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This book contains mature themes, explicit language, and scenes of a sexual nature intended for adult audiences only. It is rated R and is not suitable for readers under the age of 18.
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This book also includes depictions o...
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Onika Maraj Parent's Home
November 28
It had been three weeks since that day, and I finally felt healed-physically and emotionally. I'd moved into a new place, and only a few people had my new address: my closest friends, Beyoncé, Solange, and Kelly.
These past weeks, we'd grown even closer, and some of us, closer than most. Solange and Rihanna had made things official, and honestly, they couldn't keep their hands off each other.
It was cute, though.
Today, I was at my parents' house for Thanksgiving. The warmth of the house, the smell of the food, the laughter-all of it reminded me how far I'd come.
I looked down at my nephew, Kam, who was sitting on my lap. I scooped a bit of dressing onto the spoon and brought it to his mouth.
"Kam, you want more?" I asked, smiling at him.
He nodded eagerly, his little face lighting up.
"Yeah!" he said, his tiny hands grabbing at the spoon before I could even bring it closer.
I laughed and helped him take a bite. "Slow down, little man. You're gonna choke."
Kam grinned, his mouth full of potatoes, and pointed at the turkey on my plate.
"I want that one," he mumbled, still chewing.
"Okay, baby" I said.
My father took a long sip of his tea, his eyes scanning the table before settling on me and Lauren. "So, how's life for my girls?"
Lauren spoke up first, as usual. "Busy, but good," she said, offering a warm smile. "Work is non-stop. Between shifts at the hospital and taking care of Kam, I barely have time for myself. But... it's going well. I'm grateful."
She glanced down at Kam, who was still happily munching on his food in my lap.
Our mom nodded proudly, then turned her attention to me. "And you, Nicki?" she asked.
I smiled, keeping my answer short and sweet. "Everything's good. I'm happy."
"What about you and Trevante?" he asked.
I looked up at him, pausing for a moment. "What about him?"
"I haven't seen you two together in a minute," he said, looking at me curiously.
I popped a piece of turkey into my mouth, chewing slowly before replying. "And you won't."
He raised an eyebrow. "Does this mean you're single?"
I wiped my mouth, setting my fork down. "Yeah."
The room went quiet for a moment, an awkward tension filling the air.
