Strictly Business (Larry Bourgeois Fanfiction)

Chapter 8;

"Monica where's your mans?Auntie tells me you have one now?" My cousin Aubry asks obnoxiously.
"He went back to Paris earlier today."
I push my fork full of collard greens into my mouth looking at her.
"Hm a French man."
"Yep"
Leslie rolls her eyes laughing to herself.
My family are all set at the dinner table talking and celebrating Leslie graduating from High School top of her class,but my dear cousin Aubry always seems to find a way to come at me.No matter what it's about,she'll find a way.
"Dad" I whine to my father.
He laughs shaking his head ever so slightly "Yes Monica."
"Where's my surprise?Momma said I'll get it at dinner."
"You're so childish,your surprise will be here any minute."
I roll my eyes before picking up my glass of Sprite.
"When do we get meet your boyfriend Monica?" My aunt Sandra asks..see where Aubry gets it from?
"Him and his brother comes back to LA two weeks from now to start tour with Beyoncé"
"Beyoncé?You're dating one of Les Twins?"Aubry asks "When?How..Monica spill it."
"We met at work,no big deal.But if you guys come to LA you can meet him." I shrug my shoulders slightly right before the doorbell rings.
"I wonder who that could be?"My mom says smirking as my dad went to the door.
It was silent for a while and then a tall light skin man with army attire made himself present in the dinning room. My dear older and most favorite cousin Andre smiles at me widely.
"What you don't miss me?"
I sit in my seat in shock as I have to process what's going on.I haven't seen my cousin for 7 years since he stationed over seas.At that time I was so selfish and didn't want my best friend to leave me.We did literally everything together,gosh we was just so close.
"Earth to Monica,damn girl." Andre finally speaks again.
I run out of my seat practically jumping on Andre.He laughs as I wrap my legs around his waist and my arms loosely around his neck.
"Hey Monica." Andre says between laughs.
"Are you staying home forever?Don't go back Andre."
I hear laughter come from behind me.
"Yeah,I'm staying home forever."
"Oh my gosh,really?"
I get off of him smiling widely.
"Yeah I miss you guys,I hate being homesick.Plus a little birdie tells me you have a new boyfriend,thought I should get to know him huh?"
I roll my eyes smirking "You'll scare him away."
"I won't,I promise."
"I'm keeping you to your word."
"Alright you two,come sit and eat." My mom says pointing to seat I was in moments ago.
I sit down at the table and Leslie kindly moves over so Andre could sit next to me.
My mom hands Andre a plate of his favorite foods before they both sit down.
"Of course auntie is still throwing down in the kitchen" He says taking bite of oxtail. "So please Monica,why don't you educate me on your boyfriend."
"Maybe later."
"So baby cousin,graduating top of your class huh?Smart ass"
"You know how we Durhams' do.Never settle for less" Leslie says smiling. "Monica,help me with dessert?"
"Okay?"
Once we made it to the kitchen,she smiles at me.
"Did you ask momma?"
"Yeah,she said she has to talk it over with dad"
"Okay cool."
"What'sup?"
"Nothing,it's just-" Leslie stops herself before shaking her head,a tear slowly falls down her cheek. "You know I haven't seen Kian in a while but it comes to find out that he uh-"
She takes a deep breath looking at me.Her hazel eyes is turning a faint red from the salty tears falling from them. "He cheated on me and got the girl knocked up."
"Oh no,baby girl,I'm sorry"
I pull my sister into a hug as she let out silent cries in the crook of my neck.
"Is there something wrong with me?Why does he keep doing to this.He said he'll stop and look what happened"
"Break things off with him,he keeps doing it because you're still sticking around so he thinks it's okay for him to."
"That's what everyone says,but I love him."
Kian and Leslie grew up together,known each other since pre-k.They've always been close and didn't start "dating" till their freshman year of high school which everyone knew was bound to happen.But it seems that this 6'0,captain of the football dick of a jock showed his true colors.He use to always be over at the apartment to chill with Leslie and do homework and stuff but it seemed to stop happening a little over a month ago.
Leslie didn't think of much it but I always assumed something was up whenever he'll give the same excuse,"College tours"
"I know Les,but you need to break things off.You're going off to college soon,you'll meet new people,and don't you ever think for one second that something's wrong with you.Kian's just an asshole"
"Okay,I will."
"Or do you want Andre to do it?"
"Contemplating on that,I just might take up on that offer."
I laugh squeezing Leslie before letting her go.
"Let's get you cleaned up"
*
My brother and I finally landed. I rub my eyes looking at my phone to see the time, 10:45.
I follow slowly behind Laurent as we walk to baggage claim.Keeping my eyes on my phone,I went through my contact list to find Monica's number,she might still be up even though it's 1 am in Cali. I press call for Monica's number.She finally answered after three rings.
"Hi Larry" Monica sings
Oh how I miss her soft voice "What'sup belle"
"Nothing,watching a movie with Andre and Leslie."
"Who's Andre?" I ask furrowing my eyebrows."
"My cousin love."
"Oh okay,I thought you'd be sleep.Thank goodness you're not,I miss your voice belle."
"Just my voice?"
"And you of course" I laugh to myself catching up with my brother.
"I miss you too love,I'll be there before you know it."
"How was your family dinner?"
I pick up my bag from off the turning thingy before throwing it over my shoulder.Laurent once again leads the way to the exit where we have to wait for Diablo.
"It was okay.They all kept asking about you."
"Seems like someone's very special in Durham household."
"Don't flatter yourself"
"Oh,make sure to pack something nice."
"Why?Where are we going?"
"Don't worry about that belle."
"But I hate surprises,tell me please"
"Nope"
"What if I don't like it?"
"I remember every detail you've ever told me.I'm pretty sure you'll like it."
"I better."
I let out a laugh shaking my head "Okay belle,imma let you go,sweet dreams."
"Bye Lar"
I hang up the phone to find Laurent staring at me.
"What?"
"Y'all got me wanting to call Kayla."
"Then call her?"
"She's probably sleep."
"You won't know till you call her." I roll my eyes shaking my head.
I hate when Laurent gets this when he's geeking over a girl.He's scared to call her first and shit,he's just being childish.I watch him hesitantly call Kayla.Now let me tell you,he must really like Kayla because my dear twin brother is a manipulative flirt,more so than I am.He's usually so confident and cocky with the French boyish charm he puts on his interests.
A cheesy smile forms on my brothers face "Hi Kayla"
Damn,I'd wish Diablo would hurry up,I want to go home and sleep.
And just as I was having thoughts about getting tangled in my soft white satin sheets,Diablo pulls up right in front of us.He pops the trunk open before getting out the car to greet my brother and me.
"What'sup loser," Diablo says as we do a handshake we made up years ago.
"Not much punk"
As he goes to talk to my brother,Lau waves his free hand and shakes his head.Diablo furrows his eyebrows at me pointing to Lau.
"His love interest he met in Cali."
"Of course,alright let's go, I bet y'all tired."
I put my bag in the trunk before getting in the passengers' seat.Once Lau put his bag in the trunk,he closed it before sliding into the back seat still on the phone with Kayla.
"Hope you took really good care of our apartment D." I say looking at him sternly.
"I made sure it stayed clean don't worry." He says while pulling off.
My brother and I bought a big ass apartment in the middle of the city just to have so we wouldn't have to go to a hotel whenever we came home.We left it upon Diablo to take care it for us while we took long trips.
My brother and I probably wasted a good 60 grand on something we barely need.A three bedroom, three bathroom apartment with basically windowed walls in the living room to get a nice view of the city and huge windows in every bedroom.Plus we got in furnished when we really only need the basic kitchen,bathroom,bedroom necessities.But it never seemed to cross our mind to sell it.
"So if Laurent found a love interest did you find anyone or are you still-"
"I did actually,you'll meet her in a few days."
"Gotta give me more than that."
"Her name is Monica,she's 22 and has a four year old."
I could hear Lau lowly saying bye to Kayla."What are we talking about?" Lau asks
"Larry's girl Monica,22 with a four year old?" He makes a slight laugh shaking his head "Wonder what her life style is like."
Laurent loudly takes in breath of air before coughing.I completely understand what Diablo is implying about my girl but I just want to make sure that I'm right.
"What you mean?" I ask grinning
"She's a hoe?A groupie even,like those girls that practically themselves at you and your brother.I thought you said you was done with those types of girls."
Bingo ...
My brother starts humming songs loudly as he thinks I'm going to go ham on our dear friend.
"Lau what is up with you?"
"You just made the worst assumption ever about Larry's girl,I'm surprised he's not going off yet."
"Only because he didn't know."
"I'm sorry man,it's just ever since the whole incident- have you told her?"
"Bits and pieces."
"When do you plan on telling her if you don't mind me asking."
"As soon as she gets here,just to clear the air.."
"Do you love her?"
"I-uh,I mean-"
"Oh look we're home" Laurent says loudly as Diablo pulls up in front of the apartment building.
"Alright see y'all losers later"
"Bet"
My brother and I get out of the car and got our bags before walking inside the building.
Seems like nothing's changed since we last was here.
My brother and I make our to way to the elevator.Lau presses the button and the door open quickly before we step in.
"I forget the floor" Lau admits.
"10" I say as I press the number.
The door closes and my brother looks at me.
"Do you love her?"
"Drop it Lau."
"Don't lead her on man,she's-"
"I know Lau,I mean sometimes I wish I never met her.I'm not good enough for her,she gives me her all but I just can't do that."
"Monica is not Kiana man."
Lau shakes his head obviously unpleased with the sudden truth of my actions.
"Can we just drop it."
His phone buzzes in his hand and quickly looks at the notification on it.Lau answers back whom ever text him before locking his phone.
The elevator opens and we get out to walk down the long white and black painted hallway.
As we get to the end of the hallway where our apartment is,Lau searches inside the plant placed by our door for the key.Since we're always traveling,we're just scared to misplace our apartment keys.He opens the door to our sunny apartment as the all the curtains for our wall of windows are drawn open.
Laurent drops the keys in the bowl by the door before walking off to his room closing the door behind him.
I let the apartment door close behind me as I set my bag down before slumping on the black leather couch placed in the center of the living room.
It was weird telling my feelings to my brother.It was even weirder admitting it to myself.
Like I said earlier,she gives me her all,she's honest with me about everything but sadly all I give back is my half ass truth.
I just hate the concept of love so much that it effects the girl that I really want to be with.Why am I so afraid to fall for someone just because of someone in my past.Plus in all honesty,I'm terrified out of my mind about how fast we fell for each other.
She's too special for a half ass relationship because I'm too scared to move on.