"HE DID WHAT?!"

"Girl, yes. It was so sad. Poor baby's got it bad. He's toxic now."

I'm sitting here, icing Davin's lip while Cassidy's giving me the rundown on what happened at the beach.

Basically, they ran into those chumps, Davin and Cam talked their shit, and Davin got knocked out by...him.

Fuck...

"Definitely gets it from Ryker. Remember, Ryker was the most toxic between them all. I don't see how Darian deals with that misogynistic bastard," I say as I rub Davin's forehead.

"Girl, Cam's trying to talk Tripp and Ryker down while I brought this busted lip crybaby back here. Cam's never had to talk Tripp down..." Cass says with worry.

"What are you trying to say, Cass?" I ask.

"Are you kidding me, J? If Cam has to talk Tripp down after striking your dude with a volleyball? Bitch, Tripp ain't over your ass."

"Well, he better get the fuck over it. Journee's my wife-"

"Babe, shut up. You need to be the last one talking with your busted lip ass."

I specifically instructed that bitch to stay on her end of the beach and we stay on our side.

Nah, you said resort. Not beach. The beach is free-reign.

Well, it still applies. How the hell did Davin meet up with him? Cam up here trying to be peacemaker but this wasn't his problem. Sometimes, I wish he'd leave well enough alone. Not everything's meant to come together and that includes my husband and baby daddy.

I know Davin talks too much but he didn't deserve to be hit in the face. This makes me want to get revenge for him but I know he can handle his own.

I finish cleaning off Davin's face and lean down to kiss him but he gets up, ready to go back out there.

Cass looks at me then looks at Davin just to say "Davin, I just want you to remember what my husband said. This is a couples' trip; not a brawl or a men's trip."

She folds her arms as he rubs his face and yawns in agony.

"I know that. I'mma get some sleep and we'll figure something out," he says before walking into the room.

Back to square one. That was a moment for us to bond and he forgets about that.

I'm left in the living room with my best friend and she's giving a confused face.

"He did not just say 'we'll figure something out after I take a nap'. Let me get his ass up-"

"Cass, just let him sleep. Ain't no use in arguing with him right now. Too much has already happened today. Don't start anything else," I say as I sit back down.

There's a stillness; nothing but the sounds of ocean waves coming through the suite. Eventually, these ocean waves became words in my head.

Be happy, Journee. Embrace this experience.

I sigh at those words because I can't be happy if I'm stuck in a situation where I feel like my partner doesn't love me back.

I already know that you can't make somebody love you but what if I'm thinking the wrong things? What if he still loves me and I'm stressing out about nothing?

"Have you been out today, J?" Cass asks, cutting all silence in the room.

I nod my head, remembering how my lovely breakfast was interrupted.

"No, J. I mean did you really go somewhere today? Did you get out of this suite today?"

"Yes. I bumped into Kyra earlier so-"

"You did what? With who?"

I nod in assurance again. Cass smiles and slightly raises her eyebrows.

"Well, shit, if she came up to you and said something, you definitely got out. She stays everywhere and we know that hoe can't keep her mouth shut for anything."

I chuckle while Cass speaks and I take a sip of my sweet Moscato I ordered earlier.

Going back to earlier, I remember coming back from my awkward breakfast with Kyra. Upon entering the suite, I caught a glimpse of Davin getting ready to leave.

"Baby, why don't we go sight seeing today? It's the perfect day for it. Ooh, we can probably ride dolphins or something? There's so much-"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. That all sounds good after I get back from hanging with Cam."

He fixed his collar on his beach shirt and left it wide open. Davin always cares about the way he looks, no matter what, but he wasn't cutting any corners today. May have been going a little too far with that open shirt though.

"Davin, this trip is supposed to be about us. Can we please do something? What are you and Cam doing that's stopping you from spending time from me? I shouldn't have to beg for your time."

But I was anyway. It didn't change his mind about going with Cam.

"Don't tell me what I should do with my time. You don't have to beg; you choose to. Why don't you do something with Cassidy instead of drinking your life away?"

He took the wine bottle out of my hand and walked off with it. That was an 80-dollar bottle!

I got up so fast and watched him come out of the kitchen with his eyebrows scrunched. Dusting off his shirt, he looked up at me while I complained again.

"Well, maybe I wouldn't have an excuse to drink if you would just spend time with me. At least stay here and talk to me," I raised my voice before he reached the door.

After scoffing at me, he said "Oh please. There's nothing to talk about. If you think there's a problem, it's a 'you' problem. You've had a horrible attitude since the car ride to the airport. Who really wants to be around that? Figure that out as you sulk in that strong alcohol."

As you can see, I eventually found the bottle...and ordered another one right before I finished the first one. I'm taking my time on this bottle.

Cassidy watches me as I inhale two glasses of wine but makes no comment on the fact.

"Why don't we go out and do something? Just you and me?"

"What about Cam?"

She shrugs her shoulders and says "Bitch, he's probably still dealing with your baby daddy and Ryker-"

"Please don't call him that. Use his real name."

There Cam goes being peacemaker again. Maybe Tripp doesn't need to be talked to. I know Ryker doesn't. He's stuck in his ways.

While I'm thinking I feel a pull of my third wine glass leaving my hand. Cass leans down and says "Plus, you need to tone down on the wine, bitch."

She moves it to the kitchen and dusts her hands off. It seems like there's so much to do but there may not be much to do after all.

"Let's go on the canoe tour. You're already dressed for it so we can just go."

She's right about that. Can't let this bathing suit go to waist.

I smile at the thought and agree to go with her. Then, she says "Then, we can talk about this unhealthy wine obsession you have and how long this has been going on..."

There's no obsession. I know how to control myself. I'm just a grown woman that loves her wines, especially on my dark days. It eases the pain. It's like medicine. It doesn't heal thoroughly but it makes you feel better in the moment.

I grab my bag and walk out with Cass. This day out with my best friend must be something I need.

****

Hey y'all!

So what did y'all think of the chapter?

Do y'all think Journee has a drinking problem?

Do y'all think Davin's doing something behind Journee's back or is he running out of love for her?

Thanks so much for reading and sorry for not updating on Wednesday again.