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The ladies made it to the strip club where they only stayed for a few minutes because the same guy from the previous club was there and Isla noticed him.
“Ain’t that the guy from the other club? Aye, Ryan do you know that man?” she asked pointing directly at him.
“Stop pointing,” Emery laughed pushing her hand down.
“Naw. Let my arm go. I’m tired of this man. I’m trying to have a great weekend. Who is that Ryan?” Isla commanded.
“If you must keep asking me the same question. Yes, I do know him. And no I wasn’t with him earlier,” she lied.
“I don’t believe that shit for nothing. I can’t believe he’s been following you this entire time. I’m ready to go. I’ll get drunk back at the house,” she answered with an attitude.
“Here you go with your shit,” Randi cut in.
“I’m being honest. I’m tired of asking. That man doesn’t care one bit about us.”
“Call him over here,” Isla answered.
“I’m not.”
Isla stood up and motioned for him to come over to their section. He was hesitate at first but finally came over.
“Hey. How are you doing?” Isla asked.
“I’m good. How are you? I see you’re the bride. Congratulations,” Liam answered.
“Thank you. How do you know my friend, Ryan?”
“Excuse me?”
“Don’t act dumb. She already told us you know her.”
The other ladies were listening on with their heads turned like they weren’t paying attention.
“She’s a friend. Why?”
“Oh no reason. I thought you were stalking us. I was ready to start shooting at your ass,” Isla answered.
The ladies started laughing.
“Don’t mind her. She doesn’t own a gun. Isla you need to chill out. Scaring that poor man like that,” Emery cut in.
“I’m serious. I’m sure the security has some kind of gun. I would have borrowed his.”
“Please. Don’t pay my friend any mind,” Ryan answered walking over to Liam. “How are you doing?”
“I’m good. Glad to see you’re out having fun.”
“Of course,” she smiled. “You know I was going to show my girls a few nights on the town.”
“Let me know if you want me to show y’all some other places to visit.”
“I’ll think about that.”
“Please do. I’ll talk to you later?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I currently don’t have my phone so it might be hard to do tonight,” she laughed.
“Oh well. I’ll still hit you up,” he answered.
The ladies tried to lean in and listen to the conversation but they couldn’t hear anything.
“It was nice meeting you all,” he waved leaving the section.
“Same to you,” Isla called out.
“So do all of your friends look like that?” Mia asked.
“I mean. I can’t be caught with ugly guys can I?” she laughed.
“Girl you’re a trip.”
“You’re holding out on the single friends.”
“No, I’m not.”
Emery gave Liam a once over from far away. “He’s definitely a tall glass of something sexy.”
“Girl, stop playing. That man is taken.”
“Taken by who? It can’t be you because last time I checked your ass was married,” Mia stated.
“No nosey. He has a girlfriend.”
“A girlfriend has nothing to do with me. He’s not married so he’s still on the market. A girlfriend is not a wife.”
“Girl, if you don’t hush.”
“I’m serious. He’s single. I’m single. Shit we can be single together unless you already rode the horse. I mean if you already did that I’ll pass,” Emery laughed.
“You look like riding a damn horse,” Isla laughed.
“I’m serious. I know girl’s code and I won’t break it. If you already tested the ride out let me know. I’ll back off. No need to be pressed about something I’ll never have.”
“Are you drunk?” Ryan asked.
“No ma’ am. Nowhere near it. I think I had a drink so far tonight. Alcohol makes my cycle worse,” she answered.
“Oh ok. I had to ask because you’ve been talking a hell of a lot.”
“Don’t try to change the subject. Where did you meet Mr. Man at? I need answers. He’s good and thick too,” she laughed.
“Business.”
“What kind of business? I know you aren’t an escort.”
“It’s time to go,” Isla answered downing the last of her drink.
“I mean.. We just got here,” Randi answered.
“Randi you’ve been drinking like your life depended on it.”
Randi downed her last drink and flipped Isla the bird.
“Whatever. Ladies, what’s up?”
“It’s only 1:30.”
“And it way pass my bedtime,” Isla answered.
“Well I mean if you’re ready.”
“Yes I’m ready.”
“I guess I can give you all your phones back,” Emery answered digging in her purse to hand out the phones.
“About damn time,” Mia laughed.
“Girl I bet he hasn’t messaged you or called you once. Don’t act like someone was cock blocking. You can’t get anything way over here.”
“You don’t know what I have access to,” she smiled unlocking her phone.
“Oh shoot. I need to start hanging out with you and Ryan more often because Isla’s ass isn’t trying to share her wealth with me,” Emery laughed.
“You aren’t trying to go on dates with other men. You’ve been hanging on to Kent’s ass for too long.”
“Who is Kent?”
“My ex. Don’t listen to my sister. I haven’t seen that man in months.”
“Months my ass. She was probably just with him a few nights ago. Don’t let Emery fool you. That girl can tell you one.”
“She’s lying. I haven’t even spoke to you about him in a while. Stop reaching.”
Isla started laughing. She knew what that meant. He was definitely over her house before she left for Mexico.
“I won’t tell your business right now but if you keep on fronting like you’re trying to get some new meat I’m going to blow up your spot,” Isla continued laughing.
“Let’s go,” Emery snapped.
“Oh shit she’s mad as hell with you.”
“She’ll be alright. It won’t be the first time and it won’t be the last. Emery knows I love her. She’s always giving me a hard time but gets upset when the tables are turned.”
“I think it might be more to it.”
“Naw. That’s how she gets about Kent’s ole dusty ass. Hey, Emery is he still dusty? Or is he working out in the gym?”
“Forget you. Everybody can’t land a man like yours.”
“But you can. You just choose not to.”
Emery tried to block out the image of Kent in her mind but it was too late.
“I don’t understand why you keep trying to push me away and then call me in the middle of the night for a booty call.”
“I mean you came over here didn’t you?”
“Yeah but it’s still not right. We haven’t been on a date in months but you still want to have sex with me. What’s up with that?”
“I would rather have sex with someone I know than someone new unless you’re fucking someone else.”
“Go ‘head with that mess tonight.”
“You’re always asking me crazy stuff when we’re in the moment.”
“I’m trying to figure out what’s going on. I’m not trying to get my feelings involved.”
“Go to hell Kent. You act like you were this faithful man when we were seriously dating.”
“I never said I was.”
“But you’re trying to imply that I’m stringing you along. You know I need a fuck buddy right now and if you can’t agree to that arrangement than we don’t need to see each other anymore.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“So what in the hell are you asking then? I mean you’re going in circles. Is there another bitch that’s blowing up your phone and you’re trying to see what it’s like on the other end. I’m sure you already fucked her so go ahead and do it.”
“You’re always overreacting about everything. I never said that.”
“Be quiet. I can’t even enjoy my after sex moment without you trying to start an argument. I’ll be out of town for a few days so you can fuck ole girl then.”
“It’s not even about the sex E. Are you only with me for my sex?”
“Right now, yes. Yes, I am. I already told you that. So stop bitching. Damn,” Emery stated snatching the blanket off the bed and walking into the bedroom.
Kent’s and Emery’s relationship was a 4 year battle of each other’s attention. Once Emery found out about him stepping out on her 2 years prior, things were got back to what they were. It was like watching two people grow apart from each other but not leaving the other alone. They knew they were toxic but it didn’t matter but they would continue to hurt each other.
“I cheated one time and you act like I got another bitch pregnant on you!” Kent yelled.
Emery heard him yelling from behind the door and opened it. “What were you saying?”
“You heard me. I was loud enough,” he answered.
“I wish a bitch would come and tell me that you got her pregnant. That would be the end of you and her. Don’t play with me. I tolerate a lot of shit but that’s not one of them.”
“And you cheating on me what’s the big deal?”
“I never cheated on you. We weren’t together when I was doing me.”
“That’s the story you keep telling yourself.”
“That’s the truth. We haven’t been on the entire relationship. When we broke up, I was single. I don’t care how you think it works. I know what a break means. It means we aren’t together.”
“Whatever man,” Kent waved her off. He picked up his clothes on the floor.
“I’ll see you when I get back. I have something I need to talk to you about.”
“Naw. Keep it man. I don’t think us seeing each other is a good idea.”
“No for real. I mean, we can talk about it now,” she strutted.
“What is it?”
“We’ll talk about it when I get back.”
“Why are you always trying to have a hold over me? Why won’t you let me go? You don’t want me anyway.”
“I never told you I didn’t want you.”
“You’ve showed me. I’m tired of being your sexual rabbit. You got one of those in your nightstand. You need to pop some batteries in that thing and get at it,” he laughed.
“How do you know anything about a damn rabbit? And why are you going through my stuff?”
“I know my woman. My ex woman. Excuse me,” he answered stepping into his pants.
“Tell that hoe she has to wait another week and after than she can have you.”
“Man whatever,” he laughed.
“I’m serious. We’re working off of my terms and only mine.”
“Alright. I’ll let you think that.”
Emery stepped closer to him and placed her hand on his cheekbone. “I used to love the shit out of your crazy ass,” she whispered stroking his face.
“I still love you.”
“The love is different,” she answered as tears started following down her face.
“We can get back there.”
“I’m sorry. We can’t,” she answered.
“Look. I’ll see you when you get back.”
“Okay,” she answered stepping away from him. She looked down at her stomach when she heard the door close behind him. She knew once she stepped foot outside it will never be the same. He never knew about the previous pregnancies because she didn’t find out until after the miscarriages but this one was different. She knew it was different.
“Emery! Emery!” Mia called out to her after a few moments.
Isla walked up to her and gave her a gentle shake, it was hard enough to get her attention.
“What girl? Why are you shaking me so damn hard?”
“Where did you go? I mean we have been calling your name for a while now,” Isla stated looking into her eyes.
“I didn’t go anywhere,” she lied.
Isla glanced into her eyes and could see the sign of hurt.
“It’s time to go. People done started blacking out standing up. It’s past time to go,” Ryan laughed.
“I’m good,” she lied.
“And I’m not drunk,” Randi laughed.
“Forget you,” Emery laughed.
“Girl that damn day dream had to be about sex or something. I’ve had those before but never out with so many people,” Randi continued.
“I didn’t black out.”
“She was having a sex dream ladies. That’s all,” Randi laughed out again.
“I’m sick of your drunk ass,” Emery laughed.
“You don’t have any room to talk right now.”
The ladies gathered their bags and left the strip club.
Emery was still trying to gather her thoughts as they walked to the van.
“Are you okay?” Ryan asked.
“Yeah. It’s been a long day. I need sleep,” Emery answered.
“Are you sure you’re going to be alright?”
“Yeah. I will be thanks.” Emery smiled. She noticed that Isla was staring at her from the other side of the van. I’ll deal with her later, Emery thought.
Whatever she’s going through I hope she knows that I’m here for her without judgement.
Isla looked away for a minute before locking eyes with Emery again. She mouthed, “I gotcha.”
“Thank you!” Emery answered back.
The ride back to the house was quiet. All the ladies were either checking their messages or sleep. Randi was the first one to fall asleep and then Emery wasn’t too far behind her. Ryan was looking out the window, trying to relax while Mia and Isla both were staring at their phones.
“We’re hear ladies. I can’t carry anyone of you inside so please wake up,” Ryan laughed.
“I don’t want you carrying me anyway,” Randi answered with her eyes closed.
“Get your ass up and out then,” Isla laughed.
“I’ll get out once you get out of my way.”
“We can’t get off of the van outside having all of this noise. Ladies get out,” Emery answered.
“Hush your whining ass up. We didn’t ask you to say anything,” Mia answered.
“Don’t start your shit,” Emery laughed.
“You’re the loud one. I’m chilling. Wake up first before you start talking shit.”
“Exactly,” Isla agreed.
“Forget both of you.”