Chapter 65: I Swear This Time I Mean It



 

Mere

 

I sat on the balcony just looking at the view with my best friend; Vodka. I moved back into my old condo since Antonio wanted to stay in New York for a while. I took a sip as my tears fell. I heard someone but blocked it out. “I knew I’d find you here.”

 

“I’m always here when something is bothering me,” I sighed. Blake moved and sat next to me.

 

“What happened?” She looked over at me.

 

“Aubrey found out about Antonio,” I couldn’t believe that he flipped out the way he did.

 

“I’m taking it as he didn’t take it well,” she trailed off.

 

“Nope,” I looked down at my drink and Blake snatched it out of my grasp. “Hey!” I tried to grab it but she held it back.

 

“You always drink when you get like this. Drinking isn’t gonna solve anything, it’s just gonna get you more into your emotions,” she pointed out. I returned to my original position and nodded.

 

“I knew that he wouldn’t like it but I didn’t think that he would just abandon me. If he’s acting like this, I don’t know how I’m gonna tell my family,” I ran my fingers through my hair.

 

“Your mom will support you,” she chuckled.

 

“Thanks,” I let out a small smile.

 

“No one else’s opinion matters Mere. You know no matter what, I’ll always support you,” she promised me.

 

“Thank you Blakelynn. I’ll always support you too,” I smiled. “So how are you and Jaznae?”

 

“Exactly how we were before. I haven’t talked to her since I kissed her,” she huffed.

 

“Why haven’t you? Don’t tell me that you’re avoiding her?” I knew that Blake would do this.

 

“I just don’t know what to say,” she shrugged.

 

“How about I still love you?” How hard could that be?

 

“That’s easy for you to say. I just have a fear that she won’t want me.”

 

“Didn’t you tell me that she said she was still in love with you?” She nodded and I rolled my eyes. “Blakelynn, you’re the most oblivious person that I know. Just go and talk to her,” I encouraged her. I might not be Jaznae’s biggest fan but she makes Blake happy so I support her. I just wish Aubrey would do the same.

 

“But,” she started but I cut her off.

 

“Blake, get the hell out of here and talk to that girl,” I slightly pushed her.

 

“I’m taking your drink with me. Promise me that you’re not gonna drink anything else,” she pleaded.

 

“I promise,” I agreed.





Nicki

 

“How long are you gonna camp out at my house?” Nae gave me a knowing look.

 

“I can’t face him. He’s gonna hate me and everything will fall apart,” I shook my head.

 

“I can’t promise you that he won’t be mad at you but I can promise that he won’t hate you. You can’t possibly hate someone you love. You can be really mad at them but you can’t hate them,” she reminded me.

 

“You made your bed so lay in it,” Jessi said as she walked down the stairs. I ended up telling her last night and she decided to stay at Nae’s house instead of Aubrey’s. She said it made her feel more comfortable and I can understand.

 

“I know, I hate myself for doing that,” I cried.

 

“Not helping,” Nae shot a look at Jessi before pulling me to her.

 

“I’m the worst person in the world.”

 

“You’re being overdramatic,” Jessi plopped down next to me.

 

“Would you forgive me if you were Aubrey?” I turned to her. She gave me a long stare and shook her head.

 

“No, I wouldn’t.”

 

“See!” I cried more.

 

“I wouldn’t forgive you at first but I would eventually. You and Aubrey have been through so much shit together, this is only another bump in the road. You made a huge mistake but he’s made so many mistakes with you. Starting with Jaymie and ending with drugging you,” she pointed out.

 

“If you can forgive him for drugging you and putting your health at risk, he should find a way to forgive you,” Nae rubbed my back.

 

“I guess,” I knew that I had to tell him. The doorbell rung and my heart sped up.

 

“I’ll get it,” Nae hopped up and walked towards the door. She opened it and then leaned against the doorframe. “Cassie’s not here.”

 

“I know, I came to talk to you,” I heard Blake say. Nae moved back and let her walk in.

 

“Hi Blakelynn,” Jessi smirked as I held in my grin.

 

“Hey,” she gave us a small smile.

 

“Give us a minute?” Nae looked over at us.

 

“I gotta go home anyway, I might as well face it,” I hugged them before leaving. I went back to Aubrey’s house and took a deep breath before walking in. I saw him in the kitchen and walked over. “Aubrey, can we talk?” I looked at him.

 

“Can we do it a little later? I was about to go apologize to Mere,” he pulled me close and pecked my lips.

 

“Yeah.” It would give me more time to prepare myself for this conversation. He kissed me one more time before leaving.

 



Drake

I used my key and opened her door. The lights were off and I knew that there was only one place she would be. I walked to her balcony and saw her sitting on the edge. “I’m surprised you don’t have a drink,” I blurted out. She didn’t even flinch at the sound of my voice.

 

“I promised Blake,” she mumbled. I moved and sat right next to her.

 

“Can we talk?” I pleaded and she turned her head to look at me.

 

“Haven’t you said all that you wanted to say?” She questioned.

 

“I’m sorry Mere. I’m really sorry for how I acted. You didn’t deserve that and I apologize for that. Just seeing him triggered something in me and I couldn’t control it. I just don’t want you getting hurt again,” I apologized.

 

“I know and that’s why I wanted to tell you myself,” she nodded.

 

“I might hate that asshole but I love you. If he’s who you want then I have to support you. I trust your judgment but if he hurts you, I promise that he won’t come out alive,” I promised her. She let out a chuckle at my demeanor.

 

“Thank you,” she pulled me into a hug.

 

“I’ll always have your back Mere,” I kissed her head before letting her go.

 

“And I’ll always have yours. You and Shad are brothers to me and I have no idea where I would be without you two,” she smiled.

 

“I know I would’ve fucked up so many times without you. You always talk some sense into me,” I can’t imagine my life without Mere.

 

“So how are you and Nicki?”

 

“We’re really good and I’m not fucking up this time. I never thought that I could get her back and now that I have her, I promise that I’m not letting her go,” I assured her.

 

“You better not fuck this up. You came crying to me way too many times,” she pointed out.

 

“Hey, we agreed to never talk about that. I never cried,” I gave her a look.

 

“Aww you’re ashamed of crying over her?” She laughed.

 

“She just means so much to me. I swear that I’m gonna marry that girl one day,” I was determined on that. Nothing can change the way I love her and nothing ever will.

Cassie’s P.O.V.

I waited for Alexis to collect her things from her room at Shad’s house. Yeah, he made her a room. “I actually have been meaning to talk to you about something,” I told him.

“What?” He turned.

“I live in Paris and I’m going back to Paris soon,” I pointed out.

“You can’t take my daughter away from me again,” he got defensive.

“I’m not gonna do that Shad,” I rolled my eyes. “We can do joint custody. She can come over here on her breaks and during the summer,” I offered.

“I got one more request.”

“What is it?” I scrunched up my face.

“I want her last name changed,” he demanded.

“I knew you would say that,” I sighed.

“I don’t want her having some other nigga’s last name,” he shook his head.

“He’s my husband Shad. He helped raise Alexis and I know that I never gave you the chance but he still plays a major role in her life,” I said.

“This ain’t up for debate.”

“Alright,” I nodded. I couldn’t deny him that. He looked at me and I knew what he was thinking. “Alexis hurry up!” I called out.

“I’m almost done Mommy!” She said.

“You always trying to run. What is it Cass? You can’t be around me because of your feelings?” He had a slight smirk on his face.

“Shad, I’m married,” I reminded him.

“You always saying that. Are you trying to remind me that or are you trying to remind yourself?” He stepped closer. I couldn’t find any words to say but luckily Alexis emerged from her room.

“Bye Daddy!” She hugged him and we left.

Nicki

“Mylan, can you go next door for a couple of hours?” I didn’t want her to be here for this. I had no idea how Aubrey was gonna react and I didn’t need her hearing this.

“What’s going on?” She scrunched up her face.

“It’s complicated Mylan,” I sighed.

“You guys aren’t breaking up right?” She quickly asked.

“No sweetie, I just want some time alone with your father,” I shook my head.

“Eww,” she looked at me in disgust.

“I didn’t mean that way,” I chuckled.

“I don’t even wanna know which way you meant it. I’ll be back by dinner,” she grabbed her stuff and went next door. I was terrified but I really needed to talk to Aubrey about this. I heard the door unlock and my heart started beating faster.

“Hey baby,” Aubrey smiled and walked over to me. He pulled me close and kissed me.

“Hey,” I managed to say.

“We need to talk,” we said at the same time.

“You can go first,” he offered.

“No, you can,” I would prefer to go last.

“Okay,” he led me to the couch and we sat down. “I know we haven’t been back together for that long but these past years taught me something,” he spoke.

“And that it is?”

“I needed to grow as a man and make sure that I make the right choices. I wanna make the right choices with you Nic. I haven’t felt this way with anyone else,” he grabbed my hand.

“Neither have I,” I said slowly not knowing where this was leading to.

“I’m not proposing,” he said once he noticed my nervous demeanor. I chuckled and I guess he realized why.

“You told me that six years ago.”

“I have a bad way of making you think that. By the time I do propose, you’re not gonna believe me,” he shook his head with a smile.

“Wait what?” I looked at him in shock.

“What did I say?” He scrunched up his face.

“You actually see yourself marrying me?” I don’t know why marriage never crossed my mind when it came to him. I just didn’t think it would actually happen.

“Of course I do Onika, I love you. You mean the world to me. Why wouldn’t I want to marry you?” He looked at me in disbelief.

“I don’t know, I just didn’t think you would. I honestly didn’t think anyone would but Channing wanted to. I started to think maybe I’m not good enough to be a wife you know?” I never wanted admit that but that was always in the back of my mind.

“You would be an amazing wife Onika. You’re already an amazing girlfriend. We have Mylan together and I hope we can have more kids. You already make a great mother so I have no doubt in my mind that you wouldn’t make a good wife. You always put everyone above yourself and you have such a caring heart. You’re the only person I can see myself marrying,” he pecked my lips. I couldn’t hold it in anymore, I started crying. “Come here,” he pulled me into his arms and rubbed my back. “I don’t want you to ever doubt that,” he kissed my head.

“That’s not why I’m crying,” I tried to get myself together.

“Why are you crying?” He looked worried. I broke out of his embrace and stood.

“I’d make a horrible mother,” I couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

“Why would you think that?” He stood and tried to walk towards me but I held my hand out.

“Because I made a huge mistake and I can never take it back. I was an emotional wreck at the time and I wasn’t thinking. It haunts me every night in my sleep and I know that you’re gonna hate me,” I cried.

“I would never hate you Onika,” he looked at me in concern.

“I’m sorry Aubrey,” I saw him look confused.

“What did you do?” He asked cautiously. I couldn’t lie to him right now; he had a right to know.

“Six years ago I had an abortion,” I looked at him and he literally froze.