"I told you, Jay. Bye." he says covering the screen.
He normally does it until I hang up. Today I'm not hanging up. Like I just don't feel like believing that he is 100% faithful today. It's all according to what he does and says. Like he never talks to me as he is getting ready or when his new stylist is around. I hate that. Or the fact that he never video chats me when other people are around. It all makes me wonder. I stare at the blank screen until he moves his hand.
"Jay, Baby?"
"Hmm?"
He sighs. "Here. Talk to CiCi."
I suck my teeth. "No, Tremaine."
"Hey, Cammie."
"Hey." I huff.
She giggles. "Okay then bye."
She doesn't actually hang up. Instead she smiles at the camera then sits it down. She carefully props it up so that I could see Trey fumbling through the clothes. Some lady comes up holding a shirt. He turns back to what he is doing. She brings him something else. He holds it up then holds it out to CiCi who folds it across her arm. Okay, I'm done with this. I hang up. That was boring as shit.
"Hey, Bay." Sevyn says walking in. "Let's walk downstairs."
"I only have a few minutes."
She gestures to me to follow her. I remove my top shirt and replace it with the one I wear downstairs. I've been doing this so much I have a routine now. I even know everyone that works in the café. I'm super glad no one is stunting me.
"Hey, Cammie." someone says excited.
"Um, hey." I say catching up with Sevyn.
Amber looks at me and smile. "What are you thinking about?"
"Like I seriously hate this life."
"Why?" she says stopping in front of a door.
I pause when she starts to enter the room. "Cause... Why we going in here?"
She grabs my hand. "You have an amazing life, Bae. Listen, in a few weeks, you will be home with your perfect family and you will be saying it all different. Trust me."
"Yeah." I shrug looking around the room. "What is this?"
"Something Trey setup." April says smiling extra hard.
"Oh." I say numb.
April touches my hand. "Just say hey and leave if you want. They understand."
The room was filled with roses and only a few people. I feel so nervous for some reason. I mean that maybe what I feel. I just know the numbness is greater than anything. MiMi comes up to me.
"Stop acting like my breast stank." she whines checking herself.
"I meant to tell you MiMi." Sevyn whispers moving her from me. "We have food. Please say you already ate so I can eat the fruit by myself."
I take a shallow deep breath. "Hey, everyone."
It's MiMi, Sevyn, Hidia, Leah, April, and Teyanna. Teyanna looks up from her phone when I speak. She comes over to me then smiles.
"I'm reposting some of your pictures as relationship goals."
"What picture?"
She smiles. "Bitches came all the way to my snap to hate."
I take her phone. "Pictures of me?"
"Oh." she says grabbing the phone back. "Your husband breaking hearts on Twitter, SnapChat, everything. Here is him and Lane on Snapchat making breakfast. Then it's videos of you guys fighting over the camera. So cute. What I love is the Instagram panel of your face. Takes up the whole screen."
"What is that man's problem?" I say.
"Well he explained minutes before blowing everything up with your face."
I watch the video of him singing. He stops then starts talking about how he missed me. I have never know Trey to be so open about anything. He is trying to prove a point with this. I've always been here and there on his page. It's his page. Not really much about me. Now he goes and puts my face all over his page.
"Damn, did he cheat on me?"
"Why would you think that first?" MiMi says. "He misses you."
I go to the buffet table. "MiMi shut up with that Yana save my life bullshit."
MiMi kisses my cheek. "Anyway, how is the man upstairs?"
"God? Oh he cool."
"I hate you." MiMi snaps walking away.
I turn to them. "Y'all I swear I don't feel like being happy. I'm glad y'all love me."
"Yeah, we know you Cammie." Hidia says. "I'm just glad I was included cause like damn I get left out of everything like I don't stay in Atlanta."
"Awh, boohoo." MiMi says.
Hidia laughs. "Damn, I was convinced."
April hugs me. "How is the baby doing this morning? I've been trying to give you your space. I know those nurses are already annoying."
"I mean for real. Like I have to get permission to touch my baby. I don't." I say eating a banana. "Well, I'm going back upstairs."
"Girl, you make me scared to be doing this all over after so many years."
I glance at Leah. Why was that needed? "Don't let me be your guide."
April moves towards the door. "I'll walk you back upstairs."
"Yes, before I lose my support with this cloud of sorrow."
"I love you, Bae." Teyanna says. "Can I come see the baby?"
I turn around and smile. "Yes, of course. Come see him."
"Caden what?"
"Caden Elijah." I smile.
Leah frowns. "I saw the little bundle this morning for the first time. I cried so hard for so long. He is so precious. I can't take it. I'm ready for you to be busy and need a quick sitter."
"Leah, she is married. No quickies." MiMi snaps.
"Love you." Amber says.
April and I leave. "I'm glad you came down."
"I'm so gloomy right now. Leah was making me mad with her drama."
"I know. She is pregnant you and I both know she meant no harm."
I roll my eyes. "All of them wanted me to feel good about this. I can't. I can't even get around thinking he done something negative. I'm screwed up."
"With reason."
"April."
"I'm trying to be supportive, damn it."
I giggle. "Oh, yes, continue."
All she does is smile at me. April has been very supportive. I hate that I'm so attached from everyone. It seems like no one truly understands how I feel. My youngest baby boy is stuck in the hospital with tubes everywhere that I know are uncomfortable. My oldest is thousands of miles away with my love. Nothing is going my way.
Chris
"Hey, Chrissy." Sevyn says.
"Amber Ass."
She giggles. "I know my ass brown thanks."
I lay back on the bed. "Things are fucked up around here."
"Are they? Trey seems to be fine."
"And when did you figure this out when he talking to Cammie, the person that fucking makes everything gold? How many times you been pissed off and Cammie makes it all good by smiling at you? Anyway, shit not all good."
Sevyn makes a sad face. "Yeah, and Cammie going through a lot. The baby is doing better. Gaining weight."
"I thought I was ready for a baby but the shit is no walk in the park."
"No, it's not."
She gets extremely silent. We stare at each other saying anything. I initially came to Europe to help out. Now I see that the only thing good for Trey is to get back to the other half of his family. He has Lane here which will really help him.
"We went out last night. I won't do that again."
"What do you mean?"
I sigh. "Well, Trey... Don't worry about."
"What happened?"
"Nothing." I say looking away.
I shouldn't have started that statement. The problem is that Trey is too stressed to be in the company of pretty available women. I didn't like how friendly he was being with them. I believe that the night could have possibly ended with him and so random girl. I could tell he wanted freedom from all of this. Maybe a night where he no longer had the responsibility of a family on top of everything. I started acting drunk and making him mad. Eventually we left the club where I instantly sobered up but I started talking about Lane and how he waiting up for us, which is true. He knows Trey was gone.
"Christopher!"
"Hmm?" I say focusing on her.
"You got to tell me."
I lie too easily. "Trey has been having a bad attitude. Almost fought this person. Plus Lane was up waiting for him."
It's not my place to put that burden on her. She shouldn't have to hide that. It's more understandable for a man to hide a man's secrets. Trey wouldn't ever forgive me if I fucked up his marriage. I wouldn't forgive myself.
"Aye, I danced with this big booty hoe." I say to Sevyn.
"I kissed this big booty joe."
I laugh. "Sound like a faggot."
She rolls her eyes. "Trey setup this small dinner for Cammie. We expected her to reject the idea but it was so fucking hard to actually witness. I wanted to reach out and take all her pain away. It's like she is blanked by grief."
"Yeah, I heard from Trey."
"Is that why he blowing up the internet with her?"
I shrug. "I missed that."
"It's all over his Instagram and everything. Cammie feels like he did it just because he cheating on her."
"Why would she think that?" I say freaking out on the inside.
Sevyn shrugs. "She is fragile. She could think anything."
I breathe deeply. "She should voice it to him."
"No, she shouldn't." Sevyn snaps. "She gets a little happy when she talks to him. There is no need to bring in frustration. Imma go talk to her. Call me back in a little while."
"Don't hang up."
She stares at the phone. "What?"
I sit up. "How are you doing? Trey and Cammie aren't the only ones in the world."
"I'm going good." She smiles.
"What are we doing after Trey returns to America?"
"Going to Florida right? I ordered this cute new bathing suit."
"Where we going we gonna be swimming naked."
She giggles. "It's that secluded?"
I nod. "We haven't done something together in a while. I got a lot of stuff planned."
"Chris, I really think you grew a lot. I hate so many people had to deal with the other you. I like the improvement."
"Thanks." I say smiling more on the inside.
"I'm being serious though. I know I got issues and all so I don't know where this will end up but I'm glad we tried... Trying it."
I raise my eyebrows. "I am too."
"Trey only has 4 days."
"That's it?"
She nods. "Yeah."
The room door opens. "Aye, these bitches... You on the phone?"
"Go ahead." Sevyn says kissing at me. "Call me back."
"Nope." I say looking at him.
He stands there silent then kicks back into monster mode. "They want me to close the show instead of it going like it was. So I will only be on stage for 2 songs. One of which is me and Nicki song. They got me fucked if they think I'm doing that shit."
"The fuck?"
"Exactly." he retorts. "They supposed to be bringing in some fucking British brat in. I ain't getting pushed back."
I stand up. "Aye, look. I know you committed to this and everything but you not needed here."
"What?"
"Go home before you fuck something up."
He gives me a cold look. "Let these bitches win by running home. Fuck no."
I didn't want the anger turned on me. "So what you want? Go on stage anyway at your time?"
"I'm thinking that. Let them ruin the show by taking me off."
"Fuck them."
He stares at me. I stand there looking back at him. I gave him the best way out of the shit. I'm going to keep thinking of other ways to get this man home tomorrow. I'm going to come up with something. But for this moment it's me and him against them. Lane neutralizes the rage of Trey by entering the room. He was carrying some index cards.
"That say Daddy?"
"Jump."
Lane shuffle the cards in his little hand. "That say?"
"Could."
"That say, Chris?" Lane says walking to me. "No, say that. That say?"
I chuckle. "Purple."
Lane hands me the card. "I not like purple. You like purple?"
"Yeah."
"That say?"
"Apple. A."
He flips the card over. "It red, Chris?"
"Yes."
Trey walks out of the room. I follow. He is picking up the cards that Lane had scattered around the floor. Lane runs in the room to help him. I pick the ones up by my feet. That little boy is saving Trey right now. Lane makes him laugh. He grabs him and tickle him messing all the cards up again.
"Damn it." Lane says looking at the pile. "All my words."
