Chapter 20 Rockel
A few months later . . .
I smiled, seeing the bubbles floating in the air accompanied by the sound of laughter.
Folding my arms over my chest, I took in our backyard, which had been transformed into a Bluey-themed party.
Today, Precious was three years old, and her father spared no expense on her birthday party.
I didn’t have to lift a finger, just offer my insight on certain things.
Other than that, the party planner Perfect hired handled it all.
Arms slid across my stomach, and I sighed when I felt his warm breath on my ear. “You so fucking beautiful, El.”
Spinning around in his arms, I tossed mine around his neck. “Why, thank you, Mr. Porter,” I cooed. “You did such a good job on the party. Pea is having a blast.”
He chuckled. “I don’t think I’ve seen her sit down not one time.” I turned back around, and we stood there, watching the party in full swing.
This was the first time our family and friends were seeing us together as a family. “You ready to take our pictures?” Perfect asked after a while.
I nodded. “Yeah, we can get it out the way while it’s not a line over there.”
Perfect had one of those 360 photo booths set up, and it had been occupied since the party started. It was probably best to slide in while it was currently vacant because I was sure it wouldn’t be for long. “Aight, let me grab Pea, and I’ll meet you over there.”
He kissed me on the cheek before walking away.
I spoke to family while on my way to the photobooth.
Mani came up beside me and tossed an arm over my shoulder.
“I love your life, girl,” she said genuinely.
“Why do I feel like I’m having more fun out here than my goddaughter?
” She stumbled a little, making me laugh.
I cackled loudly. “’Cause your ass is drunk.” She started hitting the stanky leg, and I keeled over laughing. “You’re annoying.”
“Shit, I ain’t tell y’all to make that Bluey punch. Got me ready to take the whole thing to the head.”
I wiped away the tears that were streaming down my cheeks from laughing so hard. “Please don’t. I don’t even know what all Port put in that thing. Your ass going to be spending the night.”
She shrugged. “That’s cool. Ain’t like I got shit else to do.” She looked up and squealed. “Ooh, let me go. It’s my turn to go down the waterslide.”
“Maniii! That is for the kids.”
She waved me off. “Girl, I am a kid at heart. That counts as being a kid.” She took off running, and sure enough, she strong-armed some kids out of the way to go down the waterslide. I couldn’t help but laugh. She was totally insane, but I wouldn’t trade her for anyone else.
Perfect came over with Pea in his arms. “You know she can walk, right?” I teased.
“Of course, but why should she when she got a strong daddy? Plus, one day in the future, my baby gon’ be too big to carry, so every chance I get, I’m carrying her.”
He tickled his nose against mine, making me melt. I loved to hear him talk like that. He genuinely loved being a father. I loved that for Precious and me because we wanted for nothing, from physical to emotional. Perfect was present in every way we needed him to be.
“Alright, picture time, Sweet Pea.” He helped me up on the platform before joining me with Precious.
I tapped the screen to start it up, then the camera began to spin around us.
I was posing until I noticed Port throwing up gang signs and popped him in the chest. Even worse, Precious was always copying him.
He laughed before wrapping an arm around my waist and kissing me on the cheek.
When the camera stopped, we watched the video back. Even though it was ghetto as hell, it was so cute because we all looked genuinely happy. Tears came to my eyes because this was my little family. So unexpected, but they were everything I needed.
We recorded two more videos and took some pictures before heading back into the thick of the party.
They were playing line dancing music, so I joined Mani on the dancefloor.
I could feel the weight of Perfect’s eyes on me the entire time.
Mani and I had a good time dancing together and drinking cups of Perfect’s Bluey punch.
It definitely was not for the weak, because it hit almost immediately.
I took a seat at one of the tables to rest my feet. I smiled when my baby came running over to me. I opened my arms to place her in my lap. “Hey, baby. Are you having fun?”
I pinched her cheeks, making her giggle. “Yeah, I having fun. I look pretty?”
I laughed. “Of course you do, Pretty Pea.” She loved that little name Perfect called her the first time he saw her.
“I love you, Mommy.”
“I love you too, baby.” Ugh, she knew how to make me cry. She hopped off my lap and went back to playing. I loved her little life. She could really enjoy being a baby, knowing she was loved, protected, and cared for. That was all I could want for my baby.
I pulled my phone from my pocket to check the time and noticed I had a lot of notifications from social media.
I went into the app and smiled when I saw what all the commotion was about.
Perfect had posted the photos from Pea’s photoshoot, then the 360 video we’d just recorded at the booth. My heart raced as I read his caption.
I’ve learned that rock bottom might be the best thing to ever happen to you.
When I was at my lowest, God reminded me that in order for there to be light there must be darkness.
My girls are the light in my life. I wouldn’t be the man I am today without them.
Happy 3rd Birthday, Pretty Pea. Daddy loves you and promises to always make sure you’re straight.
Ima be daddy of the year all your life baby girl. I stamp that.
I hugged my phone to my chest, trying to keep my tears at bay.
Now the whole world knew we were together.
I clicked on his page and saw he’d even updated his relationship status to say we were together.
I never thought something so simple would make me feel so secure, but it did.
I already knew Perfect was locked in with me. Today ensured that the world knew too.
I went back to his post and scrolled through the comments. I paused when I saw some girl had tagged Starlet, asking if she saw the post.
Taty Hottie: @StarletJames you seen this?
Starlet James: @TatyHottie Girl what the fuck? Let me go get my man back. This look too much like happily ever after!!!
Taty Hottie: @StarletJames lmfao girl you messy af
Starlet James: @TatyHottie says the girl who tagged me on this hoe
I laughed because this girl was funny as hell. Bold too, but what really got me was Perfect’s reply. I guess that was why he didn’t delete her comment.
Perfect Porter: A bitch wish she could get close to me. I could never leave mine for sum I already know is unloyal af. Fuck yo life Star!
He’d attached the picture of us where I was sitting on his lap, and he was kissing my cheek.
Mani had taken it when we were all out one night.
It was so cute and one of the photos on his wallpaper shuffle.
Star being unloyal was the best thing that ever happened to me.
Perfect had to be completely detached from that situation to give me a chance.
Rockel Naveen: I love you baby! We created the most precious little girl (pun intended). You said its time for her to have a sibling?
I pocketed my phone and went to search for my man. I came up empty and ended up having to ask my father if he’d seen him. He nodded. “Yeah, he went walking down the street a little while ago.”
“Okay, thank you, Papa.” I took off in the direction he said Perfect went. I had a good idea of where he was.
The walk to the park was quick because it was only one block down from the house. It was the place Perfect always went to think. I smiled when I saw him sitting on the swing, staring up at the sky. “How did I know I would find you here?” I teased when I walked up on him.
He looked at me and grinned. “Because you know your man.”
I nodded. “Indeed, I do.” I took a seat on the swing beside him. “Are you okay?”
He sighed before returning his eyes to the sky. “I lied to you.”
My body stiffened in surprise. “Um, . . . okay? About what?” I tried to keep my breath even because I had no clue where he was going with this, but I wanted to trust that it wouldn’t be anything to jeopardize our beautiful life.
He finally turned to look at me. “I lied about the reason I left.” He paused and said, “Well, not entirely. If I’m honest, there was a part of me that was afraid you would play me like Star.
I knew I was falling in love with you, and it scared me.
” He ran a hand down his face before he stood up and came to drop to his knee in front of me.
“Then a nigga was broke as fuck, so I’m like yeah, it’s only a matter of time before she moves on. ”
I could see the tears in his eyes. “Where did this come from?”
“That bitch commenting on my shit, trying to be funny,” he said with disgust. “I was going to delete that shit, but then I was like, nah, I want her and the world to know I’m as off-the-market as off-the-market can get.” He went into his pocket, then pulled out a black velvet ring box.
“Perfect.” I gasped, covering my mouth.
He smiled and nodded. “Yeah, it’s like that.
I want you to know that I am fully committed to you, Rockel.
I know I let my fears run me away once, but I’m never going to be pussy like that again.
You are everything to me. You and Precious are what I look forward to every morning when I get up for work.
Y’all are what keeps me going, so please know you will always be taken care of, loved, and adored.
” He popped the box open, revealing a beautiful Versailles, hidden halo, princess-cut diamond ring.
The diamond was two carats and set in a shimmering 18k white-gold band.
Literally, no matter what angle I looked at it, the ring sparkled with a unique brilliance. “Will you marry me, Princess?”
I screamed before crashing into him and making him fall back on the ground. “Of course, I will. I love you with every breath in my body.”
Our lips crashed into each other, and I swear I heard fireworks go off. When I looked up, I realized I didn’t make that up. There really were fireworks going off. I sat up, realizing our family had all come to the park. Precious raced toward us when my dad placed her down.
“You planned this?”
He nodded. “I did. Can I put this ring on you now?”
I giggled and nodded. “Yes, you can.” I held out my left hand. Chills ran down my spine when he slid the ring on my finger. “I know you don’t fuck with your mama, but if she didn’t do anything else, she named you right.” I stopped admiring my ring and looked up at him. “You are perfect.”
“You trying to make me cry in front of all these people, El? That’s fucked up.” He joked with tears in his eyes. “You are perfect too. I love you.”
“I love you more.”
We kissed again before getting off the ground to watch the fireworks show. Perfect picked up Precious and snapped a picture of us three. He told me to hold up my hand for the photo, which I did proudly. I watched him go to his social media profile and type up a post.
“Since bitches wanted to be funny on my other post, ha ha this! She said yes! Mrs. Porter and baby number two coming soon.”
I laughed. “Oh, you saw my comment, huh?”
He smiled down at me. “Of course, I did. We can start on that tonight.”
“Okay,” I said with a grin because there was nothing else that needed to be said. With Perfect’s arm around my waist, my head resting against his chest, and Precious in his other arm, we watched the fireworks show. I knew there was nothing to worry about. Everything was going to be fine.