What I Learned In L.A. (Sequel to What I learned at Hope Springs)

bad blood part 2

Brittany

I looked out as they lowered my mother in the ground. We decided to have her buried here, in L.A. Everyone dismissed themselves but I stood there, and watched until the last bit of dirt covered the ground that she was under. Chris came up wrapping me up in his arms. He kissed my cheek. "You okay?" He asked. I shrugged as tears fell down my cheeks. "Come on." He said taking my hand and leading me to the car. Mama was having the repass at her house by I didn't want to go. I didn't feel like dealing with anyone right now. I just wanted to be alone in my feelings. "Everything gonna be okay B." Chris said rubbing my thigh. He was amazing, and when I needed comfort he was there. This past week had been so hard for me but Chris managed to handle everything just fine. Between the funeral arrangements, police questioning, Micheal popping up, Chris was there and that made me so happy.

Once we reached Mama house I ran upstairs to check on the kids. Maurice was watching cartoons, Jr. was sleeping and Zion was playing on her floor mat. "Hey Maurice." I said he ran to me hugging me. "Sissy, you cry." He said pointing to my face. "I'm fine boo." He kissed my cheek." "No cry sissy." He was the cutest. "B, Mike is here." I groaned after hearing Chris deliver the news. He was here to get Jr. and that's all we needed to discuss. I can't believe he didn't show his face at the funeral, or wake. We weren't together but we were still married.

Mike walked into the room, Chris behind him. He picked up Zion, "come on bro, let's go see if Mommy got some cookies." He said. He knew Mike and I needed privacy. "Hey." He said as soon as Chris was gone. "Hey." I said back, as I picked up Jr's baby bag. "Are you okay?" He asked. I looked at him for the first time in a long time. "Are you serious?" "I'm sorry, that was inappropriate." He was inappropriate, his attitude was inappropriate. Everything about him screamed inappropriate. "Where the hell were you, why didn't you come last night, or today?" "What you need me for, its clear who you with now." He scoffed. I shook my head, "that's not cool Micheal we're still married." "We still married but you still fucking Chris?" "That's how much you know, we not even doing anything. He's there for me, he's always been there for me." "Then let him be THERE." He spat.

I picked up Jr. from the crib that held him. He whined a little but stopped when I started rocking him. This was the first time in about a month or two that Micheal would have him. "I put a schedule of feeding times in his bag." I explained to Micheal. "If he gets cranky give him a warm bottle, and when you burp him put him here." I said pointing to the middle of my chest. I placed him in his car seat strapping him in and giving him to Mike. "Call me if you need anything." He side eyed me as he walked out the room.

Michael

I didn't know what Brittany wanted from me. If it wasn't comfort then what? It was clear, she made it clear that I wasn't needed while she's parading Chris around in my face. He's been there for her, but we're married. How can I be there for her when she got a whole other relationship she chooses to be in that's not my fault. I admit, I was wrong for what I did that night, but she made me mad. She wasn't trying to satisfy a Nigga then got mad when I found someone that would. She was a hypocrite, but now she needs me. I scoffed at that thought. I won't let her ruin anything that I have going. "Babe, is that you?" I heard when I walked in the house. It smelled different from when I left. "Yea, what you cooking?" I yelled walking up the stairs. Jr. was sleeping and I was gonna put him in the bed.

Once I laid him down, put up his things, and fixed the monitors taking one with me, I went back downstairs. Jasmine kissed me. "Thought I'd make tacos." She said, stirring the half Brown, half pink ground beef. "Smells good." I said smacking her butt. She was only wearing boy shorts underwear and a tank top. She walked around like that all the time now, and I loved that shit. "How's your wife?" "Shut up, why you gotta ruin a good mood, with dumb shit?" I asked walking to the fridge. I grabbed a beer and hit the lid on the cabinet to pop it off. I took a sip leaning back on the counter. I hated when she brought up Brittany, or Chris, in any type of order. It was just too much to deal with. I still loved Brittany but we were far from getting back together.