Carter was silent as she watched him continue to run from the police. His car gradually slowed down, and Novah dropped down to her knees. She began to cry as she watched him park his fast driving car.
“Oh God, thank you,” she whispered.
She was so fearful for her boys that her stomach was queasy. She knew what it was like to have a deceased parent and didn’t want her kids feeling that pain.
“Carter, my God,” she whispered with her heart still racing.
Carter sniffled as she watched the police line his car with their guns drawn.
“I’m sorry, I fucked up again. Thank you for calling me back. I know you hate me, but it says a lot for you to do what you did. I gotta face these niggas now. Hold the twins down for me. Okay?” he asked in a hoarse tone.
Novah nodded as Durand helped her stand.
“Okay,” she whispered, and the call ended.
Seconds later, Carter emerged from his car and was pulled to the ground by the police. As they began to cuff her rude, ungrateful, unloving, silly ass ex-boyfriend, Novah turned her head. She hugged Durand tightly as she thanked God. He’d spared Carter’s life now it was up to Carter to make something good of himself.
11
#sayyouloveme
“The last few weeks we’ve been watching the Lord work hard for this counseling group. The spirit is all around us and I pray you all can feel it as well. Who would like to speak?” the lady minister asked.
Before Normani could make a move to stand Tru was up on his feet. Her heart thundered in her chest as she watched his $2,000 sneakers move to the center of the room. Clad in grey jeans that were zippered at the knees with an orange Givenchy tee on and black and grey bomber style jacket he looked thuggishly handsome like always. Tru was growing out his hair so it was in a thick curly style taper making him appear even cuter than he would have liked. He licked his full brown lips and his downcast eyes slid over to Normani. Her mind ventured back to the date, he’d chosen for them to have on their couples counseling homework and she swallowed hard.
“What is this?”
Tru stared at her intently. The place before them was like nothing Normani had ever seen before. It was grand, beautiful, and peaceful. Very serene with his calming ambiance.
“It’s the Dixon Gallery & Gardens. I thought we could walk through here and check shit out,” he stated nonchalantly.
Normani held back her grin as she stared up at Tru.
“Where is everyone else at?”
Tru adjusted his Bugatti shades on his face. He looked straight ahead as he held Normani’s hand.
“I rented it out for us,” he said like it was nothing.
Normani nodded. She felt special. Tru hadn’t made her feel that way in forever.
“But you chose this as your date, why?”
Tru led Normani down a path that was lined with tall trees and colorful hanging plants. The garden smelled amazing and Normani couldn’t stop admiring all of the beautiful things around her.
“I wanted us to have some time to talk bout shit. We need to do that if we ever plan on moving on. Shit might get ugly so I wanted us to be around something that could help us remain calm,” he replied coolly.
Normani nodded. She glanced down at her wedge sandals and was grateful she’d worn them instead of her heels that she’d pulled out of her luggage. While Tru wore a black and burgundy fit she looked stunning in her burnt orange silk maxi gown that had the matching jacket. The material was thin, she felt sexy in it and felt Tru felt that as well as he kept stealing glances at her.
Normani had even done her hair up in bantu knots with colorful bobby pins and it worked for her. As she held his hand she wondered if they could come out stronger or apart once the date was all said and done.
“I didn’t expect this but it’s nice.”
Tru nodded at her words. He led her over to a white bench that was surrounded by two large weeping willow trees. As Tru sat forward the diamonds in his watch sparkled. Normani touched the stones gently as she waited for him to speak.
“I met Reba at a party in Miami. She was…. freaky, like freaky on some you can have me and any bitch up in this party type shit. I was being reckless and I easily fell into her trap. Reba’s best friend was a hoe. Every nigga she fucked with paid for her time so it was her that brought the idea to Reba. Reba took the shit further and got the house. I showed up with the niggas that I knew would pay and I let them iron out the details. I never had a baby on you and I never loved her. What I did do was hurt you and I’m sorry,” he spoke looking straight ahead.
Normani rubbed her hands up and down her legs. If Tru wanted to take it there then she guessed they would just lay all of the shit onto the table.
“You did hurt me a lot. So much so that I began to have sex with Azariah. In my mind I felt like being with him would make me feel better. I wanted to erase you from my life. What I didn’t take into account was Azariah having his own drama. I was messing up another woman’s life and the day I was hit by that car it had all come to a head. His pregnant friend, girlfriend, hell who knows what she really was to him, confronted us and she tried to fight me while I was holding River.”
“Damn,” Tru murmured. He shook his head as he peered over at Normani.” Was you happy with him?”
Normani stared into his eyes and nodded. She watched the sadness fall over him as he broke the gaze.
“At first I was. I’m guessing he made me as happy as that girl made you. Then it was different. The sex wasn’t as good. Our time together didn’t quite feel the same and you came back to me. My mind just wouldn’t forget you and it made what I was doing damn near unbearable,” she admitted.
Tru nodded.
“Who you telling. If you only knew how deep your love runs through me. I knew what I was doing was wrong and I knew the shit would come out especially after she seen us at Draco’s wife’s restaurant so I proposed. I couldn’t lose you. I want you to know that, I won’t hurt you like that ever again. When you shot me, I was shocked like damn, she really shot a nigga,” he said and chuckled ruefully. Normani shook her head trying to not relive that moment. “But on some real shit that bullet was a wake-up call. I wasn’t living right ma. I was cheating on you then threatened you when you wanted to leave. Even pulled my shit out and put it to your head. If you wanted to kill my black ass you would have had every right to do that. Instead you let me stay in the house even after you filed for divorce. And I kept thinking to myself that I didn’t deserve your love. So, I changed because I wanted to be the right kind of nigga so that I would deserve it. You understand what I’m saying?”
Normani’s eyes watered over. Slowly she nodded and Tru leaned over. His lips brushed against her cheek as her heartbeat erratically.
“I know you still hurting and probably still hate my black ass but don’t give up on me. I don’t just love you because of River. I’m in love with you Normani because nobody has ever made me feel the way that you do. This not no lust kind of shit we got even though we have that to. This is some soul mate kind of shit right here,” he said lowly and pulled her into his arms.
Normani began to cry as he held her. Abruptly she stood up and stormed off before he could say anything else.
Normani was pulled from her thoughts as Tru cleared his throat. She felt bad because she’d missed most of what he’d said but she was tired of fighting it. Since everything had gone down, she’d been determined to rid him of her life. The last thing she wanted to stay was his fool but the Tru that stood before her wasn’t the same old Tru. No this was a new man. A man that prayed for her. A man that did all of the things she’d always wanted him to do and she now saw that. She could no longer ignore it and although it still hurt to know he’d played her in such a way she was willing to try again.
Normani stood up and swallowed hard as all eyes in the room shifted to her. Since she’d walked out on the date with Tru he hadn’t seen her and she hadn’t called him to make plans for the date she wanted so
she felt it was now time for her to speak her truth.
As she walked towards Tru tears slid down her face. She’d thrown on anything to come to the session and still Tru gazed at her like she was dripped in diamonds.
“Hi, I’m Normani and Tru—Trevon is my husband. I can honestly say that the minute I saw this man I knew I would be with him forever. He was just everything to me and like he said we did fall in love quickly. We had a lot of good times and a lot of bad ones as well,” she said. Her eyes dropped as she remembered the cheating, the miscarriage and even the shooting. Tru pulled her to his side and lovingly kissed her forehead. He now gave her strength. It was different because before he’d given her pain but she welcome the good things. She welcome all of the love he had and she prayed that his actions weren’t temporary because if they were, she would leave him and never look back.
“I won’t give you all a detailed run down of our life but you all should know that it got real for us,” she said and everyone nodded in understanding. Normani gazed up at Tru and smiled at him. “I was ready to walk away. I didn’t want to forgive him even after I saw he was changing. My pride was like go. Even my heart was ready for me to throw in the towel and he kept pushing. He wouldn’t stop you know? I complained to my mom about him and she told me that it was a good thing. She said that the worst thing you can do is fall in love with someone who isn’t willing to fight for you. I didn’t get it then but I understand it now. Marriage is not easy but its worth it when you get to spend your life with the person that you feel was placed here for you,” Normani said and hugged Tru tightly.
The minister couple that was over the counseling session smiled happily at Tru and Normani as they embraced each other. Tru took Normani back over to their seats and an hour later they were heading back to his father’s home. As they pulled into the long-pebbled driveway Tru peered over at Normani.
“I was scared as shit when you aint call for your date or come back to the house. I knew you needed some space though. I just didn’t want to get served again. I was at my pops spot bout to lose my mind,” he confessed.
Normani smiled. She was lost in a world of emotions. She’d spent her short time away from Tru determining what she really wanted and when it was all said and done it was him.
It had always been him.
“I want us to do it right this time Tru.”
Tru parked behind a white Bentley SUV and sat back in his seat. He looked at Normani intently as he nodded.
“And we will. I wouldn’t do all of this shit to hurt you again. Your heart is safe with me. We done been through all the bullshit now its time for us to be happy. I wanna make you and River happy ma,” he said and leaned over the console. Normani closed her eyes as his lips pressed against her’s. She hadn’t been with Tru in what felt like forever so something as small as kissing set her body on fire. She gripped his arm as she slipped her tongue into his mouth. “Damn,” Tru murmured pulling back from the kiss. They watched his cousin Domani and his wife Tegan head for the Bentley they were blocking and Tru honked the horn.
“Let’s go holla at them real quick,” he said and exited the car.
Normani followed suit and they met the attractive couple on the side of their expensive ride.
“I never got the call about dinner,” Tegan said hugging Normani.
Normani smiled at the pretty first lady. Tegan was gorgeous and extremely sweet. She’d only met her a handful of times because of Tegan and Domani’s hectic schedule but she liked her.
“I know and I’m sorry. Its been so much going on. We will have to catch up soon though,” Normani replied.
Tegan nodded while smiling at her.
“Yes, we will and Domani told me you two were back in church. I love that. Is everything getting better?” she asked and peered down at Tru’s leg that Normani had shot.
Normani smiled. Tru pulled her to his side and Domani chuckled.
“It looks better already. God will provide you with everything that you need. When you separate yourself from him is when you make it easier for sin to take over. Tegan and I is here to talk anytime you two need us. And we do need a favor,” he said holding is wife’s hand.
“Whats that cuz?” Tru asked still holding Normani tightly.
“We need for you and your wife to get that ugly colored sports car out of our way,” Domani said making all of them laugh.
Tru waved him off and Domani stopped smiling. He walked up on Tru and Tru bowed his head. Domani grabbed his hands and began to pray.
“Father I ask that you continue to watch over this union. Guide them, protect them and be with them always Lord. Amen,” he prayed.
Normani sighed as she whispered.
“Amen.”
After hugging one last time Normani went into the home as Tru backed out of the driveway for his cousin and his wife. Normani’s cellphone rung as she headed for the family room in search of her daughter.
“Billie what’s up? I was just about to group text everyone. I’m staying with Tru,” Normani said happily.
Billie smacked her lips.
“We already knew that. I need you to block Reese and if she reaches out to you ignore her. Okay?” Billie asked.
Normani found her daughter asleep on her mermaid rug in the family room and smiled. River’s clothes were covered in chocolate ice cream and she looked adorable with her curly pigtails. Normani sat on the sofa as Tru stepped into the room.
“Billie what’s going on? She’s been texting me all week. I have just been dealing with too much stuff to reply. I thought you said she was cool.”
Billie cleared her throat.
“She’s not. I ended up putting her out of my place over a month ago and since then she’s been on some other shit. Novah saw on Instagram that she was with Malachi and she’s pregnant by him. When I called her to ask about it, she laughed in my face and said I was jealous. Like I want his bitch ass. I hung up in her face and she started sending me videos of her and Malachi together. Dreux pulled up on them and said that she does have a small baby bump girl. He told Malachi to chill with the bullshit and since then she’s been quiet but I don’t want you kicking it with her. She needs some help Normani. She even accused me of drugging Malachi so that I could get pregnant. Me, like what the hell,” Billie vented. Billie was quiet for a moment and her breathing grew heavy. “I’ma say this and be done with it but I know for a fact that he did something to me the night I had sex with him. I chose to let it go but just because I did doesn’t make it right. I can’t remember anything Normani so I didn’t go to the cops. I had been drinking and I felt they would have put it on me but for her to insinuate that I would drug him hurts. She’s toxic and I don’t want you around her. Stay away okay?”
“You good?” Tru asked looking at her.
Normani nodded. She felt anger and sadness at Billie’s words. Billie was a good person and didn’t deserve any of the bullshit Reese and Malachi had tossed her way.
“I’m fine,” she told him before returning to her call. “Billie its cool I’ll block her. You’re a good person and you will be blessed for having a pure heart. Fuck them,” Normani said and Tru smirked at her before pulling out his phone.
“I don’t help others to get blessings but thankyou sis. I was just letting you know to stay away from her. Now back to you and Tru. You sure yall good?” Billie asked.
Normani looked at Tru and he stopped scrolling on his phone to stare at her.
“I love you ma,” he said adorningly.
Normani blushed at his words.
“I love you too,” she said quietly.
“Aww, yes! Tru get your girl! Call me later, I love yall,” Billie said before ending the call.
Normani sat her phone down and Tru pulled her to his side. His father stepped into the room with the help of his mom and looked their way.
“River, sleeps eat and talk. Yall got one good baby. Everything okay?” his father asked before coughing.
“We’re better than okay.
We’re happy,” Normani told her father in law.
“Thankyou God! I’m so happy to see you two like this. You two have been through the thick of it now its time to enjoy the good side of love. Right?” Rebecka asked.
Normani’s eyes brightened at her words.
“Yes, it is. The upside of it, you could call it,” she said and sat up to kiss her husband on the lips.
Epilogue
Six months later
“I’ll make this quick. Billie just said a mouthful and a nigga is hungry,” Dreux said making his mom narrow her slanted eyes at him.
“Language Dreux!” she yelled while smiling.
Dreux chuckled as he stood in his white Tom Ford tux. The word handsome did him no justice. Dreux was so swoon worthy that Billie couldn’t keep her eyes off of his. The tux had been tailored to fit his tall frame. His hair was evenly faded and his beard was precisely groomed. YSL cologne wafted around their space as he stared down into Billie’s eyes.
“You’re so beautiful. I pray she looks just like you,” he said and touched her small baby bump.
Billie was four months pregnant and was barely showing but their daughter was there. The real definition of a love child because she had been created with love no doubt. Billie who was dressed in a lace, white Miu Miu gown that rivaled celebrity wedding dresses looked stunning. Billie’s ash blond tresses had been curled and pinned up gracefully exposing her beautiful face that was softly beaten with nude hued makeup. Billie wore red lipstick with dramatic lashes that were still standing despite her crying. She squeezed Dreux’s hand and her heart swelled with love.
“There is no other person that I would want to live my life with. Billie is me and I am her. I love you baby,” he said and kissed her before pastor Domani started speaking.
Soon the reception was happening and Billie sat on her husbands lap as her family and friends celebrated her big day. She was full of wedding cake as Dreux talked with his brother Donny and his girlfriend.
Upside of Love Page 19