Page 18 of The Ninth
Me: Papa, I’m sorry! I dropped my phone under the couch.
K3: WHERE THE FUCK YOU BEEN ALL NIGHT AND MORNING?!
Me: I worked and then came home!
“ATCHOOO!”
The entire house went quiet including the phone. Juan looked back at me, halfway through the door. He laughed quietly, putting his hands in a prayer position. I swear I didn’t mean to! he mouthed. I pointed to the hallway and he left.
K3: Aye, are you fucking crazy? I know that ain’t no fucking nigga in that apartment, Cassandra!
Me: Kenzo, what are you talking about?!
K3: YOU THINK I’M FUCKING SLOW, CASSIE?
Me: No, Kenzo. I’m just here with Tati, Kenzie, and Devyn.
“Nah, your rude ass cousin gone! Shorty bogus as hell, just walked straight by us without saying anything,” Tatianna rolled her eyes.
“What?!” My shoulders slumped forward as I made my way to the stools in the kitchen.
All night I kept playing in my head that I’ma wake up and apologize to Devyn. I don’t like making anyone upset, which is why my chest is caving that K3 heard Juan. The thought of Juan while on the phone with my nigga repulsed me. I could tell K3 wasn’t buying anything I was selling.
K3: Cassie.
Me: I’m still here, K3.
K3: Folks, what you doing, folks?
He sighed, stressed. My face dropped.
Me: Baby, the last thing I want is to make your time more stressful or harder than it’s been. I promise, Papa. I’m just at home with the girls.
K3: Put Kenzie on the phone so I can ask her if a nigga there.
We all laughed.
Tatianna: DAMN, YOU CAN’T ASK ME?!
K3: I’d rather ask Ponochio.
After some laughs and reassurance, everything was straight. Or he made it seem that way. I had no doubt that Man-Man would be doing a pop-up soon. I also didn’t doubt that K3 wouldn’t let this go. Once a red flag is up with him, its stuck.
My chest felt warm speaking to my man and friends while guilt waded in my belly. I sat eating Juan’s food with Juan’s hickies all over my chest.
I have to leave this nigga alone. I have to.
Chapter 4: Inked
Devyn’s POV
“Oh! Hi, De—OH?!” MacKenzie yelled as I stormed past her and Tatianna. I heard Tatianna call me a stank bitch as the door shut behind me. Cassie wasn’t even out the room and awake. The thought of them having keys and being able to enter whenever annoyed the fuck out of me.
I fidgeted with my nails as the elevator got lower and lower. My mind was just too fucking angry to even form a thought. Once I made it to the lobby, I ignored everyone smiling and speaking to me. It wasn’t until I hit the fresh air that I allowed myself to just...breathe.
I’m annoyed. I’m irritated. I’m disappointed. I’m sad. There’s just so many fucking feelings I felt. Our family and I trusted I would be safe and in good company with Cassie. All that’s happened since I arrived is chaos. My life in danger. Situations that Cassie felt she had control over but she really didn’t. How the fuck can I trust her?
I’m not one of those girls that calls every nigga my friend fucks with “bro.” I don’t condone cheating. Cheating is the main reason I never went back to Louisville. Dating multiple men is one thing, but the way she poured her heart out to that nigga on the phone and then just fucked another in the apartment he pays for? It’s clear she only gives a fuck about herself.
