C H A P T E R
F O U R T E E N
"There's complexities in complexion
But your skin, it glow like diamonds" — Beyoncé
🌟 D A V E
"So how she doing?" I asked Stephanie as I invited her into my place.
She slowly walked inside and headed towards the living room, where I had most of Armanda stuff ready to be picked up. She insisted that she wanted everything that she'd had left over here.
As Stephanie took a seat she shrugged, "You know.. being pregnant and moody."
"What she having?" I couldn't help but to be all up in her business no matter how much she wanted to do this pregnancy shit alone. But that was my baby too.
"She's throwing a gender reveal.. I think you should come even though she don't want your ass there, which I can't understand why.."
I shook my head, "Nah.. this whole shit is dumb, she really goin' in because Sadie was at the crib.. we wasn't even getting into shit she just needed to tell me that she's moved on with such and such.."
Stephanie shrugged, "I really don't understand why she's acting like that but she'll come around, Dave." I nod not really pressing the issue like how I use to, "but what's up?" She asked.
I took a seat in my lazy boy, "shit, I got all her shit packed up just like how she wanted.."
Steph nodded, "aight, just put it in my back seat and if all can't fit then put the rest in the trunk."
I noticed that she was finally walking on her own with no support, she hasn't fully recovered yet. There was still some limping going on but other than that she was doing great.
"Finally off the crutches I see? How you feeling?."
She sighed and then showed me a big smile, "a bitch fucking happy, I finally feel like I can move around on my own."
"That's what's up. I'm happy for you." I said genuinely.
"Thank you stank ass. Now help me put this shit in my car. I got shit to do for this gender reveal."
I got up from my seat slipping on my Nike slides. Picking up Manny shit and taking it to Steph car. After I was done loading her car with four little boxes. I dug into my shorts and pulled out five bills.
"What's this for?" Steph asked while taking the five hundred dollars from between my fingers.
"Just tell Manny, I'm always here."
It's been three months and I haven't seen or heard from Manny. Every time I would run into either Steph or her mother I always hand them five hundred dollars for her, just to let her know that ima' always hold her down.
The money is never to buy her back or buy her trust. It's just me being me. Knowing that she's carrying my baby, I just want her and my child to be straight, even when I'm not there.
She nod her head, "Got you bro."
I closed her car door for her, before she could drive away I said, "Shoot me the address to the gender reveal."
Stephanie smiled hard as hell. "That's right nigga you better go and get ya bitch back."
✨ A R M A N D A
(S A T U R D A Y)
I sat at my vanity working on my makeup. Today was the big day and I was super excited.
Today was the day I find out if I'm having a baby girl or baby boy, I don't want to be choosy but please bless me with a baby boy. So I can know that love will always be there for me.
My mom and Steph was at the venue right now getting things together for me. I didn't exactly give them a vision of what I wanted the decor to look like but I hope whatever they do, it be beautiful.
I applied the finishing touches on my face and blew a kiss into the mirror, I was gorgeous. I wanted to take a picture so badly but of course my room had shitty lighting.
The best light in the house was the bathroom, but the color my mom chose to paint it was so horrible. Orange? Who has an orange bathroom, in my opinion that's very tacky.
I sighed and decided to take a picture in the tacky bathroom, welp, at least my pictures come out bomb. After I was done with my selfie, I uploaded it.
I was glowing bitch. This baby really doing a marvelous number on my body and my face. I was getting a little chubby in the face, but it was a cute chubby.
As I posed for the camera, obviously feeing myself. I couldn't help but notice my little baby bump. I was still in disbelief that I was even pregnant, but I couldn't help but to beat myself down about how I was going about this pregnancy with Dave.
He just lost a baby a couple of months back and by me keeping this pregnancy from him, makes it even worse, I know. I'm acting like a total bitch by doing this and holding a grudge for something so stupid.
Hopefully he comes to his senses and realize that I can't keep him away no matter how much he thinks I wanted him to be.
I honestly love that man, and I want him to be apart of this new life that we are bringing into the world. I'm no foul bitch, that's something I can never be.
"Manny?" My sister asked knocking on the bathroom door.
"What's up?." I yelled back.
"I got your outfit for you, it's on your bed."
I smiled, "Thank you. Are you bout to head to the venue?"
"Nah ima' wait for you." She said. I told her okay, I took one more picture before I left out the bathroom to get dressed.
( V E N U E - S A X's)
I was so surprised on how many of my family members actually showed up. Especially on my dads side of the family being that I don't really fuck with none of them. But it made me feel good that they came out to support.
"Damn niece, you look the fuck good!." Auntie sky complemented as she walked up to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you, Auntie."
"You so welcome baby, let me know if any one of these hating ass bitches you got on ya daddy side start acting stupid, I'll knock they asses the fuck out." She assured me.
I laughed, "Got you."
She shot me a look like 'okay now, don't hesitate,' before walking away into the crowd.
After finally greeting everyone and thanking them for coming I headed towards the gender reveal chair for the mom and sat down.
People was taking pictures of and with me. Handing Stephanie and Armani the presents that they got for my baby. Everything was neutral stuff to use for either a baby girl or baby boy.
As everyone mingled amongst themselves I couldn't help but to recognize the decorations that Auntie Sky, my mom and Stephanie had put up.
Normally a gender reveal consist of pink and blue colors but I didn't want that. To cliché, I decided on yellow and green with a little touch of silver and a splash of gold glitter.
"Thank you mommy, for making things happen." I appreciated her.
Even though she really some of the money used to afford some of this stuff came from Dave, she still put thought and effort into making shit look good and I thank her.
"You welcome baby."
The last two hours consisted on everybody eating, dancing and taking pictures. Playing a little bit of games and just having fun.
Gender reveals aren't meant to last long, four hours max. All the good stuff was happening but the best part was about to happen.
☀️ M O M M A T
I told the Dj to cut the music off so we can officially get the party started.
"Hello everyone thanks for coming to my baby girls gender reveal party. I hope you all are having the upmost fun, but the time has come. Please everyone follow me to the back yard."
Me and my sister Sky led every one to the nicely decorated backyard that we had to pay extra for. Thanks to Dave, this wouldn't have been possible.
Speaking of which, he was in his car waiting for me to give him the signal to come in. He wanted to surprise Manny, by having her think he's not gonna' show up and then pop out when she least expect it.
The backyard was decorated with a white backdrop that had "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, How We Wonder What You Are", written in blue, pink and glitter gold.
On both sides of the back drop there was these confetti smoke bomb cannons, that'll bust out either pink or blue.
"Okay, Manny stand in front of the backdrop so we can do our count down.." I told her.
She looked around a little bit, I'm guessing she was looking for Dave. I gave Sky a look to make sure she text him.
Manny went to take her place in front of the back drop, people started taking pictures as well as the professional camera man, that Dave also paid for.
"Alright now y'all, count down from three." I announced, everybody then started to count down.
"3 ... 2 ... 1!!"
As soon as we got down to one, Dave was standing right next to her just when the bombs went off letting out pink smoke and confetti.
✨ D A V E
Damn this is really happening, I'm bout to be a daddy....again. Also to another babygirl? God must've really wanted me to become a daddy.
The pink confetti dropped, the pink dust bomb filled the air as everyone cheered and went crazy as my princess was announced. But the best parts bout this was the look on Manny's face when she saw me standing right there.
I didn't say much I just pulled her into a hug and just soaked up this moment. She had her hands placed on her face as her head was buried into my chest.
"I thought you wasn't coming?" She sighed.
"You know I damn sure wasn't missing this day, or any more days for that matter. You can't stay away from me Manny, and I know I damn sure can't stay away from you."
I kissed her forehead and embraced her body, I couldn't believe how much our baby has grown in just three months. She grabbed my hand and placed it right in the middle of her stomach where the baby was just kicking away. I smiled.
"Damn, she a fiesty one." We both laughed.
Looking around, I noticed a good amount of people was still out here celebrating with us. I also came to the conclusion that this was the perfect time to end this day with something spectacular.
I cleared my throat.
Everybody looked at me, I now had everyone's attention.
"Excuse me everybody I got an announcement." I spoke.
I turned around and faced, Manny. I grabbed both of her hands that was indeed very soft. I looked into her eyes and took a deep breath. Getting on one knee I just let it come out.
"I don't wanna' play no games, play no games.. fuck round' give you my last name.. I know you tired of the same damn thing.. so Manny, would you marry me.?"
My heart was pounding in my chest. A nigga was actually nervous, but this is what I wanted, I had more than enough time to think about this shit.
There was a lot of whispers and gasps amongst people, as well as a lot of cheers.
"No.."
My smile dropped, "Wait, what?"
She shook her head and removed her hands from mines, "No, Dave.."
____________________________________
Baby Welcome To The Party 💕 . . .
D A V E
A U N T I E S K Y
M O M M A T
A R M A N I