The End Of Us

[Two Weeks Later]

Nicki and Wayne shared a laugh as their guest sat comfortable on the nice new sofa that he bought her. It was a smooth black sofa with two other matching long and armchair sofas. She sat comfortably on his lap as she sipped a bottle of Strawberry Margarita. He held onto her waist as she laid her body against the front of his chest and cocked her head to the side to look him over. She didn’t know what it was, but tonight she wasn’t as attracted to him as she thought she was. He was shorter than she usually liked her man, he wasn’t as buff or tone as she was attracted to. What the fuck have I been drinking the passed few months. She shook it off and blamed it on the alcohol as she kissed the side of his neck and zoned out the people in their background. He rubbed her arm slowly up and down as he continued to entertain their guest. 

“Mom, you okay over there?”

“Yes, I’m just waiting for my son to get here.”

“Mom, Jelani’s over there and Micaiah is in my room on the phone.”

“I’m talking about Safaree, he said he would come for me.”

“What? He didn’t even answer any of my calls.”

“I know. We had a talk and he should be here soon.”

She stated watching her daughters attitude and mood change almost instantly at the mention of him coming. Wayne shrugged and continued his conversation with the people around them. Nicki and tapped his arm and he let her go. She quickly made her way to the bathroom as a wavy of sickness came over her. She pushed her hair back over her shoulder and looked in the mirror and frowned deeply. He’s my best friend, I shouldn’t have to beg him to come to this special housewarming. She thought to herself as she looked into the mirror. She breathed in slow then let it out as her stomach settled. She braced herself at the door then pulled it open to a small light skin girl in an all red short number with gold heels. She smiled as she passed Nicki and into the bathroom. Nicki looked back to the bathroom and stomped out to question Wayne about the girl until she saw Safaree holding a black purse in his lap as he laughed and joked with Wayne and her brother. She rolled her eyes and put the two together before walking over to them and standing behind Wayne.

“Wassup, Baby?”

“Nothing. Are you hungry now?”

“Yeah, get me a large plate of everything.”

“Okay, what do you want to drink?”

“Get me a beer.”

He answered grabbing the cards from in front of him that Safaree had dealt to him as they played a round of spades. She walked off after rolling her eyes towards him. He shrugged it off and focused on the game. Mama Carol had told him to ignore Onika’s pettiness and that’s what he planned to do. He threw out an Ace and grabbed the cards as Wayne sucked his teeth. 

“Yo, you straight cheating my nigga.”

“What? You put out a King, nigga Ace beats King.”

“I swear you threw off.”

‘The game just started bruh, why would?”

“Naw, nigga you threw off.”

Safaree threw his hand in and chuckled.

“Yo just deal over, I’m not about to argue with you when we only did three books and I got two and he got one.”

“I know how many books got picked up and nigga you threw off.”

“Yo, chill out…”

“Safaree?”

‘It ain’t me, Mom.. He wilding about some cards.”

“Son of Bitch is cheating.”

‘Watch your mouth and just deal over, right?”

She asked looking him over as he sat with his jaw clenched. Nicki walked in with his plate and placed it in front of him. He snatched the fork out of her and she popped him. He looked up at her and smiled looking over her face. She frowned. He grabbed her face and kissed her lips a little too long for Safaree. He looked off then pushed away from the table. 

“Sweetie?”

“Come on, Baby.”

“We’re leaving already?”

“Nah, we just going outside.”

"Okay, you're not going to introduce me?"

She asked tilting her head to look up at him. He smirked then grabbed her hand and turned towards the table that everyone was now sitting at. Nicki laid her head on Wayne's shoulder and whispered in his ear. He was all smiles at whatever she said and she had a smug look on her face as they came up to the table.

"Oh, before we go outside, I just want to introduce you guys to Andraya. Andraya this is my play mom, Miss Carol, her husband Robert..." He introduced all his and Nic's friends. "And this is Nicki and her friend, Wayne."

He stated as she waved then reached her hand out to Nicki. Nicki shook her hand before she shook Wayne's then quickly pulled her hand away and rested it on Safaree's chest. He put his arm around her shoulder and waved at everyone as they walked outside. Nicki watched them closely as they sat out on the patio. Draya scooted into his lap and kissed his cheek as they whispered into each other's ear.

"I'll be back, I need to have a word with Love Muffin."

Nicki said to Wayne referring to Safaree. She got up from the table and walked around to the patio as Draya and Safaree shared a kiss. She cleared her throat and they both looked back up to her with innocent looks on their face. 

"We need to talk."

"Um, alright.. Draya go talk to momz for me."

"Okay, Sweetie."

She answered walking into the house.

"Wassup?"

"Nothing, wassup with you?"

"What you mean?"

"Two weeks we haven't talked and you just show up to my party."

"Ain't that why you called me? I'm here, so..."

"Safaree, seriously dead your attitude. I'm trying to fix our friendship and you're being an ass."

"What am I doing? Your man over there tripping bout a card game and I'm just trying to chill. Nice place by the way."

"Whatever. Your little friend is cute. You sure know how to pick them."

"Yeah, I'll tell her you think she's cute. Anything else you need?"

"You know what? Nope, I'm done. Fuck you and this friendship."

"I got that when you put homeboy in there before me..."

"We're just friends! You acting like you was my man."

"I should've been, but it's cool Nic, you got who you want and I'm moving on with Andraya. Unlike you, she ain't fighting her feelings for me."

"WHAT? Feelings? For you? Me?"

"Yeah."

"Safaree, you are my best friend! Nothing more or less and I don't think if you that way."

"I was."

"You were... What?"

"I was youe best friend, but I'm good on you. Have a nice life with boy in there."

"He's more of a man than you!"

"Sure, Nic. That's why you have to go behind him and fix shit up that he fucks up?"

"That was once!"

"And how many times have you done it for me?"

"So?"

"But he's more of a man than me? Fuck out of here Nic."

He chuckled then grabbed Draya's purse. He looked down at his old friend and shook his head again. He knew that he needed time away from her and her new life until he got himself together because the fighting would just get worse. He loved her, but she had moved on and it was time for him to do the same. He walked up to Carol and hugged her then walked with Draya back pass a silent Nicki. He stopped when he felt Nic's hand on his forearm. 

"I love you, remember that."

He smiled small and rubbed her small hand that was still on his arm. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

"See you around Nic and I wish you a long marriage."

He stepped back and followed Draya to the car hand in hand. Over the next year neither knew that their friendship was at a bigger risk than it was.