54.

Xander

One week Later

 

Nobody has heard from or seen Charles in over a week, and we are starting to get worried. My traditional wedding was in a week, and I’ve had to ask X to assist me in making sure that I don’t disappoint my in-laws.




“Should I go looking for him?”




I shake my head, “No X, let’s not get involved. When Charles disappears, his intention is to never be found until he is ready to be found.”




He nods, “I think that outfit is perfect, it's not too traditional and it’ll definitely impress the uncles.”




I look at myself in the mirror and smile, the tailor did a great job. A black and white Xhosa-inspired shirt and black pants, which were going to match with the black leather sandals I had custom-made.




“Precious you have outdone yourself,”




Precious bows, “Thank you, sir.”




I pulled out my phone and transferred the payment to her account.




“I have paid and put in a small donation for your hospitality and kindness. I will definitely be coming back,”




Precious smiles at me, “eNkosi baba, I wish you the best of luck in your marriage.”




“Thank you,”




I get out of my outfit, and she packs it away to be washed and sent to my house on Friday. We leave the store, and we make our drive to the mall to go get the last few items on the list. Expensive whiskey.




“Is that who I think it is?”




I look in the direction of where X is pointing and I see Damien and Chantel together, in a restaurant next to the liquor store.




I pull X into the store.




“Let’s pretend we didn’t see them,”




“Agreed.”




We get the alcohol, and we leave the store. I check to see if they are still there, and they were and so was Charles.




“What the fuck is going on?”




X shakes his head, “Let’s pretend we didn’t see them.”




He walks to the car, and we sit inside, neither of us knowing what to say. I think we were both shocked to see all three of them together. Sitting, eating, and not trying to murder each other.




I pull out my phone, and call Nikki.




“Yes, baby?”

 

“Uhm, we just saw Damien, Charles, and Chantel having lunch together, did you know about that?”




“What did you just say?”

 

“Exactly, I didn’t think so. They are sitting at Billy’s in Pineslopes, right now as we speak.”




“I’m so confused. So, you’re telling me that they decided to just kiss and make up and play family and not even tell us.”

 

“Cuz, I don’t think it’s our business what they do, they are adults,” X says.




“Xlanti man, we know that but come on they could have at least told us, especially Charles that they were talking now.”

 

“Fair point, but let’s butt out of it guys. They need to figure this out for themselves.”




“X is right baby. They will tell when they are ready.”




“Yeah, yeah. Can you pick me up some ribs from Steakhouse baby?”

 

“Already done baby, I placed an order about an hour ago, I’m going to pick them up,”




She squeals, “Thank you. I love you and I’ll see y’all soon.”

 

“She’s craving ribs now? Last week it was onion rings and butter,”




I shake my head, “It’s ribs and pickles, and it’s honestly not that bad.”




X laughs, “You try them out?”




I laugh, “If I don’t, she cries.”




“Damn, you gotta love these women.”




X starts the car, and we make our way to Steakhouse, we pick up the ribs and we make our way home. I couldn’t stop thinking about those three, and whether or not they played with us or if they had just decided to kiss and make up and not tell us. They were adults but we are their closest friends, we deserve to know.




Are they keeping the baby? Is it now a polygamous relationship or where they just make peace for the sake of the child? I need to know what’s going on.




“If you keep thinking about it, you’ll have a headache,” X warns as we park the car outside my garage.




“I can’t help it,”




Nikki comes running outside but I know she is not running for me; she’s running for the ribs I got her.




“Babe, the messy trio are coming for dinner,”

I stop dead in my tracks, “No. tonight, here, at our house?”




She nods, “Yes and we have four hours, to fuck, nap, cook and set up the house.”




I groan, “Can’t Cynthia, do it?”




Nikki folds her arms and tilts her head, “No stupid, she’s on leave.”




“Okay, fine.”




“Xlanti, thank you but you can fuck off now,” Nikki waves.




X gives her the middle finger and he gets into the car and leaves. Their relationship is just like Charles and I’s relationship, we disrespected each other and loved each other. We get inside the house and Nikki sits me down on the couch.




“What did you see?”




“Charles, Damien, Chantel, having lunch at Billy’s,”




Nikki shakes her head in disbelief, “Fucking assholes, so they ghost us for a week and now they are playing happy families and they don’t tell us.”




Nikki was angry and I could understand why her best friend wasn’t being open about what was happening in a situation that she had told her but like X had said they were adults and not everything about our friends' lives has to be told to us.




“Baby, I know you might feel some kind of way, but you have to understand that they are adults and have a right to privacy,”




Nikki sits on my lap and my hands move her ass and I give it a little squeeze.




“I just want the tea baby,” she whines.




I laugh, “I know darling, but this tea is not for us okay, let’s just focus on preparing for this dinner and getting some food and dick in you.




“I’m not horny anymore,” she mumbles.




I chuckle and kiss the side of my forehead and tell her that it’s okay. She slides off my lap and grabs the bag of ribs and starts eating while we discuss the menu for the night. We were both tired, I know she’s been working from home and dealing with a lot, so we settled for beef lasagna and ice cream for dessert.




Whatever those three had to tell us, it better be the truth and it better be a logical solution that they are both happy.