Eric (Men of Honor 2)

Justine

“Baby, you okay?” Eric addressed me, and all I could do is nod my head, yes. You’d think Janine would have enough sense to keep her yap shut after the way he said her name just now, plus the fact that all the women in the room were now solidly invested in the unfolding drama, but nope.

“I’m the mother of your child, and you’re asking this…this…bitch if she’s okay?”

“Uh-oh, the crazy train has left the station.” That was Janelle’s take on the situation. I didn’t dare take my eyes off of Janine to look back at Janelle to shush her. Her words would only exasperate the situation, which she didn't seem to care too much about.

It was almost like being caught in the middle of something not quite real. One of those things you hear other people talking about that you laugh at while inwardly thinking it can’t possibly be real. No one can be that far removed from reality, can they?

Eric didn’t even look at her as he made his way to me. I started to smile to let him know I was okay, but then his eyes widened, and his pupils flashed. “Who the fuck hit you? Did she…?” He turned as if to go after Janine, and pandemonium broke out. I tried to grab him to stop him from doing something that would get him in trouble, but Samantha and Janelle pulled me out of the way while Tyler and his friend, I think his name is Paul, were pushing Eric back.

“Get the fuck out of here, Janine.” Oh no! That was Tyler. As much as I detest his mother, it broke my heart to have put him in this position. This was my fault. I shouldn’t have come here today. What was I thinking? His next words only made me feel worst.

“No, dad, don’t go near her, that’s what she wants. Go take care of Justine; she needs you. Dad, look at me; she’s not worth it. She wasn’t worth it then; she’s not worth it now. You’ve already got the best thing she had to offer, that’s me.” Janelle was the only one who laughed at his facetiousness. I was feeling too raw to find humor in anything.

“That’s right, Tyler, you tell him. Come on, Eric, let’s go get our girl some ice for her face.” Janelle tried to quell the coming storm.

“Ladies, sorry about this little interruption. Why don’t you all follow me to the clubroom?” Samantha seemed unphased by it all.

“Wait, this is my meeting.” Janine tried to go after Samantha, who was leading the other women who seemed only too pleased to get out of the room. I heard one of them exclaim over the fact that only the crème de la crème ever gets to enter the clubroom, whatever that is.

“This was your meeting. After the conversation I’m about to have with my husband when I get home, I doubt you’d ever be allowed to cross these doors again.” When she reached the door, Samantha turned back to me, “I’ll call you sometime this week to set up a lunch date. Janelle, I’ll catch you later.” This little byplay seemed to give Eric enough time to calm down, and he allowed me to turn him away from Janine, who was bawling like someone had gutted her.

“Tyler, let’s go.” I reached for him with my free hand, and that seemed to be the last straw for Janine. I’m not sure I know what to call the sound she made, but the look on her face I can only deem as psychotic. I expected to see spit flying from her lips any second. She was not looking her best.

Tyler seemed to be her target, but as far as I’m concerned, he’d suffered enough at her hands as it is. I was not about to let this sweet boy who’d come to my rescue face anymore regret in the future because of something he did today. Eric seemed to be of the same mind, and the two of us moved at the same time to protect our son. I got there first.

My hand hurt like the fires of hell, but nothing ever felt as good as my fist connecting with her stupid face. That satisfying crunch, which meant that her nose was broken, was music to my ears. She started screeching about the cops and suing, and to add insult to injury; Paul held up his phone where he’d recorded the whole thing.

I’m not sure what Samantha said to whoever was in charge, but a man and a woman came into the room and asked if we were okay and was full of apologies while offering us everything but the building. I thought for sure they’d be kicking us out. Janine was offered an ambulance, which she colorfully refused before she was asked to vacate the premises.