two? You really tripping right now but I know it's my fault and I’ma fix it. I’m in love with you, and the last thing I wanna do is leave. I don’t want her. I’m where I wanna be, and this isn’t some by chance shit. We both love the fuck out of each other, and that shows. So yeah its gone be some mad motherfuckas out there, but I don’t give a fuck. I can't leave Novah,” he told her.
Novah pulled back from the embrace to stare into Durand’s eyes.
“You hurt me,” she said softly.
Durand leaned towards Novah and kissed her lips.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized once more.
Novah nodded. She could see the sincerity in his eyes.
“Don’t fucking do it again,” she told him, and he pulled her back into a hug.
His lips pressed against hers as he stared into her eyes.
“I won’t ma,” Durand promised before sliding his tongue into her mouth.
“What made you wanna do this? You’re fresh off delivering your third child. I know you’re tired,” the only female host on the popular morning show said and smiled at Novah.
Novah nodded. She felt tired as fuck, but thankfully she didn’t look it. Two weeks in and she was already snapping back. Her stomach now bored stretch marks that she proudly embraced. She hadn’t gotten the stripes with her twins, but it had been her baby girl that had been born at eight pounds and nine ounces to give her some. Novah was a real woman, not manufactured in the doctor’s office, so she wasn’t shocked to see that her body had changed.
Novah wore her real hair in a sloppy bun as Tom Ford shades covered her eyes. She removed the glasses and showed off her freshly done lash extensions. Her body was still sore but looked nice in the black leggings and black Allure boutique top she wore with Fendi tall riding boots.
Novah turned to her left and her eyes connected with Durand. He leaned towards her and gently kissed her lips.
The female co-host crooned at the display of affection as the two male co-hosts looked on with smiles on their faces.
“So y’all past the Naiyana cheating scandal? Durand tell the truth did you hit it again? Is Novah just a Naiyana number two?” the most outspoken host rudely asked.
Durand frowned. He sat up in his seat and grabbed Novah's hand. Since their talk in the bedroom things between he and Novah had been much better.
“Aye, chill with all that extra shit. I wouldn’t come at you and your wife like that so show us that same respect,” Durand told the crass male host.
The rude male host nodded while grinning at Durand.
“You got it. Durand, you know I’ma always be me but if you want me to relax I can. Is what Naiyana said on that recording true?” he asked in a more polite way.
Novah tried to pull her hand away from Durand, and he refused to let it go. He looked at Novah and stared adorningly at her.
“I been checking for Novah for years. I first saw her at an awards show, and I was stuck. Like damn, this chick is fine as fuck for no reason. And the crazy thing is she was clueless to how fucking beautiful she is,” he said, staring Novah’s way.
Novah swallowed hard and broke the eye contact. She stared straight ahead as Durand finished talking.
“The answer to the question is no. My fans know that this talking shit isn’t even my style, but for Novah I’ll speak the fuck up whenever. Naiyana was someone special to me, and now she’s not. It’s as simple as that and all that other shit that was said on the audio is bullshit. I won’t speak on the baby because that shit isn’t anybody’s business but know that Novah isn’t a replacement for anybody. No woman could be to me what she is. Know that shit,” he said adamantly.
“Okay! You all heard it here first. Naiyana is the past Novah is the future and present for uber talented rapper Durand. Stop the rumors and stop the hating. These people are in love yall. I can see it,” the female co-host noted.
“Yeah, I can too. That’s how I be looking at my wife,” the DJ co-host, co-signed and Durand chuckled.
“I just wanna be happy, and Novah makes me real fucking happy. I refuse to let somebody that didn’t make me happy ruin what I got now. Novah is it for me,” Durand declared and Novah bit down hard on her bottom lip as he gazed her way.
“Novah girl, you are too quiet for me. This man is clearly head over heels in love with you. You snagged not only an NFL player but a rapper as well. The media hates you, but you seem nothing like the blogs make you out to be. What do you have to say to the people that troll your social media pages daily?” the female host asked.
Novah licked her lips and sat up in her seat. For this reason alone, she’d come. She was tired of keeping silent and ignoring the hate mail. She wanted to let everyone know exactly how she felt about them.
“I’m a daughter, a sister, and a mother. Hell hopefully one day I’ll even be a wife. What I’ve never been is a gold digger. What Carter tells the media about me is false. Until you walk a mile in my shoes, you don’t get the right to judge me. I know for most of the women that don’t like me it’s hate. I’m not even saying it in the kind of way where I think I’m better than anybody I’m just stating facts. Most of the women that talk down on me are women that dream of being with men like Carter and Durand. The thing is I never set out to get either of those men. I always wanted a good man. A man like my daddy. I thought Carter was that man for me, but he quickly showed me that he wasn’t. Durand came into my life at a time when I felt I would always be alone. Durand isn’t perfect, but I know in my heart that he’s perfect for me. I don’t use him or expect anything from him but love. That’s it, and most of the men that talk down on me wish they was in his shoes. We have to stop judging people and live our life. Time is passing people by while they live online following someone else’s life because their unhappy with the one they have. Like Durand said we’re just trying to be happy, and regardless of what people think, we will be. Sorry not sorry,” Novah said, and the female co-host smiled wide.
“Yes, I’m here for it. Novah said she’s living her best life no matter what. Let’s go to commercial, but
before that, I have to say that real love is rare. I can predict that these two will be walking down the aisle soon. Couple goals here y’all come,” she jested, and Novah smiled as Durand stared at her.
Novah looked over at him and laughed.
“What? Did I sound dumb?”
Durand shook his head as his thick brows pulled together.
“Nah, you sounded just right,” he replied and leaned over to kiss her again.
“Oh my gosh, wait! I just received a text from a reliable source, and word has it NFL player Carter Wilson was officially just dropped from his team for assaulting another player with a weapon. My source claims that the child Carter had with his wife Melanie Shard is actually his teammate's daughter instead. This rumor my source claim has been out for weeks now and is just now getting around to Carter who didn’t take the rumor lightly. He assaulted the accused man with a pistol at his home and was arrested before being released to his wife. He’s supposed to be doing a press release at 2 pm. Stay tuned for more info to come. Novah with this just coming out. Do you have anything to say about this?” she asked her.
Novah shrugged feeling nothing for Carter, not even empathy.
“I don’t,” Novah said sweetly and took off her headphones.
Durand smirked and chucked the deuces up to the hosts.
“And on that note, we out of here,” he said making the men in the room laugh.
“You not wired, are you?”
Naiyana laughed lightly as she sat down. She pulled her cap off her head and sighed.
“I would like to explain myself. If I can,” she said shyly.
Novah rocked her sleeping daughter as the boys played inside of the center of the room on the rug. Against her mother’s advice, she’d chosen to see Naiyana and hear her out. Novah felt slighted in a sense and betrayed because Naiyana was someone that had been in her space and pretended to like her all while vying for Durand.
“Is Durand okay with me being here? I’m not trying to cause you two any more trouble.”
Novah snorted. She looked up as Durand rounded the corner. Naiyana glanced up at Durand and Novah watched her swallow hard. It was clear Naiyana loved him, and Novah was clueless as to how she’d missed it.
“Let me get Ariel and lay her down. I’ma take the boys to get their haircut,” Durand said not bothering to look Naiyana’s way.
Naiyana cleared her throat as Novah passed Durand, their daughter.
“You can’t speak now? You’ve already severed all business ties with me. The least we can be is cordial with one another. I’m here to right my wrongs and let her know the truth Durand,” Naiyana stated, becoming emotional.
Durand’s scowled down at Naiyana as he held his daughter.
“You being here is for Novah. This shit not for me. I don’t need you telling her shit to fix what Novah and I have. That lame ass audio didn’t ruin shit we got going on. I supported you when your label didn’t. I helped you get with a better team. I put you on and you do me like that? All cause you mad, and you expect me to be smiling at you?” Durand leaned towards Naiyana as his jaw tightened. “I haven’t fucked you in years trust I’m not thinking bout your ass. It’s a lot of shit I can say and show to fuck up your character shit your career but I won’t. I’m not that kind of nigga but don’t push me. I’ll be back ma,” Durand said and kissed Novah’s cheek before walking out of the room.
He returned minutes later to gather up the boys. Durand then left his penthouse, and Novah looked at Naiyana. She watched Naiyana wipe her tears away as she gazed her way.
“You still love him?” Novah finally asked although she knew the answer.
Naiyana stared down at the table as she nodded. She looked up at Novah and smiled weakly.
“I met Durand when I’d just got on the music scene. What was supposed to be fun turned into so much more. I thought we fell in love. At least that’s how we both were acting. I found out I was pregnant and he was happy. Hell, ecstatic and ready for us to tell everybody about our relationship. I didn’t want to. I’d just started to make a wave in the music industry, and I couldn’t have a baby. I also didn’t want to make a name for myself because of him. Durand got mad, and he stopped messing with me. That was close to two years ago,” Naiyana divulged.
Novah nodded.
“And when do we get to the part where you explain why you leaked audio revealing that old shit?”
Naiyana swallowed hard. She sat up straight, and Novah stared at her. Naiyana was gorgeous with her big bright eyes and full lips. Her skin was pretty and with the vitiligo it gave her an edgy, exotic look. Novah could see why Durand, along with many other men, would fall for the beauty.
“I’m saying that to say that I was in my feelings when I spoke with his assistant. I was…” Naiyana looked to the left of the room and cleared her throat. “Jealous,” she muttered like it was a disease.
Novah smiled and laughed lightly as she stared at Naiyana. While Naiyana was in her best threads with a beat face and dripping in diamonds, Novah wore pajamas. She wasn’t dressing up for no bitch. She didn’t give a damn who it was. And the thing was Naiyana didn’t threaten her in any sort of way.
“You say that, like I didn’t know. I have to say you played it off nicely. I thought you were singing on a few hooks for him. You even played with my sons all while pretending to be nothing to him…” Novah stopped speaking and sat up straight. Her hand protectively, held her stomach as she looked at Naiyana. “I already got in his ass but now it’s time for me to check you. What you did was foul. It was thirsty, and it was stupid. Durand doesn’t want you. I can see that, and I’m sure you can too. I’m happy with him, and even if I wasn’t, I don’t think he would be running back to you to scratch that itch. I don’t play about my kids or my man. You rub me the wrong way again, and you’ll have a valid fucking reason to be in your feelings because I’ma beat the shit out of you. Now you can leave and pretend you forgot where this penthouse was located because this is the last time your bum ass will be allowed in,” she told her calmly.
Naiyana swallowed hard. She stood up and grabbed her bag before peering down at Novah.
“If I would have had that baby, I would be in your shoes right now.”
Novah smiled. Naiyana wasn’t as smart as she thought she was.
“But you didn’t, and the man you want is in love with me. Deal with it and get the fuck out,” she replied.
Naiyana held her head high and walked out of the penthouse. Novah fell back on the sofa and sighed as she heard her close the door. Seconds later, Novah’s cell phone went off as she attempted to doze off to sleep.
“Why are you calling me?” she asked while frowning.
Carter breathed into the phone as she held it.
“I need to see you. It’s an emergency,” he said in a raspy voice.
Novah rolled her eyes.
“After everything you’ve said and done to me, why would I meet up with you? For now, our go to people are our moms. I need space because you’re a fucking liar.”
“I know, and I’m sorry! Damn, I need you right now. Please meet up with me, please Novah!” he begged with urgency.
Novah slowly sat up as she listened to the sirens in Carter’s background blare loudly. Her heartbeat increased as her thoughts began to swarm.
“Carter, what did you do?” she asked quietly.
Carter sighed.
“Beat the fuck out of that lying hoe, and I hope she’s dead. Stupid bitch wanna lie to me! I don’t have you or my fucking daughter now! I could kill somebody,” he vented, and the sirens grew louder in his background as if they were getting closer to him.
Novah cleared her throat as she tried to remain calm. She hated Carter. She fucking hated him but their sons loved him and only for them would she play nice. Only for them had she always played nice with Carter so once again she was putting her anger to the side for her kids’ sake.
“Carter, listen to me. Your sons need you. They love you, and they would be
crushed if you died or went to jail.”
Carter sniffled into the phone.
“What about you? That shit would make you happy, right? Then you could be with that hoe ass nigga Durand,” he griped.
Novah shook her head.
“Carter, where are you?” she asked with her heart beating wildly.
“On my way to hell if they don’t catch me. I just wanted you to know that I did love you. I know I had a fucked-up way of showing you but it was there. Tell my boys that I’ma leave them with something nice. They better off without me anyway. Goodbye Novah you was the best thing to ever happen to a nigga,” he replied and ended the call.
“Carter, no! Carter!” Novah yelled with tears streaming down her face.
She called Carter repeatedly, and his phone rung until the voicemail picked up.
“Boys, go in the room!” Durand yelled, walking into the penthouse.
Novah’s wet eyes found him as she called Carter back once more. Durand dropped down beside her and turned on the television. On every news, station was a live video of Carter riding down the Southfield Freeway in his Corvette. He was driving at an alarming rate as a trail of police cars followed him.
“It’s all over the radio. He beat up his wife and left her for dead on the side of the service drive. Come here,” Durand said and pulled Novah into his arms.
“Dad!” King yelled, looking at the TV that was sitting on the wall.
Novah’s eyes widened, and Durand let her go. He picked up King and took him to the back of the penthouse as Novah called Carter one more time. Her tears fell quickly as she listened to the phone ring.
“Novah I’m at peace with this shit. Please let me do this man,” he said, answering the call.
Novah wiped her face as she slowly stood up.
“Please stop, Carter. Please, King just saw you on TV and he started crying. Please for them stop your car,” she begged.
Upside of Love Page 18