Authentic Love

Chapter 21

A'Nae

I get myself out of bed and do my morning ritual. I remembered I'm taking mama out today so I got dressed in a maxi skirt, fitted shirt, and gladiator sandals and went downstairs to see mama already ready in a pretty blue sundress that goes to her ankles and some sandals that match with her hair in a curly style. She looked like she can be my sister forreal.

"Come on mama, imma take you out to breakfast first." I tell her while walking to the door with her right behind me.

"Wait girl, that young man Vahji came and dropped this off and told us girls to have a good day and have fun." She said handing me a red envelope. I already knew what it was so I just slipped it in my purse already knowing that mama looked in it. She's the most nosy out of all the family.

We walked out the house to my car and I drove us to Ihop. Man, how they got some bomb pancakes. Our waitress sat us down at a table and took our drinks. Later, she came back and took our orders. Me and mama both got buttermilk pancakes and fried eggs.

"So why aren't you and that Vahji boy dating? Oh, don't think I don't know he sells drugs."

My mouth dropped open and she just sat there staring at me with a smirk on her face.

"Oh, you didn't think that I knew when he dropped off an envelope of money? Girl, yo daddy was a drug dealer. The lord at that, I was his shoota. Don't think I don't know. I know everything. Watch your back and your heart though baby girl. People will come after you just to get to him, but don't be scared. I know your daddy probably already told you that and showed you what to do just in case. Now, will he hurt you? Most likely, no doubt about that. But you have to realize that it's not gonna take a hour, day, week to change his ways and stick with one girl. Give him time, he will come around"

Man, I never really thought about him not changing over night. I actually thought he was just gonna stop playing around at the snap of my fingers, but no.

We finished breakfast and headed out to the mall where I saw Eric. My ex and baby daddy with some girl. I just hope that he doesn't try to start some s**t up. I will go straight thug in the mall. I ain't the same A'Nae that I was when I was with him, he gon see.

I took a glance at them one more time and he looked over at me and we locked eyes, I looked away and took mama into Forever 21. We looked around and she got her a couple of summer dresses. When we walked out Eric and his girl was right there standing in front of me.

"Long time, no see huh A'Nae?" Eric said in his smug tone.

"You saw me just the other day Eric. Now what do you want? You see I'm with my mom."

"I just wanna speak with you... in private." He says looking at his girl and my mom.

"I don't care. I'm bout to go buy me things." Mama said walking off. She even took the envelope of money that Vahji gave us. His girl walked off in Forever 21 and it was just me and Eric standing there for a minute not saying anything. Eric started walking off and I just followed him to the food court. We sat at a table across from each other.. just sitting there.

"So.... what did you wanna speak about Eric?" I asked him irritated. Like, don't come talking about you wanna speak to me and then don't speak when it's time to speak.

"Why?" He asked me looking me dead in my face.

"Why what?" I asked confused.

"Why did you abort our first baby?"

See... that, that caught me off guard. I didn't expect him to ask me that.

"What do you mean why I aborted the baby? We were 13! What were we gonna do with a baby at 13? We weren't even that fresh into middle school and I was going to have a baby. I was scared. I was the one that was gonna get judged because I was carrying the baby, not you. You wouldn't have to go through the throwing up or anything like that. I would, we ain't have no money.... our baby wouldn't even had that great of a life with parents that didn't know what they would have been doing. Not knowing how to take care of a child. So don't ask me why. The answer should be obvious and right there in your face."

I got up to leave and he grabbed my wrist and turned me to his chest.

"Why can't you just be with me A'Nae?!" Where is he even coming with all of this? He thinks he can just walk back into my life and have me just be with him. Not today, not ever.

"Because I got the one that I want Eric. Now let me go!" I got my wrist loose from his grip and pushed him back a little.

"You went and got with another nigga, that's how you gonna do me? After everything we been through?" All the hurt you put me through nigga.

"Shut up! After we broke up we didn't see each other for a year until you came to see the baby you thought I had. Yeah, I got with another dude and? You got that girl with you, but she doesn't make a difference cause I still wouldn't have got back with you"

I snatched my wrist back and went to go find my mom. This dude really had the nerve to talk to me like that and say the things that he did. Wanna get back together. Nigga please! what this look like?

While I was talking on the phone with my mom asking her where she was at.. I saw Corahn and his mystery girl. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!