MILF {COMPLETED}

25

Chapter Twenty Five: In The Bijoux.

Houston, Texas
March 13th
Nadine Bijoux

"You look real..." Tenaka had her hand all in my face.

"Right," That was Mia, sipping from her watermelon juice.

My old roommates from college, but they felt like sisters. Further than Beyoncé, Black, and I, but way closer than me and Cameron's homeboys.

I needed conversation and people that weren't already surrounded by the atmosphere we had here. I had been so caught up these last few months that there was no time for me, and me only.

I refrained from bothering my taller but smaller bookend. She had a baby under one that was hooked to her hip, and a pregnant girlfriend that was more emotional than she was when Beyoncé came into her life. She was building a life of her own, becoming the family woman that I wanted to be at twenty-six, but I was proud of my girl. Her parents would be proud, if they knew more.

"Real what?" I asked.

"Different."

"Young," Tenaka said.

"Well thank you for telling me how young I look despite my prehistoric age."

Tenaka giggled, and the deep dimple in her right cheek peeked out at me, reminded me of the dimples that Cameron possessed, "Not like that, and you know it. Hush. I just mean you look different boo."

I let my hair be its natural self, had stopped letting Shyanne cornrow my hair and started letting her give my fro some love. Cameron, Ebony, and I had gotten coordinating tattoos in various sizes, in various places. Ebony had a sun around her bedazzled belly button, frayed and lively like herself.

Cameron had a moon above his bleeding angel with the initials E and N scribbled in a way that only we could see. I had a trail of stars from my collarbone to my shoulder. It was Ebony's idea, Cameron's mother. She tattooed us without questioning her son of our status. I was glad she didn't ask, because I didn't know.

My wardrobe became one of the woman with no worries, though I had many. My 30 had mimicked Ebony's 25, and her 25 had inspired Cameron's 27.

Chocolate lipstick had turned into light pinks and berry punches. I didn't recognize me, but damn, she was cute.

"Thanks."

"What's wrong?" Mia reached over the table and held my hand, rubbed her thumb over the back.

I shrugged my shoulders. Didn't know. Didn't know much of anything anymore. Highs were high and lows were so goddamn low.

"Weather, probably."

"It does get depressing this time of year, doesn't it?"

"Very," I agreed, fought with myself to keep all of this inside me, but obviously Tenaka and Mia were here for a reason.

I felt like a mistress, felt like Ms. Robinson before the fat ring and the isle.

"What's up Di? We know you got your own bookends so you calling us is a bit outlandish. What's up baby bird?"

They were both four years my senior, had more experience than I, hoped they had personal experience in my dilemma.

"My bookends became a little complicated over these last few months."

"Heard your girl's got a baby."

"We were just over to the house for her 7 month party," I smiled. If Beyoncé did anything, she'd go all out for a birthday that Ivory wouldn't even remember. I remembered one night we were all catching up and becoming pages of one book again. She had Ivory on her back, clipped to her like a cub to her mama bear, planning her first party down to the sequins. She was happy, becoming a mother, stepping so heavily into motherhood.