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“Maybe you need to change your strategy. You’re used to dealing with the same kind of women who only required certain things from you. She has made it clear that dick and money aren’t enough to impress her, so if you want her, you need to come with a better game plan. Otherwise, you’re gonna be looking from outside of the club once she gets someone else.”

Freedom eyes turned into slits as he glared at me.

“Aye, I’m just trying to keep it real with you. It’s obvious you want her, so you’re gonna have come harder.”

“Yeah, whatever. Since she wants to play, I’m gonna play too.”

He walked over to wear the beautiful woman was and struck up a conversation with one of the women she was standing next to. I shook my head when the girl smiled and walked off with him. Free still needed a lesson on love and how to handle a real one and I had a feeling the model beauty was going to be the one to give him a run for his money.

I got ready to head back to where the rest of my cousins were, but when I walked past one of the bedrooms, I heard what sounded like someone screaming. My stomach twisted and I felt the urge to open the door. It wasn’t my place, but I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t.

My hands shook as I twisted the door knob and I came face to face with what I suspected all along. Something told me to hit record for proof of whatever was going on.

“Please! I’m sorry!” A young woman pleaded as she lay on the floor in the fetal position.

“Bitch, you’ve got me fucked up! You’ve got all of these niggas staring at you because you decided to come out dressed like a ho! Is that what you want? Huh? You want to leave me so you can get with another nigga? Huh? Answer me, bitch!”

The young man was practically foaming at the mouth as he yelled at her. When he lifted his foot to kick her, I stepped inside and made my presence known.

“Get off of her right now or I’m gonna call the police. I’m sure they would love to see this video of you beating your woman at a public pool party.”

The young man stepped back with his hands up in mock surrender.

“It’s not what it looks like. She hit me first.” He pleaded and that was when I realized who he was. Melvonte Mills in the NFL. He was one of the hottest Quarterbacks in the game and also one of the youngest. It disgusted me to see him stand there and push the accountability onto her, but I had seen it many times before.

“I don’t care about any of that. You might want to leave and I won’t tell you again.” I warned as I waved my phone in the air.

I stopped recording because I had only done it so I could send it to her later. A lot of women went through domestic violence situations, and they had to jump through hoops to prove it happened. I learned early on that it was best to record and keep track of everything just in case you ever need to use it.

“We rode together and I’m not leaving her,” he insisted.

“Okay cool. I’ll just call the police. I already have all the proof I need and I’m sure they won’t have any issues finding you considering how important you are.” I shrugged as I called his bluff.

His chest heaved as he glanced back between the two of us. I wanted him to know I wasn’t afraid of him.

“Please just go. I don’t want this to turn into a media circus.” The young woman told him. Reluctantly, he walked out and slammed the door behind him.

“I’ll be right back,” I said, as I placed my phone in my handbag and walked to the bathroom to wet a couple of paper towels.

When I walked back into the room, she was sitting on the edge of the bed as she texted rapidly on her phone. She didn’t even seem concerned about the blood pouring from her nose and mouth.

“Here you go. I got this for your face.” I handed her the damp paper towels and took a step back.

She looked up at me, and I had to blink twice because instead of seeing her face, I saw mine. It spooked me, but I tried to hold it together.

“Thank you. I know you probably think he’s a monster, but he really isn’t like that. I thought he would like the outfit, but I should have checked with him before I came here. I just thought it would be a cute surprise.”

I hated that she felt the need to defend him, but I understand why she did it.

“Look, it’s not my place to get in the middle of your relationship, but as someone who was once in a domestic violence relationship, I would be less of a woman if I wasn’t honest. There is never a valid reason for someone to put their hands on you. It doesn’t matter is you came to the party in your birthday suit, it doesn’t give anyone the right to hurt you.

“You are not responsible for his actions and it doesn’t matter how many gifts he buys or how many times he tells you that he loves you too much to lose you. He won’t stop. There will always be an outfit or a delayed text that will set him off because he needs help, love. You can’t heal him and if you stay too long you may not live long enough to enjoy the life you have planned for yourself.”

Her lips trembled as she wiped the never-ending tears from her face. We sat in silence while she attempted to clean her face as best as she could. I remember those days when I would convince myself that if I loved Rondell harder or tried not to say things to make him mad, things would get better, but it was all a lie. There was never a good enough reason to hurt someone you claimed to love.

“We’ve been together since middle school. He’s my first and only boyfriend.” she paused and glanced down at her phone. Whatever he said must have pissed her off because she tossed the phone onto the bed.

“He’s always been a little aggressive, but things didn’t turn physical until college. I chalked it up to the pressure of competing and trying to reach his goals, but things only got worse. My family hates him because of his constant cheating. They don’t have a clue what I really go through and now that we’re engaged, he won’t even let me go around them without his approval.