Dear Beloved,

44| Confrontations

R A Y N E

"I can't believe you didn't tell us. Says a lot about our friendship from childhood." Jordan aggressively sits down at the table with her arms folded. "Obviously she wasn't ready to tell us. I'm happy for you Rayne." Nova smiles examining my ring. "I'm happy for you too Rayne but I'm hurt so I'm giving you a ten minute silent treatment." I laugh feeling a sense of relief having everyone I care about knowing about my marriage I've kept it secret for so long.

"Okay but hurry up because I think Lexus did something illegal.." I trail off. Jordan almost drops her drink hearing the word illegal.

"Spill." She sits up staring at me. "Well Lexus And I are staying at his grandmother's until he heals from the accident. He gave me four thousand dollars out of a black duffel bag." I open my purse showing them the illegal money. I have half a mind to turn the money over to the police but I don't wanna make anyone look guilty of anything. "I also found a gun under the bed and when I asked about it he wouldn't give me a straight answer." I explain.

"What he say about the money?" Nova asks pouring some more coffee in my mug. I need all the caffeine I can get after staying awake with Lenoxx. He had a slight fever and Ms. Maylene talked me into giving him some Tylenol but I freaked out and ended up watching him like a hawk through the entire night. Moral of the story is watching a baby is extremely hard especially when Lexus is knocked out on pain pills sleeping peacefully. "He said it was from his savings and checks that Ms. Maylene cashed for him while he was in the hospital." They exchange looks.

"What, What is that?"

"Nothing we're listening." Nova drinks her coffee. "No. Your man is one of two things." Jordan flips her hair over her shoulder. "A dealer or a robber. Has anyone been on the news saying they got robbed?"

"Jordan!" Nova hits her arm. "What? I'm trying to help her. I've dated plenty of both so I would know."

"Okay but you don't have to be so blunt about it. That's her husband, she's stuck with him now." She attempts to whisper. I watch them bicker for a few minutes. "You're probably right." I hold my head feeling an enormous headache come on. That totally explains him trying to go off with Royce and the gun underneath the bed. "Do you know if Royce is involved in any of that stuff?"

"Royce? He used to be before I had our daughter. Why?" Jordan looks between us. "Well he told me Royce was picking him up so either that was a lie too or he got him involved in that stuff." I sigh. Lexus is still healing so I'm just surprised he's out doing those types of things. "Excuse me?"

"I said-"

"I know what you said Rayne but obviously he was lying to you. Royce has a real job." She gets defensive. "If Lexus is out here selling drugs and whatever else that's his doing. Don't drag Royce into this because they're friends."

"Uh I think you're taking it all wrong babe." Jordan tried to smooth the situation over before it gets out of hand. "No I believe I said exactly what I meant so you shouldn't be offended."

"Nova we all know Royce is a-" She looks Jordan's way daring her with her eyes to finish her sentence. "He's a shady guy. You, Rayne, and the entire city of Houston knows that." I groan waiting on the other shoe to drop. Why can't we all just get along? "Just like the entire city of Houston knows that you're a whore?" Jordan stands up from the table angrily. "It's probably best if the both of you just go. I have to go get my daughter from daycare." I give Nova a look letting her know that I don't agree with her behavior. She never acts so sensitive and rude especially not over a boy. "Way to make today all about you Nova. Congratulations Rayne and thanks for the coffee bitch." She takes her purse off the table and her expensive heels click until she exits the front door of Nova's apartment.

••••

I take a look at my surroundings as I wait on the porch. I hear footsteps then the door swings open. A girl stares at me wearing a bonnet and a oversized shirt that fits like gown. "Can I help you?" She finally asks. "I need to speak to Royce." She scoffs closing the door in my face. I wait some more thinking she went to go get him until the porch light shuts off. "I'm still out here. Hello? I'm not leaving." I knock wondering who the heck this girl is. Her attitude sucks. "Why would you close the door in her face? That's Lexus' girl stupid." Royce opens the door.

"Well maybe she should've introduced herself." She folds her arms standing directly behind him. "Sorry this is my sister Sydney, Sydney this is Rayne, Lexus' girlfriend." He introduces us. "I really don't have a lot of time but I need to ask..do you know anything about Lexus selling drugs for money?" He looks caught off guard then laughs.

"He was here a month ago askin' Royce about it. So yeah he probably does and they do it together." Sydney answers before he can. He gives her a look almost telling her to shut up. "Well I'd appreciate it if you stay away from us. Lexus almost lost his life and I know you don't care but I do."

"That's my lil brother. I wouldn't let nothing bad happen to him." He tries to explain. "If you were his "brother" you wouldn't allow him to come out of the house and run the streets after a brain surgery for a couple of dollars. He doesn't need the money so leave him out of it." I turn to walk away. I'm happy I got a chance to say everything I needed to say to Lexus' so called "brother". "You walked out on him. You wasn't there when he was goin' through the lights getting cut of and getting his hours at work cut in half. You don't get to act like you care more about him because he's screwin' you. My brother asked me for help so I helped him. You may not like how I helped him but that's the only way I know how. Some of us don't come from money so don't come back on your high horse thinking you solving something by coming here. Have a nice night Rayne."

"No." I walk back up on the porch. "Things might've been bad for him while I was gone but it didn't go bad because I left. You don't know what happened."

"I know not even a month after you left he caught you kissing another man in Atlanta." His sister calls his name so he'll stop going back and forth with me but he ignores her. "And that was after he told me he wanted to be a family with Vanessa weeks after he told me them kissing in the hospital meant nothing. That's the reason I left so if you wanna attack anyone it damn sure shouldn't be me." They both stare in shock I spilled the beans on my own relationship but I wasn't gonna allow Royce to act like I'm a bad person for leaving. "He didn't tell me that." He sighs.

"Why would he?"

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