Chapter 38: All I Have
April

All my pride is all I have
Pride is what you had, baby girl, I'm what you have
You'll be needing me, but too bad
Be easy, don't make decisions when you mad
The path you chose to run alone
I know you're independent, you can make it on your own
Here with me you had a home, oh, yeah
But time is of the essence, why spend it alone? Huh
[All I Have: J Lo ft. LL Cool J]

April had finally had some time to herself to just unwind and it was truly needed. She had been so busy with her software launch, getting everything situated for her New Years party, looking for the perfect dress, hair, accessories, and making sure she took some time out to focus and love on Royalty because that was a must. To April spending time with Royalty while she was in Jersey was priority number one for her. It felt like she had so many things to do in so little time that she could barely breathe properly but it was finally done and over with. She had just finished putting lotion on her body, slipped into a black silk pajama pants set, wrapped up her hair, and hopped into bed sighing in relief. Everyone had finally went home and used her private jet to do so which she didn't mind. Besides that's what it was there for. April had received calls from everyone to let her know that they had all arrived safe and sound. Now she was at home and alone. It had been this way for a few months now and she was still getting used to it. Sure she already felt some type of way coming home to an empty house because she didn't have a significant other waiting at home for her but at least Alaina was home. But since Alaina had graduated and moved back to LA to be with August and start her new career April had truly been in an empty house. Quietness was the only thing that greeted her at the door. It surrounded her. It engulfed her. She had wanted a puppy to living up the house and be there to greet her when she came home but she never got around to doing so. It could've been because she was busy or the fact that Dave and Kairi were supposed to help her look for one. It was supposed to be their first little outing and now it was nothing but a distant memory that never happened.

Lying in the bed no TV or music on just pure silence and April in her mind as usual she thought about the night well morning she had spent with Chris getting her back broke just the way she liked it...rough, wild, nasty, and round after round. Although it was a good night scratch that a great night between the two there was a major slip up and although April said she wasn't going to dwell on it she couldn't help but think about the what ifs. To get a second to be a mother was or better yet would be a blessing to her no matter how he/she was conceived. He/she could never replace Jr or bring him back but he/she would be her miracle baby, her saving grace. Ugh she tried and tried to think about so many other things besides a baby because she didn't want to get her hopes up for nothing. The fact that the baby's father would be Chris didn't even bother her. She knew others would think she was probably crazy for even taking such a major step with him again. At this point in her life she had been through so much there had to be some type of light at the end and if it came in a form of a baby then so be it. She was here for it. Shaking her head trying to get her thoughts on other things she got up from her bed, slipped into her fluffy black slippers, headed out of the bedroom, and made her way down the hall to her she cave.

New year and still lonely while Dave was at home playing the family man when she was supposed to be the woman in his bed laid up in his arms having one of their many late night conversations but oh well. What could she do? It wasn't as bad as it used to be since she had been seeing her therapist Dr. Georgina Maylay but she was still lonely nonetheless. What she realized was that it was ok to be lonely sometimes. She had family and friends who loved her and that was enough. April accepted that she would be fine, life wasn't bad, and her happy ending would come sooner or later. These days it seemed like later rather than sooner but she would be ok with it. It was just going to take time. She grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge knowing she needed no more liquor for the rest of the day and went to take a sit on the couch. She had enough liquor last night and earlier this morning. That Henny got her ass in some deep shit already so she was staying away from the liquor. April didn't even feel like smoking at the moment or maybe she was low key thinking about the seed that might have been planted. She didn't want to cause it any harm and she couldn't and wouldn't risk it. Whatever the case she knew she was going to be alright baby or no baby. If it was meant to be then so be it if not oh well.

Before she knew it she was out like a light and the sound of her phone was interrupting her precious much needed sleep. Luckily for her she could sleep in all day until the next since she wasn't going to work the next day. April picked up the phone and realized she had fallen asleep in the she cave instead of in her bedroom.

"Hey sis" Alaina's voice came through the phone before April could properly answer it.

"Hey Thing 1" Hazel's voice came through a few seconds later. They had her on three-way. Whatever they were calling for had to be either important or they had some piping hot tea that needed to be spilled that just couldn't wait to be poured.

"You know I love y'all but um y'all do know I was sleep right" April yawned and stretched as she got up and headed out the she cave and back to her bedroom and jumped back in bed ready to go back to sleep.

"Sorry but we wanted to call you before you saw the shit show going down right now" Alaina said in a weary voice like she was scared to finish what she had to say.

"What shit show" April scratched her head because she couldn't think of anything especially anything that had to do with her.

"The Shaderoom put up a post about you and Dave" Hazel chimed in.

Her and Dave, it couldn't be too much of anything because they didn't talk to each other. "Can y'all stop beating around the bush and tell me what's going on" April said getting frustrated with the small talk.

"Basically" Hazel paused. "Dave unfollowed you on all your social media platforms and they got wind of it. You know how they made a big deal out of it when y'all first started following each other and now they're making this shit a big deal too" Hazel filled her in.

April just laughed. Here it was day one of the New Year and her name was already on a gossip site over bullshit like she didn't just launch her latest software program which was a success. It was always about a nigga. It was always negative and never anything positive. "Happy fuckin New Year to me I don't care at this point. They'll make a story bout any and everything. So what if Dave unfollowed me. I. DON'T. CARE! I'll be fine. Thanks for the heads up. I'll talk to y'all later I'm going back to sleep." and with that she hung up. She was done. If Dave didn't want to follow her any more then so be it. It wasn't like they talked anyway. They were barely even friends just mere supporters of each other.

April picked up her phone to double check before she got even more in her feelings. She checked all her social media platforms and it was true. He had certainly unfollowed her on every single last one. April couldn't understand why but he did and no matter how much it panged her heart she wasn't going to dwell on it...not long anyway. Dave was letting her go and she knew it. The only thing she could think of was that Millie had something to do with it. Maybe it was time to let him go as well and stop thinking about him being her happy ending. Dave was in a relationship with his child's mother anyway and as much as it was partly her fault because she chose to let him go and even told him to give Agnes well Millie and his family one more chance she did play her part. Maybe for once in her life she wanted somebody to actually fight for her like she had fought for them. Maybe Dave wasn't her happy ending after all. He might've been sent her way to teach her a lesson that yes Chris had fucked up their relationship and broke her down but that didn't mean someone else wasn't out there to love and care for her. Whatever the case may be she had to finally let him go as well and continue on with her life instead of patiently waiting for Dave to see the light at the end of the tunnel which was her.

April knew she was going to be sad for a little while. She also knew she needed to speak to her therapist and get her emotions in check because she wasn't going to relapse. She had come a long way and no man was going to get into her head like that again and make her feel weak. Nope, not this time. She had to be strong. Everybody doesn't always get a fairytale ending. If she was meant to be alone then alone is what she would be. If it was meant for her to be with another man besides Dave then hey it was nothing she could do about it. It was life she'd just have to roll with it or get rolled on. Besides she was use to shit not going her way. So April followed suit and unfollowed Dave as well. She opened up their text thread and sent him one last text.

Dave East: 🤣Happy New Year East. Wish you nothing but the best. Enjoy your life and your family. I hope happiness finds you one day ✌🏾🖕🏾

Yes he was changed to Dave East. It had been that way since she called it quits. He wasn't her papi nor her baby or bae anymore and they weren't friends at this point. With that she blocked and erased his contact info and went back to sleep. He could've at least said a proper goodbye but whatever. April was done and washing her hands with niggas. It was time to officially stop giving niggas the satisfaction. April was going to live her best life. For once in her life she wanted someone who wanted nothing but her. She wanted someone who would go above and beyond for her, someone who was made for her and only her with no doubt in his mind that he wanted to be with her.

The next day April woke up smiling. After everything she had been through in her life she got a chance to wake up and start a new day. She was blessed. Many people didn't get the chance to wake up this morning and she wasn't going to take it for granted. She got up, took care of her hygiene, and plopped on her bed to check her phone. April had notifications out the ass and she already knew it was thanks to Dave and she didn't care. Dave unfollowed her SO WHAT. April took a selfie of herself fresh natural face and all smiling bright captioning it "2019 I'm living MY BEST LIFE! How bout you?!" and left it at that. She was off for the rest of the week so she was going to enjoy herself and try to let nothing bother her. Getting out of her bed she went straight to her closet searching for something to wear for the day. She was going to go out and grab something to eat and finally go puppy shopping...without Dave.

My Girl by the temptations seeped through the speakers of her phone and April couldn't help but smile. It was her father calling and of course she knew why. He wouldn't be him if he hadn't called her.

"Good morning daddy" she answered with a big smile on her face.

"Hey my Peanut good morning"

"And what do I owe the pleasure of this morning call" she went back to her closet still searching for something to wear.

"Just checking on you I seen the lil story bout you and that Harlem nigga and just wanted to make sure you were good" he sighed. Her father knew just how much she liked Dave so April knew he only wanted to make sure she was actually good. All Ian wanted was someone who loved and cared about his little girl and took care of her the way he had.

"Daddy I'm fine. I'm actually in here bout to get dressed. I'm going puppy shopping today. I'm ok with Dave not following me. We aren't dating anymore and we aren't friends. Life goes on I've come too far to worry about another man and something as silly as a damn unfollow" April thought the more she said she didn't care that she would eventually speak it into existence and not give a fuck about it.

"That's my Peanut. That's what I like to hear. Mind if I spend the day with you. We can have a daddy daughter day. We haven't had one in a while" he asked.

"Sure daddy but I'm driving"

"Aww come on now" he said all dramatic. "You know I got a new set of wheels for Christmas" he huffed. Of course she knew. She was the one who bought him the damn car.

"Ugh just make sure mommy makes me some breakfast cause I know y'all done ate already. I'll meet you at the house" April gave in as usual. She had a soft spot for her father. The type of relationship they had whatever he asked for he could get right along with her mother. Her dad was the one man in her life that never faltered. He was always there for her no matter what. He loved, cared, and cherished not only her but her little sister like they were the most precious beings in the world. She didn't have to worry about him switching sides or not being consistent. He was a real man and one hell of a father and she was so blessed that he was her father.

"That's why I fuck with you Peanut" he said all hype.

April bust out laughing. "Please don't say that again"

"You stay hatin...I don't know where you get all that hate in ya blood from cause it damn sure ain't from me. It must be ya mama's side" he joked.

"Ian what you say" April heard her mother.

"Nothing baby nothing" he quickly replied.

"Oop, looks like somebody's in trouble" April teased.

"I start the trouble she ain't gonna do shit to me" he smacked his teeth like he wore the pants in the relationship. Ian was a sucker for his wife so what she said goes.

"Oh really now" April heard her mother and already knew she had her hands on her hip mugging her father.

"Welp I'll see you in a few daddy" April bust out laughing and took this as her cue to hang up. "He's definitely in trouble" she said to herself. April loved her parents and knew that with all the shit that was going on and surrounding her they were going to be there to love her unconditionally whenever she needed and didn't need it. A day with her daddy didn't seem bad after all.

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-Happy Reading guys I hope you enjoy 😊
-🤔 Baby or no baby we'll see..it seems like she's sort of hoping for one
-Welp Dave really went and unfollowed our girl smh
-How do you think April really feels🤔
-That was just something a lil light for you guys and yes I'll still be putting out a chapter this Friday/weekend
-Sharing is caring so tell a friend to tell a friend..Don't forget to comment, vote, & add to your libraries😊
-If you are reading and not commenting no problem just make sure you color the ⭐️ please & thank you 🥰