The Girl Next Door

~50~

"I know yo ass just nodded. So Ima continue. And last week, she threw dishes at me because she thought my trainer was trying to fuck me when she was stretching my legs. Like brooooooo..."

I chuckle and shake my head. I drop the straws in the water and open the chicken pallets to put in the oven. Once seasoning them with garlic and parsley, I add some Parmesan and push the pan into the oven. Eating healthy was my main plan and she's not supposed to be eating noodles but she's been good on her diet and a small portion is the best for her.

"What you cooking?" Onika asks from the doorway.

I glance at her and scowl," excuse me. Get back in bed."

"Whyyyy," she drags out, stomping her foot.

"Because. You are pregnant and I don't want any complications."

Onika pokes her bottom lip out and crosses her arms over her chest.

"Babe. I'm making Parmesan chicken spaghetti. Something you've been craving for a while. Sit down and let me spoil you."

Onika smiles and her cheeks redden. I haven't seen her blush in a couple of days. It made me happy to see it.

"Okay daddy," she says, walking to the den.

"Ohhhhh shit!" Zen jumps in from the phone. I mentally facepalm myself when I realize that I forgot her," Zen don't you have better things to do? Like... I don't know- Roman?"

Zen whines," she's at work man. And I can't live much longer without my wife."

I chuckle," I know how that fee- wait. Did you say wife?!"

"Huh?" Zen asks, pretending not to hear the question. I quickly rush to the island and dry my hands.

I pick up my phone and click the FaceTime call button. Zen declines it and I call again.

"Really?" She asks.

"Yes. Answer it before I slit your throat."

She quickly answers and I see that she's sitting on her couch, looking away from the camera.

"Zen."

"Hmm?" She asks, still not looking.

"Look at me." I demand and she follows.

"Why did you call her your wife? You did that earlier and I didn't notice."

"Because..." she drifts off," I'm actually starting to y'know..."

"Love her."

She sighs,"yea. And I've been looking at this ring. And I'm thinking... shit. Why not?"

"Zen. You're too young," I state truthfully.

"I'm about to be 19. I feel like I'm already grown and I know what I want. And I'm not trying to get married right away. Just something to show that she's mine forever. Shit... we can be engaged for five more years. I just want that unspoken bond between us, y'know man?"

I nod and sit on a stool at the island, laying my head on my arm ," yea. I feel the same way about Onika. Like... I feel like she's everything I need and she's so good to me even when I treated her like trash, man. I cheated on her. Abused her. Wasn't there for her through a lot. But it's changing. And our unspoken bond is this baby. In the past 10 months or so... I feel like we've been through hell and back. Through crazy stalkers, to many fights to coming out to her parent as pregnant and gay. Bro. Her mom caught us and gave us a fucking death stare."

Zen smiles and then laughs," you never told me what happened."

"I didn't?" I question. I really don't feel like telling it, considering it was a turning point for us.