"So when were you going to tell me that you were seeing Shaun?" Alyssa folded her arms as she stood by the kitchen counter.
"Are the twins awake yet?"
"Sheri, quit playing me! They're still asleep, so you're out of luck, sweetie."
"Fuck." Sheri mumbled and chuckled nervously. "Well first thing's first, I'm not seeing him."
"Then what do you call it?"
"Friends?"
"Are you kidding me? You slept over his place."
"What, friends don't sleep over each other's places?"
"No, friends especially don't sleep over each other's places like that. You guys are seeing each other!" Alyssa raises her voice.
"Be quiet! You're gonna be the reason why Steph and the twins wake up!"
"Steph is a pretty heavy sleeper. & Speaking of him, I had to find out through him!"
"I was going to tell you! I didn't think Klay would make such a big deal out of it."
"Something's wrong with him." Alyssa scrunched her eyebrows.
"Yeah, well. I'm not too worried about it."
"Why, cause of Shaun?" She said, teasing Sheri by emphasizing his name.
"Don't say his name like that, it's weird."
"Shaaaauuun." She repeated and wiggled her eyebrows. "Care to tell me how this happened, now?" Sheri sighed.
"Well, that's what I've been meaning to talk to you about." Sheri said, nervously. "Can you sit next to me so I don't feel as nervous?"
"Yeah, sure." Alyssa says, confused and a bit worried. She takes a seat next to her bestfriend, facing her. "What's wrong?"
"Look. Before I say anything. I just wanna apologize in advance. I never meant to hurt you or anything. I just didn't know where I was... still don't, actually." Sheri looked down at her hands before returning her attention back to Alyssa. "It happened."
"What happened?"
"I gave in. I gave in to it." She stared at Alyssa, watching her finally realize what she meant.
"A-are you okay? What? How? Where did you even get it?"
"Rodney. Long story short, I just fell to the bottom and I didn't know how to bring myself back up. Especially after Klay."
"But honey, you know you could always turn to me no matter what. You didn't have to go there."
"I know, but that's how Shaun came in the picture. We chilled at the club that night then the next thing I know, he's trying to take care of me and tosses the shit I had into the dumpster to make sure I wouldn't do it again." Alyssa softly smiles.
"Well, I'm glad he came at the right time."
"You know, with the twins and everything, I didn't wanna bother you and Steph."
"Girl, you know I'm always gonna be here for you. I'm never gonna leave your side. So if you need me, then let me know. I don't want you to feel like you're alone." Sheri wipes the tears falling from her eyes as Alyssa brings her in for a hug.
"I was so scared to tell you, cause I thought you'd be done with me."
"I mean, I am pretty upset that you went back to that, but you gotta learn on your own Sheri. I can't tell you this and that." Alyssa chuckles. "As much as I want to sometimes, I can't tell you what to do. Or how to learn."
"Thank you. For always being there for me." Alyssa smiles softly.
"So, is he making you happy or what?"
"Yeah, Sheri. Is he?" Steph comes into the room, both twins in his arms. Sheri immediately gets up with the biggest smile on her face, finally seeing the twins since the hospital. She baby talks the twins and pinches their cheeks before she looks at Steph and laughs.
"To answer your guys' question, he's cool, I guess."
"You like them grown, don't you?" He wiggles his eyebrows as he brings one of the girls to Alyssa.
"You need to not, Stephen."
"I'm just stating the obvious. Klay's trippin'."
"For what reason?" Sheri puts her hands on her hips. "Actually, you know what. No. I don't wanna hear it."
"Good, cause I didn't really wanna elaborate."
"Damn, what are you acting hella smart for Wardell? Go back to sleep." His fiancé says, chuckling.
"Honestly, Lyss. I think he's getting it from you."
"It really is Alyssa' fault though."
"This conversation wasn't supposed to be about me, it was supposed to be about Livingston."
"Are you seeing him after this?" Steph immediately changes the subject.
"And if I do, then what?"
"I'm just asking. Trying to get a gauge of how serious you two are."
"It's nothing serious."
"Then what do you guys do when you see each other?"
"If you don't stop being so goddamn nosy." Alyssa crosses her arms, watching the two go back and forth.
"Just that one question then I'm done for today." Steph defends himself as he looks at Alyssa, then returns his attention back to Sheri.
"We.. watch TV." Sheri shrugs.
"Cuddling?"
"Wardell Stephen Curry!"
"Final question, I promise baby."
"Yes, I guess so." Steph nods as Sheri answers his last question.
"Nice. Go ahead and do your thing then."
"Did you really have to do that, boy?"
"What? I'm just curious." Sheri watches the two go back and forth, before she checks the time on her phone, realizing she told Shaun she'd meet up with him by now.
"Well, I'm just gonna let you two settle this while I go."
"Mhm, okay. Call me. Let me know about every detail." Alyssa calls out as Sheri walks out of the house.
The rest of the day is quiet at the Curry Residence. Mama stopped by to give the two some help, especially being that Steph had a rare day off. She figured he needed all the the rest he could get before the season starts back up, cause Lord knows how chaotic things will get. But, the couple has been getting used to the routine with the twins, finding no problems about waking up in the middle of the night and catering to their needs. Then, doing it all over again. It was a part of parenting and they loved every moment of it. It was easier knowing they had each other (and loved ones) to support them through this journey.
Late at night, Stephen finds himself wide awake since taking an afternoon nap threw him off. He's in the bed, eating popcorn, while Alyssa sleeps peacefully next to him. The twins were fast asleep in their Pack N' Plays, and so for Steph, the night was going pretty well.
"Stephen!" He hears a voice from a distance. He knew it was coming from outside, but he wasn't sure if he was hearing things or if someone was really calling his name. "Stepphhh-en!" The name dragged on from the anonymous individual.
"What the hell?" Steph said to himself, his mouth full of popcorn.
"Stephen!" The tone was more aggressive, but he still couldn't figure out who it was coming from, where and why.
"Lord, I know I been playing too much lately, but this ain't right." He says looking up, giving it another minute to see if the individual would call his name again.
"Steph!" This time, the individual was yelling. He heard him stumble in the backyard, bumping into the tables and knocking over the plants they had. Steph immediately ran to their balcony to see who the intruder was. Low & behold.
"Jesus Christ, Klay. What the hell are you doing?" He said over the balcony railing, watching Klay stumble onto the back porch and fall to the ground.
"Yo, I'm so fucking drunk! Come here man! Let's talk!"
"Would you shut up? My fiancé and the kids are sleeping."
"Come on Stephen!" Klay yells, ignoring Stephen's request.
"Jeez." Steph rubs his forehead as he closes the door to rush downstairs.
"What's going on?" Alyssa asks sleepily as he makes his way to the door.
"Nothing babe, just go back to sleep." He carefully shuts the door as he hurriedly makes his way down the steps and to the backyard. At this point, Klay was leaning against the door, his eyes barely open. "What the hell did you to do yourself?"
"I drank alcohol, duh."
"Why?"
"I think I miss Sheri, man. I miss that girl. She seein' Shaun now, ain't she?" He laughs, as he opens his flask and takes another sip. Steph snatches the flask away, holding onto it so he wouldn't get any more alcohol into his system. "Give that back."
"No, man. No. You can't be doing this at 2 in the morning. Coming over here with your drunk ass."
"I'm sorry man, but I just needed to get things off of my chest." Steph sighs and sits next to him on the ground.
"What is it?"
"I fucked up real bad. Fatima doesn't even want me for me. She uses me." He chuckles. "Sheri was real. She really loved me."
"That's what you get for being dumb."
"I am dumb. Is she really seeing Livingston now?"
"I don't know, that's not for me to say."
"Come on Steph, just tell me."
"I really don't know."
"Man. Look what I did." Klay chuckles again, a bit louder this time as he tries to sit up but fails. "Fucked up and gave the best girl I've ever had away to another man."
"Glad you realized that."
"You think she'll ever want me again?"
"You left here for something temporary, Klay. Does it seem like she'd wanna go back to that?"
"Well I was just thinking that maybe, I can try and make things right so I could get her back."
"I don't know, it may be a little too late for that. Plus, you're drunk. What makes you think you'll remember any of this tomorrow?"
"I probably won't." He laughs. "But I'll still remember Sheri. God, isn't she so beautiful?" He pulls out his wallet, slightly struggling to take her polaroid picture out of it. When he finally does, he holds the picture up in order for more light to hit the picture and smiles. "She's so pretty."
"You're a mess, my dude." Steph shakes his head as he watches his best friend admire his ex-girlfriend's picture.
"I want her back."
"I don't know, Klay."
"What do you mean you don't know!" He raises his voice. "I can't get her back?!"
"If you don't quit raising your voice, man."
"Sorry." He whispers and shushes himself. "But can you help me get her back? I fucked up. I really fucked up." He continues to whisper.
"No, that's on you."
"I need your help!" He whispers, his face suddenly turning sour. "Oh fuck, I don't feel too good."
"No, don't do--" But before Steph could help him, Klay was already off to the bushes, throwing up all the alcohol in his system. And food, probably. But Steph didn't really want to watch. "Jesus." He pinches the bridge of his nose, Klay still emptying out his stomach. When it all finally comes to an end, Klay stumbles back onto the steps of the back porch and lays there. "Come on, let's get you into the guest room." Stephen leans over to help him up. He puts one arm over his shoulder as he drags Klay into the guest room, his scent wreaking of alcohol and vomit. "I should just throw your ass in the tub, but since you're my boy I guess I could give you a bed."
"Mhm.." Klay mumbles as his best friend lightly throws him onto the guest bedroom bed. He watches Klay climb into the covers, quickly falling asleep. He shakes his head, grabbing a water bottle and a trash can to put by his side in case he needed it during the night.
"Babe--" Alyssa finds him in the guest room. He immediately shushes her and points to Klay in the bed. "Oh." She whispers.
"Come on, let's go back to bed."
"You smell weird."
"That was Klay."
"Ew. Go wash yourself." She laughs as she climbs onto his back. He gives her a piggy back ride up the stairs, smelling himself once they got situated in the room.
"You're right."
"What happened?" Steph sighs.
"He's just in his feelings."