You're All I Need by Karen White-Owens

place to go. It’s a safe, comfortable crowd. A lot of black professionals hang out there on the weekends.”
    â€œWhat’s this got to do with anything?” Tia sipped her cranberry juice.
    â€œYou know I love you? That you’re my girl?”
    â€œI know you’re making me nervous with this.” Tia ran a shaky hand over her forehead. “Say what you have to say and then I’ll deal with it.”
    â€œOkay.” Nia sat straighter in her chair but focused on the tablecloth. “I saw Darnell at Sips last night.”
    Tia’s limbs stiffened. Darnell had been partying while she sat at home waiting for his call? No. There had to be some mistake, some logical explanation for the situation. “It may have been him.”
    â€œNo.” Nia rolled her eyes and stated firmly, “It was Darnell.”
    Still in denial, Tia added, “He had a couple of clients he needed to see on Sunday. They might have met at the club.”
    Nia shook her head and added, “He was with a woman. I didn’t see anyone else.”
    â€œAgain,” Tia rationalized, although her voice wobbled a bit, “it was probably a client.”
    â€œI don’t think so.” Nia swallowed the last of her cognac, and then captured and held her sister’s gaze.
    â€œHow do you know?”
    â€œThey were all over each other, on the dance floor and at their table. They never noticed me because they were getting busy.”
    Suddenly, Tia’s belly twisted into a thousand knots. She tried to breathe but failed miserably. Tia knew deep in her heart that Nia was telling the truth. Tia always knew when Nia was lying. She couldn’t hide from Tia her little telltale gestures that others overlooked or failed to notice.
    What could she say? There wasn’t an excuse she could make for Darnell or his behavior.
    As if Nia needed to close the deal, she added, “It’s not the first time I’ve seen him out and about, Tia. Darnell is never alone.”
    Tia pulled herself together, and over her pounding heart asked, “If you’ve spotted him out with other women at other times, why haven’t you said something before now? What were you waiting for? What made you decide to tell me this time?”
    â€œI’m sick of him thinking he can do what he wants.” Nia reached across the table and took her sister’s hand. Tia tried to pull her hand free, but Nia refused to let go. “He’s a no-good piece of crap. I hate the way he treats you. Tia, you are a beautiful, intelligent woman who deserves a whole lot better than this idiot can give you. I want that for you. I’m sick of him messing over my sister.”
    Tia’s head was swimming with images of Darnell with other girls. Nia’s confession supported the idea that things were not going well between her and Darnell, but she never really expected him to be involved with another woman. Infidelity never entered her head. She’d always believed they would talk things out and then agree to go their separate ways. Theirs would be a cool and civilized breakup. Damn him! Now he’s put her in a position where she’ll have to confront him and put her emotions out there for him to tramp all over.
    â€œTia-Mia, I’m sorry.” She swallowed hard and then continued. “At first, I wasn’t going to say anything, but the more I thought about it, the madder I got. I realized you needed to know what was going on around you. Enough is enough.”
    â€œYou’re right. It is enough. Thank you for telling me.”
    â€œWhat are you going to do?” Nia asked. A worried frown had taken over her face.
    Tia shrugged and answered in a dead tone, “Confront him.”

6
    Lunch ended on a low note. With her appetite shot, Tia pushed the plate full of salad away.
    â€œI’m done.” Tia rose from her chair and started for the door. At the restaurant’s exit, she waited