Furthest Thing

Chapter 18

A week later...
Aubrey
Harmony don't think I been noticing but she's been distant the past week. She been coming home from work at 11 at night and leaving for work at seven, as if she's avoiding me. I haven't said anything but I ain't letting this go on too much longer. I woke up at six just so I can catch her before she leaves for work.
I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth when I heard Harmony's alarm go off. I heard her moving to stop her alarm. Then she got up and stopped.
"Aubrey?" she yelled out.
"Yeah?" I said back, leaning against the bathroom door frame.
She looked surprised. "Why are you up so early?"
"Got some business to handle. Why are you up so early is the question. You don't have to be at work until nine."
She sighed. "What is this supposed to be; you confronting me or something?" She pushed past me to go in the bathroom.
I frowned. "Just wanted to see what you're up to, that's all."
"Let's talk about what you've been up to." She turned to face me.
I was taken aback. "What have I been up to?"
She shook her head and started the shower. "Nothing. I gotta get ready."
I took the hint and walked out the bathroom. She closed the door as I grabbed my phone. I called August and went downstairs.
"Brah it's seven o' clock, in the morning." He yawned. "What's up?"
I looked back upstairs and walked onto the back patio. "Harmony acting weird, like as if she know about Jasmine." I whispered Jasmine name.
He was silent for a second. "How would she know though?"
"Man, I don't know. She could've went through my phone, but the only people that know is you, Chris, Trey, Dave and Nicki."
"Why Nicki?" He asked.
"She found out."
"From?" He yawned again.
"Dave punk ass. He says he 'let it slip.'"
August laughed. "Mane, you know Dave can't hold water."
"I know," I rubbed my face. "What about Harmony? What the hell I'm supposed to do about her?"
"Just don't sell yourself out. Don't assume she know, cause if you tell on yourself then that's it." He stated.
"Yeah, you right." I checked my watch. "Alright, I'm finna get back. She probably getting out the shower by now, I'll hit you back."
"Yeah." August hung up the phone.
I walked back in the house and walked upstairs. The shower was still running so I went back downstairs and went in the kitchen. I shot Jasmine a text.
Aubrey: Good morning bm
I opened the fridge to see half a gallon of milk and an unopened box of Trix. I grabbed both and a bowl before sitting them on the island. My phone vibrated on the countertop as I pour my milk into the bowl.
Jasmine: lol, a good morning text? haven't gotten one of those in a while. but good morning to you as well.
Aubrey: yeah, woke up on the right side of the bed I guess. what's your plans today?
I started to eat my cereal as I heard Harmony coming down the stairs. She had a towel wrapped around her body and her wet hair falling down her back. She went to the fridge and looked back at me.
"Guess I'm picking up breakfast." She stated before walking back upstairs.
I shook my head before my phone vibrated again.
Jasmine: going grocery shopping, then Justin's school. they got parent-teacher conferences after school.
Aubrey: did you call Manny like I told you to?
Manny is this amazing acting coach I know. I know about how Jasmine wants to be an actress so I thought I would hook her up.
I put my bowl as I finished my breakfast. I checked my watch to see it was 7:45. I went upstairs and entered the bedroom to see Harmony tucking her button down into her pencil skirt.
"That's a nice color. On you." I said. Harmony looked back at me before looking back into her body-length mirror. "Yeah, red just seems to compliment my complexion I guess."
She sat on the bed as she put on a pair of nude Louboutions.
"You fed Chanel already?" I asked, referring to her dog.
"Is this your way of making small talk?" She snapped.
I frowned. "Yo, what's your problem? I ain't even did nothing then all of a sudden, you been acting distant; coming home late and shit! If I ain't know any better, I'd think your ass was out here cheating on me!"
She got up wide-eyed. "Me? ME?! Of all fucking people, me?! If this ain't the pot calling the kettle black!"
"Girl, what the fuck you talking bout?" I scoffed.
"I'm not getting into this with you." She said, grabbing her tote and peacoat. "We can discuss this later."
I closed the door. "Nah, we discussing this shit now. What the hell you talking bout girl?"
"Aubrey, move out my way." She said, gritting her teeth.
I folded my arms across my chest. "Nope."
She rolled her eyes. "Real mature of you. How about you grow up?"
"How about you? You a grown ass woman, right?" I asked. "A grown ass woman don't do the petty shit you doing; walking around playing mad for attention."
"Nigga, if I wanted attention, all I gotta do is walk in a room. There's all the attention I need. Fuck you talking about?" She rebutted, scoffing.
"Bet that's why you been at the 'office' all night. Getting them niggas attention, huh?"
She rolled her eyes again, shifting her weight to her other foot. "Oh my god, can you move? I got a job to get to and I can't be late."
I moved over.
"Thank you, finally." She opened the door and began to walk downstairs. "Oh yeah, and I heard about Brandon coming to your job last week."
She stopped in her tracks and turned around. "Yeah. So what? He came to check on me. What's the problem?"
I smirked. "Nothing at all. Just a double standard. I can't even say hi to my ex without you wigging on me but you can hug up on your ex huh?"
"We wasn't hugged up." She responded quickly.
"Yeah, sure y'all wasn't. Next time, close your office door. You got a couple of females in your building who'll tell me anything to get me to dump ya ass." I closed the bedroom door before she could respond and went to take a hot shower.
Harmony
I was in my office with my Beats pill playing. The nerve of Aubrey! To say I was cheating on him. I scoffed. This nigga here.. I told Tiffany everything on my way to work and she told me she'd come visit me later on. So I been venting to Arabella all morning. But I'm guessing she was tired of me because she ended up falling asleep on my loveseat. I figured she was tired after her little rendezvous with Dale this morning.
I continued to type away on my computer as the time passed. Finally noon was approaching as Loren came over my intercom.
"I have Tiffany here for you, Ms. Daniels."
I pushed the respond button. "Send her in."
Mere seconds later, Tiffany was strutting into my office. She had on a white fitted knee length dress with lots of gold accessories, including Shaun's infamous triple gold chain links around her neck.
"Well, well. It's nice to see you babydoll." She smiled, pushing her shades onto her head.
I smiled back and came from behind my desk to hug her. "You smell amazing, what is that?"
"This new vanilla perfume Shaun got for me." She smirked. "But onto you. What's up with your dude?"
I sighed and sat on the edge of my desk. "Girl, it's so complicated. I don't even know, to be frank with you. I feel like it's something I don't know, you know?"
Tiff nodded. "Momma always said trust that first instinct. If you feel like something's going on, find out. Shouldn't be that hard, I mean this guy is a famous celebrity. Everybody's watching his every move."
"I know, that's why it's so hard to believe."
"Don't stress it." Tiffany sat her purse down and helped herself to a cup of coffee. "Aubrey's a upstanding guy. I'm pretty sure you're just being paranoid."
I sighed. "Maybe..."
She sipped her coffee before speaking again. "So what you doing for Halloween?"
I thought for a second. I completely forgot Halloween was in like three weeks. "I hadn't gave it much thought. Why, you got plans?"
Tiff smirked. "Don't I always? Chris and Kae are actually throwing a Halloween party in LA. Since you all are so close and what not, I figured you'd get a invite."
"I haven't talked to Kae in about two weeks. But we could definitely use the trip."
Tiff clapped. "Good. So this year, Halloween falls on a Saturday. So I say we leave for LA on Thrusday so we can settle in, go sightseeing and what not Friday then all day Saturday we can prepare for the party before coming back Sunday night."
I nodded. "That's a good plan. So you, me.."
"And Arabella of course."
I smiled before going online to book the flight. "Guess we're spending Halloween in LA."
Aubrey
I sat down in the chair at Big 5's barber shop. Ever since I started coming to Atlanta, I always came to Big 5 for a cut. Big 5 is exactly what he sounds like. A big dark skinned 6'6 dude, weighing about 260. But he real clean cut; his beard nice and trimmed and his hair stays cut of course.
"Just a line today, man?" He asked, putting the drape on me.
"Yeah, and clean up the part."
He nodded before starting on my head.
Dave sat in the corner on his phone as Dime, Big 5's girl, swept the floor so they could close.
"How's your new girl, Drake?" Dime asked, smiling at me. "I see her in all the magazines now and on all the blogs."
I smirked. "She good, she just been tripping lately."
"You think she know?" Big 5 asked.
Of course, Big 5 knows about the baby. Dime is Jasmine's baby sister, so of course she told Big 5. I would've never guessed Dime and Jas were sisters. Of course, they favor a little bit, but Dime is extra ratchet. She's loud, ratchet and has bad ass four kids. I don't know how or why Big 5 stays with her. Must be the box.
"Nah," I ran my tongue across my teeth. "Ain't no way she could."
Dime popped her gum loudly before checking the clock. "Well, just know me or Jas ain't say nothing. As long as that money keep flowing in," She chuckled. "You won't hear a peep from us."
I noticed Dave shook his head in the corner.
I gave a dry chuckle. "Yeah alright."
"Speaking of Jas, she's suppose to be dropping by later on today to get Justin hair cut. You heard from her?"
"I spoke to her early, Justin had a parent-teacher conference so she should be by here in like a hour." I spoke before my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out as I read the message.
Harmony: Going to LA for Halloween. Got invited to a party. Me, Arabella and Tiff got a flight for 2:30 that Thursday.
My face scrunched up after I finished reading.
"Something up?" I heard Dave say.
I looked up at him then back to my phone. "Nah. Nah, it's straight."
I just locked my phone and put it back in my pocket. I'll have this talk with her face to face later on tonight.

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Tiffany is on the side.