“I have no idea,” I shrugged. I didn’t feel like being the one to break the news about seeing Johnathan knocking Jocelyn out the frame—especially when Niko seemed to be feeling her too.
“Anyways,” Niko rolled his eyes. “Now that it’s out there about Chanel, you need to strike while the iron is hot. Is there anything else you got on her?”
They sat there while I told them every fucked up thing that Chanel did during our relationship, and I couldn’t even lie—the relief I felt getting it out almost made me tear up. I thought that keeping it all in made me stronger, but I should have known better. My people didn’t need me to be perfect, or even strong for that matter—all that they cared about was that I was okay. The thought choked me up again as my mind stayed on Amaya because she had been trying to drill that shit into my head since I met her. I missed the fuck out of that woman. After letting me vent to them for what seemed like hours, and making sure I was good, they finally left me alone with my thoughts. I had just gotten relaxed again when the doorbell rang.
“Man, who thefuck?” I just wanted peace and quiet.
“Boy! I know you better watch your damn mouth!” My mama yelled as she walked into the room. She had a key, and would always ring the doorbell before she let herself in. Usually, she would call first so I knew she was coming, but my oblivious ass had no idea she was even on my side of the country.
“Ma, what are you doing here? Don’t tell me them fools called you.”
“Nobody had to call me for me to know my child needed to be checked on.” She was the only person whose calls I would accept, but apparently that wasn’t good enough because she still hopped on a plane and pulled up on me.
“I’m okay, Mama. Dang, I miss two workouts in fifteen years and y’all out here doing the most,” I chuckled.
“Chase, I need you to listen to me,” she said softly, sitting across from me. “You know I love you, right?”
“Yeah, I love you too mama,” I answered.
“Good. Now I need you to hear me. Get your head out of your ass. You know you miss that girl.”
“Who?” I damn near levitated off the couch. “Chanel? Nah Mama! I’d ne-” She cut me off.
“No! Amaya.” She looked at me with knowing eyes, and my face went sour. I didn’t even ask how she knew, because shealwayscaught me in my shit and had absolutely no problem calling me on it.
“I do,” I said softly. “But I messed up. I was just trying to protect Chanel, and she took it as me choosing her over what we were trying to start. Now she’s not speaking to me.”
“Chase,” she said with a heavy sigh as her whole demeanor shifted. “You can’t protecteverybody,” she said softly as a tear rolled down her face. “You’ve seen things that no one should have to see, and that’s my fault. I’m so sorry baby?—”
“Mama, don’t apologize, I?—”
“Lil’ nigga, didn’t I just tell you to shut yo’ ass up and letmetalk?!” she barked, making me snap my mouth shut. “Thank you, damn! Now like I was saying, I’m so sorry you had to see that, but ever since then, you’ve had it in your head that you were the saving grace of this family, and anyone else in your orbit. I watched this shit go on for too long, but I can’t do it anymore, Chase. Youcannotcontinue to protect that girl at your own expense. And on top of that, it’s not your job to protect me either, baby. I’m a grown woman, andI’mresponsible for what I put up with back then. But I’m okay now. You have to let that go.”
I sat there and digested her words as I wiped her tears away. I knew the truth all along but hearing it from the people closest to me really made it hit home. Chanel didn’t give a fuck about me, never did. After I finally convinced her that I would be okay, she left. I returned to my place on the couch, getting comfortable and planning to spend the rest of my night in peace and quiet. My brain had other plans, as my body shot straight up, reaching for my phone and hurriedly calling Justin.
“Nigga, Ijustgot the baby down!” he fussed instead of greeting me. “You better have a good ass reason for calling me right now.” I could hear his daughter Olivia cooing up a storm in the background. Hell, at least she wasn’t crying.
“My fault man, but I think I know what to do to put all this shit behind us!” I said excitedly.
“I’m all ears.”
He sat there silently as I told him my idea and Olivia told him whatever the hell she was talking about in baby speak. When he finally replied, and I heard the smile in his voice, I knew I had something.
“I’m on it.”
“Hello?”The fact that I even got an answer made me let out the biggest sigh of relief because I hadnoidea what the fuck I was even doing. I had been in New Dawn for two hours and even the P.I. that I hired couldn’t track down Amaya’s address for me. I was trying to stay away from her job, all things considered, but had no way to get in contact with her that didn’t end up with me in a jail cell.
“Hi, um—is this Mona?”
“Who’s calling?” she asked suspiciously.
“My name is Chase… Chase Andrews. I’m Amaya’s…” My words fell short, because I know who I wanted to be, but who was I toher? Her former client? Her man? Herformerman? Did her people even know about me outside of her being my attorney?
“I know who you are, Chase. How can I help you?” she said. I could instantly detect an attitude and could tell that I was about to have to work just as hard to win her over as I had been trying to with her stubborn ass friend.
“I-I’m trying to get in contact with Amaya. I’m in town right now to see her, but I can’t get ahold of her.”
“What the hell you want me to do? Scheme with you to pop up on her so she can cuss both of us the fuck out?” she asked.
