“Girl, hell no. This is your life, and you’re grown. So, why the hell would I be embarrassed by what you do with your lil’ coochie? Besides, you’ve exceeded any expectations I’ve had for you, and you getting a little ratchet behind closed doors won’t change any of that. You’re my child, regardless. And fuck whoever has a problem with that.”
Right then, I smiled internally, as I was grateful to have my mama. She was unquestionably one of my soft places to land, and that’s why I’d been under her for the last six months. Leaning on her whenever things felt too heavy to carry.
“You’re right, mama. Maybe I’ll talk it over with my team—”
“No. I feel like this isn’t something that you’ll capitalize on, if you try to take the professional route. It’ll seem insincere. You literally have the following to speak directly to the people. Just do a story time of your own, and monetize it.”
“Hmm. That’s not a bad idea. But do I tell it all? Like, even what Harlem did?”
“Yes, even what he did, because that is your truth, and he doesn’t get a pass. Especially after all these women have come out, claiming that he’s gotten them pregnant.”
“Yeah,” I tittered. “That is crazy. He was literally humping on everybody. Just giving it out. Thankfully, he never touched me without protection. But he really had me fooled. I figured that there was stuff that I didn’t know about, but four girls pregnant at the same time? Before his rookie year could even fully start. Now, I see why he was never bothered by me not giving it up. And it’s even crazier that he’d trashed my house and vandalized my cars, when he was literally no better than me.”
“Yeah, but you know how a lot of guys think. A lot of them believe that fucking around is just what men do. However, it’s a whole other story if a woman thinks that she can do it too.”
I nodded. “I know.”
“We ‘bout done in that room,” Tricky Ricky announced, as he came ambling into the living room in a coverall, with beads of sweat at the top of his forehead. “Her walls are painted. The custom shelves are put up, and we just assembled her bed.”
“Okay. I guess that I’ll start hanging her clothes up tonight. And maybe we’ll do a little T.J. Maxx run, because she needs a few more things.”
“Yeah. Grab her some more pillows. Her custom area rug should be here tomorrow.”
I just sat my big ass on the floor, saying nothing, as they discussed the room that was for the baby girl taking residence inmybelly. I was due any day now, and I’d had absolutely no input on anything pertaining to my baby. Felt like I was just having her for Array and Tricky Ricky, at this point.
My mama took the term helicopter mom to a different level. As soon as she found out about my pregnancy, I realized that I was carryingourbaby. My mama was literally involved in every aspect of my pregnancy, down to the doctor visits and decision making. Of course, in this case, with my mama being a nurse practitioner, I would always want her involved in everything medical.
“I think she might have too many diapers,” my Ricky commented, as he strolled into the living room, clad in a wife beater and basketball shorts. He’d clearly been putting in work, helping put together our baby’s room.
“If she does, we can always donate them,” my mama offered.
My Ricky frowned, as he locked eyes with me. “Why you sitting down on that floor?”
“She has two pillows under her butt, Little Ricky. She’ll be fine,” my mama insisted.
“And then she’ll be whining tonight about her butt hurting. Get up, baby.” He grabbed my hand, helping me stand.
My mama shook her head.
Tricky Ricky chuckled. “Bae, it’s killing you to let them people be. If he don’t want hiswifeto sit on the floor, then let him have that.”
My mama rolled her eyes, and waved him off. “Whatever. I keep telling himandyou that the ring on her finger doesn’t change the fact that she’smychild.”
“Alright, ole lady,” my Ricky chuckled, while pointing. “You keep talking and we gone start sleeping at our own house. I’m still trying to figure out how us spending one night turned into five months over here.”
“Cause my baby is having a baby, and she needs to be in the home with me. Maybe we can discuss you and her moving when the baby is like five.”
“Just me and him?” I arched a brow.
“Yeah. Y’all can come visit us and the baby, but she’s staying here,” My mama claimed, without a hint of laughter.
“You’re crazy, lady.” I stretched and yawned, before gazing out of the floor to ceiling window, admiring how the sun was shining brightly. “It’s so pretty outside today.”
“I know,” my Ricky agreed, as he gazed out the window too. His eyes then traveled to me, as he lustfully looked me up and down. “That’s why we finna take pops’ boat on a spin around Lake Houston.”
Tricky Rick frowned. “Lil’ nigga, you didn’t ask to use my new boat.”
“I know.” My Ricky laughed, while sneakily rubbing my booty. “I get special privileges, since I bought it. So, you’ll be alright. Cause I need to holler at Summer about something.”
