Chapter 33

I had to admit that a nigga was on a high.

Seeing my baby on that screen had me in a good ass mood. I was walking around smiling and shit for no damn reason. My family noticed the change in my demeanor. I was surprised that my brother hadn’t opened his big ass mouth like he always did.

Today was Sunday, which meant it was time for another family dinner. I told my mama and Mrs. Navarro to come along. To my surprise, both of them agreed. Mrs. Navarro was a little nervous about coming, but once my grams caught wind that she was invited, she insisted I call so she could speak to her herself. Needless to say, Mrs. Navarro conceded.

Salima opted to pick her up, and Shar was coming along, too. I had to laugh at Maceo because he’d been wearing the brunt of the jokes about having a girlfriend. Since he brought her to the charity as his date, the family hadn’t let up on his ass. They all witnessed how he handled her that night. For a woman that wasn’t his woman, he sure as hell acting like she was.

“There goes that baby’s pappy!” he jested as I stepped out of my car at the same time as him.

I grinned. “Fuck you.”

“You did enough fucking, man. I can’t believe you are having a baby.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell everybody.”

He waved me off. “That’s big news. I wouldn’t ruin your surprise like that.” We slapped hands, and he pulled me in for a brotherly hug. “I’m happy for you, man.”

“Thanks. This shit still doesn’t feel real.”

“I bet. Mr. Stay Strapped got caught slipping. Don’t work Salima’s nerves too bad. That baby is gonna come out looking like your ugly ass.”

I slapped the side of his head. “You wished you looked this good. Bring your ass inside.”

We shared a laugh as we headed into the house. The front was already lined with cars, so I knew almost everybody was here. As we entered the living space, I saw my father and Maddie in a heated discussion which ended in her slapping the shit out of him before storming off. Me and Mace looked at each other as he rubbed his jaw. When he looked up and saw us, he made his way over.

“How much of that did you see?” he asked.

“Enough,” I answered. “What happened?”

“I told her we shouldn’t see each other anymore.”

“Would that have anything to do with you going over to my mama’s?”

He sighed. “You know I love your mama.”

“Nah, Pops. I watched you bounce between your baby mamas my whole damn life. Before, I was too young to really know what the fuck was going on. Then I said it wasn’t my business if they wanted to be sister wives and shit. But I’ma grown ass man and I can see shit for what it is now. You’re my old man and I love you but stay the hell away from my mama with your shit, Pops. I don’t like that nigga she’s with, but it has nothing to do with him. It’s just me. He’s good to her, and she’s genuinely happy. You and your Donell Jones, “Where I Wanna Be” ass better leave her alone or we are gonna have a problem.”

He looked at me with a frown. Maceo stepped off to the side, not wanting to get involved. I stood firm in my stance. I meant that shit. I loved my father, but behind Stephanie Larkins, I would go toe to toe with any nigga.

“What’s up?” I asked. “You hearing me?”

He chuckled. “I hear you, son.”

“Good. She’s coming today and I don’t want any shit, especially not out of Maddie. I’m not jumping in if my mama has to beat her ass.”

“Maddie won’t be a problem. Her beef is with me. She knows her place.”

I shook my head. The front door opened and in walked my baby, our mothers, and Shar. My mama walked over to hug me and Maceo. She glanced at my father who was staring at the ring on her finger.

“Senior.”

“Steph.”

He stood off to the side awkwardly as the rest of the ladies approached us. I greeted Mrs. Navarro and Shar before my eyes scanned my baby from head to toe. She was wore this pink, off shoulder dress that hugged her curves and matching pink heels. The legs I loved drape across my shoulders were glistening with the oil she used faithfully. She’d taken her braids down and was rocking a fresh blow out. Damns she looked good.

She smiled as she made her way into my arms and tilted her head for a kiss.

“Hey, baby,” she said softly.

“Hey, love.”

“I love how you two act like you didn’t leave the same house this morning,” Shar said, giggling.

“Whatever. How are you, Ms. Karen?”

She sighed softly as she looked around. “I’m okay. It’s just a little weird being back here. Iman used to bring me to Sunday dinner back in the day. I never thought I’d step foot back in here without him.”

“Well, Grams said you’re always welcomed.”

She smiled. “I always loved your grandmother. How are you, Stanley? It’s been a long time.”

My father nodded. “It has. I’m good. Seeing you makes me realize how crazy it is that our children ended up together. You and Iman did a beautiful job raising Salima.”

Salima blushed and so did her mother.

“Thank you.”

My father clasped his hands together. “Well, I guess we should go grab a seat in the dining hall.”

He motioned for us to follow him. While everyone took his lead, I held Salima back for a moment.

“How are you feeling about our reveal?” I asked.

“I’m nervous, but excited. I just want us all to be a big happy family.”

“We ain’t on no Brady Bunch shit, but we’ll be fine. You think your mom’s gonna be okay?”

“She will. On the way over, she told me all about the times she used to come here with my father. For a second, I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to bring her. I didn’t want to stir up too many memories of my father. She insisted she would be okay, though.”

“I mean, from the way Grams talked about the two of them, she was here quite alot. The family knows her and she knows them. It’s just a matter of getting reacquainted.”

“True. I’m starving.”

“I fed you breakfast, woman.”

“You also fed me dick afterward. I worked all of that off.”

I chuckled as I shook my head and grabbed her hand to lead her to the dining hall.

“Bring your ass on, woman.”

D inner was underway and everybody seemed to be in good spirits. Ms. Karen fell right back into old relationships, like no time had passed. She and my mama made fast friends. Moms told they had met briefly when Iman was alive, but never became familiar with each other. My Grams was too happy to see her. She hugged that woman like she was her long-lost daughter or something.

Most everybody had finished eating when Salima nudged me.

“I’m ready,” she said softly.

I nodded and stood to my feet. “Aye! Y’all shut up for a second!”

My mother slapped my arm. “Stanley. Show respect.”

My siblings snickered at her reprimanding me.

“My bad, Ma. For real though, I need y’all’s attention. I have something to say.”

The room quieted down, and all eyes fell on me.

“Now, y’all have been clowning me for months now because the nigga that didn’t do relationships when and found himself in a relationship.”

Kerrion fake coughed. “Simp!”

“Go on, laugh it up. Yeah, I’ve been simping, but you see my lady.” I reached for Salima’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “Go on and twirl for them, baby.”

She giggled as she gave a slow twirl. My mama, sisters, and Shar clapped and whistled at her.

“Tell me you wouldn’t simp behind this beauty?” I leaned in and kissed her lips. “We started off a little rocky, but this is my baby right here. I ain’t ashamed to say I love her.”

The women in the family let out a round of “awwws”.

“Now, I’ve never really had a serious girlfriend, so sometimes I don’t know how to act. I’m aggressive by nature. I’m rude and I mostly do what I want. She gets me together, though, all while letting me still be myself. This is my rib… the woman who is going to be my wife. Yeah, I said that. My wife.”

“Talk yo’ shit, nephew!” Uncle Blake yelled.

I grinned. “We have an announcement. In about thirty weeks… we are having a little Dillinger.”

“Oh shit!”

“I know you lying!”

“Not my boy done shot the club up!”

Those were just a few responses coming from our table. My sisters and Ms. Karen shot up from their seats and came around to hug her. Shar and my mama had the proudest looks on their faces. My father looked shocked, and my grandmother was making her way down to us. As we were swarmed with questions about details, I felt a sense of pride.

Life was wild as hell.

Here I was about to be a father when months ago, a serious relationship was not on my radar. I just wanted to fuck on something. I never expected to actually like this woman, let alone fall in love with her. Now she was having my baby, and I was talking about making her my wife. Well… I wasn’t just talking about it.

I motioned for the crowd to back up a bit and give us some space before I grabbed Salima’s hand.

“You know I’m not a romantic ass man. You know I don’t do the sentimental shit, so I’m gonna come straight out with it. I love you. You’re carrying my firstborn, and I’m not trying to see you with anybody else, ‘cause you know what’s coming for them.”

She rolled her eyes as she playfully slapped my chest.

“My point is… I’m trying to see what forever with you feels like, Salima.”

As I reached into my pocket, several gasps when up around the room. Her eyes widened as I presented her with a three carat, princess cut, diamond ring.

“D-Deuce… Stanley what are you doing?”

“Marry me?”

“Are— are you serious?”

“Why would I play about that? Do I ever play about you?”

“No.”

“All right then. You gon’ give me an answer?”

She looked from me to the ring, then back to me.

“Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

I slipped the ring on her finger. She bursted into tears and fell against me, crying hard as hell. Her mother, mine, Grams, and my sisters all offered her comfort in the form of back rubs. Ms. Karen grabbed my hand and squeezed it as she offered me a warm smile. We had many conversations that week and a half I stayed with them and this was one of them. I didn’t know when I was going to ask Salima to marry me, but I knew eventually I would and I wanted her mother’s blessing.

Much to my surprise, she gave it only on the condition that I would keep her baby safe and never allow what happened with Mirron’s bitch ass to ever happen again. I put that shit on my life. Now that she was carrying my baby, she’d have a detail any time she went out without me. She would probably fuss or curse me out about that, but so be it.

Salima stared at the ring in amazement. “I can’t believe this.”

“Am I not a man of my word?”

“You’ve always been a man of your word.”

She cupped my face and kissed me like she was trying to have me break her off right there in front of our people. My grandmother cleared her throat.

“All right now! Remember where you’re at. Take that back to your house.”

“Don’t tempt me with a good time, Grams,” I jested.

She shook her head. “I guess we have a reason to celebrate!” she exclaimed. “Everybody outside! Somebody put on some music! We’re having a party!’

My family immediately started moving to follow each other out back. Salima grabbed my hand and casually led me in the opposite direction, right out of the dining hall. A smirk played on her face as we ducked off into the downstairs bathroom.

“Whatchu’ on, ma?” I asked as she fumbled with my pants.

She snapped her fingers, and shushed me. “Can you keep quiet?” she asked, dropping into a squat and pulling my dick from my pants. “I want to show you how happy I am to be your wife.”

“You know they are gonna talk shit when we go out there, right?”

“You care?” she asked, stroking my dick. She slapped the head against her tongue as she peered up at me.

“Fuck no. Open that pretty ass mouth and show daddy some gratitude.”

Not another word was spoken as she deep throated every inch of me. As she sucked the soul from my shit, I thought to myself, “I get to have this shit for the rest of my life.” What could be better?