Chapter Twenty-five
Tionne
The entire ride to the airport was silent. Something was up with Zuri, and I knew it. “Hey, girl, are you all right?”
“Yeah, I’m good. Just thinking about life, you know.” Zuri gulped down her drink and continued staring out of the window.
“What’s wrong, Z? Talk to me.” It was unlike her to be so detached. Every time we were together it was a party, but today seemed more like a funeral.
“Everything is wrong, Tionne, but you wouldn’t understand.”
“Me not understand?” I felt offended. “Don’t you know what I’ve been going through lately? My husband is a cheater, and I don’t have any money. I think I may be a little more understanding than you think,” I said before smacking my lips.
“It’s not like that, T.”
“Well, what is it like then? We’re best friends. You should be able to talk to me about anything. I tell you about everything.” I was becoming frustrated.
“Tionne, no offense, but you tell me all of your business because you want to. Some things are private to me, and this is one of them.” Zuri seemed to be getting irritated as well.
“Whatever, Zuri. I see how it is.” With my arms crossed, I pulled out my phone and checked Instagram. “You know, sometimes I think you believe you’re better than me.” By now, the champagne was talking.
“Girl, bye.” Zuri dismissed me with the wave of her hand.
“It’s the truth,” I retorted. “You have the perfect life with a perfect career, a perfect child, and perfect husband who gives you money and takes you on trips to places most people can’t even pronounce. All of the stars aligned when you fell from between your mother’s legs.” I giggled. “Miss Fucking Perfect.”
“Really, Tionne, we’re going to go there?” Zuri stood from her seat on the moving party bus. “Well, tell me, Tionne, does living in a perfect world include getting my ass beat every goddamn time my perfect husband has a bad day?” With tears, Zuri lifted her shirt to not only show me the fresh bruises on her side, but the old wounds on her back.
“Z, I’m sorry.” I was completely floored.
“Forgive me if I’m not so quick to tell you that my nose has been broken, my shoulder has been dislocated, or that my teeth have been knocked out. It’s not exactly a goddamn conversation starter.” Zuri wiped her face with the back of her hand.
“Please forgive me. I had no idea. Please forgive me.” I went over and hugged my friend, who was crying hysterically. She sounded like a child as she gagged on her tears.
“I’m scared.” Zuri sniffed. “One day, he will kill me, Tionne. What about Jelly?”
“No, he won’t, I swear, because we’re going to get you out of there.” Now I was crying too. “We’re going to turn this bus around and go home and get your shit.”
“Jason won’t let that happen.” Zuri broke our embrace.
“We’ll call the police if need be.”
“No, I don’t want him to get in any trouble.” Zuri shook her head profusely.
“Fuck him,” I spat. “I say we roll up in that bitch with five-o, grab Jelly and your things, and get ghost.” The Detroit in me was emerging. As the saying goes, you can take the girl out of the hood, but you can’t take the hood out of the girl.
“It’s not that simple. If I do this the wrong way, Jason will make me pay severely for it.”
“We can get you a restraining order, Z.”
“Girl, bye, what is a piece of paper going to do to protect me?” Zuri looked at me sideways. “You know the type of pull being a celebrity has.”
“You’re right,” I sighed, taking the seat beside her. Oftentimes, having star status put you above the law for a little hush money and an autograph.
“I need a plan, Tionne.” Zuri rested her head in her lap.
“How about we cancel this girl’s trip and go back to my hotel room to regroup?” Wrapping my arms around Zuri, I squeezed her tightly. I could only imagine what my friend had been enduring in the name of love. She was a good person who deserved much better. I felt guilty for thinking her life was a fairy tale when, in reality, she was trapped in a nightmare worse than mine.
“That’s actually a good idea.” Zuri popped her head up. “Jason has a big conference downtown tomorrow that should last about four hours. I can use that time to get my shit and get out before he comes back.”
“Let’s do the damn thing.” I extended my hand for a pact.
“You don’t have to go, Tionne. I don’t want to drag you into my mess.” Zuri shook her head.
“Bitch, me and you are down like four flats on a Cadillac!” There was no way I would send her into the lion’s den alone. Jason couldn’t whip both of us at the same time. Therefore, I was prepared for war.