Best Friend

My favorite stranger

Toni moved back taking a few steps away from him.

"Ken baby, did the driver get out ye-" Nicole came walking to the back stopping in her tracks when she noticed Toni. "Toni." Nicole seemed surprised.

Toni looked up giving Nicole a shy smile. Babyface looked over at Toni.

"I'll be in the car." Nicole sighed, walking back to the passenger side.

"Toni can we talk for a minute?" Babyface grabbed her elbow not giving her a chance to answer. He walked her to the driver side of her car.

Babyface just starred deep in her honey eyes and there was so much hurt, pain and love there, it was slowly breaking him down. He reached out and pushed her hair out the way and caressed her cheek. Toni finally closed her eyes. Babyface noticed a tear escape and roll down her cheek. He tried to wipe it away but she moved out of the way from his touch.

That hurt him, but he knew he deserved it.

"Look Ken..."

He shook his head as she looked up at him, trying hard to avoid his eyes once again.

"I tried calling you, but am guessing your number changed. Tried your house, but you moved out-"

"Maybe that's a sign that you should stop trying." Babyface was shocked to the limit of not knowing what to say or to do. Toni left him speechless.

Toni opened her car door. But before getting in she turned around and face him.

"I can't do this right now. Just email me your insurance info and I will have my insurance company contact you." Toni chuckled. "At least my email didn't change... Yet."

"To-"

"No. You need to go take care of Peyton and Nicole." Toni gave a weak forceful smile. "Working it out huh?"

"Yeah, but. What about us-"

Before Babyface could finish his sentence Toni got into her car and drove off.

************

Toni stood in the middle of her living room area looking out threw her open sliding door at the mountains.

Toni was in deep thought. She had told Tamar to go pick the boys yo instead because she just couldn't drive all by herself. Especially in the state she was in right now.

Toni ran her index finger around the rim of her glass as she stared off into space.

"Hey sissy wissy." Tamar came placing her hands onto Toni's shoulders from behind as she pecked her cheek lightly.

Toni smiled. "Hey monster."

"Mom!" Denim and Diezel came into the living room hugging her.

"Hey boys. How was your dad?"

"So fun. He took us to the Lakers game on Friday and we saw a skunk the size of a racon." Denim spoke excitedly.

"We also saw uncle Ken there." Diezel blurted out, as Denim placed his hand over his forehead.

"What?" Toni asked shocked looking up at a shrugging Tamar than back down at them.

"Your not suppose to tell her that!" Denim raised his voice.

"Don't you shout in your mama house." Tamar chuckled. "Spill the tea nephew." Tamar smiled placing her Chanel bag onto the table and sitting down.

"Tamar-"

"Shhh... Listen." Tamar said, placing her finger over her lips.

"Uncle Ken, bought us snacks. A new video game, and he gave us this to give to you."

"Yeah. He said that he really misses your annoying self." Denim laughed.

Toni tried hard not to smile, but failed miserably. Words couldn't describe how she was feeling at the very moment.

"Someone's catching some feelings back." Tamar smirked knowingly.

The boys handed Toni a long gift box. Toni looked from the box to them to the box again to Tamar.

Toni smiled at the boys. "I'll open it in just a few." She said. "You guys hungry?"

"Nah ma. We good." Denim said impersonating Drake.

They sped walked up the stairs. Leaving Toni and Tamar with the gift box to open.

"Open." Tamar squealed.

"No." Toni placed the gift onto the table.

"Tried it." Tamar handed Toni the box.

"Am not even gonna touch it again. I don't want anything to do with that man-"

"Lies you tell."

"Seriously Tamar. I ran into the man this afternoon, he was with Nicole, their working things out. I can't lie I love him, but... He hurt me."

Tamar had picked up the gift placing it back into Toni's hands.

"Open this damn gift. I wanna know what's inside."

Toni sighed heavily, as she unwrapped the gift. Slowly removing the top, inside were a bunch of bright red roses.

"A letter." Tamar squealed.

Toni picked up the letter.

Toni

Meet me at Mr Chows. Tonight! Don't leave me hanging. 8pm!

Sincerely Ken

Toni looked up at Tamar. "So... What does it say?" Tamar shrugged.

"He wants us to meet at Mr Chows tonight. Am not going-"

"Oh yes you sure are!" Tamar shouted. "Let's gets you ready for your occasion.

*********

Tamar stood at Toni's front door waiting on Toni as she slowly came down the stairs.

"She dressed her." Tamar bragged as Denim and Diezel cheered and gave Tamar a hand of applause.

"Thank you." Tamar smiled.

"How do I look?"

"Beautiful mom."

"Thank you." Toni smiled at the boys. "Don't you think this is a bit to much?"

"Gurl! To much of what?" Tamar questioned leaning her head to the side. "You look gorgeous."

Toni wore a skin tight all black dress that hugged her in all the right places. Some black stilettos, with a grey clutch bag that matched her jewelry.

"Now. Go getcha man gurl!" Tamar shouted snapping her fingers.