Material Girl 3: Secrets & Betrayals (22 page)

            At one time she could compare her body to any super model on the runway. Now Dylan’s body was scarred and marked for life. There was nothing sexy or appealing to her now. Angel could have any woman on the planet there was no way he was going to stay with her. That night they lie in bed. Saturday Night Live was on. Drake was the host. Dylan laid in her usual spot in her and Angel’s king size bed.

            He lay across the foot of the bed on his iPad. This was how they spent their Saturday nights now. There was no more turn up. Usually they’d be in the club poppin’ bottles and vibing out to the music. Dylan could almost bet Angel didn’t want to be stuck at home with her. He wasn’t the one sick. She was. He didn’t have to suffer because of her.

            “Babe if you wanna go out wit’ your homeboys tonight you can. I won’t be mad,” Dylan reasoned.

            “I told you, I’m good.” Angel responded, never once taking his eyes off his iPad.

            Dylan picked up on the fact that Angel never looked her directly in the eye anymore. She couldn’t really blame him. She barely wanted to look at herself.

            “Angel, I know you. You don’t want to be here. It’s Saturday, go kick it.” She pleaded, feeling horrible that he felt obligated to stay at home with her.

            “Babe, I’m fine. I’m kicking it wit’ you. The club gon’ be there.”
            “Are you sure?”

            “Yes,” Angel chuckled. “What’s the deal? I feel like you got something on your mind, pretty girl.” He placed his iPad down and gave her his full attention.

            “Nothing about me right now is pretty so you can stop calling me that,” Dylan declared.

            “What are you talking about?” Angel asked, stunned by her comment.

            “Angel,” Dylan glared at him. “Let’s not fake and front. I’m ugly. I know it and you know it. There is no need to sugarcoat the shit. I mean look at me.” Dylan spread out her arms.

            “For over a month I’ve been in nothing but sweats. My hair hasn’t been done since god knows when. I need a perm like Ciara need a hit record. Nothing about me screams pretty. More like homeless.”

            “You tripping.”

            “Noooo I’m not. I see things quite clearly. I get that you tell me that I’m pretty to make me feel good about myself but it actually makes me feel worse ‘cause I know it’s not true. You’re just saying it because that’s the polite thing to do.”

            “I tell you you’re pretty ‘cause that’s how I honestly feel,” Angel said, truthfully. “I don’t know what you’re looking at but from where I’m sitting I see a woman that despite her circumstances is still fine as fuck. You don’t need on a Chanel fit, your hair down or a ton of makeup on for me to find you beautiful. You’re beautiful to me with or without those things.”

            “Look at us though,” Dylan’s eyes welled up with tears. “It’s like we’re buddies now. We don’t kiss. We barely hug. We don’t fuck. We don’t make love. I’m no good to you. We haven’t even discussed the fact that I just had a test ran to see if I have colon cancer or that my OB/GYN found Dermoid cysts in each of my ovaries and that I might have to have my ovaries removed. Dr. Baum said she won’t be able to know if she’ll be able to salvage any part of my ovaries until they perform surgery. What if they can’t salvage them? What if I can’t have anymore kids?” Dylan’s bottom lip trembled.

            “Stop that,” Angel demanded. “We have Mason. It’s not like we don’t have any kids at all.”

            “But you know how much I wanted to have another child. Hell, I know how much you wanted another baby.”

            “I do but your health comes first. Us having another baby doesn’t mean shit if you’re not here with me to help raise it.”

            “I just don’t want you to leave me,” Dylan finally admitted. 

            “Man shut up,” Angel laughed. “We’re in this for life. This right here ain’t nothing but a test and on everything that I love we gon’ pass it with flying colors. Me and you not being able to have sex for a few months is minor. That doesn’t lessen my love for you. I’ve actually grown to love you even more now than I thought I physically could. The conversations we’ve been having lately has brought me closer to you, Dylan,” he assured.

            “I need for you to see that you have more to offer than just your outer appearance. You’re beautiful inside and out. You have a beautiful mind, a beautiful heart and a beautiful spirit. You’re my baby and you always will be. We gon’ ride this shit out together, ya’ feel me?”

            “Okay,” Dylan nodded like a little girl.

            “And don’t ever doubt my love for you again,” Angel warned. “If you do I’ma kick yo’ pretty ass all over St. Louis.”

            By March, Dylan was up and running. She’d gotten her strength back and was able to feed and bathe herself again. The test results to determine whether she had colon cancer came back negative. Dylan thanked god, Blue Ivy, Tupac, Biggie, Left Eye and Aaliyah for the blessing. She was also thankful that she was 100% back into mommy mode. Being at home with her son on a daily basis was the greatest gift she’d received from god. She’d forgotten how being a working mom took up so much of her time.

            Although Mason was there with her everyday on set, Dylan wasn’t mentally and emotionally as in check with him as she should’ve been. Having the opportunity of being home with him changed all of that. She enjoyed every minute of quality time that she got to spend with her son. If it wasn’t too cold outside every afternoon she, Mason and Angel would take a family stroll around the neighborhood.

            The memories they were creating as a family were ones she’d cherish forever. Dealing with her stomach and colostomy bag had become a lot easier too. Dylan now knew what foods to avoid because certain ones caused her to have diarrhea or become constipated. Her life was slowly getting back to normal. She had her best friend in her life again and she and Angel had tried having intercourse. The experience was a painful one but Dylan got through it.

            As long as her man was pleased that was all she cared about. It was mid morning and Dylan was in the kitchen chopping up pieces of a banana for Mason to eat along with his cereal when the doorbell rang. She wasn’t expecting any company so she couldn’t imagine who would be at the gate. Dylan wiped her hands on a towel and went to the door.

            “Who is it?” She asked through the intercom.

            “State.”

            Shocked by the sound of his voice, Dylan allowed him to enter through the gate. The last conversation they had she’d made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with him. In a matter of minutes he was walking in the house and standing before her.

            “What are you doing here?” She asked, looking him up and down.

            “I’ve wanted to come check on you for months now but Billie said that wasn’t a good idea.”                   

            “You should’ve listened to Billie because she was right.” Dylan turned her back on him and switched back into the kitchen.

            State followed her.

            “You’re old dude here?” He looked around.

            “My father is dead but if you’re referring to my husband; no he’s not here but he’ll be back soon. So I suggest you say what you got to say and jet.” Dylan pulled a chair up to Mason’s high chair and began to feed him.

            “Damn he’s gotten big.” State took off his jacket.

            “That’s what toddlers do, they grow,” Dylan shot sarcastically.

            “Are you going to ever stop being mad at me? I miss my friend.”

            “I miss shitting through my ass but I’ve gotten over it.” Dylan spat, wiping Mason’s mouth with a napkin.

            “Least you haven’t lost you sense of humor,” State pulled up a seat at the table. “How are you feeling?”

            “Better. I’m just waiting on the phone call for my reversal surgery.”

            “That’s what’s up.” State replied, happy for her. “Look, I’m sorry for not telling you about Billie when I found out ya’ll were homegirls. That was fucked up. I should’ve told you the truth.”

            “Yeah, you should’ve but you didn’t. All I care about at this point is you being a good father to my nephew. Kyrese deserves nothing but the best from you.”

            “And I’m giving him that. That’s my dude right there,” State smiled at the thought of his son.  “All I want is for you to stop being mad at me.”

            Dylan shot State a look that could kill and rolled her eyes.

            “Boy, I have been forgiven you.” She cracked up laughing. “I just wanted to make you squirm a little bit.”

            “Damn, that’s cold blooded.” State let out a sigh of relief.

            “Life is too short to be sitting up mad about shit. It is what it is. I’ve moved on and am happily married.”

            “Speaking of moving on. I know Billie hasn’t told you yet but she and I are trying to work things out.”

            “I kind of figured that.”

            “Word? How you know?”

            “Cause every time I bring your name up, Billie get’s hella quiet,” Dylan snickered. “What ya’ll do is ya’ll business. Just don’t hurt her.

            “I swear to god I’m not. I love her man.”

            “The funny thing about it is I actually believe you.” Dylan smiled as she heard the sound of the front door close.

             “Oh shit! Angel’s home,” she panicked.

            “Babe, who’s car is that parked in the driveway?”Angel asked, entering the kitchen.

            As soon as he spotted State sitting at his kitchen table, Angel lost his shit.

            “What the fuck is this nigga doing in my house?” He mean-mugged Dylan.

            “You can chill out cuz. I just came by to check on Dylan,” State responded instead.

            “Was I fucking talking to you? I was talking to my wife!” Angel yelled, scaring Mason.

            “Baby, calm down,” Dylan stood up and caressed his arm.

            “Nah, fuck that!” He slapped her hand away. “I don’t want this nigga in my house.”

            “Yo Dylan, it was good seeing you. I’m glad you’re doing better but I’ma head out.” State grabbed his jacket.

            “No wait!” Dylan stopped him “Ya’ll need to squash this silly ass beef ya’ll got. Angel baby, I know you don’t like State but babe he didn’t cheat by his self. I was a willing participate at the time. I’ve changed and he’s changed. He’s your nephew’s father. He’s going to be around. You two have to learn how to coexist. And State, Angel is my husband now. I love him and I respect him and I need you to respect him as well.”

            “I don’t have nothing against you, bruh. I apologize for what went down. What we did was foul but Dylan’s right. I have changed. I’m not that dude anymore,” State revealed.

            Angel steadied his breathing. Dylan was right. He had to let the anger and resentment towards State go.  It wasn’t getting him anywhere. All it was doing was festering and causing him to act out negatively. If Dylan becoming sick hadn’t taught him anything it taught him that life was too short. None of them were promised tomorrow so it was best he spend his time on earth being happy. He and State would never be buddy-buddy but it was time to bury the hatchet.

            “It’s all good,” Angel responded.

            “Is it okay if State and I have supervised play dates every now and then?” Dylan crinkled her nose.

            “Don’t push it, Dylan,” Angel ice grilled her.

Epilogue

            A full year later, Dylan stood proudly in the back of the room watching closely as friends, family, bloggers and journalist sat quietly enjoying the first episode of her new web series called, Forever 21. After recovering from her reversal surgery and having her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed, Dylan made a vow to herself to live her life to the fullest. She was cancer free and she couldn’t have anymore children but she had her son and her husband.

            Dylan still wanted another child though. She and Angel had discussed adoption as an option but until they made a final decision, Dylan concentrated all of her energy on her upcoming web series Forever 21 and her new clothing line Pretty Ratchet Thingz. Dylan loved to bake but her first love was always fashion. The line debuted to great reviews and tons of sales. Her new Edible Couture location in New York was the number 1 bakery in Manhattan. Every morning there were lines wrapped around the building. Angel defended his world heavy weight title and won. He was now preparing for yet another bout with another opponent.

            Dylan glanced over at Billie who was snuggled up next to State. State had kept his word and made an honest woman out of her. He and Billie were now married and she was pregnant with their second child. Billie being with State brought out the absolute best in her. She was way more at ease and didn’t take life too seriously anymore. The two were meant to be with one another. They were soul mates.

            Billie had everything she could’ve ever wanted. She had her man, her new baby on the way, her son and her girls back. After several delays, Billie finally had her day in court with Cain. The new judge heard both parties’ and their witnesses sides and after careful consideration granted Billie back full custody of her girls. Cain tried appealing the judge’s decision but the appeal was thrown out of court for lack of evidence.

Billie couldn’t believe that Cain could be so petty and malicious as to appeal the ruling. State had to make her realize that some people were just never going to change. What mattered most was that Kyrese and State were closer than ever. The bond they shared was unbreakable. State constantly encouraged Kyrese and was a shoulder for him to lean on. Billie was no longer afraid to be herself. After years of putting it off she decided to give the music industry a shot and began working along side State at his record label. It was the best decision she’d made since taking him back.