Nickoi chuckles. “Me too.”
“Cause he’s gonna be like daddy?” I smile, teasing him. He smirks, getting off the bed.
“Maybe enuh.”
“Him a go stress me,” I say, laughing nervously. He bursts out laughing.
“Come mek we get ready fi the baby shower.”
“What time is it?” I ask, letting him help me off the bed. He checks his watch.
“Soon. A 3:15 now. It start 4:00,” he says, and I nod. As I grab my towel and start heading to the bathroom, something new catches my eye across the room. I pause, walk over to it, and gently pull the soft cloth off. My hand flies to my mouth. It’s the belly cast, framed and lined with mosaic rose-gold tiles, shaped perfectly into the curve of my bump and bust. The trim glitters around it, catching the light in little flashes like diamonds. Bright pink, white, and blue flowers bloom from the corners, some big and soft like fabric, others spiraled tight like roses. It look like something rich people hang in dem nursery.
“Mi love this!” I gasp, eyes wide as I step closer. I trail my fingers gently over the smooth mirrored pieces, catching little glimpses of my reflection between each triangle. The rose-gold shimmer, the delicate curves, it’s flawless. This must have cost him a lot. Because it look damn good.
“Nickoi, mi love the belly cast,” I say, grinning over my shoulder, only to see him mid-call, phone to his ear. Oh. Still, he looks up the second I speak, eyes meeting mine. I point at the cast and he gives me a nod and a small smile.
“Soon talk to yuh,” he mouths, and I nod back.
“Arite… mi a go bathe,” I say softly, still smiling as I disappear into the bathroom, heart feeling just a little more full.
***
I take out the necklace Nickoi gave me in October and smile to myself. It still looks brand new. It feels like just yesterday he gifted it to me, and now it’s back in my hands after our little reunion. “Babe?” I call, watching him through the mirror.
He’s on the edge of the bed, tying the lace on his brown desert Clarks. Dark brown blazer, matching pants, light brown shirt underneath. He looks good… not even a guh lie.The man look sharp enuh, talk choot Zara.He glances up while adjusting his pants, which already look damn perfect to me.
“Wah’m, Mami?”
I hold up the necklace. “Clip this for me, please.” He gets up, walks over, and gently takes it from my hand. I watch him through the mirror as he steps behind me and clips it in place.Unuh look nice eeeh.I smile at the two of us, minimal makeup, with my favorite lip combo. The dress I’m in, is an off-shoulder, flowy, floor-length gown in a mocha brown color. It has puffed sleeves and a high slit on one side, showing off the leg. My slides gold. Clova came earlier and gave me a new hairstyle, Burmese curls with cornrows at the front. Nickoi hired a celebrity planner who helped him decide on the nude and white theme. Of course, him nah go use no pink and blue. That’s not him.
“Been a while since mi see this,” he says, eyes still locked on me. He cocks a brow and kisses my shoulder, then lingers at my neck, breathing me in.Chillsss.I close my eyes, holding on to that moment for a second longer.
When I open them again, I whisper, “You done put it on?”
“Yah,” he says, and when I check, sure enough, it’s fastened. I smile, spraying on myChanelfor the hundredth time before he heads to the door. Impatient as usual.
“Yuh ready? We late enuh,” he says.
I take one final look at myself. “Yeah.” We head out, and I wave to Joe before sliding into the back of Nickoi’s matte brownRange Rover, another one of his cars I didn’t even know about. It’s cold inside. AC clearly been running.
“It chilly in here,” I whine.
He chuckles, reaching over to adjust it. “Mi a deal with it fi yuh.” I glance at him again. The man just… ugh. Rich. Sharp. Dangerous. Sexy. All in one.
“Ready?” he asks. I nod, and he hands me a chocolate covered strawberry latte.Ouuu, I was just craving this.
“A weh yuh get this?” I ask, sipping. He treats me from time to time, he knows as long as it’s under 200 milligrams, I’m good. It’s not like I’m chugging energy drinks. Just a little comfort in a cup.
“Mi buy it this morning, put it in the fridge,” he says like he read my mind.
“Thanks, babe.” He nods, honking the horn aa he drives pass Joe. I pull out my phone and open the camera, zooming in on Nickoi as he drives, right hand on the wheel, left arm resting, plaits caught back neat. Damn. Him fine fine. Regardless of thisDonlifestyle. I save the video, caption it ‘baby daddy’ and send it to my close friends. Then I record myself, post two snaps, and put the phone away when we reach.
He helps me out the car. “Thanks,” I say. As we walk, I hear loud chattering behind the doors. I knew the theme of the baby shower, but I had no clue what the decor looks like. So this part is about to be a surprise. Nickoi speaks to two men in tuxedos, then turns to me. “Hope you like it,” he says, pushing the door open. The sound of Bruno Mars’Leave the Door Openspills out… and my mouth forms an O. White tufted sofas. Blush roses. Massive cream and caramel balloons tied to plush teddy bears floating midair. Green moss teddy bears on one side. Balloon walls stretching high under a crystal chandelier. It looks like a page out of a designer magazine.This… is perfect.This looks professional and different… Definitely what Nickoi is going for.
“Mi love this,” I whisper, hugging him briefly before we step forward. I smile at everyone as they greet us. The room is filled with friends and family dressed in coordinated nude tones, some blending it with white. My smile stretches wider. I love this vibe. Just friends. Just family. No drama.
“Look at my daughter and my son,” mommy says as she hugs us tightly.Aww.
