Page 6 of Nothing Like Your Ex

Vic gave her a knowing look. “And how you doing with all of it?”

Kwinn’s smile faded slightly. “I’m okay.”

“I need to go smack that nigga upside his head?” Toya asked brazenly, making her husband smirk.

“Why you trying to get all violent?” Lauryn questioned, giggling.

“Because I don’t like the way she’s looking. What’s going on?” Toya questioned.

Kwinn sighed. “Nothing, Mama. I’m fine for real.”

“You sure?” Vic wondered, not believing her.

Knowing she could be as open as possible with the people in this room, Kwinn gave them the real. She looked at her parents, then down at BJ, who was completely unaware that his aunt was being interrogated in front of him.

“I’m just tired,” she admitted.

“Of him?” Vic asked.

Kwinn hesitated. “I didn’t say that.”

“But you thought it.”

She gave him a look. “Daddy.”

Vic smiled. “I’m just asking.”

Kwinn shook her head, but the corner of her mouth lifted. “I don’t know. I'm just over the mood he’s been in lately. I understand why he’s frustrated, but that doesn’t mean I want to deal with it every day.”

Toya nodded. “And you don’t have to.”

“Exactly. And if you are tired of him, you have that right. Every day isn’t peaches and cream,” Lauryn said.

Kwinn nodded. “I know it’s not. I guess I’m just tired of being the understanding one all the time.”

Nobody said anything, realizing she needed to vent. She swallowed hard and continued since she had the floor.

“I understand that he’s going through something—I really do—but every time something happens with him, I’m there. If he’s upset, I’m there. If he’s frustrated, I’m there. If he needs somebody to tell him he’s still good, I’m there.” She shook her head. “And I don't mind being there for him. That’s what you do when you love somebody. But lately, it feels like I’m the only one doing it.”

Lauryn and Toya’s expressions softened, while Bishop and Vic’s hardened. They were ready to pay Jabari a visit, and it wasn’t going to be friendly.

“He doesn’t show up for you?” Lauryn questioned.

“Not like he used to.”

“Then let that nigga go, sis. Straight up,” Bishop said, not giving a fuck.

Lauryn looked at her husband and chuckled. “I mean, I wouldn’t go to those extremes. At least have a conversation with him.”

Her suggestion sounded nice but based on how their quote-unquote conversation went earlier this week in her kitchen, Kwinn wasn’t sure she wanted to even give him that.

“I don’t really care to, honestly,” she said with a sigh. “But I guess he deserves that.”

“Does he?” Toya asked.

Kwinn looked at her mother. Toya’s expression wasn’t harsh. If anything, she looked concerned.

“Listen, baby. Sometimes, we get so busy trying to understand somebody else’s behavior that we forget to ask ourselves how that behavior is making us feel. We get so concerned with how they’re feeling and neglect ourselves.”