Page 7 of Nothing Like Your Ex

Kwinn stared at her, blinking away her emotions. “It doesn’t feel good,” she mumbled, and saw her daddy’s jaw flex as he shifted on the couch.

“Then you need to pay attention to that. Don’t stay somewhere just because you remember how good it used to be,” Toya said, meaning every word.

If she knew nothing else, staying in an unhealthy relationship past its expiration date was detrimental. She didn’t want either of her girls wasting their time being miserable with any man who didn’t see their worth. Absolutely not. Toya wasn’t going for it.

And neither was Vic, as he leaned forward to ensure Kwinn heard him. “Aye, listen to me, okay?” She nodded. “I don’t give a fuck how good that man is at hooping, how much money he makes, how many people know his name. None of that lame-ass shit. As your father, I’m not gon’ ever be okay with you or your sister sitting here with tears in y’all eyes, telling us y’all feel alone in your relationship. Lauryn is different ‘cause she married, and I don’t get into married people’s business unless I have to. You,” he said, pointing his finger, “are not married. And unless you want that nigga’s family nem’ to feel the exact same way you feeling right now when his ass is no longer walking amongst us, you better make a decision before I make it for you.”

“Vic,” Toya groaned, rubbing his arm.

He kept eye contact with Kwinn, and she didn’t break it. She knew her daddy wasn’t fucking around and meant every word. Licking her lips, Kwinn nodded. With a racing heart and his trigger finger itching, Vic stood to his feet. He kissed Kwinn on the top of her head, before doing the same to Lauryn.

“Love y’all,” he grumbled with his emotions on high.

“We love you, too,” they responded, simultaneously.

“Toy, come let me holla at you in the room,” Vic said.

The sisters watched their daddy swagger off toward the steps and didn’t say anything until they knew he couldn’t hear them.

“Girl.” Lauryn exhaled.

“I’m blaming y’all,” Kwinn whined as BJ fully woke up, stretching his body. Bishop stood and grabbed him and the diaper bag to change him and make a bottle, before Lauryn could say anything. He headed toward the nursery Vic and Toya specifically set up for their grandson.

“Okay, maybe that was a conversation we shouldn’t have had in front of him. Now he’s ‘bouta take his frustration out on me since he can’t shoot Jabari’s ass,” Toya fussed, but grinned as she stood up.

Lauryn frowned. “Mama, please. For real. We did not need to know that.”

“Honestly,” Kwinn added.

Toya waved them off. “Yeah, yeah. Y’all better hope y’all man is still giving it up like mine does when y’all get our age. Lucky I got them damn tubes burned, or BJ would have another auntie or uncle his age.”

“Oh my gosh!” Kwinn screamed.

“I’m calling Granny on you. In here being fast!” Lauryn shouted behind her, gagging.

All the sisters heard was laughter as Toya headed up the staircase. They let the silence settle between them until Lauryn spoke up.

“You know Daddy is serious,” she said.

Kwinn sighed and shook her head. “I know. But it’s not that easy. We’ve been together for three years.”

“And before you know it, it’ll be three more years of things not changing. This is only one situation, at least that I’m aware of. Who says there won’t be or haven’t been more? You’re only thirty-three, sis. It’s okay to let this relationship go if it no longer serves you. Keeping it a buck with you, I thought y’all would’ve been married by now, but I’ll leave that alone.”

Kwinn audibly exhaled. She too thought Jabari would have at least proposed by now, but marriage hadn’t come up in any of their forced conversations in a while. The idea of it had been so far removed from Kwinn’s mind that she hadn’t thought of it until just now, when Lauryn mentioned it.

“Whew. I thought I was coming over here to relax. I’m even more stressed out now!” Kwinn exclaimed.

Smirking, Lauryn patted her leg. “You’ll be fine. Pour a glass of wine when you get home and take a nice, hot bath.”

“Oh, I’ma do that anyway ‘cause that’s how I am,” Kwinn said, making them cackle like always.

Lauryn simmered down and got serious again. She was only three years older than Kwinn and took her role as the oldest seriously. She wanted only the best for her baby sister, and if it wasn’t Jabari, like her husband said, she needed to let that nigga go.

“All jokes aside, sissy. If you don’t think you deserve better, then neither will he,” Lauryn said just as Bishop walked back into the living room with his mini me attached to him.

Resting her head against the back of the couch, Kwinn knew she had some tough decisions to make, preferably before her daddy made them for her.

By the time Kwinn got home, she’d done exactly what Lauryn suggested and poured herself a glass of wine before running a hot bath. She took her time doing her skin care routine afterward, determined to relax and enjoy the rest of her Friday night.