When Neptune walked in the room, I noticed him squinting as if lost in thought.
“Neptune, are you okay? You’ve been more quiet than usual.” I looked at him through the vanity mirror.
“I’m okay. I’ve had a lot on my mind lately,” he admitted before kissing my shoulder. “I’ll tell you more about it once I have everything figured out.”
“I guess I’ll let you have it this time. Do you think this dress is showing too much?”
“If it was, I would’ve ripped it off your body.”
I snickered. “You’re so rough. I love it. Do you want to come with me?”
“Kitty, you don’t want me to go out with you and your friends. Why are you acting like a baby?”
“Because,” I whined. “I know my cousin is going to go off when she seesme withmy little bump. I’m still surprised I’m showing the way I am. One day, I went to bed with a flat belly, and the next, I woke up with a bump.”
“One day, you’re going to wake up, and you won’t be able to see your feet. You might as well get it over with. You can’t hide forever.”
“Hiding would mean I’m ashamed. I’m proud to have your baby.”
“Thenstop sulking, and finish getting ready. You already flaked on Yari and Nola the last time you were supposed to kick it.”
I breathed away my indecisiveness and sprayed myself with perfume while asking, “Can you drop me off? You don’t have to stay.”
“I got you, mama. I’ll drop you off, then post up at Echo’s gym until you’re done.”
I added the finishing touches to my simple look, then followed Neptune out the door. The sky was gloomy, but I prayed my news added a little light to the day. The last time I was supposed to meet Yari and Nola, I asked to reschedule. I didn’t feel like being questioned about something I viewed as a blessing, and once I told my girls, I would have to tell my family.
When we arrived at the restaurant, I moved to open the door, but Neptune got out of the car. I expected him to kiss me goodbye and go on his merry way, but he grabbed my hand and walked toward the entrance.
“Baby, you don’t have to walk me in.”
“I don’t have to, but I am.”
“You’re parked in the red,” I argued.
He carried my hand upto hisgreased lips. “Stop worrying. I’m going to walk you inside, then I’ll go.”
As soon as we walked up to the restaurant, I saw my girls sitting at a table on the front deck. I purposely let my trench coat fly open, so my bump was on display in my fitted white dress.
“What’s good, ladies?” Neptune dapped their fists like they were his homeboys.
Yari twisted herneck,though a grin threatened to break through. “You tell me. I brought dinner to your house two weeks ago, and that bump wasn’t there.”
I shrugged. “It was. I just hid it under sweats and Neptune’s hoodie.”
“Why?” Yari asked with a twinge of annoyance.
“That’s my cue to go,” Neptune suggested. “Kitty, call me when you’re ready.”
Once my lover was out of sight, I had no one to stand between me and my girls’ questions. I took a seat, then reached for amenu,though itwaspointless sincethey covered the tablewith appetizers.
“Hello. We’re waiting,” Nola restarted the conversation. “When did you find out?”
“Let me start from the beginning. About three weeks ago, I had a seizure while I was at Mr. Sinner’s birthday party, and Neptune insisted on me going to the hospital. They ran a blood test and confirmed my pregnancy.”
“Bestie, why have you been keeping so much from us?”
“Because she got a man,”my cousin added. “To be honest, I really love that for you. A sisterhood is beautiful, but there is nothing like having a man to confide in. That means you feel safe.”
