Chapter 23
Five Months Later…
It was Christmas Eve.
MJ and I walked through the mall, getting some last-minute shopping done, while my moms, Madisyn, and Piper were at my parents’ house prepping the food.
It had been a tough five months for me.
It was like Arie had vanished from the face of the earth, and I couldn’t get a location on her. Even her moms and Paige swore they didn’t know where she had gone, only that they would hear from her twice a month to let them know that she was good.
I missed her, but I understood why she couldn’t or wouldn’t be with me. Too much shit happened within the short time that we knew each other. All I wanted to do was love her pain away, and ended up causing her and myself more pain.
Papi and I were back on speaking terms. It took almost four months for me to start coming back around.
He admitted that he was wrong for how he played things and apologized to my siblings and me for dragging us into a situation we never wanted to be a part of.
We accepted his apology, and he did what he promised and left the street game alone completely.
Two months after everything had gone down, forty packages of pills were mysteriously delivered to our headquarters. I couldn’t help but think Arie had something to do with that, which made my longing for her worse.
“Dad, can we go in Harry Winston? I want to get somebody something,” MJ asked as we were walking past the store.
My eyebrow lifted as I smirked at him. “Who you trying to buy diamonds for, man?”
He hesitated for a minute before he said, “A friend.”
“Nah, G. Harry is a little too expensive to be splurging on a friend. Why don’t you buy this friend something more age-appropriate?”
He frowned. “Since when does jewelry have an age?”
I laughed. “I’m saying, they may be too young to keep up with such an expensive piece. They people might take it and sell it, then your money will be on the next person’s person, you feel me?”
“It won’t… trust me. Besides, I’m spending my own money, so you don’t have to worry about anything.”
“MJ…”
“Please?”
I shrugged my brows and shook my head. “A’ight, youngin’. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
We walked into the store, and he went for the bracelets as he talked to the salesclerk. He chose a bracelet with a diamond plate for him to customize if he wanted.
“What do you want it to say?” the clerk asked.
He looked over at me, then back at the clerk, before he waved for her to come closer. I frowned as he whispered in her ear for a minute, and she smiled.
“Got it. I can have this done for you within the hour. Is that okay?” she asked MJ.
Turning to me, he raised his brows. “That okay, Pop?”
“Yeah, we still have a little more shopping to do.”
“Cool. Thank you, ma’am.”
“No problem.” She winked at him and then walked away.
“So, we keeping secrets now?”
He shrugged. “It’s a Christmas gift.”
“It ain’t for me, though, so why can’t I know?”
“Stop being nosy, Pop. Geesh.”
I laughed. “Yeah, a’ight, man. I see how it is.”
“Don’t take it personal… you’ll know soon enough.”
“It better not be for your raggedy mama.”
He laughed. “Chill on my moms, Pop.”
I chuckled, watching my son grow before me. I loathe the day when he became a teenager. I could already see the independence he was exuding, and I hoped I was being a good example for him.
“What time is it?” I asked, about to pull out my phone to check.
MJ lifted his wrist to look at his watch. He revealed a Rolex watch that I didn’t remember buying him. “It’s three-fourteen.”
“Where’d you get the timepiece? You already blowing through your savings and Christmas money?”
“No. Ms. Arie got me this as an early Christmas gift.”
I stopped him from walking. “What do you mean, Arie ?”
“Uhh, Ms. Arie. As in Arieana… the lady you used to date.”
“I know who you’re talking about. I’m trying to figure out when you two started talking.”
“We talk all the time. She’s the one who bought me the moped for my birthday.”
“Why haven’t you told me any of this, MJ?”
“She asked me not to.”
“And you listened?”
“You always tell me not to tell anybody anything that they disclose to me in confidence, and to stay loyal to those who are loyal to me. She told me not to tell you we’ve been talking… so I didn’t.”
I couldn’t even argue with him. I did tell him not to be a snitch or to tell anyone’s business. That shit just turned around and bit me in the ass because I thought my son told me everything.
“D-does she ask about me?”
“No. She just asks me about school, and if I’m getting good grades and being good. She tells me to send her pics of my report card, then she sends me gifts or money for it.”
Wow. Fucking wow.
She can communicate with my son, but couldn’t answer my calls or texts.
I was jealous.
I missed her mean ass, and she knew it. She just wanted to make me suffer, and a nigga had been suffering.
“Are you mad at me?” he asked.
“Nah, son. Not at all.”
“She did say she was going to come visit me soon,” MJ said, beaming. It was clear my heart wasn’t the only one she’d captured.
“Yeah? Well, you make sure I’m there when she does.”
“I got you, Pops.”
We continued our stride and hit a few more stores before we grabbed his secret gift, and we headed home.
“You hit them teeth?” I asked MJ as he settled into his bed.
“Dad, I know to brush before bed, and when I wake up in the morning. You don’t have to remind me anymore.”
“A’ight, a’ight. I love you. Goodnight.”
“I love you too. Goodnight.”
I closed his door, heading to my room to shower and prepare for bed. Once that was complete, I said a prayer for myself, my son, my family, and Arie, then lay awake in my bed, staring up at the ceiling.
I couldn’t believe my life had come to this.
I used to be okay with being alone. I was comfortable with it just being my son and me, and Jalea occasionally.
It wasn’t until a mean-ass girl came into my life, bringing with her a gust of good and bad energy.
I made it my mission for her to surrender her heart to me.
I promised to take care of it, and I did for the most part.
I never wanted to hurt her because she had already been introduced to pain.
However, my dumb decision regarding her uncle caused me to lose her, and all I wanted was for her to come back to me.
I could fix it if she would just let me.
The doorbell sounded, and I frowned, wondering who could have been coming to my house at ten o’clock at night.
I pulled up the security camera, noticing someone standing in a black hooded mink that covered most of their face.
I stood from the bed, grabbed my gun, and went downstairs to answer the door.
I pulled the door open, aiming my gun at the person’s head until they lifted it. My heart fluttered seeing her standing there looking beautiful as ever.
“Arie…” I whispered, not believing she was standing here in front of me.
We both stood, staring at each other until she broke the silence. “Are you going to let me in? It’s kind of cold out here.”
“Y-yeah.” I took her hand, guiding her inside, and closed the door, locking it.
“It looks real Christmas-y in here,” she noted, looking at all the Christmas decorations around the house.
“I do it every year for MJ… How have you been, Arieana?”
“C-can I have something to drink, please?”
“Sure. What would you like?”
“Water is fine. Bottled if you have it.”
“Be right back.”
I went to grab her a bottle of water. My thoughts were running wild because after five damn months, she finally decided to show up on my doorstep, on Christmas Eve of all days.
I wouldn’t say I wasn’t fucking exultant to see her, though.
I headed back to the living room, and she was standing there, her coat still on, looking slightly nervous.
I handed her the water, and she gulped some down before staring at me.
“Please, have a seat,” I offered.
“I will, but first I need to tell you something.”
“Okay.”
“For the past five months, I battled with myself on whether I should come here. With everything that happened, I really wanted to forget about you… But I couldn’t.
You came into my life and showed me a love that was different from what I’d always known.
I took a chance and allowed myself to open my heart to you, and you fumbled. ”
“Arie—”
She cut me off, holding her hand up. “Let me finish, please.”
“You got the floor, mama.”
“Even after my irrational behavior, I still wanted you because what you promised, you did provide. I got a taste of the soft life, and I loved it… still love it. You were right. What my uncle did was his stupid choice, and his cross to bear. I can’t be mad at you for protecting your father, when I was doing the same for him…
only our team lost the battle.” She swiped a tear from her eye and looked at me.
“What I’m trying to say is that I love you, and I want back what you promised me.
” She opened her coat to reveal a small, round bump.
I backed into the couch, totally blown away by her reveal.
I knew something was up. I had been way too emotional these days and missing her something terrible. My moms told me I had been cranky lately, but she knew why. I was dealing with a broken heart and didn’t know how to receive that.
My eyes misted as I took a seat on the chair in the corner. Arie walked up to me, took my hands, and placed them on her stomach.
“Where have you been staying?”
“In South Carolina with Paige and Harvey.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. I asked them not to tell you… I’m sorry, Messiah.”
I looked up at her, and tears were flowing down her face. I smiled as I stood, kissing her lips.
“You said sorry.”
She looked confused for a moment before she laughed. “I did, and I mean it. I’m so sorry.”
“I forgive you, baby, and I’m sorry too. I love you so much… you’re about to have my baby.”
She nodded. “I am. You want to know what it is?”
“Hell yeah! I don’t like to be in suspense.”
“It’s a girl… Asaria Nesiah.”
I beamed with pride. “I love it. Best Christmas gift ever.” I took her lips again and began to undress her. “Let me see if this pussy still juicy for me.”
“Make me cum. I’ve been going through hell without it.”
“Ask nicely.”
“Please?”
I smirked. “You got it, mama.”