ICU TOO

Chapter Thirty-Six

Crystal

"Good morning..." I said walking out the guest bedroom. "Thanks for letting me crash here." I said as Novi came out the kitchen with a mug of coffee.

"No problem . I've been pretty lonely with Tess in Montana." Novi said shrugging. "I'm so glad she comes home soon." She said sitting down on the couch.

I did go for a run last night but a short one. Afterwards, I didn't want to go back home. I didn't want to go back home and let Devale be right. So, I came to the one person who would open their door for me without judgment.

I sat down with her and leaned my head back. My eyes closed and I yawned softly.

"Still sleepy?" Novi asked me.

"More like exhausted." I said shaking my head.

"Well you were up until 2am eating every snack in my pantry..." she said making me laugh.

"I'm sorry. I'll buy more."

"That's between you and your niece." She said putting her hand up.

"Novi I just don't get how he can be so dishonest and then have the nerve to call me a selfish bitch. Me, selfish?" I said getting mad all over again.

Novi sat up and looked at me, shaking her head.

"You and Devale are so cute." She said softly.

"What?" I ask confused.

"You guys clearly love each other. Every time something is going good you have to find a way to sabotage it. You two like drama." Novi said shrugging. "It's your way of foreplay."

"I think this is more than dramatic foreplay. I think that the man I married is a liar and inconsiderate." I said shaking my head. "He's sneaky too, paying her rent like she's his girlfriend or something." I mumbled.

Novi just giggled and shook her head.

"It's always something." I said as my phone started ringing.

I picked it up to see Terrell's name on my screen. It's probably just Devale calling from his phone to bug me.

The audio call turned into a FaceTime call. So I got worried and decided to answer.

"Hey." I said as Terrell's face popped up.

"Um dad is drunk," Terrell said making Novi and I look at each other. "Well, he's hungover. I think. I don't know." He said shaking his head.

"Okay, I'm on my way. Where's your brother and sister?" I ask him.

"DJ is eating cereal and Bella is crying. I can't get her to stop. I think she needs a new diaper." Terrell nodded walking into her room.

He turned the camera so I could see Bella. She was crying obnoxiously and her diaper was indeed dirty. I bit my lip and stood up.

"I'm on my way home. Just change your sister and I'll be there." I said rushing to grab my keys.

Terrell hung up and I opened the door.

"I'll bring you these sweats back," I tell Novi as put my shoes on.

"Okay." She said. "I hope everything is okay." She mumbled.

"It's always something." I said before leaving.

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When I got home, the house was completely silent. Bella wasn't even crying anymore. I walked around the house and finally spotted Terrell in Devale and I's bedroom.