Shawnie's POV

When I got home from dinner with Odell, I went straight upstairs and showered. Joe wasn't in my bed, but I've noticed, when I go out with other guys, he's always in his own bed when I come home. Today is no different.

I showered and slipped on my robe. I brushed my hair up into a bun and brushed my teeth. I was content with my decision. I think it's a smart decision, and to be honest I just don't want to deal with all of that. I know people can easily argue that I shouldn't have gone and got involved with Odell in the first place but honestly it just happened. It wasn't even supposed to be what it turned out to be. It started as us just fully conversing with each other and it just turned into more. Neither one of us planned this, but it's what happened and I don't regret it. The only thing I regret was people finding out. It was something that was meant to be private but it's not anything you can keep private being a celebrity. I'll never get used to that shit.

I don't know how I'm going to address this because everyone is thinking that Odell and I are a thing now. The only thing I can do is just say it was a bad angle that looked like we were kissing.

I shrugged my shoulders and walked out of the bathroom. I got in bed and laid there for a few minutes. I picked Joe over Odell and without hesitation. That's how I know I'm going in the right direction. I only say that because I don't want anybody else. If I had to only be involved with him for the rest of my life, I would be happy. He's who I want to be with and I'm going to make this work....

And I want to be with him right now.

I rise from my bed and make my way to his room. Gently, I open the door, aided by the soft glow of the hallway light. As I enter the room, I close the door behind me. Navigating through the darkness, I approach the bed and slip into it alongside him. With his back facing me, I snuggle close, and he begins to stir. Eventually, he turns onto his back, wrapping his arm around me.

"Hey!" He says

I reach out and firmly grasp his face, planting a passionate kiss on his lips. Instantly, he responds, reciprocating the kiss and enveloping me in his arms. We engage in a fervent make-out session, embracing each other tightly, consumed by the intensity of our connection.

After a while, I reluctantly break away from our embrace, my gaze fixed upon him in the darkness. Although he couldn't see my expression, I am overwhelmed by a profound realization: he is everything I desire. There is no doubt in my mind that he is the one I want, and I have no interest in anyone else.

"What?" he responds, his hand gently caressing my hair.

"I ended things with Odell...I don't want to date anyone else, I don't want to date around. I only want you." I say

I feel him nodding his head. "Okay..." he acknowledges, then pulls me closer, positioning me on top of him. I rest my head on his chest, listening to the rhythmic beat of his heart. For the remainder of the night, we remain silent, finding solace in each other's presence without needing to say another word.

********

THE NEXT MORNING

Joe and I were sitting at the kitchen island, enjoying breakfast together. He had woken up early to cook for me, which I found incredibly endearing. After a night filled with intense emotions, it warmed my heart to see his thoughtful gesture of making breakfast for me.

As we sat there, a comfortable silence embraced us. It reminded me of the peaceful moments we shared back when I stayed at his condo in Vegas. Our connection was effortless, and everything felt serene. I relished that feeling once again.

Suddenly, my phone vibrated on the counter, drawing my attention. Curious, I picked it up and glanced at the notification.

"Uh-oh." I said, setting my phone back down on the counter.

"What's wrong?" Joe asked, curious about my reaction.

"Odell seems upset about something, and I have a feeling I'll somehow get tangled up in it." I replied.

"Why would you?"

"After last night...I know it has to do with me. This shit is all over the place." I sigh

"So, Odell. How and when did that happen anyway?" Joe inquired.

"Well..." I paused, taking a sip of my orange juice before continuing. "If you really want to know, Odell and I never really stopped talking after we met in Vegas. It started with occasional text conversations, then gradually became more frequent until it was constant. It just happened naturally, without any intention on my part. I wasn't seeking anything to come out of it, but it did. However, I got scared, and the situation was too close to my ex husband..." I trailed off, the memories and emotions resurfacing. "...I was genuinely trying to avoid getting romantically involved. But somehow, we just clicked, and our feelings became entangled, resulting in quite a complicated situation..."

"I get it." He says. "And posting him on IG?"

"It was a way to divert attention." I explained. "Those photos of us together were circulating, and I didn't want people assuming we were a couple. By posting him, it shifted the focus onto him."

"But that's all in the past now?" Joe inquired, seeking clarification.

"Yes." I confirm. "He gave me an ultimatum between you and him."

"And you chose me." Joe concluded.

"Yes."

He smiles. "So you wanna make this a real thing?"

A smile brightened my face in response to his question. "Yes, I want to make this a real thing."

"You know I have high expectations... Some of my requests might be too much. I expect a certain level of respect and loyalty. I tried giving you that time and space to decide what you really wanted..."

"I know and I understand." I replied, acknowledging the challenges we might face. "I have my own expectations too. We've both been actively working on this for months. All I want now is to prioritize you and the kids, sort out my responsibilities, get my career in order, and truly live my life. I'm tired of dating; I want you."

He smiles. "Shawnie...." He paused for a few seconds. "....I hear you, baby. What I was going to say that day when Chris walked in on us in bed was..... I'm warming up to the idea of me and you. I've been feeling this way for a while and I did express that to my cousin. I want to be exclusive too but I'm scared to get hurt. I'm scared I'll hurt you. I've never been into someone like this and I'm just trying to take it slow to make sure this is what we both want."

Every now and then, he would reveal glimpses of his innermost emotions, and I couldn't help but treasure those moments immensely. It was in those instances that I truly saw the depth of his feelings, and it meant the world to me. Joe's willingness to be open and vulnerable created a strong bond between us, fostering trust and a deeper understanding. I cherished his vulnerability, as it showed me the authenticity and sincerity that lay within his heart.

This is real. I have to admit I've never been this open with anyone. NOBODY has ever made me this comfortable where I just willingly open up to them, not even Chris. I've been closed off. This is different, completely different.

".....Can we hold off on this conversation for a couple of days?" He asks.

"Of course." I say. I understand this could be a lot on him and a lot of process. "As always, I just wanted you to know where I was with this. Take as much time as you need to."

He smiles, then puts his hand in mind and squeezes it. "I won't keep you in limbo about this. We're on the same page, I just need to do something before we can go there."

"You don't have to explain anything to me, Joe. I trust your decision and it's okay." I continue eating.

He looked a little uneasy, but he didn't go too much further into the conversation. I didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable about anything, but I felt like he was kind of holding something back or maybe keeping something from me I don't know, but like I said, I trust Joe and I know he will eventually come around to speak about it.

***********

Later that day, I was home by myself, just lounging around with the kids. Mercedes was missing again, I don't know where she went. Dori was out of town with Jey, I believe she went back home to Vegas with him. Joe and my Dad were out and about. My dad said he has some things to pick up and he took Joe with him this time. I told Ben and Lexi they could take the day off because I didn't have any plans on doing or going anywhere today.

The three of us were trying to watch a movie together but the kids ended up playing with their toys and I was the only one watching. I thought about texting Odell to make sure everything was okay but then I remembered, him texting me making sure I was okay was how our whole relationship started. So I decided against it. I didn't want to open the door to us again. After last night, I think it's best for me to just completely cut all communication with him. It's the only way. I want to move forward with Joe and I don't want anything or anyone to mess that up.

I continued watching the movie but Odell was clearly on my mind. It's been this way all day. I felt like I should say something, check on him or something. I couldn't shake it. I picked up my phone and noticed I had quietly received a bunch of text messages from Aubrey over an hour ago. Last night I put his messages on mute so I wasn't getting his notifications.

I touched the text thread and read the texts...

You and Odell?

YOU FUCKING HIM?

You been seeing him being my back? Everybody is sending me the pictures of y'all kissing at his game.

You not gonna respond?

You're gonna regret this

Mami

I knew you was foul. Fuck you. I fucked yo friend anyway. Tell Brooke I said what's up.

I feel sorry for you you miserable bitch. I gave you everything and you fucked someone I called my friend.

ANSWER ME

I'm sorry I'm upset. Baby call me back. I keep calling you. Why are you ignoring me

Shawnie?

Fine. I got you.

I close the thread.

Am I shocked, no. I figured he did something with her. She was too up his ass. She wasn't a friend, she worked for me and she really didn't have any loyalty to me. I messed up by letting her in. I was desperate for friends back then and I should've known better. That was my fault but whatever. I don't even give a damn anymore.

Anyway.....

I went onto Instagram and remembered he wanted me to delete the photos of him off of my IG. I went through and did that, now I had no pics on my page at all. I started scrolling down my feed and I quickly noticed Aubrey was upset for more than just that. Odell was saying things about him.

I couldn't believe my eyes. Not only did the pictures circulate online, but Odell had tweeted a couple things. I knew that first tweet had something to do with me. Then he directly said something about him. Odell could've kept this to himself.

I scroll down further and I start seeing the updates of the first tweets.

DRAKE AND OBJ GET INTO SCUFFLE OUTSIDE OF NOBU IN MALIBU

"Oh my God." I say aloud, shaking my head.

"What's wrong mommy?" Genesis asks, walking over to me. She looks at my phone and sees Aubrey.

"That's Aubie." She says.

"Yeah, that's Aubie." I say, hiding the phone from her. She doesn't need to see that.

Funny she still calls him that. It started as her not being able to say it and I guess it just stuck with her. She'll probably call him that for the rest of his life.

I get off Instagram and I go to TMZ. Right there, the very first article, Odell and Aubrey's faces. I read the article and couldn't believe what I was reading. It started inside the restaurant and spilled outside.

I just stared at the article. I can't believe Aubrey actually got into a physical altercation with someone. The main person hiding behind his security finally got touched. Well, Chris was able to get his hands on him a couple of times but I still find it kinda funny.

There was a video. I clicked on it and I could clearly see it was both of them arguing. The video started outside. They were going back and forth about how he's supposed to be his friend and Odell was saying they weren't. It seemed like they were arguing about an unknown issue, then Aubrey said his wife was off limits and you could hear the crowd react. Odell made a comment about if he was doing what he was supposed to do, blah blah blah, then Aubrey threw the first punch. They started fighting. Then the police got involved. It was bad.

I was in shock. Why would Odell say anything to Aubrey about it? It didn't even seem like he was trying to tell him it was over and nothing happened. I could see if we were smashing but that wasn't happening either. It was emotional, yeah that's worse but not in Aubrey's mind, getting physical is the worst thing you could do to him.

I just sighed to myself. Maybe I should call him and see if he's okay. No, I'll text him.

I typed out a text message to Odell, my fingers hovering hesitantly over the keyboard. The events I had witnessed in the video replayed in my mind, and concern for his well-being tugged at my heart. I wanted to reach out, to offer support and make sure he was alright.

Me: Hey, I saw what happened in the video. Are you okay? Let me know if there's anything I can do for you. Stay safe.

OBJ: I'm good. Before you say anything I know I shouldn't have said anything, but this motherfucker pulled up on me. I wasn't even gonna say shit. I was just gonna let it go and down play the shit but he kept talking.

I just look at the text message and shake my head. I felt bad that things got physical between the two of them. It's honestly the last thing I wanted and that's the number one reason why I wanted to keep things between us as private as possible.

I guess I was taking too long to respond because my phone rang and it was O.

"Hey." I answer. "I'm sorry that happened."

"It's all good and it's not your fault. Don't feel bad for this shit. I think it's been coming for a long time. You know we ain't been tight in a while." He says

I listened to Odell's voice on the other end of the line, grateful for his understanding and reassurance. It was a relief to know that he didn't blame me for the altercation and that he acknowledged the strained state of their friendship.

"That may be true, but you and I spending time together didn't help you guys' situation." I say.

"It's out now. He's blasting this shit all over, trying to make us look bad." He says

"I don't plan on saying anything about it. I don't know what you're gonna do but I was just gonna keep quiet."

"Ima just let this shit slide and I'm not gonna give it anymore attention." He says

I nodded in agreement, even though he couldn't see me. "I agree. I think that'll be best."

"Aight. And Shawnie, I want you to know that we're still friends. This doesn't have to end our friendship. I'm here for you, and if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to reach out. We can still maintain that connection we had before, even without taking it further."

"Please know that the feeling is mutual. If you ever need anything, call me."

"I will...I'm sorry this happened." He says

"Me too." I say. "I'll talk to you later."

I ended the call.

After the conversation between Odell and I I felt a sense of relief, but I was still kind of shaken up about the whole thing. Them getting physical was crazy to me, and I shouldn't feel this way, but I couldn't help but feel a sense of loyalty towards Odell that surpassed even the bond I had with my own ex-husband. It was a complicated feeling, one that I grappled with, but deep down, I knew where my allegiance lay and I'm gonna stand by how I feel and support Odell in this.

It dawned on me that I didn't owe Aubrey any explanation or conversation about what had transpired. Our relationship had already endured its fair share of challenges, leading to our divorce. I had moved on, and Odell had become an important part of my life. It was evident that Aubrey and Odell's friendship had been strained long before I entered the picture.

In my heart, I stood by my feelings and decisions. I would support Odell in this, knowing that our connection was genuine and that he deserved my loyalty. The aftermath of their altercation didn't change that, even if it felt complicated and messy.

As I reflected on Odell and Aubrey's situation, it led me to ponder my own actions and the way I had treated Chris. I realized that I hadn't been fair to him. He had invited me to his birthday party, hoping I would be there to celebrate with him, but I intentionally chose to skip it because I didn't want to confront the reality of him moving on with someone else. In hindsight, I understood that my behavior was unjustifiable.

Realizing my mistake, I felt a strong inclination to make things right with Chris. I knew that I owed him an apology and a genuine effort to mend the situation. It wasn't fair to hold onto my own insecurities and let them dictate my actions, especially when it came to someone who had been an important part of my life.

I picked up my phone and called him.

"What's up?" He answers

"I know you have a lot to say to me but if you would just let me talk first and get everything out that I want to say I would appreciate it."

"Aight..." he says

"I want to sincerely apologize for my actions regarding your party. It was unfair of me to intentionally skip it and go on a date instead. I'm truly sorry for hurting you and not showing up to support you on your birthday. I understand now that my behavior was disrespectful and inconsiderate." I say. "Reflecting on our past conversations, I remember you sharing your pain and the difficulties you experienced during your previous relationship. At the time, I didn't feel any negative emotions about it. However, I realize now that witnessing you reconnect with that person has stirred up feelings of unease and concern within me. I think I've been afraid that this rekindling might change the dynamic between us.... I don't have a problem with you moving on and finding happiness. I understand that our relationship has transitioned into a co-parenting dynamic, and we will continue to see each other for the sake of our daughter."

"Of course. That ain't ever gonna change." he says. "I don't want you to ever feel like someone is going to take me away from you. I don't mean that in a romantic way, I just mean in general. I still stand by you being someone that's important to me. That'll never change. Me and Kae have already established an understanding on that. She knows how important you are to me and she accepts that. She's not here to speak negatively about you or give you a hard time. You and I will always have a bond, but just as our relationship goes, I have a bond with her as well and we decided that we wanted to open that door." He explains

"But when did this happen?" I ask

"I know it's a surprise. I know it's out of nowhere, but we just happen to be out somewhere, and there was no hostility between us. It was all good. It was a positive energy and we just kinda gravitated towards each other." He explains

"Oh, that's nice." I say

"I'm not asking you to be 100% okay with this, I'm just asking you to be cordial and she'll do the same thing. I have faith that the two of you will get along just fine. I think it's just the initial shock of everything. Once I get you together, you'll be fine."

"I just want you to understand I'm sorry because you've pretty much always been there for me when I needed you and this might not have been a situation where you needed me but you expected me to show up for you and I didn't. Once again, I'm sorry. Whenever you want, I am willing to meet with you guys and try to make the best of the situation." I say. "I really do wish you guys nothing but good luck in your relationship."

"I appreciate that and we'll talk. Like I said, nothing is going to change." He says. "How's my baby anyway?

"She's good. She's right here, looking at me in my face."

He laughs. "...Do you wanna talk about OBJ?"

"There's nothing to really talk about. Him and I were spending time with each other. We never had sex or anything. It was just an emotional connection and I ended things." I explain

"Why did it end?"

"I ended it because he gave me an ultimatum. He wanted me to choose between him and Joe and I chose Joe."

"So what does that mean?" He asks

"I told Joe I wanted to only be involved with him. I don't know where we stand. I expressed my feelings, and he did as well. The only thing I can really say is we're going to continue to be what we know how to be."

"...and that's...?"

"Just what we've been." I laugh. "I'm sorry I can't give you a definite answer but we both like how things are. I just wasn't happy that I had to pretend I was interested in other people when I'm really only interested in him."

"Gotcha!" He says. "If you guys are gonna be a thing, then let me know so I know if I need to just suck it up and be friends with the guy. You and I are going to be good regardless. It's obvious life is taking us in a direction where we're going to be with other people and my hope is that whoever we're with, we will all be friends. I think we're all mature enough to get to that point."

"I agree." I say

"Don't stress about this shit you know I'm flexible. You tell me where to move and I'm going to follow through. I just want you to be happy."

"I love you, Chris."

"You know I love you more." He says. "And just so we're clear, fuck Drake right?"

I chuckle. "Yeah..."

"Aight." He says. "Go take care of the kids. I'll talk to you later."

I chuckle. "Yes, sir." I say then we end the call.

I feel good about that conversation. We're definitely in a better place now and I only see good things happening between Chris and I. I think the door is closed on both ends now. I think we both know that nothing will ever happen between us ever again and I also think we're both content with that. As long as we're in each other's lives it will be fine.

Thoughts??