Chapter 42

It was a regular day at the University of Houston. Luther Lawson was at his second gig at Coog Radio when he bumped into two familiar faces.

"Kristin. Nova. What's up, ladies?" Luther said.

"Oh, getting ready for my show. Nova here has an interview on my show."

"Get the..." Luther said.

"Hell, yeah! A bitch is moving up!" Nova said, with a smile. Luther noticed her pretty smile.

"Actually, you want to be on my show tonight?" Luther said. "More exposure!"

"Hell yeah."

"Cool. I'll talk to the people. I'll let you know." Luther said.

"Mm-hmm. Oh, and by the way... I saw you checking out Kristin..." She said, smiling.

"Was I that obvious?"

"You're a man. She is pretty though. I'd do her." Nova said. Luther chuckled.

"See you tonight." Nova said in a softer tone than he realized.

"The hell?"

"I think she likes you..." Kristin said.

Meanwhile, across campus was Justin Lupin, talking to Malcolm Bagwell.

"Long time, man. Long time. How you been doing?" Malcolm said.

"Well, got kicked off the football team because of those perverted sons of bitches... I got dumped for a girl. A pretty one. But still dumped nonetheless. What else?" Justin said, venting.

"I'm not on the football team anymore either. I thought what they did was wrong. Blackmailing you because you happen to like guys?" Malcolm said.

"Save it, Mr. Tight End." Justin said. "You don't have to kiss this ass. Not saying I would hate it..."

Malcolm chuckled.

"Damn, homie. I kinda have a confession..."

"What is it?" Justin said.

"I like guys too."

"Whoa. Was not expecting that. Wasn't you dating a dancer?" Justin said.

"Yeah, and when she found out, she immediately thought she was my beard. I liked her too."

"Damn. Wanna talk about it?"

"Yeah, I got work in a few." Malcolm said. "We can walk to my car."

"Please tell me you have that same basic ass car."

"Shut up," Malcolm said, laughing. "Don't you talk about my Britney like that!"

Meanwhile, at the law firm, Ashley and Christian were talking.

"Ash, I gotta ask you something. It dawned on me."

"What if Logan IS the father of your child? Would that change anything? I know you're not the biggest fan of him, but..." Christian started.

"Yeah. I get what you're saying. But I want him gone."

"Can't disagree with that. But this is about the child, though..."

All of the sudden, a door opened. 

"What's up, cuz?"

"Good morning, Malcolm." Christian greeted to his cousin.

"Well, where are my manners? Malcolm Bagwell, pleased to meet you." Malcolm said, shaking Ashley's hand and checking her out. Christian rolled his eyes.

"Wait. Bagwell as in..."

"Yup. Christian is my cousin. Marcus is my uncle," Malcolm said.

"Weren't you on the football team?" Ashley asked. 

"Yeah, I was a tight end." 

"I thought I saw you! That touchdown celebration! Haha! My ex is the defensive coordinator." Ashley said with a smile.

"Coach Nick? Hmm. Interesting. Very interesting. Anyway, nice to meet you. See you around, cuz." Malcolm said, walking away. 

"What?" Ashley said, looking at Christian.

"Just... keep an eye on him, you know." Christian said.

"I'm used to boys checking me out, Chris. You were one of them. Hell, you are still one."

"Just saying... anyway, I gotta talk to you about something. What do you have to prove Logan assaulted you sexually? For case reasons." Christian asked. 

"Besides the video? Did you see it?" Ashley asked.

"Yeah I did. Do you have anything besides that?"

"Nothing except him saying the horny stuff. You know, how he would fuck me better... all that stuff." Ashley said.

"Yeah, that's inadmissible." Christian said. 

"Oh, by the way... you know his sister is representing Logan. Logan's sister is ruthless in there. Especially in this situation. Just saying." Ashley said.

"What do you mean: This situation?"

"I did a little research. Logan's sister, Lila, was a victim of sexual assault..."

"Here's the thing. Lila doesn't want her brother to go to prison. Regardless of her personal history. That's only going to fight harder." Christian said.

"I guess you're right." Ashley said. "Wait I might have something..." Christian looked at her, suddenly intrigued. 

"Wait, Chris, why did you agree to this? Representing your ex of all people?" Ashley said, while getting out her phone. 

"I told you. I love you, girl. Still do after these years." Christian said.

"Here it is." Ashley replied. Christian looked at her phone.

"Whoa. We might have something here."

Meanwhile, across town on campus was Luther Lawson with Nova on his show on Coog Radio.

"It's your man, Luther Lawson, AKA DJ Get Right here on Coog Radio with a special guest. She's a up and comer with a distinct voice. You know her as that bad bitch, Nova! Welcome to the show."

"Thank you."

"Now, my first question is this: Why do you call yourself that bad bitch? We've seen it a lot in rap and hip hop." Luther asked.

"I've been asked that a lot. Basically, you've never seen a bitch like me. Or sounds like me. Or looks like me in the game. I'm an original." 

"So... a pretty rapper who happens to be Asian, originally from New York, moves to Houston to blow up." Luther said while counting his fingers.

"Didn't I say that I was an original? Would you believe my parents wanted me to be a doctor?I went to college and everything!"

"Really? That's a vision. Second question: When's the mixtape coming? I'm on one of the songs, by the way, y'all." Luther said, smiling.

"Oh, Lord. Don is taking his sweet time on this. But soon. I hope."

"Third question: What made you move to Houston? You were already in NYC." Luther asked.

"I just was sick of everything. You know what I'm talking about? I got rejected left and right. I loved music more than my boyfriend at the time..." Luther interrupted her.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa... boyfriend? Just saying, he was a lucky man."

"He's an ex. All I'm going to say. So I packed and moved after the break up."

"Interesting."

"If I can keep it real with you, I almost shot my shot with you, but Don told me you got a girlfriend." She said, to Luther blushing. Rico mouthed "Oooohhhh!"

"Wow. I'm speechless. I'm just going to get to your song now. Here's Nova with Original. Rico's mix is coming up soon. Nova, where can we follow you?" Luther said.

"All socials are the same. My name is @TheBadBitchNova."

"Here's Original, her song from her mixtape here on Coog Radio." Luther said. As soon as they got off the air...

"Lord Jesus... so this is what it's like to be cute. Damn." Luther said, exhaling.

"Yup." Nora said.

"Mm-hmm." Rico said from afar. "Apparently you got the juice."

Meanwhile at The Paw...

Wes and Ted were waiting on a certain gorgeous woman.

"So what'd you bring me for?" Ted said.

"I heard from a certain someone that you needed help lady-wise."

"Yeah, where'd you hear it from? Actually don't answer that." Ted said.

"I got my ears to the street..."

"Hey, boys." Liz softly said in Wes' ear.

"Hey! I brought a friend who I thought needed your services, you know." Wes said.

"Another two timer?"

"Oh no, ma'am. Quite the opposite, actually." Wes said.

"Really? Really, bro?" Ted said.

"Are you or are you not stuck on Kayla?"

"How'd you..." Ted asked.

"I got my ways..."

"Oh. I got two different cases. One is pretty much a fuckboy. The other has a case of tunnel vision. Boys, we have work to do." Liz said.

Meanwhile, across town, Lila and Logan were talking at her apartment.

"What's up, little bro? So, I was thinking about something... what's wrong?" Lila asked.

"Lila, I, uh... have to ask you something. About that story you told me."

"What is it?" She said.

"I want to know, since that happened to you, have you talked to them since?"

"No, I haven't. Why?" Lila said.

"I want to talk to her. Ashley is pregnant. With child. The kid doesn't deserve this. If I'm the dad, I'll be there to do my responsibilities. I told you that. If I'm not..." Logan said.

"You know, she doesn't want to see you, right? She is angry. Logan... I got to ask... why? Why the hell would you do this now?" Lila said.

"I was just thinking. Our brother went through the same thing. I just want to talk."

"So... can't guarantee this will happen." Lila said.

"I know. I know."