“Nique—” she warned, her tone tightening.
“Answer me!” I yelled, my voice echoing off the walls.
“It was one time,” she said, running her hand over her face. “We was drunk. It didn’t mean nothing.”
I let out a laugh, but it sounded broken. “It meant enough for you to come back.”
“That’s not why I’m here,” she shot back. “I told you—my hair—”
“Bitch, fuck your hair!” I cut her off, stepping closer. “You got me out here looking stupid!”
“I’m not trying to make you look stupid,” Kel said, her own frustration starting to rise. “You the one doing the most right now. Pulling up, yelling, acting crazy—”
“Acting crazy?” I repeated, disbelief flooding my chest. “You cheated on me and I’m acting crazy?”
Trisha sucked her teeth from behind us. “Girl, she didn’t cheat. She upgraded.”
That did it.
I spun around so fast my vision blurred and shoved her hard. “Bitch, shut the fuck up!”
Trisha stumbled back into her station. “Don’t put your hands on me!”
She stepped forward like she was ready, but Kel jumped between us again, grabbing me.
“Aight! Nique, chill!” she snapped, her hands firm on my arms.
“Move,” I said, my voice low.
“I’m not about to let you fight in here,” Kel said.
I laughed, but it sounded wild. “You worried about me… or her?”
“That’s not what this is—”
“Then let me go!”
I tried to pull away, but she tightened her grip.
“Nique, you trippin’—”
“Get the fuck off me!” I yelled, jerking away hard.
She tried grabbing me again and that’s when I swung. A sharp crack filled the room, and Kel’s head snapped to the side. Blood started pouring from her nose. I instantly regretted hitting her, but the damage was done.
Everything froze.
“Oh shit!” Trisha yelled, backing up.
Kel staggered, one hand flying to her face, eyes wide.
I stared at her, my breath coming fast. “Kel, I ain’t—”
She looked up at me, and the patience that was there before was gone. Replaced with straight anger.
“Oh, so you hitting me now?” she said, voice thick.
Before I could say anything else, she rushed me.