My Bestfriend's Man by P. Dotson, Latarsha Banks

that
dress?”
    “Nope.”
    I shook my head. “You are such a
slut.”
    “Yep, but my bills are paid, my
hair done and a bitch stay stacked.”
    “Yeah, okay.”
    “What’s wrong Vee?”
    “Nothing,” I lied as I directed my attention towards the
television screen.
    “Come on Vee. I know you like the
back of my hand. I know when something is up with you.”
    I sighed and folded my arms
underneath my breast. “I ran into Brandon last week.”
    Roxie never did care too much for
Brandon. The frown on her face clarified that even more once I mentioned his
name.
    “Vee, I know you are not sitting here crying over his sorry ass.”
    “Roxie I can’t help it. You of
all people should understand. That was my A one since day one.”
    “Wait, I thought I was your A
one.”
    “Roxie, you know what I mean,” I
said with a frustrated sigh.
    “No, I don’t Vee. When are you
going to realize that nobody has your back like I do? I told you straight out
the gate how Brandon got down. Did you listen? No. Now you up here moping
around behind his no good ass. You should have left his ass after he cheated
the first time.”
    “Forget I even mentioned it.”
    “Don’t get mad. I’m just keeping
it cut throat wit you.”
    There was more to the story and
Roxie knew it. I wasn’t even about to go there with her because in my opinion, she was being insensitive. She knew me and Brandon had history. It was
dumb of me to think she would even understand.
    “Whatever Roxie,” I said tearing
up. “You know damn well it’s more than
that.”
    “Look Vee, I’m not trying to
argue with you. I know you don’t wa nt to
hear this, but God does everything for a reason. Maybe it wasn’t meant for you
to have a baby,” she said putting her arms around me.
    Hearing those words brought on a
fresh bout of tears. I was almost four months pregnant when I miscarried. I
never got a chance to tell Brandon he was going to be a daddy.
    “Just leave it alone Roxie,” I
said shaking my head.
    There was a pregnant pause. Roxie
continued to hold me in her embrace. It was all good because I needed that
shoulder to lean on until she took things
way in left field. The first time she kissed me on my cheek I didn’t think
anything of it, but after the fourth time it became a little uncomfortable.
    “You know what I think, I want to
go to this party after all,” I said quickly jumping up. I saw a look of
disappointment dance across her face. “I’ll be right back.”
    “You need me to help you pick out
an outfit?” She asked as I walked away.
    “No, I’m
good,” I yelled over my shoulder.

Chapter 8

 
    Roxie
    I pouted a little when Savannah
decided to break up the special moment we shared. She was vulnerable and I knew
I almost had her. It was no secret how I got down in the sheets, but don’t get
it twisted, when it comes to women I don’t eat twat. I tell them straight up if
you want to do me that’s fine, but don’t expect me to return the favor.
    Savannah would be the exception. I can’t help my attraction to
her. I’ve been in love with her since I was seven-years-old. My life was fucked
up. My father was an alcoholic and my mother was a wanna be elite socialite. We
lived in a nice neighborhood and that’s only because my grandmother died and
left my daddy the house.
    He made my life a living hell. Every day he’d come home and beat me just
because. To make a long story short, we were dead broke. My father lost his job
due to his heavy drinking and my mother was too busy spending money that we
didn’t have to fit in with the rich and famous. Needless to say, we barely had
enough money to feed ourselves. We didn’t have any running water, and we often
had to live without electric.
    I was the schools fun dummy because I was forced to go to school with
dirty clothes, a not so pleasant smell
because we had no running water. My classmates never let me live it down
either. I used to be so embarrassed to have to go to school with