54

Sarah

We had changed and all made it back to the waiting room. Simply awaiting the doors of Janet and Kyrin's reception to open.

All hell was about to break loose and I just stood back this time. I wouldn't say anything unless I had to. Phoebe had crossed over to where Miss Joanna and Ember we're standing. She spoke calmly. "Hey, Kyrin doesn't want you here. It's time for you to go."

"Excuse me?" Miss Joanna asked as she got offended.

"Phoebe. Don't do that. She just got out." Ember told her.

Phoebe crosser her arms together as she rolled her eyes. "My sister said she doesn't want you here Joanna. So you need to step. Now, this my second time asking nicely. The third time we gone run into some problems. Bounce."

"P, yo... why you tripping on her?" Em asked hurt.

Langston came over to me and frowned. I didn't return anything towards him because I was focused on this situation in front of me.

Miss Joanna got in Phoebe's face. "Phoebe I am your mother—."

"Sweetie you ain't shit to me. Just because we didn't inform Ember on some shit don't mean I won't tell her right now. Get out of my face. I got permission to drag your raggedy ass out of here if I have to. Don't try it." She pushed her back a couple of steps and I got in between the two knowing they were about to fight.

I was facing Miss Joanna and I spoke calmly. "Miss Joanna, maybe you should just go up to your hotel room. Talk to Kyrin after all of this is over with. She just has a certain way she wanted her day to go and unfortunately you aren't ideal for it. I'll talk to her."

Miss Joanna looked at me before nodding softly. "Fine. I'll go."

She walked away and the room was silent until Ember asked. "What didn't you two tell me?" Phoebe waved her off and Em asked again. "What don't I know?"

"I'll tell you after—."

"After I have the baby. Yeah. Got it." Ember rolled her eyes as she began walking away. "I'll see you guys at the reception. I need a minute."

A lady followed after Ember but I wasn't quite sure who she was. Phoebe smacked her lips. "She swears she wants to know but when she does find out she becomes sensitive fucking Sally. I don't have time."

"Whose that lady that followed after her?" I asked Phoebe but a man answered me.

"That was my wife." He told me but he didn't seem excited to say it.

"And her fiancé." Phoebe added and my face furrowed.

I looked between them. "I'm confused. Fill me in."

"Well this here is Janet's bodyguard, Joey. Joey is married to the woman who followed Ember, her name is Juliette. Juliette and Joey decided that they loved my sister just as much as they loved each other, so they're getting married." Phoebe gave me the run down.

Nodding, even though I was still mapping it out completely in my head, I replied. "Oh okay. Well, I'm Sarah. Kyrin's friend. Nice to meet you Joey."

"You as well." We shook hands but he took a while to let mines go but finally he did.

Langston pulled me away from him as he sent Joey a look. "Aye, look out bruh."

I turned to him as I spoke lowly. "Stop." He rolled his eyes before muttering something under his breath and walking away. Shaking my head, I followed him. "Langston." He ignored me as he kept walking through the halls of the hotel. "You're seriously going to act like you don't hear me?"

He stopped walking and faced me. "You seriously wasn't gone say shit to that man obviously flirting with you?"

"He shook my hand."

"And didn't wanna let it go. Thats a fuck niggas way of saying he wanna fuck."

"Okay, and even if it was, I wouldn't give him the time of day. What's up? Why are you acting like this over something so small?"

"I tried to talk to Kyrin." He mumbled.

From his facial expression, I already knew it didn't go the way he'd liked it to. "Baby—."

"She hates me. She pushed me back and said I was selfish. She's not going to forgive me Sarah but I had to do it. It was either fake my death or leave everyone in jeopardy. I made a decision to save everyone. Even if it was at the expense of breaking a couple of hearts." Langston's head fell down.

I walked up to him and put my finger under his chin and lifted his head. "Baby, she's upset but she doesn't hate you. You two were best friends and she was hurt. You and I both know her, she just needs a explanation and then she needs time. It will all work out eventually. You just have to let it. Come on, we have to get back out there."

When I turned to walk away he pulled me back as our lips collided for a moment. I smiled softly as we pulled away and he spoke. "I'm gone marry you one day Sarah Jakes. You can bet money on that."

"I don't gamble, but I'll be sure to put money on that one." Turning I tried to walk away but he snaked his arms around my waist and began walking with me.

"You know we going to Hell right?"

My face furrowed as I looked at him. "Boy, don't say that."

"We had sex in church Sarah and I do remember pre martial sex being a sin but not only did we have pre martial sex... we had it in the House of the Lord."

Taking a second to process it, I nodded. "Yeah. That was pretty bad, but I asked for forgiveness. Have you?" Langston got quiet and I chuckled. "Better get to repenting my man."

"That's not even fair. You telling me God gone let that slide?"

"You repent for it, then maybe. All sins weigh the same."

"So murderers going to Heaven?"

"If they get right with the Lord, then apparently so. Alls fair game with our Father." I mumbled as we continued to walk. "Come to church. You wouldn't have as many questions."

"Maybe I will." He replied and it shocked me when he did. Langston usually objected to every and any form of church.

Nodding, we walked back into the reception waiting space just as the doors opened. Kyrin hadn't even shared with me what her reception would look like so shocked wasn't the word when we came face to face with it.

The dance floor was next to the space and the doors that led to the outside let us know that it continued once you got outside. Music was playing as we walked in. This was beautiful.

"Damn." Phoebe commented and I didn't realize she was next to me. "This is beautiful."

"It is." I agreed as we walked over to the cake that was in the corner. "Look at this."

"They spent a good penny on this."

"I'm saying."

She chuckled as she mumbled. "You... Miss Sarah Jakes, you are a busy woman I see."

I looked at her as I made a face of humor. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Langston." She replied as we continued walking. "Langston and you are a thing. He's been hiding at your house this whole time. Or maybe I'm just tripping, but I have a feeling I'm not."

My footsteps stopped as I faced her and she copied the same motions. "Phoebe..."

"Relax. One thing I've never been is a snitch. I could careless who you're sleeping with or hiding." She shrugged as she began walking away. "Bravo by the way. That shit was kind of hard to crack."

I took a deep breath as I watched her walk over to her designated chair. Phoebe was right about that, she'd never been one to tell. When Kyrin and I would sneak out the house when I was staying over, she'd cover for us. As long as we brought her snacks from the store when we came back.

So that left me to wonder... what the hell did she want out of this one? Shaking it off, I went and sat down where I was supposed to. Gil, Shawn and Tiffany was two seats next to me. Ember walked in and sat next to me and Juliette went and sat elsewhere.

When Phoebe sat next to her she rolled her eyes. Before they could say anything, Eissa ran into the reception room as the music stopped. "My moms are coming guys! Look!"

He pointed to the side doors as November 18th began blasting through the speakers. Phoebe, Ember and I's mouth dropped. She wasn't about to walk in to this. She put Janet onto that Biggie and Drake collab?! See, that's love.

It's the ones that smoke blunts with ya, see ya pictureNow they wanna grab the guns and come and get yaIt's the ones that smoke blunts with ya, see ya pictureNow they wanna grab the guns and come and get ya

They walked in and everyone gasped.

Up so high even when I'm coming downJust met a girl say she from the H-TownI say my name is Drizzy and ain't nobody realerCup inside a cup, smoking Ghostface KillahGot these boppas going crazy, nigga I'm the manI sent ya girl a message, said I'll see ya when I canShe sent me one back, but I ain't never read itCause pussy's only pussy and I get it when I need it

Kyrin looked at us and pointed as she started Crip walking. We busted out laughing. Janet shook her head and chuckled when she noticed her. How she kept it going in these damn heels was a throwback moment. We used to hit that move no matter what shoes we had on.

I'm telling you, I'm as cold as windows down in the winterAnd I be riding rims if my tires any thinnerAirport stunting, flying charters overseasFull of Dom Perignon and the water for the D'sDon't know why it happens, everytime we aloneBut here we are again and I swear I'm in my zoneSo I'm a sip this drank until that mothafucka goneAnd you gon' get undressed and we gon' get it on

I don't give you the time, you deserve from meThis is something I know, I know, I knowSo tonight I'll just fuck you like we're in HoustonTaking everything slow, so slow, so slow but I do it to her

They danced all the way to their seats which were the spaces in between Gil and I. Nasir began dancing and I recorded him. The boy had some moves on him.

Kyrin sat next to me and nudged me after I stopped recording. "You heard that H-Town shoutout I gave?"

Draped up, dripped out, know what I'm talking 'bout3 in the morning, get it popping in the parking lotIt's on once again and I never pretendA nigga staying G 'til the end

I shook my head as I laughed. "You put your wife on?"

"Hell yes." She replied. "Had to."

"I took care of it for you Ky." Phoebe told her and I knew that she was talking about Joanna.

"Thank you." Kyrin smiled but Janet heard the conversation.

"Took care of what?" She asked.

Ky shook her head. "Nothing babe. We'll talk about it later." Ember still hadn't spoken and her next statement went to her. "Hey Em, you good?"

Ember looked her way and threw her a toothless grin. "I'm dandy sis, you two look amazing."

"I'm saying." I agreed and Phoebe did as well.

Janet smiled. "Thanks girls." She turned the other way and began having conversations with Tiff and Gil.

"We tried. We tried." Kyrin flipped her hair as she stuck out her tongue.

The DJ turned the music down and spoke into the mic. "So tonight, we have a range of first dances. First we will have the first dance with Kyrin and her mother—."

Our eyes widened as I looked at her and Kyrin looked at Janet. "W-what is he talking about?"

"My mom thought that it would be a good idea if I danced with her and you danced with Miss Joanna." Jan mumbled as she avoided eye contact.

Kyrin shook her head as she stood. "Nope. I'm not dancing with Joanna, but I'll dance with my brother."

The song that began playing made Kyrin pause. I looked at her sisters in shock. I hadn't heard this song since Kyrin and I were in high school. Her father would sing it to her mother whenever she was cooking dinner. It never failed.

That was before everything. Before he switched religions and somehow lost his way in faith. Before it all went bad.

Wow. It's really good to see you again, baby.And I must admit you're looking very, very, very nice these days.I guess life must be treating you well.Oh me?Well, I've just been doing the same ol' thing I've always been doing, you know.I've got a new lady now and it's a little different than it was when I was with you.You know, I think back to when we met, the way I used to be and the cold way I used to act.But more than that, I think of how you changed me with your love and sensitivity.Remember when I used to

Kyrin's eyes watered when he began singing.

Love them and leave themThat's what I used to doUse and abuse themThen I laid eyes on youIt was pain before pleasureThat was my claim to fameWith every measure, babyTasted teardrop stains, yeah

I stood and Kyrin's sisters stood after me as I grabbed her hand and we all walked her to the dance floor. She was crying as we danced with her.

I was cold as ice, long ago baby, babyI wasn't very, very, very nice you knowSugar, sugar, sugar

"You better stop crying before your makeup streaks." Ember teased her.

Then I kissed your lips andYou turned on my fire, baby

Kyrin chuckled as more tears dropped. "I put on setting spray. This makeup not moving." She sighed as she got serious. "I miss the old man sometimes. He wasn't always a monster."

And you burned me up within your flameTook me a little higherMade me live again

We nodded in agreement. Poppa Nate could be the sweetest soul to grace the Earth when he wanted to be.

You turned on my fire, babyThen you showed me what a love could doFire and desire, babyFeel it comin' throughAnd I thank you baby

Kyrin broke away from us as she told the DJ to cut the song off. It stopped and he quickly put something else on. She patted her tears away before nodding at us. "Thanks girls. I needed that. I'm okay. I'm alright."

We nodded back as they went and sat back down. The DJ yelled through the mic. "Now we have Janet and her mother. Come on down you two!"

My head began banging so I headed towards the exit. The music was suddenly all too much for me. When I got outside I took a seat on one of the benches.

I put my head in my hands as I tried to massage my temples. Knowing from experience that it wasn't going to work still didn't prevent me from doing it. I only got headaches this bad when I was pregnant. I had went through two pregnancies already, I knew my body and right now it was sending me those signals. Those signals couldn't have come at a worse time though.

Footsteps approached me and I saw when Langston crouched in front of me. "Baby. What's wrong? What happened? Are you alright?"

"Langston, I'm pregnant." I told him as I looked up suddenly.

He blinked a couple of times before asking. "What? You can't be sure of that— I mean—."

"We had sex in the office. I don't remember you using protection. Did you?"

Langston came up short before sighing. "Nah, I didn't."

"Not to mention all the other times. Okay so here's a little anatomy lesson. You have unprotected sex, you get pregnant!" I snapped on him suddenly, I couldn't help it. For some reason my temper was shortening.

He jumped from me raising my voice because it's something I usually don't do. "Sarah, but you haven't even taken a test—."

"Langston." I called out warningly.

"I mean you can't be sure of that." He was starting to sweat. Was this nigga scared? "It has to be a way of us to— ya know. Make sure. Or something. Like a test. Yeah. A test! Let's get you a—."

"I've been throwing up. My heads killing me. Not to mention throughout half of that wedding, I was nauseous and dizzy. I'm telling you I'm pregnant."

"Sarah—." He seemed to still want to explain himself.

"Boy, I've had two kids! I know my body and right now my body is telling me that I'm pregnant. So I don't know what you want to do, but you need to get ready to become a father and very quickly at that." I ranted before putting my head back into my hands.

Another voice inserted itself into our conversation and it caused my head to fly up and Langston to look back. "He needs to get ready to become a what?" Our eyes met with Kyrin's whose head was tilted. She chuckled dryly. "Oh, so y'all been fucking? You two a thing?"

I opened my mouth but came up empty. Langston spoke. "We were gonna tell you."

"Hold up. So in order for your ass to be pregnant by him, you two have to have been screwing for at least what— 4 or 5 weeks? Matter fact, tell me this, where the hell has your ass been Langston?" He looked back at me and didn't reply to Kyrin. She asked another question. "Oh, so you ignoring me. Sarah, where has he been?"

I met eye contact with her as I answered softly. "My house."

"How long?"

"Four months." I replied. I didn't feel like lying anymore. It was tiresome.

She nodded. "See this is what I be talking about. You claim you got my back but you do shit like this. Y'all both dry ass let me think he was dead? Every night I cried and you was over at her house this whole time? Fuck out of here bruh. That's some bitch ass shit and you know it."

Phoebe joined us outside. She noticed everyone's stance and asked. "What's going on?"

"Oh nothing much. Bitches doing typical hoe ass shit." Ky replied.

Who was she talking to? Cause it wasn't me. I stood up as I arched a eyebrow. "Okay, first off, let's get something clear. Just because I found the Lord, don't mean that I'm not still the same girl you used to hit them streets with before. Remember who was clearing out parties with yo ass. So I'm going to let you know straight like this, I'm not finna be too many more of them bitches."

Langston stood up and stepped in front of me. "Chill."

"Nah, let her go. Matter fact both of y'all can bounce, cause it ain't much need for you two here no more!" She yelled.

I scoffed. "Oh, you ain't said shit but a thang. Let's go."

"Sarah, don't leave. She's just upset." Phoebe tried to reason.

"Hell yes I'm upset. What is the fucking reason? You faked your death to be with her? Cause it's never that fucking serious! In the hotel room, she was yo little sis and shit. Yet yo little sis is pregnant by you now right? Tuh. Man, y'all can step." She was fuming but at this point I was too.

"Kyrin, keep this energy. When yo ass need somebody to talk to, keep this same fucking energy. Don't switch that shit up at all. The only reason you fuck with me is because your daddy and my daddy was co workers anyways. You only hit me up when yo ass need advice." I told her as I turned and walked back into the building to get my things off the table.

Janet had just finished dancing with her mother. I grabbed my phone and wallet when Kyrin yelled. "You know damn well that shit ain't true, Sarah! As far as we go back?"

I took a deep breath before I whipped around. A pain shot through my body but I ignored it, I was too pissed. "Really? We go back? I couldn't fucking tell by how you stepping to me right now."

The music stopped and Kyrin walked closer to me. "You ain't seen stepping yet. If I stepped, trust me, you woulda felt that shit."

Janet and Langston got in between us as Janet asked Kyrin. "Hold on. What's going on?"

"Ask Sarah. Since she's pregnant with Langston's baby." She pointed and people gasped but the loudest gasp came from the table next to the DJ.

When I looked over I saw that the name attached to the table was 'Watties.' Girls sat over there and they were all up in our conversation. I made a face. Who were they?

I pointed to Kyrin. "You know what Kyrin, if you want to talk to me, then we talk in the hotel room. I'm done talking to your ass in this setting."

Turning around, I walked out of the room with Langston following me. When I hit the elevator button, I almost lost my balance. Langston's hands went around my waist quickly as he held me up. "Whoa. Hey, you okay?"

Shaking my head, I mumbled. "Pick me up baby, I don't feel too hot."

He picked me up right as the doors to the elevator opened. Stepping on, suddenly I couldn't stay awake. I felt my head tilt back as my eyes shut against my will. "Sarah? Baby? Wake up!"

It was the last thing I heard before everything and every sense of sound went dark.