Even after Paris fell asleep Shane couldn't bring his mind to rest. He lay there with his wife on his chest, listening to her breathe as he thought about everything they talked about. Everything she told him and the part he played in all of it.
It was going on 8:00 am when he realized he had dozed off. The automatic blinds he had installed were doing their job, even though the sun was beaming the room was pitch black as he maneuvered his way from under Paris without waking her.
As Shane descended the stairs, he noticed Jessica in the kitchen, seated at the island with a bowl of cereal. The news played in the background on the 70" of Shane's apartment.
"Cereal?" he inquired, taking a seat beside her.
"I can do many things, Shane Carter, but cooking is not one of them," she said with a chuckle, nearly coaxing a smile from him.
"I'll be unavailable today. If any issues come up, you or my brother can manage, me and Paris flying to Cali today," he informed her.
Jessica smiled, "Understood," she responded promptly.
"How is she?" she queried.
"Not good," he answered, glancing up from a text message, "but I'm handling it."
Jessica nodded, "Do you know what you want me to tell Zorah?" She asked
"You can tell her it's a go," He replied, not even giving it much thought. He had other things on his mind.
"Okay, well let me know if you need anything. I'm about to head out." She replied as she got up to place her bowl in the sink.
"Alright," Shane replied
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Kelsey observed Shamar entering the kitchen just as she was finishing breakfast. He had woken up, showered, brushed his teeth, and then went straight to the gym. She hadn't seen him since. However, she did get a text from Jessica early around 6 am.
'Just a heads up, I followed up on your suspicion and it came up in a conversation between me, Shane, and Paris last night. He knows.' the message said. Kelsey rolled her eyes upon reading it.
She was glad that Shane was finally in the know, but she was aware that Paris wouldn't share her perspective and would be upset she spoke up. She was surprised she hadn't woken up with a text from her as well, but then again, Paris was known to pull away when angry.
"You gonna tell me what's going on with you & Paris?" Shamar asked as he leaned against the kitchen counter
Kelsey twisted her face, "What do you mean?" She asked, already knowing what he meant. His brother had sent him to see if she had any more information.
"Shane called me earlier, he said he taking some time off to go to Cali with Paris."
"And what does that have to do with me and her?" She asked as she served the kids food on their plates
"He told me what you told Jessica, and you think I haven't noticed how you and her barely talk these days?"
Kelsey shook her head, "Well if you know all of that you know why me and her are barely talking." She replied
"Because of the pills?" He asked
Rolling her eyes, Kelsey sighed, "No, because she didn't see it as a problem. She was in denial and didn't want me to tell you all, so she kept her distance, and I respected that. Of course, I still checked on her. But she's an adult and my sister. I'm not about to go running my mouth to you or your brother unless it's absolutely necessary. And when it seemed necessary, I told Jessica." She replied, placing her hand on her hip and shrugging before turning back to her task.
