“Hey,” I spoke to them.
Katrelle’s whipped around to peer at me. We’d formally met at another one of my family’s functions, and it was a quick introduction. Thinking she was a quick fix for Antonias, I paid her next to no attention. Tonight, she was radiant in a shimmery gold gown that draped over her body like fine jewelry.
“Bianca!” she gushed. “Hi! You look absolutely stunning!”
“Thank you,” I replied. “You look amazing also.” Antonias was stuck on mute, so I said, “You two enjoy your night.”
While walking away, I squared my back and sought out Kwamé only to find her still hemmed up by Adrian. He wasn’t letting her out of his sight. Sighing, I’d brought her with me sothat she could coach me through the evening. And now here I was all by my-damn-self.
Two hours later, I was ready to go. The highlight of my night was watching Adir shower Coco with affection. It was either watch them or watch Antonias shower Katrelle with the attention she begged for. Gifts were exchanged, liquor consumed, and food, eaten. Aside from swaying my hips to the music, I didn’t move out of my seat.
Gearing up to leave, I made a pit stop at the restroom to freshen up before the drive back to S. S. Estates. As soon as I entered the restroom, someone entered behind me.
I readied a smile for Katrelle, which quickly fell seeing the expression on her face. She dangled her left ring finger in my face.
“See this?” she questioned. “It’s an engagement ring from the man of my dreams. Antonias proposed to me, not you. I don’t give a damn how close the two of you are, stay your non-existent uterus havin’ ass in your place.”
Her eyes shot daggers at me. However, not a single dagger cut deeper than her referencing mynon-existentuterus. She had the audacity to laugh at the look on my face.
“Yeah, he told me all about your inadequacies,” she continued. “Then, he spent the next hour making love to me and professing how he couldn’t wait for me to carry his first born. You have homewrecker written all over you, and I refuse to let you break up what Antonias and I have going on. I’m not one of those bitches that will just lay down and let another woman slide in on me.”
Inside, I seethed. On the outside, I was calm and calculating whether or not fighting this bitch with half the strength would result in me killing her.
“Katrelle, I think you have me confused with someone else. You’re standing too close to me, and it would take nothing to break your fucking nose. Back the fuck up.”
Her eyes widened, and she took a step back.
“I get why you're threatened; Antonias loves me, and not as a best friend, sister, or any of that shit. Our bond is deep. So deep that, at some point, our currents will cross again. And make no mistake about it, when our currents do cross, I'm diving in headfirst. Homewrecker? I've never been that.” Stepping closer to her, I made sure she could see every speck in my eyes.
“Play with me, I'll wreck more than your home, sweetheart. I'm gon' let your insults slide off thisonetime because obviously, you think I'm one of them bitches that will lay down while another woman plays in my face. Now, if we’re done here, go enjoy your man, boo. I’m doing my best tonight to make sure you keep that man. Consider my gesture one of grace and mercy, and not of love or duty to a woman I don’t know from a pubic hair on another woman’s private parts.”
Several emotions passed through Katrelle’s eyes. One of them was smart enough to back the fuck up. I held myself together long enough to freshen up, then fled the restroom. As soon as I spotted Tyrese, I motioned toward the exit. Without saying bye to anyone, I hurried to the sedan waiting for me.
Inside the Maybach, I let up the partition, laid across the backseat, and silently cried as the sedan pulled from the curb. Immediately, my phone began to ring. I ignored it and fought not to have Tyrese turn this sedan around, so that I could go back there and stomp a hole through Katrelle’s face.
Suddenly, I popped up. The tears stopped, and my face relaxed.
“Get it together, crybaby. You gon’ let this bitch lil’ girl you? Or…” Sure, I was talking to myself, but the level of crazy Katrelle pushed me to was about to be her worst nightmare.
“See, I was gon’ let you keep yo’ man, ho.” With a smile on my face, I swiped at the tear tracks that still remained.
Was this about jealousy? No. This was about love and destiny. Had Katrelle not opened her mouth, I was content with bowing out gracefully. Destiny said otherwise. Antonias was mine. The ball was back in my court again. I wasn’t fumbling this play.
CHAPTER 10
ANTONIAS
SeeingBiancafleeingtheballroom, I excused myself from Katrelle and went after her.
Katrelle followed me. “Where are you going?” she called after me.
“I’ll be back,” I replied.
“No! Antonias, if you chase after her, we’re done!”
Katrelle’s bold ass statement drew the attention of anyone within ten feet. Although she slowed me up, I took a second to address her. I walked up to her, tilted her chin back as if I was about to kiss her lips, and grinned.
“You threatenin’ me?” I asked her. Her eyes widened with fear. Gently, I brushed my thumb across her lips. I’d never felt them against my own. However, she’d put them on most of my body. Still, I would give a lifetime of her kisses for one from Bianca.
