Chapter 27.3: Enemy
Omniscient

"Speaking of family how is Royalty and Mama J" April asked.

Chris smiled. "Royalty is doing just fine. Energetic as hell and always dancing I keep her in different activities. She's growing up to be a cool lil girl. You know when you left she asked for her Apple for months and I couldn't even tell her that it was my fault that you weren't coming back" Chris looked at April saddened. All his actions had consequences and he failed to realize them until after the fact.

April sighed. She never wanted to leave Royalty but she had to. She honestly felt as though Royalty was her 2nd chance to be a mother since Jr didn't make it. She would never leave Royalty intentionally. "I'm truly sorry bout that. I never wanted to leave her. You know Nia might've given birth to her but she was my baby. I had to leave before I lost myself entirely though. I cried many, many nights thinking bout her. How is she doing? Does she even notice that I'm gone? How's Nia treating her? Who tucked her in at night? Did anyone read her favorite book to her? I felt like I left my child behind but I had no choice I had to leave. I couldn't stay any longer. Me and you were no longer good for one another and no matter how strong I tried to be she reminded me of a piece of you that I had but couldn't get back" April took a deep breath and grabbed a piece of tissue to dry her eyes. "Royalty became a constant reminder that you fucked up...big time. She reminded me that she had an older brother that didn't survive. No matter how bad or how much I tried to not think of those things the thoughts would never leave. No matter how much I knew and realized that she wasn't the blame I just couldn't take it anymore. I knew she was only a child and didn't ask to be here but it was too big of a pill to swallow after while especially when our child didn't have a chance at life period" April dabbed her eyes and wiped her nose. "Please don't apologize again. I'm good"

Chris had already figured that having Royalty was the straw that broke the camels' back for her but he could never tell her when they were together. He just nodded his head non verbally telling her he understood and he did. What he didn't understand was how April did and dealt with the shit that she had because if the shoe was on the other foot he didn't think he'd be able or have it in him to stick around. Then again it was April so maybe he could've.

"Mama is doing pretty great too. I spoke to her while I was on my way here. She was excited to know that you were here and even happier that we were finally going to sit down and talk." Chris changed the subject not wanting April to dwell on his bullshit any longer. "She's actually here. Well at her condo. She's in LA for a few weeks. You should stop by and see her before you leave. She misses her daughter. Yea she still claims you as her daughter in law" Chris chuckled.

"You know Mama J gonna forever love me boy stop acting like you don't know this. You could be married to someone else with a whole family and she would still claim my ass" April laughed.

"I can't even lie and say ya ass lying" he joined her laughing. Mama J would forever and always claim April as her daughter but the type of woman she was she would also respect the next woman that God saw fit for Chris.

"I'll try to see her before I leave though. It would be wrong to just come and not see her. Knowing Mama J she'd probably have a fit if I didn't"

Suddenly the laughter dies down and it was silent as both Chris and April were in their thoughts just thinking about how terrible shit had really went down between them. "Can I ask you question" Chris looked up at her. "I know we said we were done talking bout everything but I need to know why did you go through with planning the wedding to not even marry me. You planned the wedding of your dreams. The same wedding we would stay up talking bout when things were good. You got the dress you wanted made that you just had to get married in. We had all the bridesmaids and groomsmen...a whole wedding party. People traveled outta state to attend the wedding that didn't happen. Like why go through with it if you didn't want to marry me" he asked as his fingers traced the animals on the small urn.

April questioned herself about that all the time. She knew that deep down everyone would've been ok if she didn't want to get married. She knew they would tell her to take her time but she still went through it anyway. "Everyone was so happy that you finally proposed. My mom and girls were excited not to mention Mama J. They were already ready to help out, plan, and go dress shopping. They had been waiting for the day we tied the knot. Everybody thought that this was our fresh start and second chance to get it right, our new beginning. I didn't want to take away everyone's happiness. You know rain on their parade" she sighed.

"I thought that if I got all into the wedding that I'd be happy but like always I was putting on a front for everybody including myself. Out of all the serious relationships you were in I was the one to get a ring and a wedding. I thought that I had won a prize. I was finally marrying the man of my dreams, the love of my life. I April Elegance Blackmon was marrying Christopher Maurice Brown" she smiled. Their wedding would've been perfect if their relationship was good and solid. "Then it dawned on me that all that glitters isn't gold. We still weren't in a good space. We were just ok and that wasn't enough. Yea we had tried to take it there but it wasn't the same anymore. You weren't my Chrissy anymore nor was I your Apple. I planned on marrying you I truly did" she nervously played with her fingers.

"Everything was good the weeks leading up to the wedding but the night before the wedding I didn't sleep a wink. All I could think bout was if you did me so bad as your girlfriend then I'd be stuck with a man who wasn't worth my time as a husband. You know I don't do divorce. Marriage is serious and not something that should be taken lightly. I didn't want to be like those people who get married and be divorced a few months later" April glanced at him and then back at her hands. "I got dressed for the wedding and looked beautiful but on the inside I still felt ugly. The smile that I wore for the past few years even up until a few months ago was no longer genuine. That day didn't feel like it was for me...for us. It was for everybody else. It didn't feel magical at all. I couldn't concentrate on your vows. It was all for show. That light that you use to look at me with was dim if not nonexistent. It felt like you even thought that I wasn't worth anything anymore. I felt like you thought I was some weak ass female. Like you felt like you could do whatever to me and I would always be there like I took everything else. I silently prayed for a sign and in that very moment you ran ya thumb over my knuckles like you use to do and instead of feeling that shocking shivering feeling that I use to feel I felt repulsed and disgusted. I couldn't marry you"

"Damn Brown when you fuck up you fuck up" he said to himself shaking his head.

"So I left you standing there by yourself like I felt for years. I went back home and gathered all my things. I had boxes waiting to be packed up. After that I came here and packed up some stuff and shipped everything to Jersey to a storage facility. I stayed in a hotel until I found a place to call home. I didn't answer anyone's calls, changed my number, and tried to move on with my life" she spoke. "I sent all the guests refunds and their gifts back. I sent my dad a check since he paid for the wedding. Everyone got their money back. My dad didn't even want the money back but I made him take it and use it for one of his many business adventures but the only way he would accept it is if I joined him on his adventure so I did"

"I can't lie you enabled me. All the shit I did you stayed right by my side. You never left or really put ya foot down. If anything you would come over here and I'd follow you and you'd end up coming right back home. The night before the wedding I couldn't sleep either. I had a gut feeling that the shit wasn't going to go down but I tried to push the feeling away. 2 weeks before the wedding I thought bout everything I did to destroy our relationship and I knew I didn't deserve you but if I could keep you I was going to. Yet you proved me wrong and left. Not only did you leave but you ran away back to Jersey and never looked back. I stood at the aisle and couldn't even move. I wanted so bad to chase after you but I didn't because I knew you deserved better. I prayed that you were happy and doing good plenty of nights. What I didn't expect was you not to step foot in LA. Ya best friends were here and you never came back. When you left everything changed"

"The fam didn't want to fuck with me, my mother was beyond disappointed, Royalty was sad, and shit just wasn't the same. There was no one waiting at home for me when I'd come home and your smell dissipated like you were never here. It was depressing for a long while to be in the house by myself. So many times I wanted to sell the mansion but I couldn't bring myself to do so. I felt like I would be selling all the memories we made there. Whether they were good or bad memories I just couldn't let go. I thought you would come back but days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and then a year passed and so on. You were finally done with me and I couldn't blame anyone but myself" Chris took a deep breath, carefully placed the urn on the coffee table, sprawled out on the floor, and starred at the ceiling.

"After everything that happened you was still loyal. Not one time did you go out and do a TV or radio interview and I thank you for that. Anybody else would've written a whole ass tell all book bout our lives but you were loyal as you were day one. You never went against the grain" he smiled. "Sometimes I think bout what our future would've been like if I hadn't fucked up" Chris glanced at her and back at the ceiling as she laid down beside him and focused on the ceiling as well. "We would be happy, maybe on our 2nd or 3rd kid, taking family trips, the house would never be quiet because the kids would always be running around and laughing as I chased after them and you'd wobble after us since you'd probably be barefoot and pregnant" he chuckled thinking about what he imagined their future would be like if things were good.

"I'd be touring and fiend'n to come home but you would convince me that you could hold down the fort while I was gone. Facetime calls from you and the kids, updates on the bun in the oven, seeing you smile like genuinely smile, hearing ya laugh, you sending me pictures, and you know what pictures I'm talking bout. When touring would be done I'd rush home to be bombarded with hugs and kisses" Chris smiled then frowned. "I fucked up those chances"

"What's done is done. I thought bout all of that as well but shit happens. It wasn't our time. What's meant to be will be all we can do is focus on the future. I know with our relationship I learned that I'm worth more than any man could ever give me and if a man doesn't treat me the way I'm supposed to be treated then I'm out the door no questions asked and no hesitation. Love isn't enough for me anymore. I won't put up with anyone's bullshit or disrespect" April got quiet as if she was in deep thought. She had one more miniature bomb to drop on Chris. "Speaking of relationships I've recently got into a fresh one. This one would be the first one after you. I wouldn't normally bother to tell you because frankly it isn't any of your business but" she dragged and looked at him.

"It's someone I know isn't it" he asked and faced her wondering what nigga went against the grain and broke code.

April bit her bottom lip and nodded. "I'mdatingDaveEast" she jumbled over her words as she rushed them out.

Chris scrunched his face. "Who"

"Dave East" April repeated slowly.

Chris looked at her blankly. He couldn't tell her who to date but damn he and Dave worked together and were cool. At least he thought they were. He knew Dave had to know who April was. He'd never do any shit like that to one of his boys and he considered Dave one of his boys. "Harlem nigga signed to Nas. The nigga I did a few songs with" he asked for clarification.

"That would be him. I knew y'all worked together and before we took it there I did question how close y'all were. It's not like it's Red or Mijo or one of them" which was true. If the person she was pursuing was that close to him she'd cancel them no questions asked. That wasn't the type of female she was.

"I can't tell you who to date but damn Dave one of my niggas. He ain't Trey or August but damn we fuck with each other" Chris said and April knew he was a little pissed off but it was nothing he could do about it.

"I'm sorry if you feel a way but like I told Trey I really like Dave and I want to see where our relationship goes. A lil heads up August and Trey already know but I told them not to say anything because I wanted to tell you myself. You can always call Dave and talk to him but I'm not gonna stop talking to him. I don't know how August feels bout it but I know Trey isn't feeling it. It bothers me somewhat but he doesn't have to like it he just needs to respect it.

"That explains why they looked like they were keeping secrets this morning" he shook his head. "Just make sure he treats you right. Don't let him do you how I did"

"Definitely won't. Well if you aren't doing anything tomorrow I invited the crew over for a seafood boil and drinks so we can all catch up"

"If you're cooking then I'll fall through. I miss ya cooking"

"Well you're in luck cause I'm cooking" she gave him a small smile.

"Bet, I'm happy we finally got this over and done with" Chris exhaled.

"Me too" and just like that everything was right in the world. They caught up on each other's lives and just enjoyed being able to sit down and talk to each other without bickering and being in their feelings.

Chris had come over at 12 noon by the time he left it was damn near Oh dark 30 but they needed to talk and make shit right. So the time they spent together was worth it. Although it was just the beginning they were going to take things slow and work on their friendship and get to know the new versions of each other. Either way they both spoke their peace and their truths and when it was all said and done they were both at peace. April felt mentally lighter and baggage free. She was ready to start a new with Dave and see what life had in store for them. While Chris felt a mix between happy that he spoke to April but now he had to deal with how he actually made her feel and he wasn't proud of that at all.

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-Happy Reading 😊
-Welp that was the last installment of the sit down with April and Chris. I hope you guys enjoyed!
-Aww April was claiming Royalty as her own😌
-How do you guys feel about April and Chris now and where do you think their friendship will lead?
-Chris knows about Dave now. Dave is bae Chris is just gonna have to deal with it🤷🏾‍♀️
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