The way he ordered food without askin’, the way he listened, the way he watched.
The way he followed my car last night and sat in that truck till I texted I was inside.
“No,” I said finally. “I don’t.”
“Do you feel like he could really hurt you?” April asked. “I’m not talkin’ about annoy you. I mean hurt you on purpose.”
I shook my head before I could stop myself. “Nah. Not like that.”
“Then what you runnin’ from?” Charlee asked. “Somebody finally showin’ up how you been sayin’ you want, or the fact that if this go left, you know it’s gon’ break you in a different way?”
I swallowed hard, eyes burnin’ a little.
“Both,” I said honestly.
Fee reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “We gon’ be here either way. Whether he end up bein’ your forever or your lesson. Just don’t let fear make the decision for you.”
I sniffed, blinkin’ fast so I didn’t fuck my lashes up.
“You really sound like somebody mama already,” I muttered.
“That’s ‘cause I am,” she said, rubbin’ her belly.
April smiled. “And for what it’s worth… Roman love hard. I see how he still move behind Mo name. He not sloppy wit’ feelings. He just intense.”
“I don’t need nobody else intense in my life,” I said. “I already got enough chaos.”
“But he not chaos,” April said. “He bringin’ it to order, even if it feel loud right now.”
I let that sit.
Our food came…chicken and waffles for Charlee, shrimp and grits for me, some big-ass omelet for Fee, and avocado toast and salmon for April ‘cause she swear she need to be smaller for her wedding gown.
The convo shifted for a minute.
We talked baby shower colors, if Fee wanted a theme (she didn’t care as long as it wasn’t corny), how we was gon’ get her a pedicure before she delivered ‘cause her feet “belonged to the streets” right now, according to Charlee.
April pulled out her notebook with bridal shower ideas, and the way her face lit up when she talked about walkin’ down the aisle lowkey made my chest hurt in a good way.
Charlee, halfway through her second mimosa, laid her hand on her stomach.
“I think I might be pregnant,” she blurted.
We all froze.
“Bitch, what?” I asked.
She looked around, eyes wide. “I’m serious. My boobs hurt, I been nauseous in the mornin’, and my period late.”
Fee’s mouth dropped. “By how long?”
“Like… two weeks?” Charlee said.
“Two weeks?” I repeated. “And you just now sayin’ somethin’?”
“‘Cause it might be nothin’!” she rushed out. “I been stressed. Work crazy. My sleep all over the place. It could be that.”
April stared at her. “Have you taken a test?”
