That Awkward Moment

Torture

Being away from her son was literally torture to her, as she skimmed through the custody terms that Bakari's lawyer had faxed out to hers she was loosing it. Her world was crumbling down and she had to act fast or she'd loose her baby forever. Shameik was now back home doing damage control with his PR team after finding out what was going on with his sister during a press conference for Spider Man when a reporter asked him about the trending situation on social media.

"I don't want to be the one that says it, but i told you dating this nigga was a bad idea." Shameik shrugs.

"You're not helping," Ebony sighs, biting the inside of her lip from her nervousness.

"Sorry," He shrugs, walking back into the living room to sit next to her on the couch. "So, you slept with his brother...but in your defense you've already slept with him before so it shouldn't be the determining factor on why Bakari gets full custody?"

Ebony nods, wiping underneath her eyes. "Before I cut things off with Erik he left me this tiny Easter egg that helped me remember we met way before I started dating Bakari. It was a one night stand then but our connection was unreal." She closes her eyes, reimagining the first day that they met as tears streamed down her cheeks. Her memory was foggy but in that 24 hours there was something that happened that could help her win over her rights to see her son.

She turns her body to the side where her purse was, taking out her wallet to show him the Polaroid picture of the two in their early 20s. She places the photo on the coffee table, and slides it towards her brothers direction so he could take a glance at it.

"This is in 2010," Shameik reads the picture caption of the homecoming classic.

"Exactly, Sophomore year that picture was taken. Which means I met him before I met Bakari."

"Okay but in the eyes of the law how is that evidence going to help you gain back custody your son?" Shameik asks, realizing shortly after how insensitive that might have sounded.

"You're right...no matter which way I angle this I will always be in the wrong." She sighs, covering her face with her hands.

"Look, we don't have to deal with this now we'll pick up on this later and just forward me everything that the lawyer says, okay?" Shameik reassures.

Ebony nods, clearing her throat and sits up to redirect her focus and attention on her brother. "So...how was Europe?"

•••

"Don't you think you're being a little too harsh on Ebony?" Jayson asks, watching Bakari struggle to get his son to eat his baby food as he sat in his high chair. His friends were over, helping him with baby stuff and listening to him hear his side of the story after they watched everything unfold on social media.

"No, I'm being rational and just like any rational parent would do in this situation is gain full custody I didn't know when I was dating her that she was a slut."

"Says the one who was head over heels for this woman and now she's a slut," Jamal motions his fingers in air quotations.

"What are you going to tell your son when he gets older and can think for himself? I don't think it's fair to him how you're going about this situation. I mean yeah what she did was fucked up but you weren't always fair to her either." Jayson plays devils advocate.

"Come again?" Bakari raises his eyebrow, fully attentive to what his friend had to say about his relationship with his ex.

"Ebony and I are good friends I mean we all are but you weren't always there for her when she needed you there...you lied to her about your past relationship with Van, and you never really publicly claimed her it was almost as if you were ashamed to be with her. You only saw her as someone to fuck but not to be romantically involved with. You two would get into arguments but instead of actually apologizing you would make up with sex and expensive gifts. To me that's a sign of immaturity and toxic relationship. I'm not saying what she did was right but i can see why she fell for your brother he's more mature and nurturing when it comes to relationships which is something you lack. So, do what you're going to do here I don't think it's fair for you to take away her son just because you're feeling some type of way about her dating Erik. He was there during her pregnancy...everyone else was except you."