Page 95 of A King’s Obsession

“And moving?” She leaned back against the cabinet, still trying to piece everything together.

“He wasn’t doing the living-apart shit after we got married. Next thing I knew, I was here, you were pissed about the apartment, and I didn’t know how to tell you the rest.” I rubbed my forehead, knowing how ridiculous it sounded now that I was finally saying it out loud.

She leaned her head against the cabinet beside mine.

“So you just stopped answering?” Her voice wasn't as angry as before, but I could hear how much it had bothered her.

“Bitch, I’ve been throwing my motherfucking back up. Every time I got on the phone with you and started talking, here come this shit again. I had to rush off before I threw up in your ear. I wasn’t avoiding you like that.” I wiped my mouth with the towel, wishing the nausea would give me a damn break. “Now, telling you I’m pregnant and married? Yeah, I kept putting that off. But I wasn’t just hanging up because I didn’t wanna talk to you.”

Jru looked down at my stomach, then back at me.

“Bitch, I thought you dumped me off on this nigga and just ran the fuck off.” She shook her head, and even through everything she'd been crying about, I could see the familiar attitude coming back.

A small chuckle slipped out of her, but she was still waiting for an answer.

“Girl, where the fuck I’m running? I can’t even make it from the couch to the refrigerator without gagging.” I gestured toward the bathroom around us, because this shit was proof enough.

She shook her head, wiping beneath her eyes. “You know what I mean. Your ass got a man and forgot how to answer the phone.”

“You right. I’ve been a shitty friend.” I reached for her hand, making sure she looked at me. “But I ain’t forgot about you. I just kept putting off telling you, and now look at us. Having a fucking meeting beside a toilet.”

“Could’ve told me before I rubbed your back. Had me thinking you ate some bad chicken.” She gave me a sideways look, and I knew she was finally starting to forgive my ass.

“Bitch, I wish it was chicken. Chicken leave. This motherfucker moving in for nine months.” I pointed toward my stomach, shaking my head.

She laughed, then looked at my stomach again. “Don’t call my godbaby a motherfucker.”

“Oh, now you claiming it?” I raised an eyebrow, pretending to be offended.

“Somebody got to. You already talking shit.” She reached over and touched my stomach, smiling through the last of her tears.

I leaned into her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She hugged me back, and for a minute neither of us said anything.

Then she pulled away and pointed at me.

“Don’t throw up on me.” Her face twisted like she was suddenly remembering how close she was sitting.

“Then get your elbow out my stomach, bitch. You pressing the button.” I pushed lightly against her arm, laughing when she jumped.

She scooted back so fast we both started laughing.

Back in the living room, I got her water and sat beside her. Jru stared at the Mercedes key in her palm.

“Thanks to your ass, all my stuff is at his house. I’m not going back there.” She turned the key over in her hand, looking like she wanted to throw it across the room.

“You can get your things later,” I told her, watching the way her shoulders tightened.

“And go where? I’m damn sure not going back to Rosemont. Ain’t nothing there for me.” She looked up at me, and I could see the fear underneath all that anger.

I hesitated. “Maybe you should hear him out.” The words felt heavy coming out of my mouth, especially knowing what I knew.

She looked at me sharply.

“No. After my mama and Montae, I’m not doing this shit again. I don’t care what explanation he got.” Her voice was firm, but the way she held that key told me she was still hurting.

I understood why she said it. I also knew the explanation, and holding it in while she cried beside me was making me feel like somebody I wouldn’t trust either.

“Okay,” I said, nodding slowly. “You need somewhere you can breathe.”