I knew it was her behind the shades because I’d recognize her anywhere, even when she was trying to hide. What I didn’t recognize was the bump she had or the nigga she was with. I didn’t give myself time to figure it out either before I was at her front door.
I knew something was wrong the moment she opened it. The look on her face said it all as she stood there in the doorway like she’d forgotten to breathe. And then there were the tears. They slipped down her face quiet and fast. I hated when she cried. She knew that shit. And as bad as I wanted to reach out and pull her into my embrace, I couldn’t do anything but stare and examine her.
Any other night, her display of emotion would’ve made me pause and try to rethink my approach, but not tonight. My eyes dropped to her belly, and everything inside me went cold. The bump was there. It wasn’t hidden nor was it small enough to ignore. It was round, confirming what I had seen online. What I needed to see in person.
My chest tightened, and my face became hot. Before tonight, I’d never dreamed of putting my hands on a woman, especially Dai. But right now, it was taking everything in me not to yoke her ass up as my brain tried to catch up with what my eyes were seeing.
Adai was pregnant. And the only question now was by who. I kept staring at her belly as if it could somehow answer the question for me.
Knowing it couldn’t, I steadied my voice and spoke. “How far along are you?”
She blinked and her mouth opened then closed. Her silence was getting to me, so I asked again.
“How far along are you, Dai?” I repeated, my tone sharper than the first time.
“Six months.” She finally spoke up.
I went back to the last intimate moment we had before she left, and all signs pointed to me. But something inside of me wouldn’t allow me to assume, even though deep down, I knew the truth. I just needed her to confirm it.
“It’s yours, Pryce,” she said. “If you wanna take a D…”
“You been fuckin’ some corny ass rap nigga while you pregnant with my seed, Adai?” My eyes turned to slits, fuming just thinking about it.
Her head snapped back slightly in offense. “No,” she said quickly. “I would never do no shit like that!”
I studied her face hard. I believed her, but I wasn’t gonna say it. “If you ain’t fuckin’ him, then why he so comfortable holding your belly as if it’s his seed you carrying?”
Her eyes widened, and that pissed me off. “It wasn’t like that.” She wiped her tears with the back of her hand. “Can you come inside, so I can explain?”
“Nah.” I shook my head. “I don’t know what I may fuck around and do depending on your response.”
“Really, Pryce? What you gonna do, hit me?”
“No, but I’ll take my anger out on something in there,” I said honestly. “Now, answer my question.”
“It wasn’t like that.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“Just come inside the house, Pryce. Damn.”
I stepped inside and out of the way, so she could close the door.
“Go head,” I pushed.
“I didn’t even know what was going on. I was out for dinner…”
“Don’t insult my intelligence, Dai,” I cut her off. “You and that nigga were out for dinner.”
“Yes. We were out for dinner. When we left the restaurant, the paparazzi was outside snapping pictures. It all happened so fast, and as you can see in the picture, I look uncomfortable. That was not planned. He is well aware of where I stand when it comes to this baby.”
“Word? And where is that? Cause apparently, I’ve been out of the loop for six fuckin’ months! So, since this nigga knows where you stand, tell me why you felt like your child’s father shouldn’t.”
Silence.
I felt something in my chest shift. I’d never known Adai to be reckless. She’d carried my child for six whole months without telling me. She knew me better than I knew myself sometimes,yet she still chose to keep the secret. That shit didn’t sit right with me.
“It’s not that I didn’t feel like you shouldn’t have known, Pryce.” She finally spoke, but her tone was low. “I just needed time.”
