I turned in the driver’s seat to face her, keeping my expression blank. “Seriously, Ry, why a nigga can’t surprise you? You had somebody give you a fucked up surprise in the past? You think I would bring you to Michigan to give you a fucked up surprise? Or is this a control thing? Like, you need to be in control, so I can’t surprise you if I want to?”
She was quiet for a few seconds. “You’re right. I can see where my actions could take the joy out of you giving me surprises. And yes, most of the things that have caught me off guard in the past have been fucked up, and I would’ve preferred to know about them so I could prepare. But no. I don’t think you would bring me here to give me a fucked up surprise. And yes, it is a control thing. I apologize.”
“I’m not a therapist or nothing, but now that we’re together, I think it would be cool if you work on reframing surprises.” Iblew out a sigh. “I’ve had a lot of fucked up things to catch me off guard in life, too. Everybody has. But even though I consider myself an emotionally intelligent dude, there’s gonna be times where I can’t or won’t express myself verbally. Giving gifts is a thing I do. Always have. I call ’em surprises. I need you to figure out how to get into that.”
Her eyes went wide. “Uh, did you just try to check me, Mr. Cole?”
“I ain’ttry. Consider yourself checked, Ms. Upton.”
“Whatever.”
I laughed as she blew me off. I exited the truck, quickly rounding the vehicle to open the door for her. I gave her a smirk as we approached the front door of the storefront. “Your surprise is in here, so you won’t have to wait much longer.”
“I can’t imagine what it is.”
I rang the doorbell. My stylist opened the door.
Ryann’s voice came out breathy. “Katarina? What are you doing here?”
I wasn’t surprised that Ryann recognized her, because Christian and I used the same stylist. She was one of the best in the industry.
“Your man flew me in.” She pulled Ryann into a hug. “Get in here.” Katarina ushered her into the empty open space.
“Surprise!” Zyah and Genesis yelled in unison.
Ryann’s hands flew to her mouth, and I started to hope that I hadn’t done too much. The last thing I wanted to do was send her into premature labor.
I took her into my arms, my hand rubbing soothing circles across her back. “You good?”
Her breathing slowed. “I’m good. What is happening here?”
“Maternity photo shoot is what’s happening here.” I punctuated my words with a kiss on her cheek.
Zyah crossed the room toward us with Genesis on her heels. Genesis gave me a quick hug.
“Brix secured this location for you all to do an autumn themed maternity photo shoot,” Zyah told her older sister.
“Zyah said that autumn is your favorite time of year.” I raised my hands in surrender because if she hated the idea, I wanted her to know exactly whose idea it was.
Zyah eyed me with a smirk. “Are you throwing me under the bus?”
I shrugged.
“I guess it’s a good thing that I know my sister so well. Autumn is her favorite time of year. She likes pumpkin spice and apple cider and colorful leaves. She likes corn mazes and hayrides.”
“My birthday’s in autumn,” she explained.
“We know,” Zyah assured her. “It’s tomorrow. Anyway”—Zyah gestured around the large empty space that had once housed a gift shop—“we have all of the appropriate props to make this photo shoot scream autumn.”
I took in the space along with Ryann. Zyah was right. There were wheel barrels, colorful leaves, baskets of apples, and other autumn-inspired props. There were chairs, stools, and benches for us to pose on, and there were racks filled with clothing options.
The photographer and the prop stylist approached us. After introductions, Ryann and I were encouraged to dip behind the screens that created the makeshift changing areas and start the shoot. Zyah helped Ryann, while Genesis made sure I looked fly when I emerged from the changing area. She ran a lint brush over me and my white t-shirt and jeans. It was the quintessential maternity photoshoot outfit, so it’s the one we chose to start with.
After numerous outfit, prop, and scenery changes, the photographer gave us a quick look at some of the shots. Ryann squealed and threw her arms around waist in a hug after she saw some of them.
“I hadn’t even thought of doing this,” she confided. “Thank you for thinking of this.”
I placed a gentle kiss on her full lips. “No worries. I wanted us to have these memories.”
