35

Kyrin

Phoebe ❤️You wanna hit up a club with my Friday night? It's out of town so you won't have to worry about running into anyone shady.

To: Phoebe ❤️Nooo. I don't do people. Why you going to a club out of town anyways?

Phoebe ❤️Gotta see someone. Please? Just tag along. I'm calling in a sister favor!

I rolled my eyes as I texted back.

To: Phoebe ❤️Girl, I said no.

Phoebe ❤️Imma tell Janet what you did in Texas.

My face furrowed as I replied.

To: Phoebe ❤️I ain't do shit in Texas. Df you talking about?

Phoebe ❤️Don't worry about it, just have your narrow ass in my passenger seat Friday night.

The door to my office opened and I looked up thinking it was Janet. She was meeting me here for lunch today. Instead it was Joy. I smiled at her. "Hey, what's up?"

"Nothing, wanna do lunch?"

I frowned slightly as I declined. "I actually can't today, Janet and I are going out for lunch today."

Joy shrugged. "Can't cancel for me?"

Chuckling, I rolled my eyes. "Girl please. No I cannot. You always playing."

"I wasn't playing though."

I giggled until she stale faced me and I brushed my hair behind my shoulders. "I— well I'm not really sure I'm catching what you're trying to say right now, Joy..."

I know good and damn well this woman wasn't flirting with me. That's what I did know.

"Nothing." She face palmed herself. "Never mind. Just forget I said anything."

Joy tried to walk away and I called her back. "No, come back here. Expand on what you were trying to say Joy."

"Kyrin, I'm just saying. She barely has time for you half the time. Carmen tells me these things. I would make time for you. You deserve better."

Her saying that caused me to tilt my head. Oh I would be on Carmen's ass soon enough.

Sweeping my hair to one side of my head, I chuckled as I stepped out of my character. "First of all, don't come at me with shit Carmen said. To say she's my best friend would be a damn lie right now because I haven't heard from her in what? Weeks! She doesn't know shit about anything other than work shit. Secondly, you don't know what the hell Janet has for me. So let's get that in check now."

Joy rolled her eyes as she scoffed. "Carmen said you would say some stuff like this."

"So that's your bestie now? She set you up to this? Cause if she did she set you up for failure."

"You won't even give me a chance!" She exclaimed as she raised her voice.

"I have a girlfriend!" I yelled back as I stood up. "Da fuck I look like? Joy, get the fuck outta my office. I'm not playing with you."

I was losing my grip on politeness. The temper I had long and got away from was edging back and Joy was about to catch a quick one if she wasn't too careful.

She shook her head. "Watch. She gone fuck up and I'm not gone be here to catch you. Just watch."

"How many ways do I have to say it's never going to happen?" I asked in irritation. "Get the hell out of my office."

Joy went for the exit and when she did Janet stepped from around the corner causing my eyes to widen. Joy froze where she was and Janet sized her up before stepping back and raising her eyebrow.

Hesitantly, Joy walked passed her and Janet spoke to her. "Oh and bitch, you fired. Pack your shit and go."

My girlfriend walked into my office and looked at me. I shook my head before she could even address me. "I didn't know she was going to do that."

"Oh I could tell from the 'you always playing' comment. I'm glad you handled it, because I thought I was about to have to handle it." She mused as she took deep breaths and took her hair out of her bun. "You ready to go?"

I shook my head again. "Actually, give me a few minutes. I'll meet you at the car."

"You sure you want me to walk back through that office alone?" Janet asked me in all seriousness.

I pointed to my desk chair. "Sit Jackson, I'll be right back."

She sat down as I walked out of my office and walked across the hall. I knocked as I entered.

Carmen looked up at me and smiled. "Hey Kyrin, what's going on."

Leaning against her door, I spoke. "Look, we been rocking for a while Carmen and this is gonna suck to say but I should beat your fucking ass for trying me."

"Excuse me?" She was taken aback by my tone.

"I didn't stutter. I don't give a fuck what happens between us, we then fell out plenty of times before and I've never run back and told your fucking business. Yet you feel some type of way about me and you tell Joy about a problem Janet and I had?"

Carmen frowned. "I was venting bestie—."

"Don't hit me with that bestie shit because I really wanna slide the shit outta you right now." I replied honestly. "That's some fucked up shit and you know it."

"You don't have time for me anymore! It's Janet this and Janet that! Shit bitch, can I get some fucking time?"

I scoffed. "Okay, what is this? High school? We some grown ass women, that isn't no damn excuse. You feel abandoned? Then you open your mouth and say something to me, not to the next person. I don't wanna hear that time shit."

"Okay let's talk about it then." Carmen replied.

"Child, does it look like I'm hear to talk about it now? She then came into my office and tried my entire damn existence. Don't play with me and make sure you let your dog, Joy, know that as well. I try to not show my ass up here for the sake of this damn job, but do not forget the girl who used to beat ass in Texas before we came to LA." I opened her door and looked back. "Oh, and Joy fired."

"Says who?"

"Says me! The bitch whose running this shit!" I answered as I motioned around.

I walked out of her office and back into mines. My girlfriend wasn't there so I grabbed my things and walked to the front. Her and Joy seemed to be having a conversation and Janet was smiling about it.

"Janet." I called out. "Let's go."

My girlfriend threw one last smile Joys way and I noticed when Joy trembled a little. She turned and nodded. "Alright baby, lets go."

Looking at Joy, I noticed she wasn't packing up. "Didn't my girlfriend tell you that you had to go?"

"Oh no baby." Janet stopped me. "Joys fine. She'll be just fine. We've come to a nice understanding about things. Haven't we, Joy?"

"Y-Yeah. We have." Joy stuttered as she quickly looked down.

"See? Alright baby, let's go." Janet smiled at me as she grabbed my hand and led me out the school and to the parking lot. "Joey dropped me off, so I'm riding with you."

I nodded skeptically. "Okay. Thats fine. What did you tell Joy?"

We got in the car and Janet chuckled. "Oh nothing, I just told her next time she tries me and my relationship I'll have her body at the bottom of the ocean for nothing but a pack of Newport's. Nothing harsh."

My eyes widened as I looked away from Janet. Nothing harsh? What was J's definition of harsh?

"Where to?" I questioned as I changed the subject.

"My moms." She replied. "I'll tell you how to get there. Go like you're heading to the dance studio." I nodded as I started the car and left the parking lot. We drove in silence with just the music playing for a minute before she spoke again. "I wanna tell you something before we get there."

"Ok..."

She grabbed my hand. "So you're going to meet my siblings, you know that of course though."

"Mhm."

"So, ignore Randy's dumbass please. Tito's the asshole most times so if he doesn't like you at first, don't let it phase you. He's never been a fan of anyone I've dated. Oh and Letoya and I may swap jabs, it's normal. Let it happen."

Tossing that information in my mind, I nodded. "Okay, I got it."

"Also, I went to see Wissam a few days ago and I got him to sign a disclosure agreement to not bring me to court for Eissa."

My eyes went from the road to Janet a couple of times before I asked. "I'm sorry. You went where?"

"To Wissam's."

"By yourself?" She nodded which caused me to scold. "Janet Damita."

"I'm fine. It's fine. He didn't do anything but sign the contract and try and plead his case. Don't take this exit but the next one."

I switched lanes when she told me that even though I was thinking about the first topic. "Hold on, what day did you go exactly?"

"Wednesday."

My face furrowed. "The day I called and it went straight to voicemail? Oh!" I yelled out in humor. "So we lying now?"

Janet shrugged. "It was a good lie though. Give me props."

"You did sew your ducks in order. I'm actually proud of you. Next time, don't lie to me though." I side eyed her shortly as I exited the highway.

"I won't. I won't. Take a right up there and then ride the road all the way out. You'll see the huge J on the gate."

I followed her instructions and soon I did in fact catch the sight of a huge gate with a J on it. Blinking in awe, I pulled up to the gate and Janet put the window down and waved at the guard that was on the other side.

He waved back before stepping back into his guardhouse and the gate opened. "Stop up here first."

She looked at the guard. "Carlos this is Kyrin, let her in if you see her from now on, okay?"

"I gotcha Miss Janet. Nice to meet you Kyrin." He smiled at me.

"You as well." I smiled back as I continued down the path of the driveway. We pulled up to a mansion and I commented. "Damn, wait til I'm living in something like this."

Janet looked at me. "We could be living in something like this by tomorrow afternoon."

"Oh, word?" I asked her as I parked behind a row of other cars.

"Yep. Say the word."

I smiled as I turned my car off. "I'm just playing baby, I'm more than content staying where we are staying."

My phone buzzed and I looked down as I began reading messages.

Sisters IIIEmber ✨I need to tell y'all something. Face to face. Meet today?

Sisters IIIPhoebe ❤️How we getting to Texas by today, dummy?

Sisters IIIKyrin 🤪Lmao, she called you a whole dummy, but yeah, same question....

Sisters III Ember ✨Who said I was in Texas? Meet me at the park by Joeys house. Tonight. 8 pm.

I quickly left the group chat as I texted Ember privately.

To: Ember ❤️BITCH I FUCKING TOLD YOU SOMETHING BETWEEN HER AND JOEY WAS GOING ON!

My phone was swiped from my hands by my girlfriend. "Uh uh, no phone right now. Let's go."

"Sorry baby." I apologized as we opened our doors and got out. As we walked to the door, I mumbled. "On a scale of one to ten, how crazy is this about to be?"

"Well—." The door opened before she could finish and we were both pulled into the house.

Janet was separated from me as I was pushed into the living room. My eyes went wide when they sat me on the couch.

I knew the Jacksons without intros, hell they were the Jacksons, so I knew exactly who was talking to me when they asked. "Full name sister solider."

Answering Randy, I shifted. "Kyrin Paige Broussard."

"Age?" That came from Jackie.

"Twenty six."

Marlon came in next. "Our sisters thirty six, you realize that?"

"Yeah. Age difference doesn't bother me. It's all about the connection we have." I replied.

Jackie nodded. "Mhm. What you do for a living?"

"I'm the principal of the charter school that Eissa attends. I was his teacher before, but I just got promoted recently." I informed them.

They all nodded before Randy asked. "Where you from?"

I answered. "Texas."

"How come you ended up out here? Long way from home don't you think?" Randy asked me.

"I got a full ride to UCLA actually." I replied.

"She's smart." Jackie mumbled to the others.

"She's not ugly." Randy pointed out.

Marlon added on. "Young but not too young."

"I like her." Tito announced suddenly.

Everyone looked at him as Randy asked. "I'm sorry, you what?"

"I like her." Tito clarified again.

"Oh, you're it then. Tito doesn't like anybody." Marlon told me what Janet had said in the car. "Welcome to the family Kyrin."

"Kyrin Jackson." Jackie spoke to himself. "Nice ring to it."

"Please, Jackson puts a nice ring on anything." A female voice interrupted and I turned my head to find Rebbie Jackson looking at me. "Come on sweetie, let me get you out the lions den."

I got up and left the room after I told the guys that it was nice meeting them. Following Rebbie into the kitchen, I saw Janet's mom, Letoya and Janet standing there.

Smiling, I spoke as I hugged her. "Hey Momma Kat!"

She smiled back as we released from the hug. "Hey daughter in law! Look, I know a few of my knuckle headed sons aren't here but these are my other daughters. Letoya and Rebbie. Toya, Rebbie, meet your sister in law, Kyrin!"

Chuckling, I waved and smiled at them. "Hi, it's nice to meet y'all."

"Nice to meet you too Kyrin." Rebbie sent a smile my way as Janet's brothers came in.

Letoya looked at Janet. "Doesn't look like she does crack my dear sister, I'm proud of you for raising your bar for once."

"Your bar is still dirt cheap motel men so I'll wait for you to raise yours." Janet shot back causing my mouth to drop. My girlfriend looked at me in aggravation.

"No!" Randy screamed as he began cackling. "Not the motel J! Anything but the motel!"

"Randy shut up!" Letoya yelled at him but Randy just laughed harder.

"The last one was at the motel for a while." Rebbie commented lowly.

Letoya smacked her lips. "For a week! He had bed bugs."

"You are the bed bug." Janet muttered causing all her brothers to laugh that time. I shook my head as I placed my eyes on the ground to keep from laughing.

I guess Janet was right when she said her and Letoya swap jabs. Still, it seems to me that Janet usually gets the last word in. This was entertaining.