Janet

After shutting the door, I closed my eyes and leaned back against it. Toni was still there, standing on the other side. I could feel her.

"Janet," I heard her muffled voice through the door. She was beginning to cry. "Baby, I love you and... and I know that I'm not perfect. We have both made mistakes babe. Please, please don't end it like this. Not here. After all we've been through, all the history we have, if we are going to end this, I deserve, we Janet, we deserve better closure than this."

I turned to face the door and rested my forehead against it. "Toni you keep hurting me and confusing me." I could hear the defeat in my own voice.

"Janet please. Can we just talk, somewhere alone, just me and you. Please babe." We we're both quiet for a moment.

My phone vibrated in my back pocket. A text from Gil.

Gil: The Dunk I know is no pussy... be a woman and face her. She is right, this is not the way to handle this.

Me: Shut up, I'm mad at you🖕

Gil: 😑 Got it out your system? Okay, now bring your ass.

Me:I'm coming bitch

Gil:love you too Booty 😘

I took a deep breath and reached for the door.

"Leaving without saying goodbye?" I turned to see Ryan standing in the threshold of the back door behind me. She was holding as ice pack to her cheek as she walked towards me.

"Can I see it?" I asked. She removed it and turned her head slightly. "You're gonna have a bruise but it doesn't look too bad."

"I guess I deserve it, since I did sleep with her girlfriend. Why didn't you tell me you were still together Janet?"

"Why are you acting like you didn't know?"

"Facts." She said and gazed at me for a moment. I had made a complete mess of things today. Ryan somehow still looked at me like I could do no wrong. "You better go, your crew is waiting for you."

"Can we please talk about all of this?"

"Let me know when you're free and we'll talk." She took my hand and kissed it. "C'mon." She walked me to the door and opened it, revealing Toni standing just on the other side. She looked at me with hopeful eyes but heartbroken eyes and held out her hand. Just as I took it she glared at Ryan and turned nose up.

"Toni, let's please go." Her focus was back to me. I was definitely not ready for the long car ride home, but like always, Gil's words replayed in my mind. I did my best to clear it and focused on my breathing. No one would look at me, not directly at least. My head was very cloudy as I started to reflect back on Toni and I. There was a lot to think about.

Toni

There was no way around it. There is a big possibility that I might lose her. Reality was hitting me in the face harder than my fist to Ryan's cheek. God it felt good and was along time coming.

I can't blame anyone but myself for Ryan though. After all, I brought "Dahlia" into Janet's world. That was my wrong doing, but Janet has allowed herself to fall for her. I could be blind and still see it. I'm no fool. I see the distant stares and disconnection, even sometimes when we're making love.

After Janet encountered Ryan things had changed. It feels like a never ending game. How do I win? How do I win her love back? A quick swerve of the car and screeching tires pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Fucking dick head! I'm carrying precious cargo here!" Kyle yelled out the window. As we came to a red light she glanced back at Janet. "Sorry Ms. Jackson."

Almost in perfect sync, she and Gil both began to sing OutKast as loud and obnoxious as they could.

"IM SORRY MS. JACKSON! Whoooo I AM Fa REEAAALLLL."

Janet rolled her eyes but laughed right along with everyone. This quickly eased some of the tension in the car.

"I like you bitch." Gil said to Kyle. "We have to hang out some time."

"Oh god," I mocked. "It's two of them."

Janet laughed and snapped her finger. "It was Gil, that's who she reminded me of. She's the girl version of you!" Janet said pointing to Gil.

"Bitch I'm the girl version of me! Ohkur!" He said and popped his tongue. I shook my head and glanced at Janet. She was already looking back at me.

"I'm sorry." She mouthed. I nodded.

"Me too." I responded. Our hands met in the middle of the seat, and we hooked pinkies.

"What are we doing here?" Janet asked as we pulled up to the hotel to drop Gil off.

"What do you think? I'm applying for your old penthouse. Do you know how much ass that spot will get me?"

"Do you know how much I'm selling it for Gil?"

"Yup, good thing I'm good friends with the owner huh?" He said and laughed.

"I'm not giving you a discount Gil." He completely ignored her. " Gil I'm serious, you can't afford it!"

He just kept talking. "How lucky I am to have such a wonderful BFF, look at GOD!" He said as he got out the car. "I will catch a Uber from here. Love you girl." He said waving and blew a kiss to Kyle. "Bye new boo," he held up his phone. "Call me!"

Janet gazed out the window, I glanced past her to see Chase standing outside near the front doors talking to a guest.

"You should go talk to her." I suggested.

"No, I can't do that. She probably thinks I'm a bitch." She responded.

"We're women, Bitch is our international language." I joked.

"Maybe but we have things we need to discuss before I talk to anyone else." The mood in the car shifted and turned serious once again. Toni moved closer to me and took my hand into her own.

"I know, let's cross that bridge when we get to it."