Chapter 15
Solana Damita Ledesma
“It’s the accent for me, boo.” The pretty chocolate girl who had approached me while I was standing with Shio, and whom I now knew was his cousin, snickered.
"Mocha."
That’s what she told me her name was. It was odd for someone to be named after a coffee beverage, but it fit her. Her skin resembled a mocha drink with coffee that had been brewing a little longer than usual.
“I’ve been wondering what Shio’s woman would look like,” the blasian one said.
I thought I’d seen her out front in a high-low dress barking orders, but now that I was up close, this wasn't her.
While both women were gorgeous, this wife had an aura that made all the other women look at her before speaking.
Whoever the leader was— Don, in this case—she had to be his woman.
The other lady, who looked like her, had to be a relative.
If that wasn't her sister, then the genes in their family were unmatched.
“Oh, no… I’m not Shio’s. I’m engaged,” I blurted out.
The last two words that had come from my mouth were enough to make me cringe.
They didn’t taste right, nor did they sound true.
And while everyone shot me curious glances, I could see fire dance in the HBIC’s eyes.
All gazes fell on my bare ring finger, which made me wish I could take back my last statement.
I’d been promised to wed, but my fiancé hadn’t put a ring on it to seal the deal.
In fact, I’d only formally met him once, and using the word "met" was a stretch. I’d gotten all primmed and prepped, and had a doctor do a complete check-up before I was presented to him.
He took one longing look at me, as if I were the last person he wanted to bear his last name, before shooing me away and telling my father that I would "do. "
These women, all donning rings that seemed to have been curated with the world's finest diamonds, continued to look from my face to my finger. While some appeared confused, they didn’t speak about my lack of jewelry.
“I’m going to fucking kill Demise, I swear. He always got some shit going on,” she grumbled.
Demise. Was that the Don?
“Well, I’m Jisei. I’m…” She paused and looked at Dasani, who shook her head no. “I’m Dasani’s sister-in-law. Ezio, the light-skinned one, is my husband,” she boasted, showing every tooth in her mouth.
She was also pretty. I was able to point out every label she’d been wearing, from the short Oscar de la Renta black halter dress to the Gianvito Rossi heels that wrapped around her leg. It all costed money—lots of it.
“He’s lucky to have you as a wife. Nice to meet you.”
Jisei’s grin grew. “Yeah… I like her.”
“Well, again, I’m Mocha. The chocolate nigga next to the one with the dreads is my husband.”
We looked to where Mocha pointed. A handsome, dark-skinned man with deep waves stood next to an equally handsome guy with long locs. The one with the locs had a frown on his face, like the other had been annoying him.
“Nice to meet you. Yours is lucky as well.”
Mocha took a sip of her champagne. “Unh hunh! Period, pooh.”
“I’m Scarlett. Jisei and Mocha are my best friends. The one that looks oh so happy to be here is my husband. Shio and the rest of the Cuppacio men are also my cousins.”
Scarlett’s face was like an upside-down heart, and in her black Tom Ford form-fitting jumpsuit, I could see that her bottom had the same shape. Her hair was similar to mine, except it was shorter.
“Is he… okay?” He looked like he was ready to blow the entire building up.
Everyone looked at each other and laughed. Clearly, it was an inside joke, but in order not to feel awkward, I chuckled too.
“Girl, no and yes.” They laughed again. “He's okay. Matteo is just mean at times.”
Dasani scoffed. “At times? That nigga is mean all the fucking time.”
“Right! He is only nice to Princess, Scarlett, and now Pearla,” Mocha mentioned.
“What about my sister?”
Two pregnant women sauntered over. One looked as if she was ready to go into labor at any moment, while the other sported a cute bump.
I’d seen Maura pregnant multiple times and could tell she was approaching her second trimester.
She had on rose heels that were to die for, with a rose pinned in her hair that had been brushed to the side, while curls cascaded down her shoulder.
The one that was about to pop was wearing a baby-doll-style dress that went around her neck.
Instead of heels, she was in Hermes sandals and rightfully so. Still, she looked good.
“Pia, don’t come over here with all that,” Mocha shooed.
“I was just telling Solana that Matteo was mean to everyone sometimes, but Mocha says he’s nice to his sister, Pearla,” Scarlett spoke in a teasing manner.
Pia rolled her eyes so hard I knew they had traveled through the back of her skull. “Ugh, that nigga is not her brother.”
“DNA says he is, boo. Sharing is caring.” Dasani clucked.
“Leave my man alone!” Scarlett said in a high-pitched tone. “He’s so happy he has a sister now. He’s been nicer to everyone since finding out.”
There was so much love in Scarlett's eyes as she spoke about her husband. It stirred something in my belly, but at the same time made me feel sad. I’d never know what that feels like. Anytime my future husband comes to mind, I want to barf.
“Ughhh. Patty knows she wrong for that one. Pearla and I don’t do brothers.”
The ladies continued to laugh and tease.
“You’re pretty. Hey, I’m Discover.” She held her hand out and I took it. Discover looked so familiar, but I couldn't place where I’d seen her before.
“Hi, I’m—”
“Mexi-Mami,” the one they called Pia said. “My son is Neltz. He told me he met you at his Uncle Shio’s house. Couldn't stop talking about you.” Pia’s perfectly filled-in brow rose in a questioning manner, but the grin on her face had me offering her a tight smile as well.
Pia looked no older than me. There was no way she had a son around Neltz’s age. But then again, I could see the resemblance. She was beautiful. Neltz was handsome. I’d been right with my assumption that he’d come from a set of attractive parents, or at least an attractive mom.
“It’s nice to meet you both. Neltz is hermano. He was nice too. Very well-mannered little boy.”
Everyone paused before laughs erupted.
“Girl, boo… You ain’t gotta lie. Neltz is bad as fuck!” Dasani cackled, and I didn’t know if I was being jested on an American TV show.
“Facts. Lil’ negro gone have all of us getting grey hair before our time. I’m too young and fly for that shit!” Mocha waved her hands, and Jisei and Scarlett were falling on each other, laughing.
Pia smiled while rubbing her belly. “Not too much on my firstborn.”
Everyone was tossing jokes back and forth, but I just looked on in bewilderment. To make sure Pia wasn’t offended, I offered more words. “Oh! Neltz is your son? Forgive my shock, but you look so young.”
“That’s because I am young, girl. Pushed his big-headed ass out when I was just a baby myself.”
I couldn't imagine having a child not only out of wedlock but also young.
My father would have never stood for that, and I enjoyed my freedom seeing firsthand how my brothers wore Maura down even with nanny help.
Being responsible for anything other than myself sounded repulsive.
That's why I was going to figure out a way to get on birth control before I was handed off to my new family.
I was going to stall extending the Rodríguez lineage for as long as possible.
As if she could read my mind, Dasani asked, “Do you have any children?”
I shook my head probably harder than I needed to. “I do not.”
“Good. Don’t fucking have none. This pregnancy is tearing my back up.” Pia’s hand went to her lower back while Discover rubbed her stomach.
“Yes, then it's two in here, so imagine how mine feel. I told Metavello this is it! I’m so done after this. I’m having a mommy makeover and getting my damn tubes tied. Three children is too close to ten.”
“Renello know to not even play with me on that level. Last I checked, it was only one in here. Hopefully it’s a girl. If not, tough fucking titty.”
“You two are married to the twins?” I asked for clarity.
Pia held her hand up, showing off her unique stone. “Engaged.”
“I’m pregnant by the other,” Discover emitted through some heavy breaths.
“Nah, for real. Demise thinks he can put a son in me. That nigga gotta be snorting that good shit if he thinks I’m carrying another one of his big-headed-ass babies.
Delicate is bad as fuck. Pie face ass barely fucks with me like that!
” Dasani was rolling her eyes, but the grin hadn’t left her face.
“Snorting?” I questioned as my hands tightened around the flute.
“Yeap! Gotta be snorting some good shit for sure.”
The ladies laughed again, but I was trying to stop myself from asking more questions. Clearing my throat, I looked around the ballroom. Everything was as elegante y precioso (elegant and precious). It felt as if I’d stepped inside a dream. I hadn’t been to an event more breathtaking.
“I don’t mean to pry, but what’s the occasion?” I asked to no one in particular.
“Oh.” Discover grinned. “It’s my surprise engagement.”
I drew back without intention. My puzzlement must’ve been funny to the ladies because they continued laughing in ongoing giggles.
“Listen, Metavello can’t hide shit to save his life.
With the way Essex canceled his shows and insisted I had the nanny in town to get Discovery for the weekend, and how my man has been on edge all week, I already knew what was up,” Discover revealed, while Pia shook her head with a smirk on her face.
“Yeah, hood niggas can’t do shit right,” Mocha added.
Jisei raised her glass in the air. “Right. I’m still shook up that Ezio did mine right and without me knowing.”
“Same,” Pia chimed in. “I didn’t have a clue what Renello had going on. I just thought we were going to dinner for my birthday.”