“Damn, could we get through tonight before y’all start talking about buying some more damn shoes.” Zo joked.
“Hush it. But thank you babe, I really appreciate you doing this for me.” Shanice said kissing Zo again.
Just as Brielle was about to respond, Kris walked through the door with his slacks, button up, and tie.
“This nigga could never dress regular,” Zo mumbled.
“Be nice,” Shanice said laughing.
“I guess man,” Zo said.
“Happy Birthday Shanice.” Kris said handing Shanice a card.
“Thank you Kris,” Shanice said hugging him loosely.
“Well let’s sit.” Zo said.
“Okay.” Shanice and the crew said walking over towards the table.
“Zo did you do this by yourself?” Shanice asked amazed.
“Yeah man. Brielle helped me set some stuff up.” Zo answered.
“Awe! I love it.”
Everyone sat coupled up, when everybody heard heels clicking behind them. Nobody paid it any attention until Samara sat down next to Kiyan.
“I’m sorry it took me so long.” Samara said not making eye contact to anybody.
“Who the hell is she?” Danielle asked first.
“Oh my bad. Everybody this is,” Kiyan started.
“Samara!” Chloe, Shanice and Sabriya said at the same time.
“How do y’all know her?” Kiy asked.
“Yeah how do y’all know her and why is she here? I thought this was a private affair and everybody else wasn’t coming until we went to the club later,” Danielle said.
“Hi. I’m Samara. I’m Kiyan’s girlfriend.”
When Samara broke the news to everyone, all the girls dropped their forks and looked from Samara to Kiyan. Then from Kiyan and Brielle.
“Well, this is awkward.” Brielle said.
“Who are you telling,” Zo added.
“Mara, well you know Chloe, Shanice and Sabriya. This is Brielle, her boyfriend Kris, and Danielle.” Kiyan said while pointing to each person.
“Nice to meet y’all” Samara smiled.
“Pleasure to meet you,” Kris answered.
“Nice meeting you,” Brielle spoke up.
“Yeah, hello. How do y’all know her?” Danielle asked her friends.
“We met her last week at Styles by S?” Shanice spoke up.
“Last week when?” Kiyan asked.
“When she was obviously looking for a dress to wear tonight.” Chloe answered.
“What they said. I helped her pick out her dress.” Sabriya added.
“Well damn. Since when we don’t tell each other about new friends?” Danielle asked.
“Not now.” Brielle said.
“Why not? They know this girl by face and name, but didn’t even mention it,” Danielle responded.
“Danielle stop yo,” Cam said.
“Okay damn, I just wanted to know. Don’t shoot me for wanting answers about her. I was just asking.” Danielle rolled her eyes at Cam.
“Don’t start your shit Danielle. I mean it.” Cam said.
“I said I was done. Damn. Move on,” Danielle yelled.
“Well, maybe we should move on to gifts.” Zo said.
“Yeah, why don’t we start with that,” Hakeem smirked.
Zo got up from the table, grabbed Shanice and put her into the chair that Brielle decorated for her to open gifts. Shanice began opening up the gifts that her friends gave her. She received everything, bags from next season, shoes that were not being advertised, and money from the boys. Shanice was nearly in tears after opening all of her gifts.
“Thank y’all so much for my gifts. I really wasn’t expecting anything from anyone, but I ended up with everything. I really love y’all.” Shanice smiled.
“I got one more thing for you.” Zo said handing her three envelopes.
“What are these?” Shanice asked.
“Open them and find out. These are your gifts from me,” Zo smiled.
Shanice opened the first one and smiled when she seen that Zo gave her a couples spa day for them for the next day.
“Thank you! I can’t wait,” Shanice smiled.
She gave Zo the open envelope as she started opening the next one. She screamed, “Oh my god! Zo, you didn’t!”
“Yes I did.”
“He got me my 2012 Range Rover.” Shanice stood up and did her happy dance. She went over to Zo and gave him the biggest smile and kiss ever.
“Thank you baby,” Shanice said.
“Don’t thank me! Open your last gift.” Zo smiled.
Shanice gave Zo the open envelope and grabbed the last envelope from off the floor. She noticed that this envelope was thicker than each of the other envelopes. Zo was nervous because this was the gift that he was unsure of. This would determine the next step in their relationship. There were three cards stuck in one envelope.
“Can I read it out loud?” Shanice asked.
“Yeah, you can.” Zo smiled.
“First of all, Happy birthday ma! I love you more than I loved any female I’ve ever met. I know we’ve only been dating for five going on six months, but I feel like we’ve known each other for life. You proved to be more loyal than half of the dudes I surround myself with. You know that’s saying a lot since I trust everybody in my circle with my life. I would like to take our relationship to the next level, and if you’re with me than that’s all I’ll ever need.” Shanice read out loud.
“I’m with you,” Shanice said standing up and hugging Zo.
“Iight. If you’re with me then open the second envelope,” Zo responded.
When Shanice opened the second envelope she had the shock of her life. Then she dropped that envelope and grabbed the other one and ripped that open and began shuffling threw papers. When she got to the last page, she had nothing but tears in her eyes.
“Yes Zo! I will.” Shanice jumped in Zo’s arms.
“You will what?” Danielle gave them the side eye.
“Zo and I are moving in together. He bought us a huge house and I said yes.” Shanice smiled.
Everybody was happy for them. Shanice and Zo’s relationship went by fast and they knew that the love that Shanice and Zo had for each other was genuine and it could survive through anything but it was true love. Everyone was glad to see the two so happy and couldn’t wait to witness the journey between the two lovers.
Chapter 16
“I’m positive, and besides your not my type anyway,” - Kiyan
Kiyan was getting ready for the Knicks versus Celtics game. Brielle invited him a couple weeks ago. He didn’t know if it would be awkward between them after what went down at Shanice’s birthday party. The meeting between Brielle, Danielle and Samara was something you saw in a movie. Danielle made it known that she didn’t care for Samara from the start. However, Brielle stayed quiet about the Samara situation. Brielle engaged in conversations with the group but when it came to having private conversations with Kiyan or Samara, she always walked away.
Brielle didn’t speak to Kiyan since the birthday dinner until she texted him yesterday asking if he still wanted to go to the game with her. She volunteered to pick him up and drive to Madison Square Garden, since she had an all access pass for the event’s parking lot.
Kiyan put on his sneakers and walked into the kitchen when his phone beeped.
Brielle: Pulling up now. Can you bring me a bottle of water? :]
Kiyan: Iight. I’m coming out.
Kiyan grabbed the bottle of water, put the alarm on the house, and walked to Brielle’s car.
“Wassup,” Kiyan greeted Brielle.
“Hey Mr. Keep Secrets,” Brielle laughed.
“Here we go! I knew this was coming,” Kiyan joined in laughing.
“That’s because you knew you were wrong.” Brielle said seriously.
“I know man. I should of just told y’all” Kiyan looked ahead.
“You should have. You didn’t have to keep sec
rets,” Brielle preached.
“I know. I fucked up this time,” Kiyan admitted.
“Exactly. You don’t have to lie to us. We don’t have to date her you do. Oh yeah Danielle said she is going to kick your ass,” Brielle laughed.
“Yo! She got my number from Cam and told me.” Kiyan remembered.
“She’s serious too. She wouldn’t shut up about it when we went back to my house,” Brielle told Kiy.
“Danielle went back to your crib? I thought Kris told Cam he was spending the night!” Kiy looked at Bri.
“Kris does not spend the night at my house. I won’t let him, so he lied to Cam” Brielle said seriously.
“Damn your boy was fronting for no reason,” Kiyan shook his head.
“I told you, I’m noticing he is always doing it.”
“Look, I was going to tell you but I honestly forgot I didn’t tell you about her. If I would have remembered I would of never let Sha’s birthday party be the first time you met or heard about her.”
"I thought if anything we were friends, so tell me how you just forget to tell your friend that you were dating someone"
“We are friends and I know I fucked up. I didn’t handle that the right way.”
"Look I'm gonna be honest, finding out like that kind of threw me off because we talk about everything with each other. So I was a little confused as to why you wouldn't tell me about something like this."
"I know and I can’t take it back but if you want I can set something up between you and Mara and y'all could get to know each other."
"Only way I'll do that, is if you do the same with Kris"
"Oh well that ain't happening."
"Why not Kiy?" laughed Bri.
"First of all, this nigga is not my friend and he will never be okay with me. He stuck up and I don't like him."
"Well damn if that's how you really feel, then I have no choice but to respect that. But other than him being stuck up is there another reason why you don't like him?"
"Nawh, if he wasn't how he was, then he would be iight, but he not so I'm not interested."
“Okay that’s fair enough. But I don’t think me and what’s her name will have nothing in common so I will not even waste her time or mine.” Changing the subject before he had a chance to respond, Brielle said, “We’re here and we’re late. Are you ready to see the Knicks kick Boston ass?”
“I’m ready, let’s go.”
By the time they reached the inside, the game was in the middle of the first quarter. Brielle had courtside tickets and she was excited because the Celtics and the Knicks were NBA rivals. Brielle was all into the game when Kiyan looked over and saw Brielle jumping in and out of her seat with her Iman Shumpert jersey on. He loved how the Knicks were kicking Boston ass. The score was now 38- 20. He was about to engage in conversation with Brielle when his phone vibrated and showed a text from Samara.
Samara: Hey baby, what you doing?
Kiyan: At a basketball game with Bri.
Samara: Oh. Well tell her I said hello.
Kiyan: Ite I got you.
Samara: You coming over later?
Kiyan: I’ll pick you up for dinner later on?
Samara: :] Okay. Love you.
Kiyan: Iight.
Kiyan thought to himself how the hell did she love him when they only had been dating for a couple of weeks. He knew that if she continued to get attached too quick that he would have to hurt her feelings.
~~~~~
It was Wednesday morning when Brielle was at work. She was still hyped from the game on Monday that this week at work was going by quicker and quicker. She knew sooner or later she would have to come down off of her high horse. She was still unsure about her relationship with Kris. All she knew is that if he wanted to continue being in a relationship with her, some major changes would have to be made because if not they wouldn’t work.
Brielle was typing out a proposal when her phone indicted she had a text from Jaiden.
Jaiden: Wassup ma?
Brielle: What Jaiden?
Jaiden: That’s how you talk to your man?
Brielle: You’re not man and right now your aggravating me while I’m at work.
Jaiden: What did I tell you when I was at your house?
Brielle: Bye Jaiden.
Jaiden: I’m not done talking to you.
Brielle: Well I’m done talking to you. I hope you have fun talking to yourself.
Brielle put her phone back in her desk and continued to type until Keyshia barged into the office and sat on the chair in front of her.
“Girl I’m not gone tell you I seen Jaiden this pass weekend.” Keyshia said.
“I don’t really care!”
“Well girl he was telling everybody that y’all got back together.”
“That’s a lie. I’m not in a relationship with him. I’m still with Kris.”
“Well girl, speaking of relationships, how is my boo?”
“Who is your boo?”
“That cute ass Kiyan.”
“Girl Kiyan is in a relationship. He has a new girl.”
“Since when?”
“A couple of weeks ago.”
“Well it’s still new, he’ll be easy to get.”
“Do what you gotta do.”
Before they knew it Kiyan was knocking on the door. When Keyshia turned around and seen Kiyan, she lit up brighter than a Christmas tree. She was excited to see him; he hadn’t been back to the office since before she told Brielle about her plan to try to get with him.
“Wassup,” Kiyan said to Keyshia and Brielle.
“Hey Kiy,” Brielle smiled.
“Hello Kiyan,” Keyshia stood up next to him.
“What are you doing here?” Brielle asked.
“I was stopping by to talk to you for a second.”
“Okay. Keyshia could you give us a minute.”
“Sure, I’ll be right outside,” winking at Kiyan.
Kiyan walked over towards Bri desk and asked, “Ayo, did she wink at me?”
Brielle couldn’t help but laugh, “Don’t pay her no mind.”
“But aye I have a question,” Kiyan asked.
“Talk to me,” Brielle asked.
“Do you have a problem with my relationship?”
“No, why would you ask?”
“Because I was having a conversation with the boys and we thought that’s why you didn’t want to get to know her better?”
“That’s not the case. If it was that, why you don’t want to get to know Kris?”
“I’m not gone lie it is apart of the reason, but I still don’t like him as a person.”
“But why?”
“I told you he not the type of person I surround myself with.”
“Ok Kiy.”
“Iight. That’s the only reason I came. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay.”
Kiyan gave Brielle a hug and walked out of her office. But before he even got a chance to walk out the building, he ran straight into Keyshia.
“How you doing Kiyan?”
“I’m good. Wassup with you?”
“I’m good trying to get to know you.”
“That sound good, but I got a girl.”
“Well your girl don’t have to know.”
“It’s nothing that she won’t know because I’m not doing nothing behind her back.”
“You sure about that?”
“I’m positive, and besides you’re not my type anyway,” Kiyan said walking out the door.
Chapter 17
"Well, all I can say is show her that she's different. Do something you’ve never done before.” -Anyah
After leaving Brielle’s office, Kiyan decided that he needed to pay his mother a visit. He didn’t know why, but Brielle reminded him of his mother. She was independent and she was focused just like his mother. Kiyan knew that he would have to work hard in order to convince Brielle to drop her stuck up ass boyfriend, and give him a chance to be something more.
An hour later, Kiyan pulled up to his mother’s house and was glad that she was home.
“Ma, where you at?” Kiyan yelled.
“Boy, don’t be yelling at me. I’m in the living room,” his mother laughed. They had a very funny relationship. She loved her son to death, but she was always there to tell him when he was wrong. That is why he decided to let her know about Brielle. Maybe she could help him figure out a way to make things right.
“I wasn’t yelling old lady,” he joked while giving his mother a hug.
"Hey lil boy, what did I do to deserve this surprise visit?" Anyah smiled.
"I just need some advice and a home cooked meal," he responded.
"Advice I can do, but who said I cooked anything." she laughed.
"Ma, you cooked because I smelled it when I turned the corner on your block," Kiyan exaggerated.
"Funny, what did you do and how can I help?" Anyah said already knowing her son.
"Iight this what happen, I met this girl and her friends at the mall a couple months ago. So you remember we had that party for Zo’s album release party, so I invited them. You know how I am about trusting females after Maya. So I assumed the worse before I even knew her. So we at the party and I saw her and her friend all up in these basketball players face, so when we went out I called her out on it." he began.
"Kiy, please tell me you didn't do what I think you did?" she said already knowing her son.
"Yes ma, but I didn't mean for it to come out the way that it did. So after I made an ass out of myself, she went off. She started yelling about how she didn't need a man for nothing and that I had her messed up. Then she got up and left." he finished.
"Well, Kiy you better be lucky that she didn't slap your simple ass. I definitely taught you growing up to give someone the benefit of the doubt until you are shown otherwise." Anyah reminded him.
"I know ma. I apologized to her the next day at her job. She forgave me, but now she doesn’t want to give me another chance. We became like the best of friends like Mercedes and me were when we were younger, but I want more. I'm not gone give up I tell you that much. It's something about this girl that got me wanting to be more. She reminds me a lot of you." Kiyan said.
"Me? Oh wow, she is definitely wonderful if she reminds you of me," Anyah laughed.
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