Diva (Urban)

Keeping Secrets

Donte's POV

    I couldn't believe Shorty would do some slick crap like that! I gave her my heart. My body. My home.

    And this was how she repaid me after all I've done.

    She was the only girl I truly loved.

    And it hurt me so much to know this was how she was spending her time.

    After dropping Marcus off at Deadra's and promising her I'd take him to lunch next week, I stepped out of my car at the Trap and gave Asap some dap. "Hey bruh, wassup?"

    "Nothin' much. I'm engaged," Asap said with a smile on his face. I nodded and asked with who. "Her name is Lee Stoll. She's so beautiful and sweet, I think I'm head ova Timbs. I got on one knee earlier today and she said yeah."

    I did a double-take. He couldn't have...he wouldn't have. Shorty's best friend? That was so ironic. It was so weird.

    It was kinda bittersweet though. Asap was a cool dude. But just how Shorty got involved with a hustler like me, I didn't want that for Lee. No matter how much of a true diva she could be.

    I decided to tell Asap that Lee was Shorty's best friend. "Oh, word? Ain't that weird?"

    "Yeah. It is."

    "You gon' tell Shorty I'm engaged with her girl?"

    "I don't know. But you know how protective she is. Shorty would beat yo address outta me."

    "Well I'm havin' an engagement party tomorrow. Its gon' be at King's house. Remember? On the west side?"

    "Oh yeah! I haven't been to his joint since he threw that barbecue for the birth of his baby."

    "Wasn't that a year ago?"

    "Hell yeah." A sad feeling started to creep into my gut. I couldn't take Shorty. That'd be too uncomfortable.

    Boss and Grey walked out with beers in their hands. "Yo, what up?" I dapped them both and sighed. This sinking feeling was getting deeper and deeper.

    "Man, you look like you just gotcho heart broken." Grey said. I nodded. "I did. I saw Shorty with another dude at the diner." King scrunched his nose into a grimace.

    "I hate cheatin' hoes. You gon' take her out?"

    "Nah, I ain't gon kill her." I snapped. He had to be outta his mind. "Well you killed that other girl." Asap pointed out. I growled.

    "Because I actually saw her gettin' her creep on in my bedroom. That's a different story. All I saw today was this wack ass dude calling my girl's name. This girl was under the table like I wouldn't see her." I said.

    "Damn. So she like, different?"

    "Yeah. I can't jump to conclusions though. I just wanna know how long they been goin' out. That's fucked up."

    "So you ain't takin' her to the engagement party?" Asap asked. I shook my head like that was the dumbest question in the history of questions.

    "Well there's this guy. Hakeem. He wanna make a deal with us." Asap said, concluding the previous conversation.

    "He trustworthy?" I asked. I stared across the yard at the sun until patches of green made it hard to see. This situation with Shorty was really pushing my buttons. I wanted to know who this guy was.

    But I knew all along that some guy would be trying to knock on Shorty's door. She's just that attractive. I don't blame him.

    "I don't know yet. He want thirty kilos of coke."

    "Thirty?"

    "Yeah. Ain't that somethin'?"

    "Well make sure he ain't no fed."

    "So you still comin' to the engagement party?"

    "Yep."

    "Thanks man. It starts at seven."

    I went back to my car and drove down the street. I couldn't even think straight. And what if Shorty was at my damn house? Nah, she was too smart to do that.

    It'd take all my willpower not to strangle the shit out of her. I didn't know we'd drift apart like this. And maybe I was blowing things out of proportions. Maybe that was her brother. Her cousin?

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Diva's POV

    I drove over to Lee's house, barely able to see the road through the blur of my tears.

    Stumbling out of my truck, I walked to Lee's door. It swung right open.

    "Oh my God, I saw you out the window. Who's ass do I need to beat?" Lee asked as she pulled me into a warm embrace. My back heaved up and down as muffled sobs came out of my throat that I've been holding in. I was at a loss. And Donte was at my throat. And who was that little boy?

    At the table, Lee set a plate of sugar cookies in front of me and sat down. She sipped her Kool-Aid and looked at me worriedly. Her eyes penetrated me.

    This girl was so loyal. I probably owed my life to her after all of the things she's done for me, through me, and about me.

    "Mind telling me what's got you so struck? Hurry because the boys and Brandy went to the movies. I stayed back here because I knew you'd be here soon. I wanted to keep you company other than my bald-headed momma."

     "Where is she?"

     "My momma? Oh, at work. But she's getting off in an hour. So spill."

    "Where's your dad?" I sniffed and took a bite out of the sugary cookie. My eyes closed. It tasted so good but I was full off of the food from the diner.

    My mind traveled to Xavier as Lee told me what her dad was doing (another "business" trip).

    What was Xavier doing? What did he think? Was I ever going to see him again? Only if he was willing... Ha! Yeah right.

    "Okay, stop stalling. Spill." Lee said, changing the subject.

    I heaved a sigh. I was feeling so amiss. I was feeling culpable. But even those words didn't describe how I was feeling on an accurate level.

     I told her everything and she listened, every now and then grabbing a cookie from the plate or taking a gulp of her juice.

    "Do you...love him?" Lee asked quietly. Almost a whisper. Barely audible. My breath caught in my throat. Did I love who? Xavier or Donte?

    But I knew who she was talking about...

    Donte.

    I felt like is as getting smaller and smaller. And the smaller I got, the more of an advantage everyone had on me. Everyone knew at least one horrible thing about me.

    I looked at her with weepy eyes and sniffed.

    And I finally came up with my answer because no one else needed to know anymore of my secrets.

    "I love him with all of my heart."