Pride

Chapter Fourteen

Shakyra Smalls

"I don't understand, why do I stress the man, when there's so many bigger things at hand?"

-Tears Dry on Their Own; Amy Winehouse

"Bitch, he sent me two hundred dollars."

I threw a glance over at Ketara who sat on my left side in a state of shock. We both decided to get our feet done first since our nail techs were running a little over with their appointment before us. I was getting ready to lay my head back and relax. I'd already dipped my feet in the water when I heard Ketara's exclamation that pulled me out of my zone.

"Say what?" I questioned, as Ketara shoved her phone in my face. Upon reading the notification from CashApp my eyes bulged out.

"Bitch..."

"Exactly."

"Girl, something going on you wanna tell me about?" I questioned, "You givin' it up like that?"

"You know I have yet to..." Ketara said, slightly affronted at the idea,

I laughed and shrugged, "I'm sorry, Kiki. I just...I just know Louis."

I did. I mean, this was my best friend after Ketara. I was shocked at the display because I knew my friend had a bad habit of running through and tossing chicks. I wanted to warn my friend to tread carefully because although I had love for Louis, I didn't love how he treated girls. Although, truth be told he never played games. It was just how harsh he was with them in the end. Even though I was upset that Tinashe had Louis jumped, once I calmed down I let it go. Louis had a devil-may-care attitude with girls once he was finished having his fun.

It didn't always sit well.

"I wouldn't even know what to do with two hundred dollars." Ketara said, "I was just playing when I said what I said."

"Apparently he's not."

I thought of the story that Ketara told me when we finally met up later that fated day. I had to admit to gasping more than was necessary although I shouldn't have been surprised. Louis never hid his motives, ever. Besides that, I had to admit that he never could when it came to Ketara. Whether he disliked her or such as the case now, he always went for broke. The more I thought about it I had to admit that I respected it. Not to say that I liked how he treated her beforehand. I hated it. I loathed it. I thought it was corny how he was ready to jump ship and be the first in line to get with her knowing he should be almost at the back of the line.

I saw that he was willing to work to get her, though. I also noticed something in my friend when she spoke about him as of late. She became noticeably softer. She was guarded but paying attention to her really and truly she was very attracted to him. I was unsure whether her changes spurred it on or whether they both had always been attracted to each other and it was manifesting in a different way. It was a little too complicated to understand.

"This is too much. I'm not even about to..."

"Kiki. Really?" I questioned, "You're sending it back?"

"Yes. If I spend it there's going to be an expectation that I'm not ready to meet yet."

"Ketara. This is Louis...and I don't think you get it so let me spell this out for you. You're...not a typical chick to him."

"Okay?"

"In other words, this isn't about sex. Don't get me wrong, he definitely wants to have it but from what I'm seeing this is more about...doing whatever makes you happy. It's my best guess, anyway."