Page 76 of Mia

“I’m slowly feeling like myself,” I said, sipping the mocktail. I scrunched my face at the taste. “Shar, this needs liquor.”

“Bitch, it ain’t even that bad.”

“It’s fucking juice,” Renay said. “Don’t worry, I got us.”

She went into her bag and pulled out five mini bottles before distributing them to those of us who weren’t pregnant.

Shar scoffed. “So disrespectful.”

“Baby, you know I love you, but when I think cocktail, I think liquor. It’s not my fault y’all can’t keep these niggas off you. I don’t have that problem. My uterus is gone.”

The room grew silent as we all stared at her. I wasn’t blind to the fact that people sometimes used humor to mask pain. I didn’t think about how being around all these pregnant women might make her feel, knowing she could never carry a child.

“Please don’t look at me like that,” she said, taking a sip of her drink. “I can joke about it because I’ve lived with this for years.”

“Are you okay, though?” Dinah asked.

Renay sighed. “I won’t lie and say that it doesn’t get the best of me sometimes. Being here with all these kids makes me want a little family of my own. With Jakobi and I being engaged now, it scares me a little, you know? I can’t give him biological children. He’s told me a million times that he doesn’t care about that, but what if he decides that’s a problem?”

Kaylynn shook her head. “Kobi ain’t like that, babes. I get you may need some reassurance, but you have nothing to worry about. You were upfront with him about your medical status. I promise, if that man told you he doesn’t care where these kids come from, he doesn’t care. Whether you two adopt or have a surrogate, he’s gonna love those babies and you will be their mother. We see you with the little Dillingers. Mommyhood is in you, boo.”

Renay sniffled as she wiped the tears from her eyes. Romi went to her sister and wrapped her up in a strong hug. I reached out and squeezed her shoulder.

“You’re gonna be a great mom, Renay,” I offered.

“The best,” Romi said, cupping her face. “You practically helped me raise Korri and Juri, and the twins are crazy about you. You know you and Kobi can take them all for a few nights to get in some practice.”

Renay giggled. “I have to take the last three in doses, sis. Juri is a mess like her damn daddy, and them terror twins⁠—”

“Don’t do my babies like that!” Romi protested. “They aren’t even that bad.”

“Shiiiiit!” went up around the room before we all broke into laughter. The kids really weren’t that bad. There were just so many around the same age, and they all fed off each other. It wasn’t just hers and Smoke’s kids. It was all of them.

“All right, all right,” Romi said. “We have a lot of damn kids, okay? My husband loves being a father, and I love seeing him in daddy mode. I’m not even mad that he wants a son. The way he caught me in the closet the other day, he might just get it.”

Salima shook her head and laughed. “Just barefoot and pregnant. Deuce thought he was gonna get me again. No sir! You got your boy. Give me a break, and we can do a tiebreaker in a few years.”

“This is definitely my last one,” Shar said, rubbing her stomach. “I love my babies, but mama can’t keep wrecking this body!”

Salima waved her off. “Girl, please. Maceo is gonna devour you no matter what you look like after having his kids. That man is obsessed.”

Shar stuck out her tongue and twerked in her seat. “Well, you know. What did Latto say? Type of pussy make him say my name while he swimming.”

The girls all hyped her up. I couldn’t help but laugh because I missed my girl. Sharina was nothing if not a good time. Then we added Renay to the bunch, and it was double the laughs. Now we had Dinah, and even though I was still getting to know her, I could tell she was another Shar and Renay.

Jaeda took a sip of her mocktail. “You know who needs to give us a baby? Dinah and Kaylynn. How cute would they be pregnant at the same time?”

Kaylynn frowned. “Who said that! The only way you will ever see me pregnant is if my wife can’t carry.”

Dinah snorted. “And I ain’t nobody’s wife. Until I see a ring on my finger, ain’t no babies.”

I laughed. “Kay better put that backpack down and pick up a ring box. I’m sure Jakobi will hook you up.”

“Speaking of rings,” Kaylynn said, picking up my hand. “I see you’re wearing yours. Titan put his foot down?”

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know why y’all think that man can tell me what to do.”

“Ha!” Jaeda said loudly. “My brother put that ring back on your finger, and you haven’t taken it off since. What’s understood doesn’t have to be said.”