Page 161 of Certified To Handle You 2

“That’s beautiful,” Toni said after a few seconds. “How you feel?”

“I’m shocked,” Sha’Nelle answered through the phone. “I’m still takin’ all this shit in.”

“Tell Couture I said congratulations,” Toni replied.

“I will,” Sha’Nelle said back.

I stood here with my eyes on the bathroom door while the news settled in my head.

Two weeks ago, Renza had bought an engagement ring for Sha’Nelle. Now she was on FaceTime showin’ Toni a ring from another nigga.

This shit was about to tear my cousin apart.

I heard Toni say she was gon’ call Sha’Nelle back once she really got by herself. Then she told her she loved her, and the call ended a few seconds later.

I moved away from the door before Toni could open it and walked toward the dresser. I pulled one of the drawers open and started lookin’ through it like I had been searchin’ for somethin’ the whole time.

The bathroom door opened, and Toni walked back in the room with her phone still in her hand. I kept my back halfway turned toward her before glancin’ over my shoulder.

“Wussup with ‘Nelle?” I asked while movin’ a few shirts around in the drawer.

Toni paused for half a second before answerin’. “She just wanted to show me somethin’.”

I turned around and looked at her. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah,” Toni replied, but her eyes moved away from mine too quick.

I nodded slowly while lettin’ my gaze travel over her face. “It look like you wanna go back in that room.”

Toni cut her eyes at me and shook her head. “I’on know what you talkin’ about.”

“You know exactly what I’m talkin’ about,” I said while closin’ the drawer. “You carryin’ phone calls in bathrooms now.”

Toni looked toward My’Love before walkin’ toward the bedroom door. “I’m about to go grab night clothes for My’Love.”

I watched her leave without sayin’ nothin’ else.

There wasn’t no point in pressin’ her ‘cause I already heard what I needed to hear. Sha’Nelle was engaged, and Toni hadevery intention of hidin’ that shit from me long enough to keep me from tellin’ Renza.

I looked toward My’Love sleepin’ in the middle of our bed while my mind went back to my cousin with that ring box in his hand.

I had never seen Renza that serious about any woman. He talked about houses, marriage and children like Sha’Nelle had changed everything he once believed about himself.

Now another nigga had beaten him to it.

I knew I had to tell him. There wasn’t no way I could let Renza keep buildin’ plans around a woman who had already agreed to become somebody else’s wife.

Toni wasn’t gon’ like it, and Sha’Nelle damn sure wasn’t gon’ want him knowin’. None of that changed what I had to do, though.

Some news hurt worse when it came from somebody else.

At least if it came from me, Renza would know he had his people beside him when that shit finally reached his heart.

The next day…

For the past two weeks, I was movin’ around like I had somethin’ to prove to myself.

Every day, I woke up with Sha’Nelle on my mind and spent the rest of the day tryna put pieces together before I went back after her. I ain’t call or text from no fake number, and I ain’t pull no crazy shit to make her talk to me. That alone was probably the most patience I had ever shown anybody in my life, but I needed to do this shit right.