Chapter Nine

###

I pulled up to the Marquee, wondering why I was even there. Knowing Cooth, she probably recommended this damn club. I got out of the car, buttoning up my shirt and putting on my shades. I instantly recognized the bouncer, Pat. I had done a few pieces for him over the last few years. He had become somewhat like an uncle to me.

"Hey, Pat. Look, Ima be in and out. I gotta get my girl, apparently, she's drunk as hell. Noel said she couldn't handle her," The words my girl rolled of my lips like water. My connection with Gabrielle was so strong yet this girl had some type of hold on me. I knew I couldn't keep denying it. I just didn't have the strength to let her back in.

"Which one of them is yours, the chocolate one or the tattooed one? Hell or both?" Pat said laughing. "I know Noel walked in here with some singers, but I didn't know y'all had it like that"

"So I guess you not letting me in," I said pulling out my wallet taking out two hundreds. "Here, go get some new timbs. You need 'em." I pushed past Pat walking through the door. The DJ was playing Young Bari's "So Mobby," so there was no question that Lani and Edward were here. I made my way through the crowd after about 10 minutes, finally reaching VIP. There was no reason why I should've been in a club at 3 in the morning on a December night. I walked up the steps passing security the last hundred I had in my wallet and maneuvered my way through the cluster of people. After taking forever looking through people, I heard Edward.

"Dom! We're over here. Come get your girlfriend please!" Edward yelled over the music. I walked over to see Kehlani humping, well dancing but it looked like humping, on some girl.

"Baby!" she stumbled over to me. 'I missed you."

"Yeah, yeah... We gotta get you home," I took my jacket and wrapped it around her. I grabbed her by the waist and led her out of the club and to my car.

"You know I really didn't sleep with her right? I mean she did try to do some things, but I stopped her. I didn't want to fuck things up with us, but I did anyway. When I yelled her name it just came out. I guess out of guilt. I was keeping it from you to salvage your friendship. Baaaby, I'm sorry," She sat in the passenger seat and started to pout. I sat there quiet. "Doooooom, say something, baby." We sat at the red light for a second before she grabbed my face. "Dom."

"Kehlani, just sit back and hush. I'll have you home soon."

"Nope. Nope. Nope. I want to go to your place. PPPPPLLLEEEAAASSSEEEEEEE-"

"Damn it Kehlani. Fine. If you hush, I'll bring you. Shit!" I turned around and headed for my apartment. She nuzzled into the seat and fell asleep. I sat there feeling like shit. I mean, I had let her go when in actuality she was trying to save us and save me and Shaina.

Once we made it to my place I picked her up and brought her inside. She wrapped her legs around my waist and laid her head on my shoulder. I helped her into the shower and helped her into one of my large shirts. I put her on the bed softly, before face timing Gabby.

"Hey, did I wake you up pooh?" she looked so cute tugged beneath the covers.

"No, it's fine... At least you made it home safe. How's Kehlani?" She sat up and ran her fingers through her curls.

"Sleep. I brought her here. She was too drunk to be by herself," I said before pulling off my shirt and sliding out of my pants.

"Mmmhmm. Remember you have a girlfriend over here, so don't do anything I wouldn't do...I love you, Domi."

"Love you too, baby girl," I whispered trying not to wake Kehlani up.

I ended the call turning around to check on Lani. She was sitting up with her arms folded. Wide awake. It took a minute before she said anything.

"So, I guess she's completely replaced me, huh?" She looked at me kinda hurt. "I saw that look in your eyes that I saw on our first date. You really love her don't you?"

I couldn't respond. I didn't know how to respond.

"I guess I need to just figure it out, Lani. I mean she does mean a lot to me... I just-"

"Just cuddle with me okay, at least one more time," Lani's eyes began to water. I knew it wasn't just the liquor. I actually hurt her. I crawled into bed with her against my better judgment. I just held her. I had to.

***

I sat at the dinner table in silence looking into space. Gabby and I had decided to double date with Sevyn and Noel. I knew I should've been focused on Gabby, but Kehlani was still on my mind.

"Sis-in-law, what's wrong with you? You look like you lost your best friend or something... Noel, what did you do?" Sevyn asked pinching Noel.

"Nothing. Damn, Amber. You always defending her ass," Noel said, scooting away from Sev.

"Huh, nothing nothing," I said continuing to gaze into the distance. I pulled out my phone to see Kehlani was on live.

"Y'all, I think I'ma stay single for a while," Kehlani said playing in her curls "I can't take this heartbreak shit." Her comments were flooded with comments like who hurt you sis and what's wrongs. Someone even said Lani let me wife you.

Ain't no wifeing that my nigga, I typed. She looked at her comments hard ass fuck. She rolled her eyes and kept talking. I know you saw my comment Nami. Stop acting like that.HML. She looked again. Two seconds later she ended her live. I knew we were done. Just as quick as I got her, I lost her.

"Hello? Dom? Are you ready to go," Gabby snapped me back to reality as she turned and started to walk to the exit. Before I got up, I texted Lani. I don't know why I felt like I needed to I just did.

I miss you. Call me when you see this, love. I'm sorry I didn't listen to you. I should've trusted you. We need to link. Go hang and smoke one on me, or something.

Read 9:57pm

This girl was really fuckin ignoring me.

Now I know you saw my message. Playing games and shit lmao.

Go fuck with Gabby Dom. Leave me alone. I chased after you for too long.

I didn't even know how shit flipped on me, to be honest. I slammed the phone down causing the couples close to the table to look in my direction.

"Dom, Let's go sis. Gabby's waiting," Noel called to me. I caught up with Noel and Sevyn.

"Lani's gonna be at a bar in Brooklyn with Sam... You should go hang with them," Sevyn said softly. "Just remember you can't have your cake and eat it too. If you want her, Let Gabby go."

"Amber, mind your business. Dom, don't listen to her headass. Do you. Fuck Lani. She should've been honest when she had the chance," Noel said laughing. Sevyn pinched her again. "Damn, stop that shit!"

I walked away from them and saw Gabby sitting in the car on her phone. When I got in the car Gabby snapped.

"Why are you still hung up on her?" I turned looking at her in confusion. Like damn, let me get in the car good first. " Don't tell me you're not because I know your ass better than that." I was contemplating taking Sev's advice but I kept my mouth shut. I let her fuss the whole way back to her place without saying a word. After she fell asleep, I left and headed to the shop.

***

"I just want to know why in the hell you decided to get that damn mob tattoo?" Kahh took my wrist and examined the tat.

"Well, I guess after this she gonna know it real... well, maybe not... but it's the thought that counts," I said pulling out of Kahh's hold.

"Yeah, she gonna say you're a crazy bitch and still not fuck with your dumb ass," Cooth said laughing at my misfortunes.

"I guess we'll see when it happens... I'm about to head to Sam's and see if she's still there," I said dapping Noel off.

"See, Shai... That's real love right there my nigga," Noel laughed as I walked out the door.

###