𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐎𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐮𝐬𝐭

Leftovers & Left Behinds

The air in Lovely's kitchen always smelled like a mixture of pine-sol and bleach. On this day the slow simmering pot of greens and smoked turkey necks on the stove gave the room a savory aroma. It was a scent that usually made Donnie's mouth water. It was just something about being back in the nest and smelling a good home cooked meal usually soothed her nerves. Instead the wooden chair felt like a witness stand. Donnie was on trail and her nanna was the prosecutor, grilling the fuck out of her. The crime she was accused of committing was being a terrible friend. Donnie kept her head down, avoiding the sharp knowing eyes across the table as she peeled skin off a piece of fried chicken.

"You haven't touched your food. Mac and cheese doesn't taste the same when it gets cold. Is there something wrong?" Lovely asked, her voice smooth but heavy with an impending storm.

" Hell yeah something's wrong. I ain't seen or talked to my bitch in days." Donnie thought to herself. Kenya's absence had her wanting to shout that song by Carl Thomas at the top of her fucking lungs because it was true. She wishes she had never met Kenya that day at the club. She didn't need her nanna snooping in her business any further, so she kept her answer simple.

" Nah, everything looks and smells good. I'm just not that hungry right now. I'll wrap it up and take it with me when I leave." She said, Silence fell upon them briefly while Love figured out a way to address the elephant in the room.

" I spoke with Alexis the other day. I tried doing something different with my hair and it turned out to be a mess. These old hands don't work like they used to" Lovely said, letting out a small chuckle. Anyway, she told me you two weren't speaking anymore."

Donnie sat up in her seat before clearing her throat. Suddenly the neck of her shirt felt two sizes too small. She was hoping Alexis hadn't told her grandmother what really happened. Donnie would never hear the end of it if she did. Lovely adored Alexis and often asked Donnie why they never tried becoming more than friends over the years. If she finds out Alexis took her shot and Donnie had chosen to be with a married woman instead, she would blow her top.

" Word? what else did she say?" Donnie faked ignorance. Her voice remained calm and nonchalant even though on the inside she was a bit nervous. She hoped Alexis didn't go running her mouth to her Nana about them.

" She didn't say much. Then again she didn't have to. I could see the pain all over her face. Whatever happened between the two of you is hurting her. You know I always like that girl. She's so sweet and well mannered" Lovely complimented, causing Donnie to cut her eyes unintentionally.

" We're just giving each other some space. Sometimes People grow apart"

" Space?" Lovely let out a short, dry laugh before sitting her fork down with a deliberate clink. " You and that girl have been attached at the hip since the very first day y'all met in high school. A bond like that doesn't grow apart for just any old reason. That child called me twice last week, crying over your ass."

The guilt hit Donnie like a physical weight. How was she supposed to explain that the so-called 'space' was actually a canyon created by a single night of blurred lines? One fucking night of spontaneous fun that led to some great sex and a few orgasms. One minute they were laughing and reminiscing on the couch, and the next, Donnie was seeing her best friend in a light that changed everything.

" She needs to focus on going back to school and finding a better job. I'm just staying out of the way."

" mhm. Is that why you've been spending all your time with that married woman you brought over here? You know the one with the wedding band big enough to blind a person? I don't even know how you could overlook something so massive."