Although they hadn’t known each other long, Tone knew this was where he wanted to be. He had come to that conclusion after the first conversation they had. Tone felt like he never connected with any other female, including his girlfriend Sonya, like he had with Netta. It had grown so strong, so fast. Everything was so real with them.
With that in mind, Tone knew what he had to do, leave Sonya. Which was probably easier said than done.
“I got you,” Tone said confidently. “It’s a done deal. I’ma live up to my part of the bargain, home girl.”
This was the most intimate conversation the two of them had, relationship wise. It felt good for Tone to be real with Netta. He promised himself that he would make a concerted effort to always keep it real with her. She deserved it and so did their relationship.
“Yeah, you do that,” Netta replied without giving him a chance to make more promises. “If this is what you want, you better act like it.”
13
As a result of the conversation Tone had with Netta earlier, he was in a quiet mood. He drove home wondering just how he was going to break it off with his current girlfriend, Sonya, without getting into a big argument or a physical confrontation. Realistically, Tone knew that probably wasn’t going to happen. Whatever the outcome was, he knew it needed to be done. It was time to place all of his cards on the table, if he wanted this relationship with Netta to work.
Tone continued to make his way home while various scenarios played out in his head. He could try to anticipate Sonya’s reaction all he wanted to, however, he wouldn’t know exactly what she was going to do until he broke the news to her.
After lying in the bed for most of the day crying her eyes out, Sonya couldn’t sleep. The constant rumble in her stomach reminded her just how hungry she was. Her body needed some nourishment, she hadn’t eaten all day. She ignored the hunger pains until they became too unbearable. She got up out of the bed, put on a robe and headed downstairs to the kitchen to make herself a quick sandwich or something.
Sonya flicked the lights on in the kitchen before going over and opening the refrigerator. The well stocked fridge held too many options, none of which she really wanted to explore at the time. She didn’t want anything she had to reheat or throw in the microwave, like leftovers. She loved ramen instant soups, but she didn’t have the energy to make that. At this point all she wanted was to quell the noises in her stomach.
Suddenly, Sonya turned her attention to the fruit bowl, where colorful and delicious looking oranges, apples and bananas sat. She tore off a banana from the bunch, hoping it would do the trick. She took two bites of the banana before tossing the remainder of the fruit in the trash. Grabbing a glass of water to wash it down, she forced herself to swallow.
Instantly, her stomach seemed to settle down. Now if she could only get something to solve the rumblings in her heart.
As she leaned against the sink finishing up her glass of water, the day’s events began to flash through her mind. Her worst fears had been confirmed. She felt she was justified in following Tone when she discovered that he was going to see a female at the hospital. Sonya didn’t have to catch him in the act of cheating. Her intuition told her everything she needed to know. Now all that was on her mind was, where do they go from here?
Sonya turned to leave the kitchen after placing the glass in the sink. When she heard the sound of Tone’s car pulling up, she decided to stay right where she was at so that she could confront him as soon as he opened the door.
“We need to talk,” Sonya blurted out as soon as he walked through the door. “Right now!”
Cautiously, Tone entered the kitchen feeling a little uneasy, wondering what Sonya wanted to talk about.
Something in his mind told him, Go head and admit it. Tell her you cheating. Tell her you love her, but you not in love with her.
“Yo, you got somethin’ you wanna tell me?” she asked.
Tone looked at his girlfriend without saying a word, a puzzled expression donned his face as if he didn’t have the slightest idea of what she was talking about. Even if he did, he wasn’t going to volunteer any information. Tone was smart enough not to tell on himself.
“So, where you been all day?” Sonya continued. “Gettin’ money? Sellin’ drugs? Or maybe baggin’ up some coke? Am I missin’ somethin’? Cause these some of your favorite excuses.....”
Sonya paced the kitchen floor like she was a prosecutor making her closing arguments to the jury.
She continued, “....Or maybe fuckin’ wit’ some bitches, huh? Yeah, that sounds about right. What you have to say about that one, Tone?”
Sonya’s comment was met with silence as Tone refused to be baited into going down that path. Rather than defending himself, he wanted Sonya to reveal her hand.
Just what was she getting at, he wondered. “I was outside, handlin’ my business, makin’ moves. You know, regular shit.” he responded. “Why?”
“No, I don’t know, tell me. Or maybe I should tell you,” she explained. “How’s that lil bitch at the hospital you been seein’? What’s that all about? Huh?”
How she find out about Netta? Tone thought.
“Nigga, you thought you was slick? But yo ass is busted,” she commented. “I knew you was doin’ somethin’, I just didn’t know with who. You fuckin’ Shanetta Jackson? You takin’ this bitch flowers and shit....”
“Busted doin’ what? She’s just a friend.” Tone denied all the allegations his girlfriend was making.
“Ya
