“No. I came here first. I-I… Damn, my shit is all messed up. I had a plan. And it didn’t include a baby right now. What am I supposed to tell him? We have only been together for three months, and we’re already on the baby topic, ugh! This shit is trifling,” I said as I dropped my head into my hands on the island counter.
I felt Hollis’s hands rubbing my head.
“Hey, I mean, is it kind of fast? Yes, but no matter what, babies are made out of love. I’m sure he won’t trip once you two talk about everything.”
Silence lingered between us. Me with my own thoughts, and Hollis, I wasn’t sure, but she spoke up first.
“Well shit, I guess we’re celebrating a little different today. Cake or ice cream?” she asked as she now moved toward her refrigerator going for the freezer, pulling out a pint of vanilla and chocolate.
“Both! Didn’t I just tell you I’m pregnant?” We shared a chuckle while mine came with a soft whimper accompanied by a sniffle. Hollis then moved to get the cake from the other side of the counter in the display. It was a pound cake, which I’d madefor her and couldn’t eat since I’d infused it with the butter. That made my whimpers grow louder.
“Hey, it’s going to be cool. I’m sure mystery man will be excited. Plus, you have me and Johnni, and a shit ton of other family who will never let you or the baby go without love and support. Now while you eat your cake and ice cream, I’m going to drink to the new addition.”
“I can’t have the cake, Hollis. Remember, I made it for you. Girl, I doubt it. He and I have only been together for three months, and have you forgotten, no one, including my parents has met him yet? I’m telling you, this shit is trifling as hell. Who let me do this?” I whined, on the verge of tears.
She cursed as she closed her eyes, shaking her head.
“Damn, oh yeah. I forgot about your dumb ass rules. You might as well say fuck those shits at this point. Gon’ ahead and schedule that good ol’ I’m pregnant and this is my baby daddy dinner ASAP,” she said while only cutting herself a piece of cake and taking small bites.
I groaned because she was right. But I wasn’t ready,weweren’t ready for all that.
I don’t think you really have a choice at this point, Mickey.
“My rules aren’t dumb. They save me a lot of unnecessary introductions between my parents and someone who isn’t going to be around. Ugh, another thing I have to stress about. Can’t I just do it when the baby is born?” I joked but was half ass serious. I had only brought home one boyfriend before and my dad, Chris, scared him so bad the poor boy still avoided me in public. Meeting the girls was different. After six months, I would set up something and start bringing my boyfriends around them, and if they made it another six, then they would meet the family.
“Hell no. One, I know Chris and Kat ain’t going for that and neither are any of us. You gon’ have to bring his ass around soon too. What are you worried about? We already don’t like his ass,”she joked. But I knew it was slightly true. Kat alone had been asking to meet him since I first said I was dating someone.
I picked the chocolate ice cream while she produced the fixings for a sundae.
The sound of knocks at the door had her leaving to see who was at the door. I heard Johnni’s loud ass mouth before she even got in the door good enough.
“Where is she? Is she okay?” I rolled my eyes playfully while I did the math of when Hollis even had time to tell her since I had been in her face this whole time. But in true gossip girl fashion, she was on top of the story, spreading the word too fast for me to even understand.
My other best friend Johnni rounded the corner and came into view. Out of the crew she was the most dramatic and mothering. Her being a beauty pageant queen only added to the dramatic flare of Johnni.
“Oh Mickey, don’t worry about anything. I guess it’s time for you to bring that man to meet your people, but us first. I can’t believe we let you get away with not even telling us his fucking name.” She rushed me, hugging me tight around my neck, damn near choking me in the process. I looked at Hollis for help since this was her doing. I tapped Johnni’s shoulder.
“Okay, Johnni, I can’t breathe. You’re going to take me out before I even make it to the second trimester.”
She released me, pulling back enough to still be close.
“Shoot, I’m sorry. We can’t have that. You’re carrying special cargo. Can we at least get a name? I mean, you are pregnant and whatnot.” I chuckled humorlessly at that comment. This was the second time within the last two minutes that Johnni had mentioned not knowing Harlan’s name. I’d never given that up either. The most they ever knew was I was dating someone.
“And no ma’am. You know my rules. This baby doesn’t change that. Well, at least let him meet Chris and Kat first.”
“You better do it soon too before Chris pulls up at his house or something. He may be lax about a lot of shit, but when it comes to you and Mrs. Kat, he’s sitting up quick.” I smiled as she and Hollis both took their seats. Hollis poured a glass for Johnni while I went back to making my sundae.
“No for real. I’ma tell him tonight after I leave here, then go from there. I think I’m still trying to make this make sense myself. I mean, we had sex, but I never missed a dose of my birth control and everything was on time.”
Johnni sipped her wine then hummed. “Ooh, wait, how far along are you? You remember when you had that real bad sinus infection and had to take that antibiotic? They would’ve canceled all that out.” I thought back to the summer when my allergies hated me and my sinuses were kicking my ass.
“I was fucked up. I remember him coming over to so-called nurse me back to health.”
“I guess he nursed his nut in your ass too. See, had you not turned down my services of coming over, you might not be in this position right now,” Hollis said as she took another bite of cake. I tossed her a snarl as I finally took a scoop into my mouth and moaned instantly.
“Aw, ol’ pregnant ass. Since when do you like chocolate ice cream?” Johnni gushed. I shrugged as I twisted my face up, not liking all this mushy shit Johnni was giving me. It was a subtle change for sure. I had never been a chocolate ice cream girl. But the moment it became an option, my mouth watered for it.
I shook my head as I took another taste. “Look, let’s set rules for whatever this is right now. Until I talk to mystery man, no baby talk of any kind. That means don’t ask about the fetus or make goo goo gaga noises. Don’t buy anything. No shopping, Hollis.” I stressed that last part. Hollis had a spending problem and I didn’t want her jumping too fast if I decided not to keep the baby.
