UNBROKEN (Friends, Lovers, or Nothing Book 5)

by Jackie Chanel

  “That’s always nice to hear.” I kissed her softly on her forehead. “You were a great girlfriend. If you hadn’t left, we’d still be together.”

  “No,” Shay shook her head. “We wouldn’t. You love her. I just hope she loves you just as much.”

  Manny pulled up to Shay’s apartment building. I reached over and opened the door for her then asked Manny to walk Shay up to her apartment. The way she was looking at me and the way I was feeling, it was best that I didn’t go anywhere near her apartment or else I’d never make it home.

  Chapter 16: Tried It

  TAMAR BRAXTON’S ‘LOVE AND WAR’ blasted throughout the lower level of my house while I belted out the lyrics to one of my favorite songs. After a hectic few weeks, it feels so good to be in my own house alone. Just me, myself, and I relaxing. I’m never able to just stay at home and chill anymore. My time is divided unevenly between my clients, my child, and Aiden, although I will admit that the latter is lacking. I haven’t seen him in days. Who knows what he’s been up to since I’ve been gone. He hasn’t made any gossip headlines so he’s earned some good behavior points. Aiden is the type of person who needs to stay busy with something constructive or else he will drive everyone around him insane.

  There’s so much on my mind that I don’t have the mental space to worry about my fiancé. However, there are conversations that need to be had before we bring our child home. Like which home, for instance. It doesn’t make sense for us to maintain two residences in the same city after we’re married but I’m not so sure I want to move back into his mansion. Why do we have to have a mansion anyway? No one needs that much space. I was impressed with his house when I first saw it but after awhile, the fascination wore off. Aiden bought that place because he wanted to impress his father. He was much happier in the condo he once shared with Paulie and Delilah, the condo that they live in now.

  Plus, his house has so many memories. I’ve never told him but I hate sleeping in his bed. I don’t know everything that has gone down in that house. I don’t want to know. However, I know enough and no amount of new sheets and bedding can take away the images in my head.

  Aside from where we’re going to live, there’s this tour. I don’t want him to go on tour right after our honeymoon. I want him to be home with me and our children. There’s no way in hell we’re going with him, not with a kindergartner and a newborn.

  I know I’m not going to be able to have the type of life my mother has. I won’t be able to raise my children the way I was raised. I’ve accepted that I am going to have a Hollywood marriage and Hollywood kids. In order to be successful at our careers, that is the price I have to pay despite wanting nothing more than to have a simple life where we work five days a week, vacation in the summer, and sleep together every night.

  Therefore, I’ll travel when and where my clients need me, and Aiden will be on the road doing shows for the fans who make him famous for months at a time. However, does it have to be so soon after I give birth to his child? That bothers me more than anything else. He and his management team don’t see a problem with this but there is. We didn’t plan to get pregnant but it happened. Now we both have to adjust.

  I filled a bowl with sweet potato chips and a glass with iced green tea then I stretched out on the sofa in the sunroom with the latest Colleen Hoover book pulled up on my Kindle and my music blasting through the speakers. I was so deep into my book that I never noticed anyone come into the house until I got that eerie feeling that someone was watching me. I quickly tossed my Kindle to the side and struggled to sit up on the couch.

  “What is the point of having this super high-tech security system if anybody can just walk up on you?” Erica laughed.

  Since our blow up in Mr. Chows went viral, Erica found the good sense God gave her and came to her senses. She apologized for acting like a bitch and I was a cool with it. She told me all about her and Matt and that she’s going to move to Boston. The fact that my best friend, whom I lived in the same city with all of my life, is going to be gone in a few weeks was enough to put all differences aside and make up. I’m so nervous that she’s leaving. What the hell am I going to do without Erica here? What if I need a spur of the moment retail therapy or someone to talk to that isn’t Aiden or his sisters? She’s going to be in Boston! I wasn’t handling that idea well at all.

  “Why are you creepin’ up in my house? What are you trying to steal?”

  Erica burst into a loud laugh because she knew she was caught. No one in the world knew I would be home today so she snuck in here to raid my closet.

  “I need a dress for a black tie event that I’m going to with Matt tonight.”

  “You have plenty of gowns of your own, some of which I gave you.”

  “I know but your stuff is always so much better. Please,” she pleaded and I couldn’t help but smile at my friend.

  This is what we do, fight and make up. I love this girl do death and I just want our old friendship back. If playing dress up in my closet will get us a step closer to that then I’m down for it.

  “So what is this, the third date this week?” I asked while reaching my hand out for Erica to help me off the couch.

  “You’re not that pregnant, lazy ass,” Erica complained but pulled me up anyway. “And yes, this is our third date this week. I don’t know, Sunny. I really like his young ass. I thought I’d just hit it a few times but he put it down. Plus, he’s not in the industry. He’s all educated and whatnot,” she grinned. “I’ve never been into frat boys but…” Erica’s voice trailed off sheepishly. “I’m getting really excited about moving too. Even though I told him that I’d come to Boston, he still is acting like he has to...what’s that word Grandma used to say?”

  “He’s still courting you even though he already bought the cow?”

  “Cow? I know you didn’t just call me a cow, fatty.”

  “Wait until you’re carrying his baby. Them hips gon’ spread like your mama’s.”

  “I’m tellin’ Mama you said that too.”

  I giggled at my friend. Clay’s little brother has her turned out! She has stars in her eyes! I kept my thoughts to myself because Erica is flighty. She might be looking for an excuse to run. I’m not going to be the one to jinx this new development in her life.

  “Why didn’t you go to the studio and get something from Delilah?” I asked, bringing the subject back to the reason for Erica’s break-in.

  “I did,” she replied. “She wouldn’t let me take the dress I wanted without your permission.”

  “Well, come on. Let’s find you something special.”

  Erica followed me up to the spare bedroom that I use as a second closet. Using the digital keypad, I pressed in the four-digit security code that unlocked the door and allowed Erica to enter the room first. Stepping into my closet is like stepping onto a showroom floor dedicated to all of my favorite designers. I love every single piece in here and keep meticulous inventory of all my clothes and shoes. Erica has been in here at least a hundred times, and walked right over to the rack of Vera Wang gowns.

  “You are pushin’ it,” I chuckled. “What kind of event is Matt taking you to that’s Vera Wang appropriate?”

  “I don’t know. It’s at the Governor’s mansion. The entire family was invited. Clay isn’t bringing anyone. Call him up and see if you can be his plus one.”

  “Hmm,” I considered it. “That might not be a bad idea. I’ll text him.”

  While Erica stripped down to her underwear to try on dresses, I sent a text to Clay. He replied right away.

  Clay: you actually want to leave the house with someone who isn’t your BD? I’m shocked.

  I can’t say that I wasn’t expecting that reaction. I have been laying low. I replied telling him that I definitely wanted to hang with him and that I’d be ready when Erica was. When I sat my phone down, Erica was stepping into a sapphire blue strapless gown.

  “Kerry Washington wore that to the Oscars,” I told her.

  �
�How did you get it then?”

  “She gave it to me.”

  I reached for a champagne and sandalwood Grecian draped gown that I recently picked up at a sale in New York. It’s from Rachel Zoe’s maternity line and the only reason I bought it is because I’m going to need options for the Grammys this year.

  “What shoes should I wear with this?” Erica asked having made the decision to wear the first dress she pulled off the rack.

  “That pair of crystal studded Stuart Weitzmans,” I replied. I didn’t even have to browse my shelves. I knew what shoes went with that dress as soon as I hung it up.

  “And,” I added, “there is a teardrop sapphire necklace and matching bracelet in my jewelry box. Don’t lose them because those are real sapphires.”

  I paired my dress with champagne colored Louboutins and milky white pearl earrings and a strand around my neck. In separate bathrooms, Erica and I showered and moisturized then met back in the dressing room to do each other’s makeup and hair.

  “I’ve been meaning to ask,” Erica started as she searched through my makeup kit for a nude gloss. “What’s up with your boy? Has he lost his mind for real?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You know he signed Shay, right? She’s the new artist that he’s been parading all over town like a show dog.”

  “Shay?” I wrinkled my face. The name sounded familiar but I couldn’t place it. “Who’s that?”

  Erica stopped applying foundation to my face and just stared at me with her hands on her hips.

  “You’re serious? You remember Shay.”

  I shook my head. “No, I don’t.”

  “Shaaayyyyy,” Erica drawled out as if repeating the name was going to help me remember. “Big tits…Laker girl Shay…you know Shay.”

  Suddenly, as if someone had popped me with a rubberband, my mind woke up.

  “His ex?” I shouted. “Not that hooker looking bitch he had living in his house right after I moved out here! Don’t play with me, Erica!”

  “Yup,” she nodded. “That fool went and signed his ex-girlfriend to a three-album deal with CMG and hooked her up with Apryl at Steele Management. They’ve been hittin’ up spots together all week. I’m surprised you haven’t heard anything.”

  I couldn’t tell if Erica was trying to start drama between Aiden and me by delivering this piece of information. All I know is that this is the kind of news that can send a woman into premature labor. As if to emphasize my thought, my baby started kicking up a storm.

  I gritted my teeth. “I’m going to murder him.” My jaw was clenched tightly as my fingers flew over the screen of my phone.

  You signed your ex? Don’t you think this is something you should have run by me???

  WTH is wrong with you?

  A few minutes passed before I received his reply.

  Aiden: In rehearsal. Can’t talk. We’ll talk when I get home. Tell E she’s fired.

  No, let’s talk now. IDGAF about your rehearsal.

  As soon as I hit send, I pushed the phone button and pressed Aiden’s name in my call log. His line rang and rang until his voicemail picked up. I hung up and called right back. The same thing happened. I called again. This time the call went straight to voicemail.

  “You inconsiderate asshole!” I yelled. “I know you’re not in rehearsal because your sax player is standing right next to me! I can’t believe you’re out here hanging with your ex while I was out of town? You know I don’t like that ho! Now you don’t want to answer your phone? Boy, you don’t know who you’re playing with!”

  I sat the phone in my lap and waited for Erica to finish my makeup until Aiden called me back. When I looked at my friend, her face had gone from espresso brown to ashen brown. She was definitely shaken by my outburst.

  “Sunny, you okay? I’ve never heard you scream on him like that.”

  “I’m fine.” My voice was calm but my foot was violently tapping the floor. “I’m pissed. I’m not going to lie. Shay is that same bitch he had playing stepmom to my child. I didn’t appreciate it then and I don’t appreciate it now.”

  “I agree that your man is foul for that, but are you okay? For real?”

  “Yes, I’m fine,” I lied. I knew Erica could tell it was a straight up lie.

  I have never wanted Aiden to see me as anything but the strong, independent, and confident woman my parents raised me to be. There have been instances of vulnerability but they have been few and far between. When I do talk to him, he wouldn’t see what Erica was seeing. He wouldn’t see this emotional and aggravated side of Sunny Rain Russell but, Aiden will see a side of me that he’s never seen before. I’m done with his bullshit.

  ***

  “They look good together, don’t they?”

  I looked up from the slice of decadent chocolate truffle cheesecake in front of me and looked at Clay.

  “Huh?”

  “Erica and Matt. They look good together, don’t they?”

  I glanced at the ballroom floor where Matt was twirling Erica around like either one of them knew a thing about ballroom dancing. She threw her head back and laughed. Her smile was spread all the way across her face as she danced with the youngest Daniels brother.

  “She looks happy with him.”

  “Yeah. Little brother is really feeling her. She might be the one.”

  “Let’s hope she feels the same,” I uttered grimly.

  “Uh-oh,” Clay teased. “What’s got you in a mood? You’re usually gung-ho about the lovey dovey crap.”

  I tried to smile and pushed my plate across the table to him. “Finish this.”

  “Something’s definitely bothering you if you’re giving away chocolate. What’s going on, Sunny? Spill it.”

  I twisted my engagement ring around my finger and looked at my friend. For the life of me, I cannot understand why Clay chooses to be a serial dater. He can easily find a woman, get married, and start a family. He talks about wanting all of that but he never dates the same girl for more than two weeks.

  When I first met him, I wanted nothing more than to jump his bones. We went out a couple of times but we quickly discovered that our initial physical attraction was less meaningful as the almighty pull of a strong friendship. Clay is what Aiden and I used to be before we had sex and changed the purity of our friendship.

  “I’m sure you’ve already heard,” I told him. “About Shay and Aiden.”

  “Yeah, I heard. I didn’t want to be the one to tell you. Who told you? Erica?” he asked. “What’s going on with them?”

  “Shay is the girl he was dating when Summer and I moved out here.”

  “Is he cheating with her?”

  There it was, the sentiment that Erica didn’t want to imply and the singular thought that has been weighing on my mind since she mentioned them being out together. I can always count on Clay to get down to the nitty-gritty.

  “I don’t know,” I shrugged. “I just found out that he signed her to his label. Why would he want to deal with his ex if he wasn’t interested in sleeping with her? It’s not like the skank can sing or else she would have had a deal by now, right?”

  “So he’s gonna be working in the studio with her and all that?”

  “Yup and you know how Aiden does his artists, all up close and personal. That’s how Erica got her hooks into him, all those late night studio sessions.”

  “Tell him that you don’t want him working with Shay considering their history. You are about to be that man’s wife. He should respect that.”

  “Yeah, he should. But we all know what head Aiden thinks with, and his idea of respect differs from mine and yours.”

  “You never know,” Clay smiled. “He just might surprise you this time. I mean, he does seem to be pretty into you. He asked you to marry him before you told him you were knocked up, right? Give him the benefit of the doubt.”

  “See, I knew you’d take his side. That’s why I don’t want you hanging with him. I’ve already lost one friend to
him.”

  “First,” Clay frowned. “You know I’m on your side. I’ve always got your back. And you didn’t lose Erica to Aiden. Y’all just have some things to work on. If you want me to say that you’re right; he probably is cheating on you then I’ll say that. It’s just not what I think. Come on, preggo. Let’s show my little brother that he can’t dance.”

  I allowed Clay to lead me to the dance floor. Dancing to the jazz quartet briefly took my mind off this situation with Aiden. I’m not being unreasonable. I am not communicating with any of my exes. Neither should he.

  ***

  Aiden: Where are you? Stopped by your house & u weren’t there. Dee said ur not at the studio either.

  Ur that mad that ur avoiding me now?

  I read Aiden’s text then slipped my phone back into the pocket of my jeans without responding. I don’t really care what he has to say. I don’t want to hear his voice or see his face.

  The past few days have been full of discoveries and I just don't know how to deal with all of this craziness. Besides the situation with Shay Alexander, I also found out—not from him of course—that one of his groupies has teamed up with his ex-wife to write a book. They’re planning to reveal all the nasty little sleazy shit he’s done too. And how did I find out this information? From Ramey. She decided to email me the juicy details.

  After reading that, I couldn’t even work anymore. I left the studio and went over Clay’s. If he’s smart, Aiden will look over here first but I’ll be long gone.

  “Answer his text,” Clay called from the kitchen. “At least tell him you’ll be in Atlanta for Thanksgiving to clear your head. You’re too mature to run away from this problem, Sunny!”

  “I’m not running away from anything,” was my argument. “I just don’t feel like talking to him.”

  “You’re six months pregnant with his child and about to get on a plane. Tell that man where you’re going. Don’t put me in the middle of this because I will tell him.”

  “Don’t tell him anything!” I snapped. “If you had read what Ramey sent me, you’d understand. I don’t want to see his face or hear his voice for a couple of days. As soon as Dina drops my child off, we’re on the next flight out.”