Free Confessions by Sasha Campbell

Richmond?”
    She gave me a hard look, then finished her drink. “I’ll worry about that later.”
    What she was really saying was she had no intentions of moving to Richmond. Silence fell between us. Finally she changed the subject.
    â€œAre you gonna try to contact Donovan?”
    â€œFor what? So he can stick the knife farther in my chest?”
    She looked at me as if I was the one being ridiculous. “No, so you can decide if it’s really something you both want.”
    I took a moment to think about what she said, but eventually I shook my head. “I’m not gonna lie. It’s not at all what I want, but I’m not gonna beg someone to be with me when he obviously doesn’t want me anymore.”
    Trinette actually managed to look sympathetic. “I just hate that things are ending without the two of you talking.”
    â€œTrinette, I love that man. The last thing I want is a divorce.” And then I couldn’t help it. I started bawling my ass off. Trinette put her glass down on the coffee table and moved over and took a seat beside me.
    â€œUhhh-uhhh…there’ll be none of that.” She reached for a box of tissues and handed me a few.
    I wiped my eyes. “Bitch, don’t try to act like you ain’t never cried over a man. You know I know better.”
    â€œShhh! And if you ever tell anybody I’m gonna deny that shit,” she said with a sympathetic smile, then wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tight. I needed that.
    I smiled at my crazy friend. One minute she could be a selfish bitch, the next she could be the most caring person in the world. “We’ve been friends for life. You know I know you better than your own mother.”
    She frowned. “You ain’t never lied.”
    Trinette and her mother hadn’t gotten along in years. I knew the reason why, but like I told Trinette, it’s long overdue for forgive and forget. Darlene had been clean for almost three years and had given her life to Christ.
    â€œMaybe you should try getting in touch with Donovan,” she suggested.
    â€œDonovan and I don’t have anything else to talk about. He’s right. It’s over.” I reached for the bottle and poured myself another glass. “Just last week you were saying I needed to quit sitting around and get on with my life…. Well…that’s what I’m tryna do.”
    Trinette hesitated. “I know…but I hate seeing you so down. I miss you smiling and having a good time. So if you’re sure this is what you wanna do…then don’t get mad when I remind yo ass what you said tonight.”
    â€œIt’s over, Trinette.” I held up my glass. “Let’s make a toast.”
    She gave me a reluctant look before she reached for her glass and raised it in front of her. “What are we toasting?”
    â€œHere’s to new beginnings.”
    She smirked. “And new dick. Girl, you just don’t know what you’ve been missing!”
    I brought the glass to my lips. “Well, I guess I’m about to find out.”

8
Trinette
    I knew I needed to keep my behind out of the mall, but I couldn’t help it. I liked to shop even though I knew I needed to be saving up money for my new house.
    Anyway, I was at Saks Fifth Avenue and spotted this chocolate diamond ring I had to have. I wanted to wear it with this cream suit I was planning to wear to the Black MBA Association Ball. Unfortunately, it had a twelve hundred dollar price tag. My credit cards were maxed, and if I withdrew more than five hundred from our joint account, Leon would receive an e-mail alert. Nope. I was going to have to earn that puppy on my own. Besides, why should I spend my own money if I don’t have to?
    I pulled into the circle driveway in front of Smooth’s. Happy hour was in effect, and with a thirty and older age minimum, kids and thugs weren’t up in the house. With live music