Web of Deceit

Fat A*s Friends

The rest of the weekend is pretty anticlimactic. AJ and I finish setting up the baby's room. We put stuff away. Set up shelves and a coat rack at the front door. It felt good to do something normal. AJ was preparing to fly back to Cali soon. I was definitely gonna miss my brother. He always had a way of making his presence felt no matter where he was though.

"Em, when does Big Head get here," yelled AJ from upstairs. " She said she should be here by 2," I yell back. " No empieces con ella" ( don't start sh*t with her)." "No promises, hermana." AJ rushes down the stairs. As he comes to a stop, I look at him from head to toe. "Did you shave and put on cologne, bro?" "I shave regularly Em, and I wear cologne every day," is his reply. "Yeah okay, AJ you have been a grizzly for the last week and you barely got dressed. Is this for Stacia? I know you still have feelings," I say.

"Look, don't start that sh*t Em. I am fresh because that's who I am. As for ol Big Head, that ship sailed a long time ago. I have someone I'm seeing in Cali. Her name is Lucia and she has a fat a*s."

"Really, Lucia with the fat a*s? That is what she is to you? You not serious about her," I tell him. "What do you mean, I like her. We've been seeing each other for a few months," he starts to raise his voice.

"A few months, huh? You have been in New York for weeks and at my house all weekend. How come you are only now mentioning her? Have you even called her since you got here?"

"Man chill Em!! You always gotta be all up in something."

"Me, I didn't bring up FatA*s Lucia," I shout. "All I said was you put some effort into getting dressed today when you haven't all weekend. You got all loud and emotional on me," I snicker.

"See here you go. Lucia and I are cool. We don't need to be up each other's asses. I talked to her yesterday anyway. I got dressed just in case we go somewhere. Calm yo ass down, you upsetting my princess in there, Meldy."

As I open my mouth, I hear a knock at the door. I walk back over, but AJ opens it first. "Hey, Big Head!! I see you still on your Nubian queen sh*t!!," AJ says with the door wide open. I step up to see my bestie mush him right in the face. "Shut yo dumb a*s up. The first thing you do when you see me is start. Aren't you living across the country? Like, deada*s why are you here" questions Stacia.

"Hermano, brah.... I asked you not to start. She hasn't even gotten in the door. Move so she can get in the house. I swear you be buggin yo." I push AJ out of the way so that Stacia can come all the way into the house. As she takes off her coat, Stacia looks around the living room. "Mel, I love it. This is so you. I can't wait to see the art you will bring into this space. Maybe warm up one of the walls with a pop of color."

"See chica, you get it. I knew as soon as you got here we'd be vibing. Let me take your bags upstairs and show you the rest," I tell her. "Upstairs, why would her stuff be going upstairs, Em," asks AJ. "Cause that is where she is staying, in the guest room, AJ," I deadpan. "What about me," he whines. "Bro, you are going home tomorrow. Why are you acting like we didn't already talk about this, you can use a blow-up bed in the baby's nursery or take the couch. You're being a weirdo right now," I say.

I grab Stacia's bag from the floor. I turn to AJ and shove it in his hands. "Be a gentleman and take this upstairs, please. Plus aren't you in a hurry to get to your fata*s friend Lucy," I ask? "Lucia," he interrupts. " Don't worry about her, I haven't confirmed my flight yet. I wanted to make sure you were really good up here before I fly out. It's so close to Christmas, I may just head back to the City. I can work from there for a week or so then head back up here to celebrate with you. Maybe talk you into doing New Year's in Cali."