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“I’m not being like shit. Let me know when you ready for me to drop you off. You can have the room tonight.” She started crying, and I walked out of the room. I wasn’t about to sit there and watch her cry over a decision she made. I had given her every reason to stay. Obviously, it wasn’t enough. So, I wasn’t about to sit here begging her not to do something she had already made up in her mind.

“Anton, can you just talk to me?”

“What?” She stared at me for a few seconds before shaking her head.

“Never mind.” I walked out before she could see how much that shit was bothering me.

****

The next morning, I was downstairs when Bubbles came into the kitchen. She had on one of my shirts, some leggings, and Lovii in her arms. I could tell she hoped we could talk today, but I wasn’t on that type of time.

“You ready?” She stopped walking, and she looked devastated. She never seen me this way with her.

“Good morning to you too.”

“Morning. You ready?”

“I haven’t even eaten yet.” I nodded, giving her that.

“You want something?”

“I don’t think I can eat. I feel sick.” Not about to be tricked into a conversation, I moved back to my original question.

“Then what you waiting on?” She looked hurt. So, I guess that made us twins.

“Damn, Anton. I just woke up, and I would like to spend some time with my baby before I leave.”

“Do what you gotta do.” Leaving out, I went to my office and sat on the couch. Closing my eyes, I tried to find some kind of rest. I hadn’t slept a wink last night. Every time I closed my eyes, I kept hearing her tell me she was leaving. Bubbles knew she didn’t have to go. Her crying and being hurt showed me she didn’t want to. Yet, she was still making that choice. You would think I was making her leave the way she was acting. I hadn’t initiated this, but I was about to rush the process. Getting up, I walked back to where she was.

“Mommy gone miss you so much. You gone be a good girl for daddy?” Lovii licked her face, and that made Bubbles start crying again. “Awww, my baby. You have no idea what’s going on. I’m so sorry.”

“Bubbles.”

“What?”

“You been saying goodbye for so long, she gone think that’s her name.”

“You’re such an asshole.” I didn’t disagree. I knew I was being unnecessarily mean. I didn’t want to keep watching this because, at some point, a nigga would give in and ask her to stay. Bubbles hugged Lovii and broke down crying again. Fuck! Walking out, I went in the kitchen. I didn’t want to keep watching that. The entire reason I bought the dog was for us to have our family. Now, our shit was broken, and the more I watched her cry, the more I wanted to fix it. After I grabbed something to drink and did a bunch of nothing, I walked back, and this time she was standing.

“I’m ready.”

“You not taking none of your stuff?” She shook her head no, and that pissed me off more. That was like a slap in the face. “Bet.”

“Aight, mama’s baby.”

“Bubbles.”

“I’m coming. Damn!” I didn’t give a fuck about her attitude, just like she didn’t give a fuck about me. We headed into the garage and jumped in my truck. As soon as we exited, I turned my music up. Every now and then, I would steal a glance, and she was doing the same thing every time. Crying. If it had been anybody else, it wouldn’t have affected me, but Bubbles was different. The only thing that kept me from pulling over and consoling her was realizing she ain’t give a fuck about my feelings, and I loved matching energy. Fuck I look like? Bubbles reached over and turned down the radio.

“So, you really don’t give a fuck that I’m leaving?” I didn’t respond. She wasn’t about to guilt trip me. “What happened to all that family stuff you was talking? I thought you wanted a life with me? You really not going to say anything?” She had a lot of nerve acting like this was my fault.

“Are you still going home to him?”

“I have to.”

“Then I have nothing to say.” Reaching over to my radio, I turned the music back up. The closer I got to her building, the more I had to fight the urge to turn around. I wanted to tell her fuck that and fuck that nigga. Instead, I parked and accepted her ass was leaving. Bubbles climbed out and closed the door.

“Anton-…” I pulled off without letting her finish. I didn’t look back. I just kept driving. I didn’t stop until I pulled up to Key’s house. Using my key, I walked in his door and headed straight for his bar. I’m sure he saw me on his monitors, which was why he walked into his Great Room.