Is It Worth It? (Sequel to 12th Avenue)

43

*Another short chapter 🤪🤪*

LAUREN

"I don't care."

Justine follows me into my room at my parents house and leans against the door.

"Suddenly you don't?" She asks.

"No I don't," I say.

I lay on my back and get comfortable, starting up a game on my phone.

"So all this time you've spent trying and you're gonna throw it away?" She asks.

"Why shouldn't I? The more time passes, the more her anger grows with me. So fuck it."

She takes a deep breath and clasps her hands together.

She nods, "I know how you feel, I talked to her and she felt bad, she was gonna apologize yesterday."

I raise my brows in disbelief, "Really? Cause it was fuck me before I left."

She sucks her teeth, "You disregarded plans she already made with the twins."

I wave her off, "I'm their mother as much as she is."

She tilts her head, "That doesn't mean you get to dictate shit that don't need to be."

I nod and point to her, "But your fiancé and her can? Bullshit."

"She's emotional and very pregnant, that and all the shit you did? Don't blend."

I roll my eyes and lock my phone.

"Right," I sarcastically say.

"You feel led astray? Confused? Your efforts looked over?" She asks.

"Yes, that's what I keep saying!"

"Coincidence? What goes around comes around dickhead!" She says rather loudly.

"Karma's a bitch ain't it?" She adds.

I narrow my eyes at her and she shrugs.

"Don't be mad at me."

I sigh and look up at the ceiling. She's right, I can't even deny that.

I nod, "Alright."

Ima talk to Normani some day this week and what happens from there on, happens.

Aaliyah and Amaiyah run into the room overly excited.

"Canwegotolasertag!?" Aaliyah rushes out.

I almost didn't register what she said and I look between the both of them.

"Please, please, pleeaassee mama?" Amaiyah asks while batting her eyes at me.

I laugh and nod, they run back out and I sit up. I put a pair of sneakers on and Justine nods at me.

"Ima head out," She says.

I throw on a hoodie and we hug goodbye.

"Aight, I talk to you later," I say.

She leaves and I grab my coat, going out into the living room where the kids are. I was about to tell them to get their hats and coats, but they already had it ready.

"Let's bounce."

"Yeeaahh, let's go!" Eli yells.

We head out and get to the place in under thirty minutes. We go in and after I pay for it, we wait for the instructors to start another match.

"Okay me and mama, Eli and Liyah," Amaiyah says.

"Bet," Aaliyah nods.

A new match starts up and we go in. We gear up and Elijah starts trash talking.

"You going down old lady," He says to me.

"Sure. You're closer to the ground short stuff," I say.

"The bigger they are, the harder they fall," Aaliyah smirks.

I nod and pull Amaiyah closer to me.

"We got you," I say.

We go to the opposite sides of the room and after a few minutes the buzzer goes off.