Page 43 of Certified Sin

“They started fighting, and then we heard the police at the door.” My voice cracked.

“He-he knew he was gonna go to jail for the robbery. Sincere knew he had no way out, Mo,” I sobbed softly, tears running from my eyes. Monae’s hand touched my knee.

“You ain’t got to finish this.” I waved her off. Yes, I did, or I wouldn’t be able to get passed it.

“Sin spotted the gun Reese dropped on the floor during the fight. Somehow Reese knew what Sin planned to do with it, so they both went to grab it at the same time. Sin shot himself in the chest by accident.”

“Girl, that’s crazy as hell.” Mo pulled me in closer, a shocked expression on her face.

“You must be traumatized. I don’t know how I would’ve handled that.” I wiped my cheeks.

“I’m tryna stay strong.”

“And to witness that with Reese,” she added. “How he doing, by the way?”

I cleared my throat.

“Speaking of Reese, that’s why I called you tonight. I need advice.” I took a sip of wine.

“What happened?” Monae’s eyes set on mine suspiciously.

“We had sex,” I murmured out lowly. I didn’t think she could hear me. However, she heard enough when she blurted out.

“You and Reese?” I nodded, and a wide smile broke out on her face.

“Girl, I’m happy for you. He seems like a good man.” I bit my lip, looking down into my lap.

“He is. I tried to run from him when we got done. Girl, it was amazing. The best I ever had.” She picked up her glass from the table.

“Then what’s the problem?” she quizzed.

I don’t know why people think this is okay, like it’s no big deal. “People will talk about me, Monae. My daddy is gone have a heart attack. Sincere just died weeks ago. What I look like jumping into something else? With his group member, no less. It was just grief sex.”

She doesn’t believe a word I’m saying.

“You like Reese?” she asked me.

“What that got to do with anything?” I frowned.

“Do you like him?” she repeated, taking a sip of wine.

Rolling my eyes, I threw my head back in exasperation. “Yeah, I do. He asked me on a date.”

“Then go for it.” It’s not that easy. I turned to her.

“Mo.”

“Go for it, Ronnie. You deserve to be happy.” Her voice was stern when she said it the second time. Mo put the wine on the table, then reached out to hold my hand.

“It’s not a marriage proposal. It’s a date. And if you like Reese, you should be with him. Fuck what other people have to say. You a boss ass lawyer, but you’re human too. They be so quick to judge but won’t walk a mile in your shoes. He’s not Sin, Ronnie. You can’t let what happened with him stop you from finding happiness.”

I wiped my tears with my free hand.

“And if that happiness leads you to a relationship with Reese, then so be it.”

I laid my head on her shoulder.

“I love you, friend.”