Page 5 of Knotted By the Triad

That last part wiped the smile off my face.

“I’m tired of being nervous when I hear his car pull into the driveway. I’m tired of watching what I say so I don’t piss him off. I’m tired of making excuses for why I can’t go anywhere with y’all. I’m tired of him telling me that I’ve gained weight since we got married. Tired of the look of disgust on his face when he sees me getting dressed. We haven’t had sex in over a year. And I don’t miss the intimacy at all. I've been tired of him touching me.” She took a shaky breath. “I’m just tired of him. Period.”

“Then leave his ass and don’t look back,” I said.

Bri smiled through the tears threatening to fall again. “I am. For real this time. I’m ready to live again. No, I’m ready to thrive again.”

“Hell yes,” CiCi said. “Where are you moving your stuff to? You know, if you need somewhere to stay, you can stay with me.”

“Or me,” Kena added.

“Or me,” I offered. “I’m the best option. My guest room is cuter.”

“Your guest room is full of wigs,” Kena said.

“They have their own shelves.”

“You had three mannequin heads sitting on the bed the last time I was there. While you were doing my hair, I kept feeling like they were watching me. They scared the hell out of me.” Kena shivered.

“I was working on new wigs for my wig line. Shut up,” I told her.

Bri laughed. “I already found a condo.”

I blinked. “You did?”

She nodded. “I already signed the lease and everything.”

“Bri!” CiCi shouted.

“What?”

“Why are you just now telling us this? We could’ve helped you,” CiCi said.

“I needed to do it by myself. And once it was done, I wanted to tell y’all in person instead of in the group chat.”

Kena reached one hand toward the back seat without looking away from the road. Bri leaned forward and grabbed it.

“I’m proud of you, my beautiful and strong Bri-Bri,” Kena said, holding her hand.

“Me too,” CiCi added.

I looked at Bri, and the tears finally won. One rolled down my cheek before I could stop it.

“Damn it.” I wiped it away. “Now y’all got me crying before we even make it to the restaurant. I’m going to ruin my makeup.”

“Big baby,” CiCi muttered.

“Shut up, CiCi.”

Bri laughed again, but she was crying too. I reached for her other hand. She placed it in mine. I gave it a gentle squeeze.

“I’m proud of you,” I whispered.

“Thank you,” she told me as Kena released her hand.

“And if he puts his hands on you before you get out of there, call me,” I told her. “I’m ready to put all those self-defense lessons we learned at Kena’s gym to use.”

“I’ll call you,” she promised.