Page 91 of Senior

“Him!” she pointed at Maceo. “Him say he gon’ fight my TiTi, my mommy, and my sister.”

“Oh, he did? Whatchu want me to do, baby girl?”

“Beat him up. Get him real good!”

“Bet.”

Smoke walked over and started play fighting with Maceo. The twins hopped up from the table and started throwing little punches at their uncle’s legs. Juri hopped down and went to join them. Charm and Mario slid out of their chairs and went to defend their daddy. Just for the hell of it, KJ, TJ, and Lil’ Stanley joined in too.

“Get the big one, Lil Stanley!” Quaid urged, referring to Smoke.

“Use your right hook, TJ!” Titan said, laughing.

I stood there shaking my head.

“Now when the school calls because all of them decided to start another brawl, what are you gonna do?” Steph asked.

“Well, we’ll know who instigated it,” I said with a chuckle. “A’ight, y’all. I think Uncle Smoke and Uncle Maceo have had enough. Y’all gotta go to school. Y’all can dogpile them later.”

“This ain’t over!” Juri said pointing at Maceo.

He bucked at her, and she took off running and screaming.

Shar giggled as the kids went running to grab their backpacks. “It’s never a dull moment. For real though, that group parent teacher conference is coming. I can feel it.”

“Well, that’s what we get for everybody getting pregnant at the same damn time,” Steel said.

Salima kissed her teeth. “Speak for yourselves. She pointed between her and Deuce. “We were responsible. That’s why we didn’t get pregnant until now.”

I smiled as she rubbed her little bump. She was currently six months along and baby Dillinger was growing healthy and perfectly.

“I’m a little sad I don’t have a bump buddy this time around, though.”

I didn’t miss the looks passed between Mia and Titan or Jaeda and Quaid.

“What was that?” I asked, motioning to the four of them.

Jaeda smiled. “Well…” she said standing and lifting her shirt, exposing a slight bump. “We’re expecting.”

Mia stood and did the same. “We are too!”

Salima screamed and ran to hug them both. The three of them jumped around in excitement, then started crying. While everybody hugged and congratulated each other, I stood back with my fist to my mouth, fighting back fucking tears. Pregnancy announcements were gonna be the death of me. I cried every damn time.

“Awww, Stanley,” Steph said, wrapping her arms around me.

I buried my face in her neck and shed a few tears while she rubbed my head.

“My big baby. What am I gonna do with you?” She giggled and kissed all over my bald head.

While everyone else was running their mouths about the new babies, Jaeda and Mia made their way to me and wrapped their arms around me. I squeezed them tight, but not too tight.

“Y’all spoke about being pregnant together,” I said, kissing their temples. “Take it easy on my boys.”

They giggled.

“I can’t make any promises,” Mia said.

I wasn’t sure if she and Titan had been trying, but I remember how hard it was before they got pregnant with TJ. Mia said she would be grateful if he was her only one, but I knew she wanted another baby.