Chapter 21
“Damn, bestie! You look good! Your makeup is flawless, your dress is gorgeous, and that ass is sitting up real nice.”
Tamia hyped me up as I admired myself in the mirror. Today was my birthday, and I couldn’t help but reflect on how much my life had changed. My clientele was growing daily, my house was paid in full, my sons were thriving, and I had peace in my life, something I’d craved more than anything.
There were times when I thought I wouldn’t make it to this age, so I loved the place I was in right now. Outside of my situation with my children’s father, I had no complaints.
“Thank you, boo. I still can’t believe I let you talk me into paying three thousand dollars on a dress,” I fussed, admiring the gold, shimmery dress Tamia had custom-made for me. When she first suggested it, I shut her down immediately because it seemed like a waste of money. However, she reminded me that I never celebrate, and I deserved to treat myself.
I allowed her free reign to plan my birthday, and she spared no expense. I was almost afraid to ask how much she spent, but she told me not to worry about it. I offered to give her money, but she declined, telling me that she had it covered. We’d been friends long enough for me to know better than to question her because if she had her mind set on something, that was what it was going to be.
“I’m nervous about tonight. I know your extra ass probably went overboard with the decorations and food.”
“And what if I did? My best friend deserves the royal treatment, and that’s exactly what she’s gonna get.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m only letting this slide because your birthday is coming up in a few months, so if you do too much, I’ll be doing the same.”
“And you won’t hear me complain once, bitch. You’re a rich baby mama now,” she jested. I glared at her, hating the term she kept sticking me with. Dinero stuck to his promise of twenty thousand a month. It may not have been so bad if it weren’t for the fact that he still handled all the boys’ expenses. They stopped asking me for money because he opened up accounts for them and paid them a weekly allowance for doing their chores around the house. Every need they had, he took care of it, so I questioned what the purpose of the child support was for.
“Don’t start your shit. I don’t even like the term baby mama, but I guess that’s what I am.” Dinero and I messed around from time to time, and I kept promising that I would stop, but those promises fell by the wayside the moment he got in my presence.
“Girl, you are blessed. Not only do you have a man who loves his children, but you have a co-parent who is intentional about being active in their lives and making your life easier. If you wanted to pick up and go on a week-long vacation, all you have to do is book the tickets, and he would take care of the rest. You’ve hit the jackpot.”
“He’s more than that, though. The money is a blessing, but the smiles he’s been putting on the twins’ faces are worth so much more. Even Moolah has turned over a new leaf, although he won’t admit it. He loves Dinero. This is all I’ve ever wanted for them, and I thought it would never happen.” Watching Dinero love our boys made me love him even more. It had only been a couple of months since he’d been in their lives, but the outside world wouldn’t be able to tell because he never missed a beat with his sons.
The fact that they could call him for anything and have confidence that he would come through for them made a difference. His presence made such an impact on them, even at school. I hadn’t gotten a single call about Moolah misbehaving in so long. Dinero went up to his school and sat in his class for a whole day. After that, he got his shit together. Him being a real father made my job as a mother so much easier, and I was grateful.
“I’m sure he is more than that since you can’t seem to stay off his magic school bus. You’re gonna fuck around and end up pregnant at the rate you’re going,” she warned. My face dropped at the mention of pregnancy.
After the twins, my doctor told me it would be difficult for me to conceive another child. Although I wasn’t sure if I wanted more until I got married, it bothered me that I may not have the option. My prayer was that I would find a man who already had children or who would be content with the twins.
We continued getting dressed before it was time to head to the venue. The only thing I knew about my party was the location. I requested something small and intimate, but knowing her, it would be nothing of the sort. A few of our mutual friends, as well as some of my co-workers, had already informed me they were coming tonight, so I figured the guest list would be longer than ten to fifteen people. She had even added that gifts were mandatory to gain entrance to the party. Tamia didn’t play about birthdays, and she never had.
“Are you excited?”
“I am. This birthday feels so different. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I’m ready to see what this year has in store for me.”
“It’s going to be full of blessings because you deserve it. I’ve watched you struggle over the years, but now you’re moving into your soft girl era. I believe that you’ll find love and get the happily ever after you deserve. As long as you’re open to it,” she expressed.
“I hope so. I want to be someone’s wife one day.”
“And you will be. I can’t wait to be in the bridal party too. I’ve always had this fantasy about being in a wedding and fucking one of the groomsmen. Those men are always fine as fuck.”
I giggled, even though she wasn’t lying. Fine men tend to run in packs, so if the groom was good-looking, you could almost guarantee he had some good-looking friends. They usually weren’t worth a damn, but they were fine, nonetheless.
“Well, that would work out perfectly. Then you can get together, and we all can go on vacations together.”
“Umm, no, bitch. I said I wanted to ride the groomsman, not marry them. You got way too ahead of yourself.”
“You don’t want to settle down one day and have a family, Mimi? At least a man you can travel with and make memories?”
“No. To be honest, relationships have never been my thing. I saw my mom in a different relationship every other week, and it just didn’t interest me. Men are dogs, and women are gullible. I’ve seen women completely lose their identity in a man, and I’ve never wanted that for me. I love being able to deal with them when I feel like it.”
“What about kids?”
“What about them? I only want to be the rich auntie, and I have no desire to change it. You have to understand that I’ve been raising kids my whole life. College was my excuse to get away from being an in-home babysitter. It’s possible that I might change my mind one day, but I’ll be in my fifties like Halle Berry,” Tamia proclaimed.
I understood where she was coming from because I swore I would never have any children, but God had other plans. Motherhood turned out to be the greatest blessing I’d ever experienced, but I never judged anyone who chose not to take that route. Life should be lived however you wanted to live it.
“Why are there so many cars?” I whined. My social meter would only hold up for so long once I became overstimulated, so I prayed there was plenty of space in the building.
“Don’t worry. I promise it’s all going to be great. All you have to do is take a few pictures, greet your guests, and give a little thank you speech. You will be just fine. Depending on the number of gifts, we can just toss those in the car and send out thank you notes later in the week.” Her plans didn’t sound too bad, so I decided to go along with them.
“Come on, chick. You’re the guest of honor. Let’s get this show on the road.” I took a deep breath as we stepped out of the car. Tamia popped the trunk and removed a bunch of pink gift bags. My mouth dropped open in surprise.
“Umm, what is all that?”
“Oh, just some gifts that I left at the house. I thought I grabbed them all, but when I went back, I found these in my bedroom.”
“How many gifts did you buy for you to forget that you left some?”
“You’re asking too many questions, and quite frankly, it’s none of your business. Now, let’s go.” She rushed me along while I pouted. This girl was going to have me crying my eyelashes off because I knew she spent way too much money on this party. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door to the venue.
A pink and gold balloon arch greeted me as soon as I stepped into the building. There were flowers everywhere, reminding me of a wedding. When the second set of doors opened, I almost passed out from how overwhelmed I was. This place was decorated from head to toe like one of those parties you saw celebrities throw. There were banquet tables set up with pretty white and pink tablecloths. My pictures were on a centerpiece in the middle of the table with candles and pink and gold confetti.
Tamia convinced me to have a birthday photo shoot, and she had the photos blown up and placed throughout the room. The smile on my face was almost impossible for me to contain as I greeted all the guests in attendance. There were roughly thirty people here, which was more than I anticipated, but it wasn’t too overwhelming.
“Happy Birthday, beautiful! You look incredible,” Laiti complimented, pulling me into a hug.
“Thank you, love. I’m so glad you made it.” Laiti lived a few hours away, but she was a defense attorney, so her schedule was usually jam-packed.
“You know I wouldn’t miss this for the world. If nothing else, you know Tamia is going to throw a good party. I’m happy you decided to get dolled up and celebrate this day. I’m so proud of you, baby girl. You deserve the world.” I bit down on my lip to hold the tears in. Tamia paid for me to have my makeup professionally done, so I would try my best not to ruin it.
“Thank you. It means a lot to me.”
“Always. Let’s take a picture before everyone starts to swarm,” Laiti suggested. The three of us went to the photo section, where Tamia had a 360-degree photo booth. We made silly poses while laughing and joking with one another. These were my sisters for life, and I was so grateful to have found them.
After we finished, I continued to greet all my guests. Everyone was so loving and excited to be here. The gift table was filled to capacity, so the rest of the bags lined the floor in front of it. I’d never received so many gifts in my life.
“Alright, ladies and gentlemen. First, I want to thank you all for coming out to celebrate my best friend. I wanted this birthday to be extra special for her because she has been superwoman for far too long. It’s time for you to live and allow the people in your life to spoil you.” Her eyes locked on mine before she went back to addressing the crowd.
“Tonight’s festivities were coordinated by me. However, there was a sponsor who paid for everything you see here. He has a special gift that he would like to present to the birthday girl.” My head whipped in Tamia’s direction because I was completely caught off guard. Who was this mystery sponsor, and why was this my first time hearing about this?
The moment I saw Dinero walking into the room and up to the front, my heart rate went into overdrive. He looked so handsome in his all-black Armani suit. His rich chocolate skin was radiant under the fluorescent lights, and I could hear the women gushing over him. It made me slightly jealous, even though I had no right to be.
“Good evening, everyone. Some of you may know who I am, but for the ones who don’t, I’m Dinero Sutton. The birthday girl must have somehow lost my invitation in the mail, but that’s okay.” He turned and winked at me, completely embarrassing me in front of the entire room.
“This is a very special day as it represents the birth of an angel. You’ve never been big on celebrations, so I figured you would try to downplay this day. That was why I reached out to Tamia. She’s a great friend, by the way. When I offered to pay for your party, she didn’t hold back at all. I think my card is still warm from how much she swiped it.” The crowd laughed as I glanced over at Tamia, who was smiling big.
“Anyways, I’ve never been good with these kinds of things. However, you’re worth being uncomfortable for in this moment. Today, we celebrate thirty-three years of your light, love, and presence on this Earth. I, for one, will be forever indebted to you for the gifts of life you’ve blessed me with. I wrecked my brain for days trying to figure out what kind of gift I could give to someone as special as you. And while I purchased quite a few physical gifts, I wanted to give you a gift that would serve as a puzzle piece in your life. I pray this year of life brings you all the happiness you deserve. Happy Birthday, Sunny.” He nodded his head, signaling to someone I couldn’t see.
When Dreis stepped into the room, I frowned until I saw the individual behind him—Ciera. I shook my head in disbelief because my mind had to be playing tricks on me. There was no way she was really here in the flesh. I searched for her for years and could never get any information on her. I gave up hope after a while, believing I would never see her again.
My hands were shaking the closer she got to me. Her pretty brown face was covered in tears while I prayed I hadn’t completely ruined my makeup. Nothing seemed real until my arms were around her, and I was able to feel her body heat. It was her. It was really her. All outside noise ceased to exist as I relished in our reunion. Where she had been didn’t matter right now. The only thing I cared about was the fact that she was here with me right now.
The two of us rocked back and forth, sobbing in each other’s arms. I wasn’t sure how long we stayed like that, and I didn’t care. Eventually, Tamia announced that it was time to eat.
“Okay, crybabies. The guests would like to eat, so I need you to go fix your faces and come back to the birthday girl’s table. You will be served first, so don’t take too long,” she warned. I smiled through my tears, then grabbed Ciera’s hand so we could get freshened up. As we walked, I glanced back and locked eyes with Dinero. He was talking to a small group of men, but he paused to acknowledge me. His smile turned me into complete mush, and it drove me crazy. The hold this man had on me was ridiculous.
Once we made it to the bathroom, I was impressed by how well my makeup held up. I dabbed under my eyes and anywhere I saw tears. When I looked over at Ciera, she was doing the same thing. I still couldn’t believe she was really here. When Mr. Dennis went to trial, they informed me that Ciera wasn’t going to be able to testify, but they obtained physical evidence that validated our claims of sexual abuse from him. It broke my heart to know I wouldn’t be able to see her, but I owed her so much for her bravery. She helped close the case without any reasonable doubt.
“I can’t believe you’re here.”
“It was all thanks to Money. I saw a photo he posted of you and your sons. I had no idea the two of you were close, so I never thought to reach out to him in the past. I wasn’t on social media until recently, and the only reason I followed him was because my son loves him. The moment I saw your face with those boys, I almost passed out. I immediately asked my husband to reach out to him for me because I didn’t want him to ignore my message, thinking I was some groupie.” We both snickered. I was sure that would have been exactly what happened because he rarely checked them.
“It shocked me that he knew who I was, but he was really sweet about the whole thing. We talked for a few weeks, and he offered to fly my husband and me out so I could be here for your special day. I don’t know what you’ve done to that man, but he doesn’t mess around when it comes to you.” Her comments resonated with me because it wasn’t the first time I’d heard it. Tamia swore the man was in love with me, but I refused to believe it.
“You’re married? Wow, it’s been so long. I have so many questions, but now isn’t the time for a full interrogation. Please make sure you don’t leave here without us exchanging information. Maybe we can meet up for brunch or something. I want to know everything that’s been happening in your life.” I rambled on. It’d been close to fifteen years since I’d laid eyes on her, and the selfish part of me didn’t want to let her out of my sight. If I could cancel this party right now and spend time with her, I would.
“We have to fly back tomorrow morning for my son’s tournament, but Dinero has already made arrangements for the two of us to catch up. I have your number as well. He wouldn’t let me use it until after the party, but I’ll be calling and texting you soon. I’m happy for you, Rae. We didn’t have the best childhood, but look at the life you made for yourself. You’re surrounded by people who love and want to celebrate your life, something we never thought we would have.” I swiped the fresh tears that were forming. We continued to talk as we made our way out to the party.
The food was worth every single dollar Tamia spent on it. I was so full I worried that my dress would burst open at any second. Ciera and Tamia were talking at the table like old friends, and it made me smile. These ladies both played a major role in me becoming the woman I was today, and I couldn’t have been more grateful. They were rare gems, and at this moment, I felt more than blessed.
After we finished our meal, the DJ started playing some of our old favorites, so we hit the dance floor. A photographer snapped photos of us as we laughed and attempted to recall the old dance moves we used to do. My heart was so full it was ready to explode, but I wouldn’t trade this night for anything in the world. For the first time in a long time, I experienced pure joy. Life had truly come full circle for me.
“Can I have this dance?” Dinero tapped me on the shoulder. They were playing another slow jam, so I decided to take him up on his offer. His tall six-foot-five frame towered over me. He had always been taller, but he seemed so much bigger now. He put on some weight over the years, but it all had been converted to pure muscle. His hands rested on the small of my back, and the smell of his cologne made me want to bury my face in his chest.
“How are you enjoying your birthday?” he questioned while we swayed to the music.
“If I had to rate it, I would give it a smooth seven and a half,” I replied with a frown on my face.
“Get out of here. This shit is an easy ten. Did you see that four-tier cake with the gold on it? I bet you’ve never had a birthday as good as this one.” He smiled widely, triggering a smile from me.
“You got me there. This has been one of the best days of my life.”
“Oh yeah? What were the other ones?” I hesitated for a moment because there weren’t very many of them. Dinero had put me on the spot.
“Cashynn and Cashmir’s birth. My high school graduation is high on the list. Our first time having sex. Not just because of the sex, but what it symbolized for me.”
“Naw, I understand what you meant. I’m glad I could be a part of your happy moments.”
“Honestly, you had a major role in all of them. Including our boys. They really saved me and gave my life a purpose.”
“I don’t agree with that. Your purpose on this Earth is far greater than being a mother. You’re a light in this world, and everyone around you gets the honor of being able to witness it.” My heart fluttered, and my breathing hitched from his response.
“Still the poetic one, I see.”
“Naw, not at all. You’re the only person who gets to see this side of me.” I smiled, appreciating the space we were in. The fact that he wanted to make this day special meant a lot to me because I thought for sure he would hate me forever. I missed our friendship, and I hoped we would be able to get back to that place, at least for the sake of our children.
“I put your gifts in my truck. You ready to go?” he inquired, standing right in front of me. My mind kept flashing back to the last time he stopped by to “talk.” I had no business fucking him, but I was in too deep now. “Are you listening to me, or are you gonna keep eye fucking me? If you want some dick for your birthday, all you’ve got to do is ask. The birthday girl gets whatever she wants.” The cocky smirk on his face turned me on and pissed me off at the same time. Yes, I wanted to fuck him, but he didn’t need to know that.
“No, thank you. You can keep that little thing to yourself,” I teased, knowing damn well he was far from small.
“Oh, I’m little? Hmm, we’ll see about that.”
Dinero
“Oh, my God!” Sunny cried out as I fucked her from behind while I held her arms in my hand.
“What the fuck are you screaming for? You said it was small, so you shouldn’t be able to feel this. Ain’t that right?” I taunted, placing one foot on the mattress for better leverage. Baby girl woke up the beast when she tried to play me at her party. Her eyes and body language told me that she wanted to fuck, but she wanted to pretend otherwise. We’d been around each other for a while now, and she had to have forgotten that I knew her inside and out.
“B-baby, oh shit!” she stuttered. Her tight walls held a death grip on my shit, but I refused to give in to it. I needed her to remember who the fuck I was. Raising my hand, I smacked her ass on both sides, enjoying the sound of our skin slapping together as her booty bounced back and forth against my pelvis. Her pussy was sopping wet; I could feel her juices drip down my balls. “I’m cumming!” Sunny announced as if I didn’t already know. Instead of replying, I stuck my thumb in her ass before pounding into her deeper and faster. Her cum squirted down her legs, and I could feel her body growing limp.
“Naw, I ain’t done with you yet. Come here.” Turning her over onto her back, I climbed between her legs. I didn’t even give her a chance to recover from the last orgasm before I pushed my dick inside of her. Sunny gasped.
“Why are you fucking me like this?” She shouted as her walls convulsed around me.
“This is what you wanted, right? You wanted me to fuck you good to jog your memory about what this dick can do. I told you, all you had to do was ask. This dick still knows where home is,” I declared. Her legs wrapped around me, and I hovered lower until we were chest to chest. Our eyes were locked on each other while I stroked her center. . Her lips were calling out to me, and I couldn’t resist them.
The moment I took possession of her juicy lips, I heard her groan. The look of pleasure on her face was one I wanted to carve into my memory for a lifetime. Sunny was still the sexiest woman I’d ever been with. The innocence that used to shine beneath her eyes was now replaced with confidence. She wasn’t the same woman from back then; she was better. We sucked on each other’s tongues, and I was on the verge of shooting the club up, but she placed her hand on my chest to stop me.
“I want to get on top,” she whispered.
She raised up and kissed me before we switched positions. Sunny’s grown woman body was a sight to see. Her curves had filled out nicely, and the extra meat on her bones added to her sex appeal. She always had a nice ass, but that mothafucka jiggled when she moved now. The music we had playing from her Bluetooth must have known what was about to go down. “Pornstar” by August Alsina blared through the speakers, and I saw the way her face lit up.
Sunny straddled me, and I damn near held my breath when she sat down on my dick. This was the kind of pussy that would have you breaking into windows and shit just to make sure her ass was at home like she said she was.
“Mmmm, why are you so quiet, baby daddy?” She smirked before continuing to grind on me. Her hands were planted on my chest, with her nails digging into my skin. The pain turned into pleasure every time her gushy walls suctioned me back inside her warmth.
“Fuck you. Ah, fuck.” I bit down on my lip to keep from groaning too loud. She wasn’t supposed to be fucking me out of my socks, but damn, it felt too good to care.
“If you gon’ fuck me, do that shit. Put that pussy on me.” My hands gripped her waist to assist her. Sunny didn’t like that, so she knocked my hands away and then planted her feet flat on the bed. The sight of her twerking on my dick sent me into overdrive. I swear it felt like my dick grew even longer. Little mama was taking this dick like a pro. For the first time, I was at the mercy of someone else.
“Look at you taking this dick. Let me find out you missed a nigga.”
“I really did. Let me show you much,” she cooed. Without pause, she turned her body with my dick still inside of her. Her hands held onto my thighs with her juicy ass facing me.
“Mmmm, yeah, do that shit. Fuck, mama.” My hands were massaging her cheeks as I watched her make my dick disappear within her walls. Her cream coated my dick like melted ice cream, making me want to lick her pussy clean.
“It feels so good, I don’t want to cum yet,” she whined. She was already on orgasm number three, and I wondered when she would tap out on me.
“You like the way this dick is filling you up, Sunny girl? Don’t make me beg. Cum on this dick, baby.” I smacked and rubbed her ass as she bounced wildly. I could tell she was on the verge of releasing, so I pumped harder from underneath.
“Oh, oh! Baby, I can’t!”
“Yes, the fuck you can. Now cum, and don’t make me tell you again,” I commanded. I barely got the words out before her juices were pouring out like water. The feeling was so intense I felt my own nut rising, so I held her still as I drilled into her. Sunny’s screams filled the room, and within minutes, I was releasing deep into her womb.
Her body dropped down next to me, and I chuckled, seeing the exhaustion on her face.
“What are you out of breath for? You ain’t do shit,” I lied, knowing her ass fucked my world up with her good ass pussy.
“Boy, please. That was a workout, and I’m out of shape.”
“Quit lying. There is nothing out of shape about you.” I licked my lips, admiring her body once again. For her to have given birth to twins, you would never know it. Her body was toned and perfect. Even with the addition of the stretchmarks on her belly and booty, she was still the most beautiful creation.
We lay there in silence for a moment. She must have been in her head because I noticed a faraway look in her eyes.
“What are you over there thinking about that has your face all turned up?” I probed, trying to keep the mood light.
“It isn’t anything bad. I guess I’m reflecting.”
“What about?” I had a feeling I already knew, but I wanted to hear it from her.
“It really isn’t important. Thank you for a great night. I really enjoyed myself.” I wasn’t feeling the fact that she was holding back from me. I guessed we still had some work to do in that area.
“Do you mind if I smoke in here?” I didn’t want to disrespect her home if it wasn’t okay.
“No, you’re fine. I thought you stopped smoking though?”
“Only during the season. Now that I’m retired, I smoke almost daily.” I laughed, thinking about how many times my teammates and I almost failed those drug tests in college. We were playing with our futures big time until I got into a situation that almost cost me my scholarship and my spot on the team.
I had pre-rolled a couple for the night because I was certain I would be out late. Once I had my blunt and lighter, I sat back on the bed with my back against the headboard. I heard giggling, so I turned to face her.
“What are you over there laughing at?”
“The way you casually got out of bed, with your dick swinging, and then hopped right back on my sheets with your bare ass. You’re really comfortable, aren’t you?”
“Hell yeah. I’m making myself right at home.” I grinned, offering the blunt to her after a few pulls. I expected her to turn me down, but she surprised me when she grabbed it from my fingers. I observed her to see what she would do with it. Sunny wasn’t a smoker, so I assumed she was only doing this to call my bluff. However, after the second pull, I realized that she might not have been as inexperienced as I thought she was.
“When did you start smoking?” I inquired, taking the blunt back.
“When I was raising twin toddlers while being a full-time college student and employee. Life was hectic, so when Tamia offered it, I decided to give it a try. It started as something I did to relieve stress, but once I started working in the medical field, I completely cut it out. Now, they don’t do drug tests unless you mishandle someone or get reported,” she explained as I passed her back the blunt. The two of us smoked together and talked about the boys and everything under the sun.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand, but I silenced it. It was nobody but Harper, and she was the last person I wanted to think about right now. “Come’re.” I gestured for her to sit on my lap. Without hesitation, she climbed right on top. Once she was settled, I inhaled the smoke, pressed my lips against hers, and blew it into her mouth. Our lips remained locked as I slowly fed her my tongue. My dick rocked up, but I was so deep into the kiss I didn’t stop. Sunny was full of surprises tonight. Her hands wrapped around my shaft, twisting it in her tiny hands.
“Fuck. See, I was trying to give you a break, but you want to play.”
“Are you gonna fuck me or keep talking?” I smirked. Little mama was trying to boss up on me, and I was gonna let her have it this time.
“It’s your world. Always has been.”
Sunny sat down on my dick, and we fucked on and off for the rest of the night. The connection I felt toward her scared the fuck out of me, but it also reminded me of how much I had lost. Eventually, I would have to come clean and tell her the truth, but for now, I would enjoy my piece of heaven.