“Um.. yeah, hell no. We’ve been friends just as long as y’all have been married, and I mean this with all love, Quincey ain’t ever had you moving like this, and I do mean never! Shit, now that we’re being completely honest, I used to question if he was taking you down at all.” I scoffed.
“Hollis, of course he handles business in that department, not that it’s any of your concern. We’re just private people.”
“Which is fine. I left it at that, but you know what really sealed this whole Johnni and the bodyguard thing for me? His eyes for you and yours for him. Not to mention we all share locations and well… ma’am, twenty minutes parked in a back alley isn’t exactly running late. That screams backseat busy. So you got two muthafucking seconds to answer my questionhonestly before I go to him for them.” I gasped, turning to see her wearing a knowing smirk while holding out my dress for me.
My mouth opened and closed a few times, unsure of what to say, so I didn’t. It was weird how I was good at lying for the pictures, but when it came to Courtland, it was almost impossible.
I went to speak when she put her hand up, stopping me.
“Look, I’m clearly no marriage expert, but c’mon, Johnni. Whatever you got going on, you need to end it. He can’t be worth the risk of your marriage falling apart. Quincey is a good man who takes care of you well.”
That one comment about Quincey had me pushing back whatever I was going to say and changing my tone.
I was tired of the world only seeing him asa good man. And yes, I’d helped create the picture perfect image right along with him and the bullshit we sold the world, but it was just that—bullshit.
“Yeah he’s agoodfucking man alright. Look, you of all people know every marriage has its secrets. Whatever I’m risking withmyhusband is my business, so can we both just focus on getting me in this dress. We’ve spent too much time gossiping about an irrelevant topic.”
I took the dress, stepping into it and turning so she could zip me while I adjusted the top.
“Uht uht, no ma’am. I don’t know what the fuck that means. You might can get that off with Mickey, who we both know won’t push, but that ain’t me. We don’t have to talk about you letting your bodyguard protect that pussy right now, but know one thing, Johnni. I’ma ride with you even when I don’t agree on the destination. Or shit, know it for that matter. Besides, I don’t know why you act like I don’t have sources to get my damn answers.” That had me snickering.
“My forever ride or die.”
“Hell yeah, forever. I will say though, don’t leave Mickey out for too long. You know she hates feeling like the baby sister.”
“Um… I haven’t even told your ass anything.”
“Yes you did when you checked that muthafucka before coming back here. I mean, you had his big ass staring at the damn wall like it was giving out secrets. I ain’t mad at it. But please, just answer one question, it’s the best you ever had, ain’t it?”
“Heffa!”
“Damn, I knew it. He looks like a good one. Oh well, I guess I’ll stick with what I got.” That had us both laughing as we looked at each other through the mirror. The knocks on the door had us both pausing before Mickey’s voice rang out.
“Um… hello! We want to see the dress too.”
That had us both cracking up again.
“Meanwhile, he must be dicking you down good too because you gained some weight, heffa. This dress isn’t fitting,” Hollis said as she opened the door, leading the way.
Her words knocked me back a bit because weight gain during pageant season was a nightmare. Not to mention my custom dress O’ni was making already had set measurements, so I knew Mama Steph was going to flip out.
“Ooh, Johnni, you look so pretty,” Amber said as soon as I stepped on the pedestal, giving Mickey the view she wanted, but hers weren’t the only eyes on me. I felt him, even before I caught them as I glanced over my shoulder.
“Yes, it’s perfect.”
“Almost. Her ass can’t zip it for shit,” Hollis announced. And I wasn’t sure if that was for the girls or Courtland whose eyes immediately found mine through the mirror.
The associate helping us today, moved in next with her pin, knowing where she needed to take inches off the bottom. She then stood up, going behind me and running her fingers upthe zipper. I was so caught up with Hollis and her truthful accusations that I had forgotten that quickly about the dress being tight as hell right now.
“Three inches off the bottom. Let’s take out five inches out in the waist and in the top bust, maybe an inch or two,” he called out to someone I was sure was writing it down.
“I thought you were on a strict diet, Johnni,” Mickey said.
“Trust me, I am. The cut must be small because my size hasn’t changed. Mama would kill me for even a pound right now,” I said as the associate gave me a side eye but I matched her, daring her to say otherwise.
Panic was setting in but I couldn’t…wouldn’treact here. It wasn’t the time nor the place. Too much was coming out today and my expanding waistline held more concern to me than Hollis finding out about Courtland and me.
Shit, Johnni, what does this mean?
