Page 19 of His Four Leaf Clover

“Yeah, in the wrong muthafucking bed.”

“I didn’t even put you in the bed. I laid you on the sofa, so you got in the bed on your own. Your car is still parked by the bar.”

“I’m getting dressed now to go meet dude at his tattoo shop. Come swing by and get me.”

“Lucky said to call her whenever you’re ready. I’m at work.”

“Work? It’s Saturday, nigga.”

“I know but I had to draw up a few contracts. Business has been good, so I ain’t doing no complaining. That nigga Fonzo went at Hank about building him and Amina something from the bottom up.”

“That’s what’s up. I’m happy for big bro.”

“Me too. He said he wanted to sit down and talk to everybody about a few things. I guess he’s about ready to pop the question. Shit, I’m ready to do it again my damn self. I shouldn’t have signed them bullshit ass papers in the first place.”

“I told you not to do it, fam. You listening to Diva knowing that she’s been on Clover’s side from day one. But Fonzo don’t need to talk to us about getting married. Shit, just tell me when and where. Amina is a good look for him. At least y’all got it right. I’m all fucked up.”

“You good too, bro. You and Iva just need to sit down and have an adult conversation about everything. All that name calling and arguing is childish.”

“Yeah, I know, man. Clo told me that same shit last night.”

Caprice was fuming as she eavesdropped on his not so private conversation. Hearing Monty say that Clover was basically trying to get him and Iva back together shouldn’t have even been a surprise, but it was. Although Iva was her best friend, Clover stayed neutral when it came to his relationship with Caprice. She’d even overheard Clover telling him to leave her girl alone since he was in a relationship and she’d said it more than once. Apparently, she had a change of heart and wanted them back together. Now, more than ever, Caprice wanted Clover to hurt the same way that she was trying to hurt her.

“That food was so good. I’ve never had sweet potato benedict before,” Kim said as they walked back to Clover’s truck, making her cousin stop to look at her and laugh.

“Bitch, it’s called beignets.”

“Girl, I’m weak.” Cashmere, Clover’s friend, laughed with her. That was only her third or fourth time hanging with Clover’s cousin but she was funny as hell without even trying to be.

“Dang, I should have ordered some extras to take home,” Kim said, right as they got into the car.

“You still can. I’ll drive you to the front, so you can talk to the hostess.” Clover started her car and made the block.

Monday was a black-owned restaurant and bar that served some decent food. They were hit or miss in Clover’s opinion, but Cash loved them. Kim seemed to love them too and every other restaurant that she’d gone to. Her cousin was a country girl so she knew good eating and was a damn good cook herself.

“Do y’all want anything?” Kim asked them before she got out of the car. Both women declined, so she walked up to the hostess to place her order.

“Girl, thanks for being okay with my cousin tagging along lately. She don’t really know too many people just yet.” Clover had been bringing Kimber everywhere she went lately if she wasn’t with Dash. Her cousin was in an unfamiliar place so her and Diva had been showing her around. Since Cash’s daughter was with Diva and Kardi, they decided to have lunch and hang out.

“Girl, I don’t mind. I like her lil cute country self. That accent of hers just makes everything sound funny.”

“I know and my granny’s is even worse. I’m happy as hell Diva and Hank raised me. I would have been sounding like a country bumpkin too.”

“That shit is funny as hell. Your in-laws raised you along with your future husband.”

“I know but it just always seemed so normal to me. My parents were their best friends, so we were always around. I don’t really realize how dysfunctional we are until somebody else points it out.”

“Girl, you know I’m just fucking with you. Me, of all people, ain’t got no room to talk. My mama’s last two kids are for my auntie’s ex. My grandma, who was screwing her pastor for years, hated us as a result. My sister had a baby with our mama’s boyfriend and, now, my niece is the sister of my ex-nigga who went to jail with my ex-bestfriend. And that’s only a small portion of my story. Need I say more?”

“The only thing you need to be doing is writing a book.”

Clover laughed but she was serious. Cashmere was older than she was, but they clicked the moment they met three years ago when they both volunteered for the PTA at their daughters’ school. Clover loved how transparent she was, and Cash loved that about her too. Clover told her all about her less than normal upbringing amid the loss of her parents. She expected Cashmere to give her the side eye but her face didn’t even hold any emotion. Instead, she told Clover her life story and hers was a Hallmark movie compared to Cashmere’s.

“I’m not interested, but I have a bomb ass storyline for somebody who is. Thank God for blessing me with kids. They changed me in a good way, and I don’t see things the way I used to when I was younger.”

Cash was now a mother of three. Her oldest, MJ, was ten, Montell was seven and Cashmere, who they called CJ, was six.

“I be saying the same thing, but these hoes be trying me sometimes. I try my best to be a role model for Kardi but that ain’t easy.”