55

Janet

Three souls stood inside of a hotel room. Ember, Juliette and Joey. Ember had sat down on the bed but Juliette had opted for standing near a wall and leaning on it. Joey was standing in the middle of the room glaring Juliette down. This wasn't the first time this had happened to the trio. All of them in silence but feeling three totally different emotions.

Ember sat worried sick, yet Juliette leaned on the wall in a pure form of heartache but masking it with a mask in the form of a expression such would wear when unbothered. Then Joey stood, anger eating at his soul. After the whole fiasco inside the reception, most had left including these three.

Joey broke the silence and it caused everyone to look his way. "Lie again Juliette and watch what happens. I'm going to ask you one more time, is that my son or not?!"

He raised his voice and it caused Ember to jump slightly. She hated being caught up in their arguments, but this one, this one topped the cake for obvious reasons.

Julie shook her head. "It's not your son, Joey."

"You let me raise him! You let me love him! Just to find out that you had your legs open to someone else? How could you? How could you be such a fucking whore?!"

Not often did Joey call anyone out of their name but Ember shifted uneasily. She knew that Juliette had way more than what Joey had just put out. Maybe he'd forgotten how lethal his wife could get, but Ember recalled all of the stories that she'd been given a chance to hear by the woman and mentally prepared herself for the train wreck that was heading their way.

Juliette scoffed softly as she stood up straight. "Whore? No whore is you fucking that bitch two nights before our wedding. Whore is you then turning around and saying it wasn't your fault but instead mines because you didn't think you were ready for marriage. Yet you proposed to me! So that night, I was pissed. It was an old friend of mines. We hooked up and haven't spoken since TJ was born. It is what it is. Get the fuck over it!"

"Get over it?" Joey asked in a questionable tone. "You just told me my fucking son wasn't mines!"

"Yet I don't hear yo ass acknowledging anything else I said? So you can fuck bitches after bitches after bitches, but when I do it, then it's a problem? Tuh. Boy shut that shit up. You lie, I lie. I don't even know why you keep asking me the same shit, you saw the damn papers! He ain't yours!"

The way Juliette had spoken to her husband caused Ember to glance at the ring sitting on her finger. How could she marry the duo and they couldn't stop arguing. Joey had found TJ's birth certificate. For some reason he hadn't seen it before, and per his opinion Juliette had told him that the birth certificate was already done and gone by time he had gotten to the hospital once she was in labor. He hadn't thought much of it until he found it yesterday before we came to the hotel. It had another mans name signed in cursive where Joeys should have been.

Since then, all hells been breaking loose and Embers just been trying to figure out how to leave the room without being noticed.

Suddenly Joey spoke, "I want a divorce."

It made Ember's heart drop and Juliette's anger rage into another level. Before she could speak, Ember broke her vow of silence. "Joey, we can all work it out—."

"No. We can't. I want a divorce."

Juliette nodded. "That's fine. You want a divorce? You can have a divorce. Not like you've been doing my body any justice here lately anyways. We signed a prenup, so it'll work out fine but once those papers are signed, don't expect to turn back."

"Guys—."

"Shut up Em. Let the man speak." Julie cut her off.

Joey looked at her as if she had two heads. "I won't look back. You give me TJ and I'll—."

"Negro you'll what?!" Julie looked around as if searching for the answer. "You aren't taking my son. Isn't that what your ass is in your heart about anyways? You don't get TJ and the court will agree once they see you aren't the father nor did you sign the birth certificate. You have no damn parental rights over my son."

"Your son?" Joey scoffed. "As much as I do for him?!"

"Please! You spend most of your damn time with Eissa. Your job and her child was thought about more than your own damn son. TJ looks up to Ember more than your absent ass. I've never blamed you for that, but the fact that you honestly think you are going to leave this relationship with my child is dead. Dead that shit right now." She didn't care if she sounded heartless, Juliette was always the type to react to situations and then reflect later.

Joey shook his head before grabbing his suitcase and throwing a jacket on. "I'm leaving. Don't look for me."

As he opened the door Juliette called back. "Oh trust me. We won't."

'We?' Ember thought to herself. 'Was this really happening?' Joey and Juliette had argued and had their fair share of arguments in front of the woman before but this was by far the worse. Never had they mentioned divorce but tonight, she knew Joey was serious.

Was he kind of absent in TJ's life? Yes. He was always with Janet or with Eissa. It just seemed that his work family provided more comfort than his actual family. Juliette had confided in Ember a lot of times about his absence but it was only so much talking they could do. The pregnant woman had often suggested that Juliette talk to him about it, but never did she mean throw it in his face.

Eyes shot to hers and Ember spoke out of anxiousness. "Julie..."

"Pick," Juliette paused as if she was collecting her words. "That man is serious about this divorce and I need to know, am I losing you too? Let me know so I can be prepared." The woman's voice was cracking.

Even though she'd never verbalized it, Juliette had come to love Ember way more than she'd ever loved Joey. Ember seemed to fix the puzzles that the other woman could never put together herself. Losing her would be the hardest blow of them all. Harder than her losing her husband.

Ember found herself glancing at the door of the hotel room. She had to pick. Was she going to walk away from this woman or not? Either decision would hurt in the long run. Joey was her babies father but TJ was like a son to her as well. Either way it went, someone's child was about to go without someone needed in their lives.

She had a very huge decision to make, she just didn't know which one she'd pick. Her heart was saying one thing but her mind was telling her another. She had to play this right, play this smart or else she'd wake up in the future in a state of regret.

"I choose," She paused suddenly as her answer slipped from her lips softly. Her response hurt someone in return, but it was only so much she could handle.

Meanwhile in the other room, everyone stood around Sarah who was on the bed. Langston was panicking and hadn't stopped pacing. He wanted to call the paramedics but Janet had told him to hold off until his girlfriend had awaken.

Sarah began stirring and slowly she opened her eyes. Janet, who seemed the second most worried person in the room, asked. "What happened? Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine. I just did too much too fast. That's all." The minister brushed it off.

"I think we need to go to the emergency room." Langston ranted.

All eyes snapped to him before Kyrin spoke. "Boy calm yo ass down. She's fine. Nobody knows their body more than the person inside of it. Sarah, do you need to go to the hospital?"

Sarah shook her head as she sat up. "No. I'm okay. I'm okay."

"Great. You good. Back to what the fuck we was talking about." Janet's wife told her as she got angry all over again.

Janet sent her a look but it went ignored as Sarah rolled her eyes. "You know what, I'm done talking to you."

"I don't see why because I haven't even touched the iceberg of getting on your ass yet." Kyrin replied.

"Okay, I'm not doing no more talking. You wanna fight? Let's fight." Sarah stood up suddenly and their spouses got in between the duo again.

Langston spoke to Sarah. "Baby, I just think—."

"No. You know what?" Sarah looked at him as she finally came unhinged completely. "You shut yo dumb ass up too! I been told you to tell that girl you was alive but your scary ass didn't want to. I knew this shit was going to happen! Kyrin, I tried to tell your ass last night, but you were too damn worried to even let me get a breath out. Y'all think I dreamt this shit up on my wish board? No! Everyone can shut the hell up talking to me about the shit. Fuck y'all and this. At this point both of you all can kiss my entire ass. I don't give a damn which cheek. They are both available! Move!"

She pushed Langston out of her way and walked past Kyrin. Her destination became the restroom. The door slammed shortly after and Langston scrambled over to try and get in. It was locked and he sighed.

Kyrin rolled her eyes, not bothered by Sarah's reaction. "Now on to you, nigga."

He turned and looked at her. "Bestie—."

"Nah. Hang that bestie shit up. Fuck that shit and you. You gone fake yo death and not even give me a hint? After you promised me you wasn't gone die?!"

Langston shrugged. "I didn't break the promise."

"Nigga shut-up! I wasn't finished." She snapped. "Not only do you fake your death, but you impregnate the woman who is like a damn sister to me. You think that shit gravy?"

"You left me aight?!" He snapped right back.

For the life of him, Langston couldn't understand where all of this anger was stemming from. He knew he'd messed up by not telling her he wasn't dead, he knew that him and Sarah might not roll over so easy with the woman either. He just didn't think she'd be going to this extent about all of it.

"And how long did it take you to get under her?!" Kyrin matched his voice and tone. "Tell me that!"

"So that's what this is? You don't like the fact that I'm with Sarah? But you marry Janet?!" He pointed at Janet.

The mention of Janet's name caused the woman to frown as she thought. 'I didn't even say shit and I'm in the argument? Not fair.'

Kyrin threw her hands up. "I could care fucking less who you lay with! The point of this shit is that nobody told me shit! I cried over yo ass for months and both of you two let me! Y'all foul as fuck for that and you know it."

"Nah. That's not it." Langston shook his head. "What else? That ain't all that's steaming this fucking anger. What else is pissing you off? Huh? Just say it! You already getting everything else off your chest."

The woman found herself taking a deep breath. "You know what, I'm not doing this. J, let's go."

The newlyweds began to walk to the door until Langston stepped in front of it. "Don't leave. Say that shit! What is it?! Is it the fact that you can't see me with anyone else but you? Or the fact that it's with your big sister? What is it in Kyrin's little mind of possessiveness and jealousy? Huh?!"

"You got her pregnant, aight?!" Kyrin snapped as tears sprang to her eyes. "You know I tried to have your child and lost it. You know that shit. You know what that did to me— hell to us! So to give another person— Sarah or not, that damn feeling and you promised me? You failed! You failed to remember. You failed at keeping the promise that nobody told you to make! That's why I'm mad. Move!"

He didn't move, and the room got silent. Janet's eyes attached to her wife's face but she refused to meet eye contact with anything but Langston right now. Finally, he spoke. "You know I didn't do this in spite of you, Ky. The last thing I'd want to do is hurt you."

Finally, his question had been answered. His best friend was hurting at the fact that he was about to have a baby. That promise... he had stuck to it thus far. Langston had just had a moment and he didn't regret it. He just didn't do it to hurt the woman either.

"Oh yeah? Well you did. So move." Her voice flattened and her tone dropped.

He had begun to cry at this point. "It happened Kyrin, alright? Sarah was going through something and I was heart broken over you. We made a connection and we crossed a line that we didn't think we would cross. I can't help the fact that she's pregnant. I can't help the fact that I love her. I can just tell you that I did not do this in spite or to hurt you. You gotta believe me. I'm sorry Kyrin. I'm sorry."

"Langston Reign, if I have to tell you to move from in front of this door one more time, I swear before Christ my Savior, I will wreck shop. Move." This time he moved, slowly, but he moved. Kyrin led the way out of the hotel room.

As they walked Langston came into the hallway. "I'm sorry Kyrin. I'm sorry for leaving and not telling you. I'm sorry for breaking the promise. I'm sorry. I just want my best friend back. Please."

Kyrin found herself turning around as she shook her head. Her voice came out softly, as soft as it had been the whole night. "Well stuff happens right? We don't always get what we want Langston. I don't wanna see you again."

She turned back around and kept walking. This was about more than she was able to talk through right now. Langston had promised the woman that he'd never give another woman that right, weather him and Kyrin were together or not. It was the only promise that gave Kyrin enough cushion to go to UCLA.

It would be the only promise that would keep her comfortable. She still felt some type of way about everything and everyone in the situation knew that. If they didn't, they wouldn't tip toe around the topics when she was in the room. So right now, the woman meant it. With every fiber in her being, she did not want to see the man ever again.

Janet found herself following behind her wife wordless. She watched as she hit the button to the elevator and miraculously it was already on our floor. The couple stepped on and Kyrin put her head against the wall. "Go ahead, I know you want to say something."

She finally met eye contact with the older woman whom just opened her arms. "Come on baby, I gotcha."

Her wife sniffed before walking into her arms swiftly.

"This water is so clear." My wife mumbled in awe. I snapped out of my head as we looked outside of the glass doors of the patio. The balcony was literally sitting a couple of feet from the water and a ladder was attached to the side of it incase you wanted to take a dip inside.

We were in Honduras on the Island of Roatán. She had left the honeymoon to me. We had made a deal, she had the wedding and I had the honeymoon and after many thoughts, I came to a halt at this one. It took a boat to get us here, and would take us a boat to leave. In my mind it was a win win, but not in the way she thought.

"It is." I agreed as I looked on in awe. The pictures did this place no justice. It was beautiful. It was my first time actually out here on this specific island, but I made sure to actually buy this property. It was gorgeous and I knew that I wanted it the minute I saw it.

She turned around and smiled at me. "We are married."

"You keep saying that."

"Because I love how it falls off my tongue so easily. Like, I'm married to Janet Jackson." She repeated it. "We are married."

"Hush up." I chuckled before kissing her.

When I went to pick her up she stopped me. "After we eat."

I frowned. "Why?"

"Because I brought you something but you only get it after dinner."

My eyes shot to my watch and I saw it was 5 pm. "Okay, so what time is dinner for you because I can get us dinner by 6."

She giggled before shaking her head. "No ma'am. We will go to dinner at 7 like planned and get back afterwards. No rushing. Let's eat and talk. You can wait."

"Can I at least pick the place?" I asked as I pouted.

"Sure baby, wherever you want me, I'll be there."

A smile quickly replaced my pout as I nodded. "Okay, I'm in then."

Kyrin shook her head. "Girl, you are something else. Let's go swimming."

"The ocean or the pool?"

She turned around. "Doesn't matter. Go change."

When I went to walk away, I stopped. "Hold on, you can't swim."

"Did I say swimming? I meant professional floating and you there to make sure I don't drown." She corrected herself causing me to laugh.

"Life guard duty? Okay." I rolled my eyes playfully as I went and changed into my swimsuit.

This woman was something else, but I was just all out happy to say that she was my wife. I wouldn't want her to be nobody's something else but my owns.