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“I know that.”

“So you’re not already running scenarios about the other shoe dropping?”

“Okay, maybe a little.” I rubbed my forehead. “What if he’s not ready?”

“That nigga found a way to keep you even though you robbed him. You really think a baby is what’s gonna run him off?”

I didn’t have a comeback for that.

“Tell him before the wedding,” she said. “Don’t be standing up there saying vows with something this big sitting on your heart. That’s not fair to either of you.”

“I hate it when you’re right.”

“You love me. And you love him. And you’re gonna love that baby.” Her voice went soft.

“This is a really good thing, Belle. Ohh, you’re gonna be eating for two now.”

“Siani, please don’t start.”

“EATING. FOR. TWO.” She cackled and hung up before I could curse her out.

I shook my head, smiling as I grabbed the tests and wrapped them in toilet paper. I tucked them in my makeup bag, where Dez would never look.

I wandered through the penthouse, not knowing what to do with myself. The quiet reminded me how big the place was and how much I’d hated it here when I first moved in. I’d spent weeks eating and sleeping in the guest room out of spite. Now my shoes were at the front next to his, and my bonnet was on the nightstand on my side of the bed.

And there was a baby in me that was half of him.

I curled up on the couch with a blanket and put on The Fifth Element. I wasn’t actually watching—I just needed the noise to keep my thoughts from getting too loud.

I put my hand on my stomach. “Just so you know, your daddy is a lot. He builds LEGOs when he can’t sleep, makes a damn good omelet, and he’ll kill a man for talking about me crazy.” I pulled the blanket up higher. “But he’s a good man. And I love him.”

I fell asleep just as they were boarding the ship for Fhloston Paradise. It was a deep sleep—the kind my body had been pulling me into more and more lately. I now understood it had nothing to do with stress and everything to do with the tiny ball of cells sapping my energy.

I woke up to the sound of the elevator ding. The late afternoon sun was coming in through the windows. I’d been out for most of the day. Dez walked in carrying a garment bag over one shoulder and a plastic bag in his other hand.

I sat up on the couch, groggily. “What time is it?”

“Almost four. You been sleep all day?”

“I was tired.”

His eyes lingered on me for a second longer than usual. I got up and padded to the island where the plastic bag was sitting. Inside was the jar of pickles I’d asked for. My mouth started watering at the sight of them.

“How was the fitting?” I asked, opening the jar.

“Good. Everything fits.” He watched me fish a pickle out and bite into it. “Jody call you?”

I stopped mid-chew. “How’d you know?”

“She told Marco she was going to.”

“Mm.” I swallowed. “She told me about them two. That’s some wild shit.”

“I saw him at her place a few weeks ago. I should’ve told you, but then the Page Six shit happened and the timing never felt right.”

I rolled my eyes. “Here we go again.”

He held up his hands. “I know, I know. Mea culpa. I’m still trying to figure out the line between not wanting to overwhelm you and keeping you in the dark.”