White Lines (69 page)

Sunny had looked at Mindy like she’d lost her entire mind. But she recovered quickly. “Yes,” Sunny had deadpanned. “I did. That’s how I’m able to write about it so well. The character in the book—Charlene—she goes through a lot of things I went through, things that lots of young ladies are going through. That’s why the story’s called
Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction.”

Mindy cut Sunny off, and cut right to the chase. “But is it true that
before
you started dating award-nominated actors, you were once the wife of a major drug kingpin in Brooklyn?”

“What the fuck does that have to do with this book, Mindy?” The censors worked eagerly to bleep out the expletives in Sunny’s tirade. “Why does that shit matter? Who cares about all that? The book is called—”

“Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction,
that’s the name of the book everyone,” Mindy’s voice boomed in the microphone. “I encourage everyone to go out and buy a copy, because it is beautifully written.”

“Thank you,” Sunny said, firmly.

“You’re welcome. And I think it’s so impressive, because the whole time you were living so fabulously you were getting high every day—”

“Mindy, why you trying to make me fight you in here today?” Sunny was pissed, and her voice conveyed that. “I didn’t come in here to talk about my life. When I write that book about my life, you’ll be the first to know.”

“Well, I’ll look forward to reading it. Because the things I’ve heard about you and your lifestyle back when you were getting high,
honeeeee!
That’s something we all want to read about!” Mindy pressed a button, and sound effects filled the speakers. Fake applause filled the airwaves. “Is it true that you were pregnant with the football player Michael Warren’s baby?”

“I’m not answering that,” Sunny said. “Let’s talk about the book, Mindy. The book!”

Mindy nodded. “Yes. The book is going to be a bestseller. The streets are already buzzing. But not nearly as much as they will be once you write that life story of yours. I’m sure you’ll mention the fact that your child’s father was murdered at your baby shower by his other baby’s mother—”

“Bitch!” The next sound heard in the studio was the sound of microphones coming off, and the censors bleeping out the words Sunny was yelling. The phone lines lit up.

Mindy defended herself, insisting that as a public figure Sunny
should be prepared to open her personal life up to scrutiny. Sunny gave her hell, and the censors worked hard to block out Sunny’s curses. Still Mindy pressed on. “I’m giving you a forum to answer the rumors. The streets are talking.”

Sunny stepped back to the mike once more, and said, “Well, the streets should shut the fuck up then. Read the book, and shut the fuck up.”

Sunny stormed out and Jada shook her head. Jada leaned in close to the mike, and said, “
Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction,
in stores now. Find out what all the fuss is about.”

And that’s exactly what plenty of Mindy’s listeners did. The segment got a big reaction from the syndicated listening audience, and it became the subject of plenty of the phone calls. It turned out to be great exposure, and the book was a national bestseller. Sunny and Jada were on their way, and they had Ava—their attorney—handling their business.

Meanwhile, Born was leading D.J. to the promised land, and for the most part all of their children were happy and healthy. For all of them, the whole situation was surreal. None of them had expected things to turn out as they had.

All of them now worked in an industry where the drug game was often glamorized and held up as a badge of honor. And they all knew the ugliest side of what that lifestyle entailed. Lucky for them, they had managed somehow to escape the game’s clutches. But all of them still bore the scars of numerous battles. All of the good times had come on the heels of suffering. They had survived only because they’d learned the power of forgiveness. Their would-be fairy tale may not have ended happily ever after, but it came pretty damn close.

Jada had her life back, and she had Born’s forgiveness—his friendship. They never shared anything more than an occasional kiss. And an awkward silence always followed that. Both of them were afraid. He was afraid of losing control, and she was afraid of letting him down. Jada was determined in her heart that she would never get high again. But she knew that Born wasn’t so sure about that. He doubted her, and rightfully so. And Jada wasn’t sure if she could ever find enough ways to convince him. Born had a wall around his heart, and she knew that she had
helped lay every brick within it. So even though she loved him more than ever, she allowed things to move at his pace, and hoped that someday she could completely regain his trust. And his heart.

Their connection was still unmistakable. They laughed together often and called each other several times a week. Once in a while, they had dinner together, and whenever their eyes met across the table, it was like magic. It was like music. True friendship knows no bounds. And they were grateful that at least their friendship had survived all the pain caused by white rocks, glass pipes, and powdery white lines.