"You going to tell him what happened or what?" Tae asked me as he plopped on the couch next to me.
"Huh?" I looked up from my phone, trying to play dumb.
"Ari, come on now. Hiding it is clearly eating you alive. Just tell him"
"So he can have a reason to start some shit, he's already been acting distant and I'm not going to push him anymore."
"Well you know niggas can't keep they mouth shut so either you gone be upfront with him or Jay gone run his mouth."
Tae popped a grape into his mouth before reaching for the remote, I moved it instantly.
"I'm watching this." I said with an attitude. I clearly wasn't but I just hated that he just had to be right.
"Whatever Ari, I bet you can't tell me what's happened so far." He rolled his eyes before slumping back in his seat.
"Childish." He mumbled.
I rolled my eyes before getting up and going up to my room, falling into my bed. I was already annoyed and he was just making shit worse. Without Jon here I was bored out of my mind.
Ding!
jayy2smooth: Trynna link?
jayy2smooth: Talk about the other night?
We definitely needed to clear the air, it's not like meeting him was cheating.
therealkylesister: Okay, meet me at Lola's
jayy2smooth: Bet, I fw that place. See you in 20.
I sat there in silence for what felt like 5 minutes before getting up, throwing on a pair of olive colored joggers and a white crop top.
"Where you going?" Tae asked as I walked through the living room.
I ignored him and grabbed my keys from by the door, leaving out. I let the door slam behind me and got into my car.
I connected my phone to the aux and started the drive to Lola's. The old school R&B blasting from my radio had me in my feelings for sure.
When I got inside I immediately noticed Jay at a booth in the corner of the restaurant. I walked over and sat across from him.
"Hey Ari, damn you look good in anything." He smiled.
I laughed awkwardly before responding. "Thanks."
"Nah, thank you for coming." He put his hands on the table, grabbing mine but I pulled away. "I wanted to apologize for showing up like that at your place. I put us both in a bad situation and I knew you weren't in a good head space."
I nodded as he talked. "Yeah, it's fine."
"I know you have feelings for me too and I–"
I quickly cut him off. "Hold the fuck up. I got feelings for who? You out of your mind or something. I don't roll like that, sir."
"I was playing, chill." He laughed before pulling out his phone. "Just wanted to mess with you, but don't have yo nigga calling my phone on that dumb shit next time."
"My nigga? You mean yo supposed best friend?" I rolled my eyes, this nigga was acting like a clown.
"Yeah, something like that." He seemed so into his phone so I started to get up.
"Where you going? Sit down and eat."
"I'm good, I'll grab food on my way home." I made my way to the exit and back to my car.
The moment I was inside my phone started ringing, Jon's ringtone.
"Hey baby." I answered the phone.
"Where you at?" He got straight to the point, no greeting.
"Just out bout to grab some food."
"With who?"
"Nobody? I was just gonna get McDonalds or Burger King."
"Oh really?" He sounded aggravated.
"Yeah why?" I asked, curious about the third degree he was giving me.
"Aye man, just tell Jay I said what up. I'll see you." He didn't give me a chance to say anything before he hung up.
I tried calling him back but I was automatically sent to voicemail, I tried a few more times and got the same result. I sat my phone down and rode to McDonalds in silence.
***
I walked through the front door and the smell of food immediately hit me. I knew I had McDonald's but I was definitely gonna get parts of whatever Tae had.
"Ari?" I heard Tae call from the kitchen.
I walked into the kitchen and sat my food on the counter. "What's up?"
"You hungry? I made some roast with potatoes."
"It smells good. When did you start cooking?"
He rolled his eyes, laughing. "My aunt sent it over and I just heated it up."
"Oh I definitely need parts." I opened my bag and pulled out my nuggets and fries.
"Before you start eating fatty, I got you something." Tae grabbed a plastic bag and handed it to me.
I opened the bag and started laughing when I pulled out the Clear Blue pregnancy test.
"You trying to be funny?" I asked.
"No, just go take it for me, Ari."
"For what? Where is this coming from?" I question raising an eyebrow at him.
"I had a dream about some damn fish for the past few night and yo attitude lately been off the chain. Just go take them"
"Fine, you owe me ice cream when I'm done." I rolled my eyes before I stood up and headed to the bathroom.
I pulled out the test and read over it before sitting on the toilet. I felt like this was pointless but I knew Tae wouldn't leave me alone until I did this.
I peed on all three tests before putting the caps back on to them and washing my hands. I took them into my room and laid them on my bed before going downstairs.
"Done, now can I please eat?" I asked him sarcastically.
"What did they say?" He asked me as I started to stuff my face, he had sat a plate of roast with my food on it in front of me.
"I don't know, I left them on the bed. It said it takes a few minutes."
"And you couldn't wait up there?"
"No, not really. I was hungry." I laughed.
"Hurry up and eat, we looking as soon as you're done."
"You can go look yourself, I know I'm not pregnant." I started eating the roast after I finished off my nuggets. I felt like a fat bitch but it was good as fuck.
"I said what I said, Ari. Hurry up."
I gave him a look but he was paying me no mind as he pulled out his phone and started reading over something.
I finished my food after another 10 minutes and Tae immediately snatched my plate. "Come on."
He dumped the plate in the sink before grabbing my hand and pulling me up the stairs to my room.
"Ariana..." Tae shook his head.
"Shit." I mumbled when my eyes landed on the test. There was no way in hell all three of them were wrong.
"I fucking knew it." Tae laughed. He hugged me and started jumping around.
"What's wrong?" He asked when he noticed I wasn't as excited as him.
Fuck.
Shit.
Just the sight of the positive test made me feel light headed.
"Dionte" I say running my hands through my hair. I sat down on my bed trying to collect my thoughts. "Maybe it's a false positive. I would know if I was pregnant. I've been fine, no symptoms. I'm good. These are wrong."
"All three of em Ari? Bitch you're pregnant" Tae's eyes were still glued on the test. I couldn't even speak I was still in complete utter shock. How the fuck did Tae know this whole time and not me? I'm the muhfucka carrying the baby! Well...supposedly.
"Ari what's wrong? I thought you wanted kids?" Tae takes a seat next to me
"I do it's just...Me and Jon's relationship can't handle a kid right now. Things are moving too fast."
"Y'all been together for over 5 years."
"It's not about how long we've been together. We aren't the same people we were in the beginning. He's definitely not the same person. He's not just Jonathan anymore, he's DaBaby too. We're still working on us. We're still building trust. This nigga thinks I'm fucking with Jay."
"What?" Tae scrunches up his face, "He got some fucking nerve"
"And then he's at the top of his career right now which means he's not gonna be home. Imma be raising this baby by myself."
"No the hell you ain't. You got me bitch. Uncle Tae finna love this baby like it's my own"
I grab the test and just stared down at them. "Tae I can't do this" I sigh laying my head on his shoulder.
"You got this girl"