Good food, strong drinks, and even stronger opinions — Jordyn and Kaylani have a lot to catch up on... and even more to leave behind.
“So, what did Mega say? Did you tell him the feds are on his ass?”
Jordyn winced because she thought everyone in the restaurant heard Kaylani’s question. She wanted to change her mind that night and stay in bed until she could see Pauline, but she kept her promise to rekindle things with Kaylani and went out for a night of good food, strong drinks, and no relationship drama.
“No, I didn’t. And keep your voice down,” Jordyn lectured. That's not really something I wanna say over the phone, just in case they have our shit tapped or something. I told him we could meet up tomorrow and talk.”
“Mm.” Kaylani made a sly face at the possibility of Jordyn rekindling things with him, too. “Don’t go falling in love again, J. Mega is still fucking with Mila and she is still head over heels for him.”
“Who said anything about falling in love?” Jordyn huffed and raised an eyebrow. “I’ma tell him what’s what and leave it at that. I learned my lesson with him and won’t be going through that shit again.”
To seal the deal on her promise to not fall for Mega’s charm again, Jordyn ordered a bottle of champagne for her and her girl. It felt good to be in a position to do nice things for herself without having to look over her shoulder, and it felt even better to do it with Kaylani.
“I’m not happy to be back in Miami,” Jordyn said, “But I am happy to see you again. I missed you, girl.”
“I missed you too. Shit, you just up and left me here and cut off all communication. That was tough.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” Jordyn lowered her head in shame. “There was just so much going on at the time, I had to silence all the noise in order to get myself together. I felt like I was losing my damn mind for a minute. But, now that I’m better and really on my shit, you gotta come visit your girl and see how I’m living.”
The urge to leave Miami moved further to the front of Kaylani’s mind the more Jordyn talked about her new life in Chicago. She saw that Jordyn was happy, healthy, and thriving—far from the bullshit she left behind. Kaylani wanted that for herself.
She wanted to be happy too. She wanted to start her own business, and live somewhere comfortable enough to start a family someday.
So, when she looked at Jordyn and saw that she had moved on from her toxic love affair and made something of herself, it burned Kaylani's blood.
“I been thinking about leaving a lot,” she said. “But I don’t know where I wanna go. I always get a place in my mind, but then change my mind before I even look deeper into it. I guess fear keeps me holding on to what I know ain’t good for me.”
“Come to Chicago for a while,” Jordyn said. “Check out the city, get some better air… Notice how I said better air and not fresh air?” she laughed. “No, but seriously, I would love to have you out there with me. And you know I don't mind if you stay with me until you find something. Shit, you can stay with me forever if you want to. Well, at least until I get a man.”
Kaylani laughed too. It was her first laugh in a while because of how miserable she was with Layton. It felt good to just kick back, have drinks, and enjoy a nice dinner without the night turning into an argument.
“Speaking of men,” Kaylani lifted her glass of champagne and gave Jordyn a curious look. “I heard you talking to some man on the phone earlier. Who might that be?”
“Oh my God,” Jordyn laughed and rolled her eyes. “That was Roman. My security guard. We are just friends.”
“Mhm. I know chemistry when I hear it!” Kaylani teased. “Come on, let's see him. I’ll be able to tell exactly what’s going on soon as I see him.”
With the biggest, most bashful smile, Jordyn fetched her phone from her purse and searched for a picture of Roman. The first one to pop up was a picture of him with his shirt off, wearing those short ass biker shorts she hated.
But before Kaylani could feast her eyes on him and his package, Jordyn quickly scrolled to another picture, something more appropriate, and handed over the phone.
“Damn, girl!” Kaylani’s eyes flickered with excitement. “He is FINE. And I know damn well he ain’t just your security guard,” she shook her head while glaring at Roman’s picture. “You fucking him.”
“Girl! Shut up!” Jordyn laughed so loud that other diners actually shushed to quiet her down. “Roman and I are just friends," she whispered. "I don’t know why I have to keep telling people that.”
“Y’all can be 'just friends' all you want. But I know when two people are fucking, and yeah, that’s what you two are doing,” Kaylani laughed.
Their laughter lasted the whole night. Drinks flowed and conversations about their lives, love lives; Pauline and the feds flowed just as easily. Before Jordyn got to Miami, her gut tumbled with anxiety. But, after spending some much needed girl time with her best friend and making the call to the man she never wanted to see again, the tension started to ease.
“I’m trying to stay away from these niggas for as along as I can,” Jordyn said. “Me and Roman have messed around a few times, but I don't know. He’s very sweet and I know he wants more from me, but I can’t let my guard down right now.
After losing my baby and dealing with Mega, I keep telling myself I never wanna get into another relationship.”
“I feel that,” Kaylani sighed, thinking about her and Layton. “You can’t keep yourself closed off forever, though. You deserve somebody who gon make you happy and give you the world. Shit, you been doing it for everybody else. It’s time to let somebody do it for you.”
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