18
“Hey stranger. I guess your hoe ass brother didn’t want to face me,” Caprice said when she saw him.
“You already know I’m not getting into whatever you and Monty got going on. Where that nigga stuff at?”
“It was almost in the trash but it’s all right here in the front room.” Caprice moved to the side and let them in.
Dash cringed when he walked in and saw Sade sitting Indian-style on the empty living room floor.
She smiled and spoke to him, but his focus was nowhere on her.
Dash never forgot a face and recognition hit the minute he laid eyes on the man who was sitting next to her.
He was the same dude who he and Monty saw watching Clover’s every move one night in Dot’s.
He had a stupid looking grin on his face that almost made him look deranged.
Dash was curious as to how Caprice even knew him.
He and Tre started grabbing Monty’s things and putting them in the truck.
Caprice followed him the entire time asking questions that she knew he wasn’t gonna answer.
“Y’all had fun on y’all lil couple’s vacation? That shit must have been planned long before me and Monty broke up.”
“Chill, Caprice, you already know I’m not even going there with you.”
“Yeah, I know. You besties with your new sister-in-law now.”
“Man, Iva and my wife have been best friends since they were kids. She’s like family and always have been.”
Dash wasn’t in the mood for the drama. After some of the things Caprice and Clover’s cousins had said about her, she should have been happy that he didn’t slap her. And, truthfully, Iva was his sister-in-law for years before she even came along.
“Yeah, I hear you.”
She was crushed when she saw the pictures and videos of them on vacation.
It was almost as if they couldn’t wait for her to get out of the picture to start enjoying themselves.
Aside from going to his family gatherings in Georgia, she and Monty had never really been anywhere together.
He seemed so carefree and happy since he was back with Iva.
He was affectionate and she had never seen him smile so much.
She didn’t know that version of him. She felt played, used and a bunch of other emotions that she was still sorting through.
But more than anything, she was embarrassed.
“You got so many questions for me, but I need you to answer a few too,” Dash said, as she followed him outside with the last of Monty’s bags.
“What questions?” Caprice countered.
“Who is ole dude that’s sitting up in your living room?”
“That’s my cousin, Trent. Maybe you should ask your wife who he is. They know each other very well.” Caprice made a smacking sound with her lips before she laughed.
“Meaning what? Whatchu’ tryna say? Lucky was fucking with your people or something?”
“Did I say that? It’s been a long day. This heat got me talking crazy.”
Caprice knew that she was getting under his skin, and that was her goal.
Clover didn’t want Trent, and the restraining order that she got on him was proof of that.
Still, the thought of his perfect Clover doing anything wrong was definitely gonna keep him up at night.
Trent wasn’t nobody at all for him to worry about.
Apparently, her cousin had gotten into an argument with his parents because he asked Caprice if he could crash at her new place for a little while.
She was prepared to tell his crazy as hell no until he offered to pay two months of her rent.
That would help her stack a little more, so she quickly agreed.
“You already know I don’t do the games. What’s good? Say what you gotta say.”
“I don’t have nothing to say. Go head on and keep being besties with your brother’s future. I’m his past, remember.”
“Fasho. You be cool.”
Dash walked away, as Caprice laughed childishly.
It was all good though. She didn’t have to tell him anything.
One phone call was all it took and he would have all the info that he needed.
Dash couldn’t wait to call Monty to rap with him about what he’d just learned.
His heart felt like it was skipping beats in his chest.
Even the thought of Clover being with somebody else had him feeling weak, but it made sense.
The nigga kept his eyes on her the entire night and now he knew why.
He had life fucked up if he thought that Dash was gonna sit back and let it happen though.
He and Clover both dealt with other people when they separated, but that shit was done for now.
His mama would be putting his picture on a t-shirt before it went down like that.
“Are you ready, Kardi?” Amina asked with a smile.
“Yes, I’m ready, auntie.” Kardi smiled sweetly.
They were about to learn the sex of their baby, and Fonzo wanted to include his only niece in on the celebration.
Kardi was excited to be having her first cousin and she was already saying how much she loved the baby.
Amina’s parents planned a small gathering on the enclosed deck of their home.
Fonzo’s family wasn’t coming back to New Orleans until the baby shower, but Hank was on Facetime with them so that they could see too.
Dash and Clover were recording, as Diva held Amina’s mother’s hand.
It was her first grandchild and she couldn’t contain her excitement.
Since everybody wanted to be surprised, Iva was tasked with getting some cupcakes made with the center being pink or blue. She was the only one who knew the sex and she was happy that everyone else would know soon.
“Okay, baby, take a big bite of the cupcake and show everybody what color is inside,” Amina instructed.
Kardi nodded in understanding. Her parents didn’t let her eat a bunch of sweets, so eating the cupcake was the best part of the reveal to her. She opened her mouth wide and took a huge bite of the cupcake, leaving icing around her entire mouth and nose.
“It’s pink,” Kardi mumbled with a mouth full of cake while showing everyone the inside.
“Yes! Oh, my God. I’m gonna have a granddaughter!”
Amina’s mother jumped up and ran over to embrace her husband, who was just as ecstatic as she was.
They didn’t care about the sex of their first grandchild.
They were just ready to spoil it. Fonzo and Amina were overjoyed as they hugged each other first and their parents after.
“I had all the boys and my boys are bringing me all the girls. Now, I got another broke best friend to hang with.” Diva smiled. She wanted a grandson, but she was grateful for whatever as long as it was healthy.
“Come on, baby, let me clean you up.” Clover led Kardi inside to the bathroom to wash her hands and face.
“Mommy, I’m gonna have a baby cousin. Can I use the money in my piggy bank to buy her some toys?” Kardi asked.
“How about you keep your money in the bank and let me and daddy buy her some stuff?”
“Okay. Can I help pick it out?”
“You sure can. She might like Hello Kitty too.”
Once she was done cleaning her daughter up, Clover went back outside and rejoined the party. Before she even got on the deck good enough, Dash was pulling her over to sit next to him.
“You know I love you, right?” he asked while looking into her eyes.
“Yes, Boobie and I love you too.” Clover placed a soft kiss on his lips.
Something seemed a little off with him lately, but she couldn’t figure out what it was.
It was almost as if she had to always reassure him of her feelings for him, and it was weird.
Dash was always kinda clingy, but it had become a bit obsessive over the past two weeks.
Even when he wasn’t all up under her, he would stare at her for a long time like he would never see her again.
“Let’s get remarried. It don’t have to be nothing big like before. Just a small gathering with family and friends.”
“We will, Boobie. We already talked about that.”
“I know but I don’t see what we’re waiting for unless you got something to hide.”
“I don’t have anything to hide but I also don’t wanna keep getting married only to turn around and get divorced again.”
“That shit will never happen again, and I put that on my life. It shouldn’t have happened the first time.”
“Can we discuss this later when we get home? This is Amina and Fonzo’s day.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” Dash nodded in understanding.
He knew that he was buggin’ but Caprice had him feeling like an insecure little boy.
Monty thought that she was lying just to get under his skin, but he was still skeptical.
The way the nigga watched Clover in the bar all night made him believe it was true.
His plan was to call and question Sade but he was afraid of what he might hear.
He didn’t want to push Clover away with his jealousy so he had to relax.
“Did everybody put their cards in the box? We’re about to count and see who is the winner.” Amina’s mother held up a pink and blue box for everyone to see.
Fonzo wanted a namesake if they had a boy, but he and Amina couldn’t seem to agree on a name for a girl.
They decided to make a game out of it at their gender reveal and let their guests vote.
Even Hank’s family voted and their entries were added to the box as well.
Amina wanted to name their daughter Alana and Fonzo loved the name Alexus.
“Y’all better vote the right way or else,” Amina threatened jokingly. She looked at Clover when she said it but she was wasting her time. Clo liked Fonzo’s choice better but she would never tell her girl that.
“Okay, voting is closed. Diva and I are gonna go inside and count the entries.” Diva followed Amina’s mother inside while everyone else talked and mingled. Clover got up to get something to drink, and Monty took her seat as soon as she got up.
“Stop overthinking shit, bruh. I can see the stress all over your face. You know you never could hide your emotions when it comes to Clo.” Monty had been paying attention to his brother all night and he seemed preoccupied.
“I’m good, man. I just hate feeling like I’m being kept in the dark about shit.”
“Man, I can’t believe you let Caprice ole miserable ass get in your head like that. That bitch is a messy hater. She’s jealous of Clover and always has been.”
“I know all that, bro, but some shit just ain’t adding up. That nigga watched my wife all night like she was his bitch. It might be over now, but something happened between them. What other explanation do you have?”
Monty didn’t reply because he didn’t know what to say. The nigga was on some creep shit and it did seem like he’d seen Clover before that night.
“My sis is solid as fuck and nobody knows that better than you. Don’t let that bitch live rent-free in your head and ruin your relationship. That’s just what her lonely ass wants.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I gotta get my shit together and shake back.”
“That’s what the fuck I’m talking about.” Monty gave him a fist bump right as Diva and Amina’s mother came back outside.
“We have a winner!” Diva yelled excitedly.
“Mommy can’t wait to meet you Alana.” Amina laughed while rubbing her round belly.
“And grandma can’t wait to meet…” Amina’s mother paused dramatically.
“Come on, ma. You got me on the edge of my seat.”
“Alexus!” she yelled, as Fonzo jumped up excitedly.
He ran over to his wife and kissed her before going to his brothers to do the chest bump that they always did when they heard good news.
Everybody was cheering, especially Hank’s family back home.
Amina loved both names but she was happy that her husband was getting what he wanted.
She never imagined herself being married with kids after her last failed relationship.
Fonzo made her believe in love and happy endings again, and she would always love him for that.
“Congrats, bro. Being a girl dad is one of the best feelings in the world. Get ready to be wrapped around her finger,” Dash said.
“I already know and I’m looking forward to it.” Fonzo was all smiles.
The rest of the night was filled with food, fun and laughter. Once they helped Amina’s parents get their house back in order, everyone left to go their separate ways.