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four
“So bitch… what you’re saying is, you’re cursed. I mean… that’s really what this all boils down to,” Nubia said, shaking her head before she picked up the wine in front of her and drained the glass.
I followed suit, emptying my glass down my throat, even shaking it to make sure I goteverylast drop.
God knows I needed it.
Across the table from me, Kora shot a glare in Nubia’s direction, and must’ve kicked her under the table, based on the yelp that Nubia let out. “You realize you don’thaveto say every little thing that comes to mind, right? How is that helpful?”
“Uh, Monica appreciates my candor. Don’t you, Mon?” Nubia asked.
I nodded. “Actually, Kora, I do. And hell… I agree. My entire world has tumbled upside down in a damnedweek. I’m just trying to figure out exactly what type of karma this is. Who did I fuck with in a past life that it’s come down tothis?”
“Will you cut it with the karma stuff?” Chloe asked, rolling her eyes. “You haven’t done anything to anyone, and this isnotkarma.”
I chuckled, then reached over our tapas plates for the bottle of wine in the middle of the table. “Fine. Voodoo then. Santeria. Witchcraft.Something. The ancestors or some-fucking-body with some magical mythical something are not pleased with me.”
“It’s just life,” Blake said, shaking her head. “Just a valley.”
“Well, can a bitch get an airlift out of here?” I asked, spurring laughter around the table. After a moment, I laughed too, giving in to the generally good vibe of being with my girlfriends.
It wasnecessary.
Even though I was semi-homeless at the moment, with my house being processed as a crime scene, I’d kept my word and come out on this “date” with my girls. I hadn’t realized how much I needed it until we’d all sat down, passing around bottles of wine and plates of appetizers.
I needed itbad.
Because of whatever favor Renata called in, Detective Sam Turner and his partner, Tonya Velez, were the only law enforcement I’d actually had to interact with. They showed up in a plain car to take my statement, about the break-in and the hacking, and then gave me time to put together a bag and leave before the uniformed officers showed up to do whatever they needed to do.
It was a minor blessing, considering everything that was going on. And no matter what Kora or Blake or Chloe said, this didn’t feel like “life happening”. It felt insidious, and the shit was terrifying. Especially when I was helpless to stop it, because I had no idea what was going on.
“Seriously though,” Nubia said, reaching to grab my hand. “I really hope the police figure all of this out for you, because it’s nuts. I mean… the smashed flowers? That made my skin crawl.”
I took a sip of my freshly poured wine. “Girl, who are you telling? I honestly feel like it’s worse than the break-in. I’m allergic to roses. That shit waspersonal.”
“So… who do you think is doing this? Andwhy?” Kora asked, leaning in.
I shrugged. “Who knows? Probably Kellen or one of his whores, or Kellenandone of his whores. I’m so fucking sick of that man. I wouldn’t put it past him to concoct all of this, after I told him yesterday I was done with his ass.”
“Really?” Chloe chimed in. “You’re finally going to pursue the divorce?”
“What choice do I have?” I tipped my head back, staring up at the ceiling as I continued. “I can’t keep letting him use me, my name, my connections, my money, while he blatantly disrespects me. It’s time for it to stop.”
Kora groaned. “So you’re really going to give up half your business for that bastard?”
“Not if I can help it,” I answered. “Before, I was told that there was no way around it, and I just… accepted it. I started the business after we were married, so if we divorce, he has a legal claim. As long as he just left me the hell alone and did his dirt quietly, I was content to ignore him, just for the sake of keeping the peace… and keeping my business. But now? Fuck that. I am going to hire the best, most ruthless lawyer that I can afford, and we are going to make it our mission to leave him with as close tonothingas possible.”
Beside me, Nubia moaned. “Oh, please keep talking, I think I might cum.”
“You’re so damned silly,” I laughed, slapping her hand when she raised it for a high five.
“Crudeness aside, Nubia is right,” Kora said, and Chloe and Blake nodded.
“This is music to our ears. You deserve so much better than a man who sits back and lives on a woman’s dime. It’s shameful!”
I sucked my teeth. “Kellen lost his capacity for shame alongtime ago. Probably right around the time he decided he hated my guts, but you know what? The feeling is mutual. Kellen isnothingto me. As far as I’m concerned – he’s dead.”
“I’ll drink to that!” Nubia piped, grabbing a bottle of wine to pour herself a fresh glass. The bottle quickly got passed around, and then we all leaned forward. “To your newly minted status… as a widow,” she said, grinning, and all five of us tapped glasses in agreement before we drank.
