Kelani: Volume ✖️

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"Lani...?" my ex, Ryan said, walking in Chris and Lauren. My mouth literally fell open. What the fuck was he doing here?

"Oh, shit, y'all already know each other? Coo, coo." Chris said. I groaned and bit my lip. Ryan wasn't exactly the best boyfriend. He was really abusive. And of course, I would defend myself the best I could, but sometimes it wasn't enough. It made me uncomfortable just looking at him.

"You good?" Juan asked me, looking down at me. I nodded, hoping to God he didn't say anything to Juan.

"Wassup, I'm Ryan." He walked up to the pool, holding his hand out to Juan. I cringed at the sound of their hands clap together. The fact that he was so close to me made me want to bolt for the door.

"I'm Juan." He looked at him, and I could already tell he wasn't catching a good vibe. God, don't let this escalate.

He bent down to me, but my back was still turned to him. "I missed you, baby girl." He whispered in my ear. Juan caught it raised an eyebrow. I rolled my eyes.

"I'm cold I'm getting out." I said, getting out of the pool and grabbing my clothes and walking out of the room.

"Aye, come here." Juan followed me. I sighed and stopped as he caught up to me. "Who is that nigga?"

"My ex." I answered, looking down.

"What happened between y'all?"

"Nothing."

"Then why you run out like that."

"I said I was getting cold."

"Kehlani."

I looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"He hit you?" He asked, anger growing on his face. I couldn't hide the cringe I got just thinking about it. "Oh, hell nah." He began going towards the pool. I grabbed his arm.

"Where you goin'?" I asked, getting a little worried.

"You know where I'm goin'." He snatched his arm away and kept walking. Fuck.

"Juan, stop!" I ran after him, but he was already in Ryan's face, shoving him and shit.

"You like beating on women, nigga? You think that shit coo, nigga?!"

"Aye, what the fuck goin on?!" Chris intervened which I was grateful for. I couldn't bring myself to get anywhere near Ryan.

"He used to beat on Lani." Juan fumed, his chest rising and falling fast. Everyone looked at me and my heart started beating fast. I needed to get outta here. Like right now.

"Mane, you better get the fuck up outta here 'fore we beat that ass." Chris said, getting as close as Juan was. He backed up slowly and ran out the door. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

Everyone's eyes returned to me, and I stood there, feeling completely exposed. I didn't know what to do.

"You aight?" Juan asked, walking up to me and looking me up and down. I nodded again, looking down as my raged breaths began to turn normal.

"I'm sorry, Lani I didn't know." Chris said. I nodded.

"It's coo." I sighed, trying to forget it.

"How you feeling?" Juan asked after a while. I nodded and tried to shrug it off. "Let's go back to my place." He said in a low voice. I thought about it and nodded. I honestly just wanted to be around him right now.

He explained to everyone that we were leaving and they understood. Christina caught me before I walked to his car.

"Call me tonight, babe. Don't forget."

"I won't." I smiled softly as she embraced me. I hugged her back.

"Ight, Christina." Juan said, hugging her.

"See y'all later." She waved us off.

Once we drove off, he gripped my hand. I smiled down at our hands. It made me feel... safe.

"I would never do that to you." He said, his voice sounding a bit hurt. I looked at his expression and it was hard to read. I didn't say anything.

"The look on yo face... I never want you to look at me like that. Like you scared imma lay my hands on you or some." He shook his head.

I gripped his hand tighter, letting him know I knew he wouldn't. I just couldn't bring myself to say anything. He brought our hands to his lips and kissed mine as he pulled into his gated drive way.

"Come lay down." He said, pulling me upstairs with him. I followed, and once we made it to his room, we did exactly that. He laid on his back and I laid on his chest, his arms wrapped around me while mine did the same.

"When did it start?"

I sighed and closed my eyes as a tear fell out. My heart hurt just thinking about it.

"Um," I started, my voice shaky. "We were together for about... a year before it started. First, it was just the arguing. The fighting, slight shoving. Nothing big. Then it progressed... shoving turned into punching and slapping and choking." I cringed just thinking about it. "I could only fight so much before I would pass out."

He held me closer when he heard me sniffle. He kissed my cheek and caressed my body.

"He's never getting near you. You hear me? He's not even gone get the chance to hurt you like that again. Nobody will."

I sighed as his words started to comfort me. I closed my eyes as he kept whispering promises in my ear.

"I can't wait to make you as happy as you're starting to make me."