Chapter 71: Open Up Your Eyes

 

Nicki

“So can you explain where things went wrong?” The therapist asked me.

“Um it started whenever I would mention my fiancé. He was jealous and over time that grew into him hitting me,” I refused to look at Channing.

“Did anything change before he would hit you?”

“His eyes, his eyes darkened and he looked like a completely different person. One day he treated me like a queen and then the next day he treated me like shit,” I nodded.

“Do you remember hitting her Channing?”

“Naw, I always remember right before it happened and right after. I can’t remember making contact with her so I guess I blocked it out or something,” he shrugged.

“Well maybe you should get checked out by a doctor. I don’t wanna say it incase it’s not true but maybe you suffer from bipolar disorder and that added to anger issues can be a mess,” she looked at him.

“Am I done?” I wanted to get out of here as fast as I could.

“Yeah,” she nodded.

“Thank you for coming Nic,” he told me.

“I didn’t do it for you,” I cut my eyes at him before looking at Jhene.

“Thank you,” she smiled small. I nodded and walked out. She wanted him to get the help he needed but they wanted to make sure that they covered everything. I only knew how he was like when things got like that. Just seeing him makes me angry but I’m done. I got home and looked for Aubrey. I wanted to tell him that I went but I didn’t want to tell him before I went. I knew that he would stop me but Jhene seemed desperate so I went.

“Aubrey?” I called out while walking into our bedroom.

“Hey baby,” he walked out of the closet pulling his shirt on.

“Hey,” I kissed him. “I need to talk to you,” I grabbed his hand and led him to the bed.

“What is it?” He looked over at me.

“I know you’re gonna be mad but I wanted to help her. Jhene asked me to come to Channing’s therapy session today,” I admitted.

“And you went?” His voice filled with anger.

“She sounded desperate so I went and told what happened. After that, I left and I never wanna see him again. I just wanted him to get help so he could be a better brother to her,” I explained. “Please don’t be mad Aubrey. I just did what I felt was right in my heart. I did it for your sister, not him.”

“Alright,” he sighed. I looked at him a little shocked that he gave in that easily.

“Alright?”

“I’m not trying to get in an argument with you. I love you and I trust you. You have a big heart and that’s why I love you so much. You did what you thought was right and you came home to tell me,” he nodded.

“Look how far we’ve come,” I chuckled.

“I love you Onika and I promise that I’ll show it,” he randomly said.

“Why are you always saying that? You’re acting weird again and you keep telling me that you’ll show it,” I scrunched up my brows.

“You’ll see,” he smirked.

Cassie

“I get it if you want a divorce and never want to talk to me again,” I told Kyle as we stood in the middle of Nae’s living room. I told him that we needed to talk and he flew here with Alexis. He needed to hear the truth and I wasn’t gonna lie to him about that. He means too much to me for me to lie to him.

“I’m not gonna leave you Cass,” he sighed. I looked at him in shock because I thought he would curse me out or something else but I didn’t expect this. Who wouldn’t leave me after I did this shit to him and got pregnant with my ex’s baby?

“You’re not?” I scrunched my face up.

“Look, don’t take this as me not being mad because I am but I’m not leaving you. On our wedding day we made a commitment and I want to stick to it. You were drunk and I know how you get when you’re drunk. You said that it was a mistake and you’re not gonna go back to him right?” He looked at me to make sure. I would never go back to Shad ever again. He just strings people along and plays with their emotions. I’m too old to have to deal with that.

“I’m not gonna go back to him ever again. I’m sorry that I did this and I’m disgusted with myself. If you want me to get an abortion then I will; I’ll do anything to keep you,” I cried. I knew that this might be my last chance to have a kid but Kyle means too much to me. I don’t want to lose him.

“I’m not that cruel to ask you for an abortion. Look you can just have this baby and I will love it just like I love Alexis. I love you too much to end this marriage,” he confessed. He seriously deserves far better than me. I’m a horrible wife yet he continues to be an amazing husband.

“I don’t deserve you,” I couldn’t help the tears falling down my eyes. I don’t deserve anything that he does for me.

“But you have me so come here,” he opened his arms. I walked into them and hugged him tight. He rubbed my back as I cried.

“I love you so much,” I mumbled.

“I love you too,” he kissed my forehead.

Drake

“No it has to be the right one! I’m not paying you to fuck this up,” I hung up the phone in anger. Mere eyed me and held in her laugh.

“You need to calm down Aubrey. Everything will turn out perfect and she’ll love it,” she told me.

“You know how I get when something doesn’t go right,” I sighed.

“It’s gonna be fine,” she grabbed my hand. I felt something weird and then looked down at her hand.

“Is that a ring?” My eyes went wide. She bit her lip and nodded.

“I decided to listen to everyone and talk to him about it. We’re going at my pace and he made marriage seem a lot better,” she chuckled. “I was gonna tell you but you had so much on your plate already. Only a few people know.”

“Who else knows?”

“Um, my mom, Nessa, Blake, and I told Shad about an hour ago,” she shrugged.

“I’m happy for you Mere, I’m really happy for you,” I pulled her into a hug.

“Thank you,” she smiled.  There was a knock on the door and Mere got up to answer it. “Hey, you’re early,” I looked over and saw Blake. She looked over at me and then back at Mere.

“I can come back later,” she offered.

“No, come in,” she moved and let her in. I heard someone run down the stairs and then a figure tackled Blake.

“Blake!”

“Glad to see you’ve missed me,” she giggled before hugging him back. When they pulled away, I got a good look at him.

“Ryan?” He looked at me and groaned.

“Mere, I thought you ditched him by now,” he whispered but he meant for me to hear it.

“I see that you haven’t changed,” I shook my head. Ryan was Mere’s cousin and I’ve known him for years. He’s fourteen and it seems like he hasn’t grown up.

“Whatever, I just wanted to spend quality time with my bestie,” he motioned to Blake. She chuckled as he led her upstairs.

“He actually likes her? He usually hates everyone you bring around him,” I was shocked.

“I know but she entertains his dramatics. He begged me to call her over so he could hang out with her,” she shrugged.

“Maybe he likes her.”

“No he said he wasn’t into lesbians,” she shook her head.

“Now that sounds like him,” I chuckled. “Is it weird for you though? Y’all broke up but she’s always here.”

“Why would it be weird? We were friends before anything happened. Just because you break up with someone doesn’t mean you can’t be friends with them. Plus, I think you could tell we had a weird relationship,” she let out a grin.

“Weird as fuck but it worked for y’all,” I never understood those two.

“Stop focusing on my friendship, go back to worrying about Nicki,” she joked.

“I think that’s the worst advice you’ve ever given me.”

“If I keep this up will you stop coming to me?” She raised a brow.

“Not even for a second.”

Blake

 

“Finally,” I mumbled when I saw Ryan drifting off. I love Ryan but he can be exhausting sometimes. I walked downstairs and saw Mere focusing on her phone. “Hey,” I called out to get her attention.

 

“Oh hey, this whole thing with Aubrey is so stressful,” she shook her head and turned off her phone.

 

“I could use some advice right now,” I walked over and sat next to her.

 

“Why does everyone think that I’m their personal therapist?” She joked.

 

“Because you give the best advice.”

 

“I know,” she flipped her hair cockily.

 

“You’re so lame,” I chuckled. “But on a serious note, I really could use some help.”

 

“Shoot.”

 

“I keep going back and forth between Florida and here. I’ve never done a long distance type of relationship. I guess you can call it that. It’s just very complicated and confusing,” I huffed.

 

“Blake, I know your job is in Miami but your heart is here. I’m not telling you to choose but maybe you can rearrange your schedule or something,” she offered.

 

“Yeah, I could talk to Sage about that,” I nodded. She groaned at the mention of her name.

 

“I can’t stand that girl.”

 

“I never got what your problem was with Sage,” I never knew why they didn’t like each other.

 

“She rubs me the wrong way,” she shrugged.

 

“Do you hate her more than Nae?”

 

“I’d say it’s kind of 50/50. Jaznae never fails to piss me off. I don’t like the way she assumes that she knows me. Sage is different, there’s just something off about that girl but hey, maybe it’s just me.” 

 

Nicki

I sat on the couch with Mylan as we watched yet another Bring It On. “Are you gonna make me watch all five of them?” We were already on number three.

“Maybe,” she giggled. She paused the movie and turned to look at me. “Can I ask you something?” She asked cautiously.

“You already know you can,” I ran my hand down her hair.

“Do you ever regret it?”

“Regret what?” I looked at her confused.

“Do you ever regret becoming the mother figure in my life? Maybe if you weren’t, you would’ve been able to follow your dreams. You might have not gotten injured and you could be doing whatever you wanted instead of watching over a kid,” she shrugged.

“Mylan, I don’t want you to ever think that. If it wasn’t for you, I might have never gotten with your father. You created this family and I wouldn’t take it back for anything in this world. I love you and you never held me back from anything. You mean the world to me and I am proud to be your mother,” I smiled at her.

“Thanks Mom,” she let out a small smile.

“So do you ever regret it; having to trade an older sister in for a mother?”

“Not at all. I like you better as a mother anyway,” she chuckled.

“I don’t know if that’s a compliment or an insult.”

“A little bit of both,” she joked.

“I love you Mylan,” I never wanted her to forget that.

“I love you too Mom.”

~~~

“So how are you and Jaymie?” I looked at Daven and he chuckled.

“How are you and Drake?” He threw the question back at me.

“We’re amazing,” I smiled.

“Jaymie and I are getting there. I’ve been taking her out on dates and we’ve been getting back to normal. I still constantly apologize for what I said to her. I was a dumb and angry teen,” he looked disappointed in himself.

“We’ve all done some dumb things but life works itself out,” I shrugged. I heard the door open and saw Aubrey walk in. “Hey baby,” I got up and kissed him.

“Hey,” he eyed Daven.

“I’ll catch you later Nic,” he nodded his head at Drake and walked out.

“Y’all are so annoying. I know it’s awkward but you guys could attempt to be civil towards each other. I still have my issues with Jaymie but you don’t see me being that awkward,” I rolled my eyes.

“That ain’t happening,” he shook his head and walked upstairs. At least they’re not trying to kill each other so I guess it could be worse. I followed him up and he had this look on his face.

“What’s with the look?”

“You’ll find out eventually,” he gave me a grin.

“I don’t like surprises,” I pouted.

“You know that I always surprise you. You should be used to it by now.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it,” I chuckled. I like how things are right now, it’s relaxing. “So how’s your company coming along?”

“We just keep expanding it. It’s getting really successful and I’m proud of myself. I did it for my mom and that’s why I keep doing it,” his face dropped a little but he tried to keep his face straight.

“I know that you miss her. I miss my mom too and it hurts not having her to turn to. I never really had a mother figure in my life. My aunt came to stay with us but I was already old enough to figure things out for myself. She was just there to make sure we were taking care of,” I admitted.

“Now we have Mylan and this little one to take care of. I think we’re doing perfectly fine,” he rubbed my belly.

“I can’t believe that I was so scared to get engaged and get pregnant,” I shook my head with a laugh.

“I can’t imagine being with anyone else. You’re the one who completes everything,” he rubbed my cheek.

“I can’t imagine being with anyone else either,” I pecked his lips.