𝐉𝐔𝐋𝐘 ❷ ⓿ ❷ ❷
ANICIA BLEW OUT AIR, CLOSING the laptop after the video call with Grande and her team. She leaned back on the leather couch of the hotel she has been staying in. She had on the cropped tank top and shorts, reaching for her phone beside her. She checked the notifications and there was no missed calls or texts from no one in her family—she expected something from at least her father or sister's, but nothing.
It was a holiday and she was there alone. She felt alone. Yes, she knew she disrespected her mother by finally telling the truth. She expected the treatment from her mother since Grace didn't love people standing up to her. But what she didn't expect is her father and sister's not even taking the time to invite her to celebrate the holiday.
All her holiday consisted of is glasses of Peter Grigio and surfing for houses on Zillow to move out of the cramped hotel and have space. She moved the laptop from her on top of her lap, grasping the empty wine glass, and walked to the kitchenette pouring herself another glass of wine.
Anicia sipped on the wine, wishing Lotus would call her to talk again, but she wasn't going to pressure her because it all takes time. She checked the clock on the wall and it confirmed for her that the ex-boyfriend was at the 4th of July event her father's company throws. So she grabbed her keys, slipped on her Chanel sneakers, and left the room to drive to the home in Sherman Oaks and pack the rest of her stuff.
The house was silent when she walked in. She exhaled sharply as she leaned back on the closed door, looking around the bottom level on the house. It furnished nicely as she shook her head. "What a fucking waste."
Anicia got the extra cardboard boxes from the storage closet and jogged upstairs to the walk-in closet in the master suite. She start packing everything; box by box all of her clothes and heels, sending them down the elevator of the house. Once she finished upstairs, she walked downstairs and start pulling the boxes off the elevator when the front door pushed open.
Her long ponytail whipped to the opposite side that her head turned. She watched the black leather Chelsea boots enter the house belonging to Landon. Hearing the noise nearby, he turned his head finding Anicia in the process of looking away from him and tugging the box from the elevator. Scoffing lowly, he tossed his keys in his hand and shutting the door behind himself.
"Waited til I wasn't here..." he voiced, sitting on the nearby chair.
"To avoid this," she referred to a conversation between the two after pulling out the rest of the boxes. "I'm just packing the rest of my stuff and I'll be gone. Why aren't you at the event?"
"Adonis made it clear he didn't want to see my face at any functions. Just handle business for the company and stay away. Arlene, too." he let her know.
Anicia scoffed under her breath. "Welcome to the club."
"Even after all of that, they still not talking to you?"
"No. But I'm fine with that." Anicia said in a convincing tone.
"So. . . this how you finna do this? Six years and it meant nothing?" Landon wondered, resulting in Anicia to exhale heavily and stare at him...
"I let you know more than enough in Seattle. I said all that needed to be said." Anicia stated, walking away to the basement level of the house as Landon quickly followed her.
"Yeah, you was happy the first year and the last five years you wasn't." he followed her down the staircase, "So why stay? Why fucking stay the last five years, huh? The fuck was the point? You coulda left me. But you stayed."
Anicia was annoyed. "Let it go, Landon, damn."
"No!" He grabbed her arm, yanking her around to face him. His hold was aggressive and tight with a deep scowl on his expression. "You do not get to fucking tell me what to let go. You don't!"
Anicia frowned instantly. "First of all, do not grab me." She attempted to snatch from his hold but kept a tighter hold, "Landon!"
"Six years. . Six fucking years I dealt with you—"
"Dealt with me?" She repeated, walking backward since he was walking forward.
"Yes, dealt with you." he spoke between clenched teeth, "I dealt with all your bullshit. I dealt with the fact you didn't want kids. I dealt with you not wanting a marriage. I dealt with you being a spineless bitch." her back hit the wall, "I dealt with all that shit just for you to tell me all that bullshit and waste my goddamn time!"
"Get. . the hell," she pushed him backward, "away from me! Don't ever grab me like that. I never begged you to fucking stay, Landon. Nor did I put a fucking gun to your head and force you to stay. You chose to! You could've left. I gave you an out multiple times. But you wanted to stay with this spineless bitch!"
His lips smashed into hers, shoving his tongue in her mouth and his hands exploring her body. She recuperated, kissing him just as hungrily. He lifted her in his arms with her legs wrapping around his waist and carried her to the pool table, sitting her on it, and standing between her legs.
"This..." their lips popped, tongues lapping with one another as she placed her hand on his chest and turned her head. "We can't do this."
"Why?" His voice was muffled from sucking on her neck and unbuttoned his shirt. "We grown."
She moaned quietly at the feel tongue swirling on her neck. "We–this will confuse things."
Landon pulled back, biting his bottom lip, and removing his shirt. Her eyes trailed down the toned muscles. "Like I said, we grown. You either want..." he unzipped his jeans, "Or you don't."
"I'm spineless and a bitch remember?"
"And I'm a weak and a kiss-ass remember?" he unbuttoned her shorts with one hand.
"This is..." he kissed her, "horrible."
"It's just sex."
"It will be for me; but not you." She moved him back and sighed, "No amount of sex will bring us back together, Landon. The damage is already done. There's no snapping back for us."
Landon breathed deeply as he stared her in the eyes. "You're right."
"For stringing you along the last five years; I'm sorry. But there will be no more of... this between us." She stated, hopping off the pool table. She buttoned her shorts back and said, "I'm here to finish packing. That's it."
Nodding his head, he buttoned and zipped his jeans back. "You want my help?
"Just to wrap and pack the plaques. I can pick them up when I find a different place."
"I guess I can help you leave me." Landon start taking down the several plaques as she watched him for a moment, feeling slightly wrong for the way it ended between the two before she helped him.
BOXES FILLED THE HOTEL SUITE and she moved through them, fresh out the shower and in the cotton robe, to reach her ringing phone before it stopped. She grabbed the device, staring at who called before she answered. "Hey, Amaury."
"Hey. What are you doing right now?"
"Um, just about to have a glass wine and watch Independence Day or something. Why?" She asked, searching through the box of comfortable clothes.
"Why do that when a you can come pop firecrackers?" She could hear Amaury's smile through the line, "I know you told me you weren't doing anything with your family earlier and I don't want you to not do anything. Come spend it with me and my family."
"Uhm. . I don't know, Amaury. De is your baby father and he's Toby's brother. We're not on good terms so—"
"De doesn't like my family and vice versa so you have nothing to worry about neither one of them showing up. You coming? I'll even pick you up."
Anicia thought on her suggestion, weighing the options on rather she wanted to watch Will Smith in Independence Day and drink a glass of wine and popcorn or enjoy the loud sound of fireworks and eating on barbecue around a family even if it wasn't her own family.
"Okay, I'll send my location."
"Great. On the way."
After the call ended, Anicia done her makeup simple with eyeliner and clear lip gloss, with Gold bamboo earrings. Her slender body she clothed in a long sleeve, mesh fabric bodysuit and denim cutoff shorts. She was putting on her High Air Jordan Ones when Amaury let her know she was out front. She hooked the fanny-pack around her waist as she left her hotel and rode down the elevator. She walked quickly through the lobby and to the Dodge Durango awaiting her out front.
Amaury looked toward the passenger window and unlocked the doors when she seen Anicia approaching. As the door opened, she turned down the Layton Greene playing from the speakers when Anicia settled in the seat. "Hey. You look pretty."
"Thanks. So do you."
"You not scared of fireworks, are you?" Amaury asked as she pulled out the hotel's parking lot, "I know some people are."
"Nope. I love them—especially the big ones."
Anicia glanced at her big and round stomach. "You've grown so much since I last saw you. Don't you give birth soon?"
"Girl yes; next month and I'm ready to have this little boy because he's forever on my bladder." Amaury released a sharp breath. "You mentioned you and Toby aren't on good terms?"
"Oh, uh. . yeah. I hid something from him and he's not with that. So, now he's not talking to me." Anicia exhaled deeply, as she glanced at Amaury. "We... have a daughter."
Amaury's eyebrows raised in shock as Anicia continued, "She's nineteen. I hid it from them and now we're not speaking."
"Wow. . that's crazy." Amaury said, "I don't really know Toby that well but what I do know is he's a great father and don't play about his children. Y'all daughter in good hands. Trust me. Now, as for my baby daddy, I don't know."
"De'Aundre will be a good father, too, Amaury. Y'all are probably on bad terms but it doesn't have to interfere with you guys parenting your son. I mean I know everything isn't all bad."
"He doesn't touch me. . ." Amaury disclosed, nodding her head with pursed lips. "But the baby is used to his voice. He hear his father and he goes crazy. He used to rub my stomach and talk to the baby. Now he doesn't. He only talks and when I tell him the baby settled, he leaves. I feel we're really done. Really going through the divorce, done."
"The only advice I can give is don't force anything. If it's over, just let it be because forcing it will be much worser on you. Believe me, I know. As long as both of you are in your baby's life and doing what's in his best interest."
Amaury thought on her advice as she continued driving to her mother's house in Compton. The sky was fully dark and outside was lightening with firecrackers. Amaury drove her Durango down the neighborhood cautiously due to people in the streets finishing the fireworks that were already going. It finished and she drove passed before pulling into her mother's driveway.
Anicia smelled the scent of fireworks smoke and a barbecue grill when she got out. She walked around the front of the Durango to meet up with Amaury and approached the porch that a few men sat on.
"Damn, who baby?" One asked eying Anicia.
"None of y'all business." Amaury pulled Anicia in with her inside the house offering blasting music and overlapping chatter and laughter. She spoke to everyone she knew before heading to the kitchen where she found her mother and many of her aunties. "I got her out the house, Mama."
The thick framed woman with mocha brown skin smiled at Anicia immediately and hugged her. "I'm glad you could come babygirl. When Amaury told me you sitting the house I instantly told her to invite you."
"Thank you for thinking about me, Cara." Anicia offered a smile, "Smells good in here."
"Barbecue all outside. Help yourself. Take her, Amaury."
Her hand was grasped by Amaury and leaded out to the backyard where the rest of Amaury's family sat. Anicia followed her to the long rectangular table beside the barbecue grill. She start making her plate when she felt a hand touch the low of her back and heard, "Neva' thought I'd see you again, beautiful lady."
Anicia averted her eyes to her right and found the undeniably handsome gentleman, with soul-snatching blue eyes and smooth peanut butter skin. He was tall and toned, with a low fade and goatee. The corners of his lips was turned up and revealing his nice white teeth. "Hey, Shane."
Shane licked his full, pink lips. "I been askin' my sista' bigheaded ass bout you since I seen you at the baby shower. She wasn't tryna give me yo' number."
"She done right." Anicia faced him with a smile, "If you wanted my number you could ask yourself."
"Hm, that depends." he inched closer to her, "You single?"
"Very."
"Hm, me too." he grinned, as he walked close behind her whilst moving to the other side of her. "So that mean you wimme tonight."
"No, she's with me." Amaury chimed in, looping her arm with Anicia's. "Now back up Shane."
Shane sucked his teeth. "Don't cock block, big head." he looked at Anicia, "I'll see you tonight?"
Anicia smirked at him, walking away with Amaury.
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