Chapter 23 Baye
One Month Later
June
It was the first day of summer, the weather was nice, and the kids were finally out of school for summer break. Things between Alicia and I had been moving at a steady pace. I still took care of the kids during the day and left before they went down for bed.
Most nights, I’d have to double back because her freaky ass wanted to get tossed up. I didn’t mind at all, because I couldn’t get enough of her ass either.
Today, she and the kids would officially meet my parents. Gloria and Brian had been on my head for weeks about bringing Alicia and the kids over, since Bilal and Sheena came running their mouths after the party.
They must have said more than I expected because even my pops was on my head about them. Pops never called me to talk about my love life. Not saying he didn’t want what was best for me, but he didn’t show this much interest when I was dating Nyami.
I knew why though.
Nyami was a totally different vibe from Alicia. When she’d come around, she didn’t really say much, and she would act as if she wanted to be anywhere but sitting at the dinner table with my parents.
That bourgeois attitude and stuck-up nature exuded from her pores like lava.
When I looked back at all the shit she used to do, I couldn’t believe I was really in love with that.
It had to be because she didn’t act that way when we were alone.
She was actually cool as hell and acted down-to-earth.
But when we’d get around people, or my nieces and nephews would come by, her ass would flip faster than a nigga being interrogated.
She wasn’t meant for me, and sad to say, I was relieved that she didn’t go through with the pregnancy. That toxic, bourgeois shit would have been eighteen years of bullshit with her. Hell, the fact that she didn’t even like kids should have told me something.
I dodged the bullet.
Thank God.
I invited Alicia’s family as well. Her pops was up here for a week to see his kids and grandkids, so I thought it’d be cool for our parents to get acquainted since she was never going anywhere. Even her aunt Alexis had come up from Atlanta, so I told my bestie to invite her as well.
What Alicia didn’t know was that this was a surprise birthday party for her, since she claimed she didn’t want to do anything.
That wasn’t happening on my watch. My family was big on celebrating.
We celebrated birthdays, promotions, new jobs, all that, so there was no way I wasn’t going to do something nice for her.
Currently, the kids and I were in the family room, waiting for Alicia’s slow behind. She had never taken this long to get ready. My pops called two times already because we were supposed to have been there an hour ago.
“Mr. B, is it time to go yet? I’m ready to see my friends,” Chloe said. Her friends meaning my soldiers.
“Right. What is Mom doing?”
I chuckled. “Let me go get your mama, then we can go.”
“Okay,” Chloe replied.
I stood from the couch and headed down the hall, then up the stairs to Alicia’s bedroom. I twisted the knob and walked inside to see her sitting on the bench in front of the bed, staring at the blank TV.
“Baby, what’s wrong?”
Her eyes came to me, and she released a breath. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
My mind instantly went into panic mode.
I hope we’re not doing this shit again.
Before I could ask, she continued. “You know my family does the most, Basil. They’re going to embarrass me in front of your family. I just know it.”
The tightness in my chest loosened, and I exhaled the tension. I walked over and sat next to her, wrapping my arm around her waist. I smiled down at her. “Is that what you’re worried about? Baby, my people ain’t how you think they are. They can get a little crazy too.”
“Not like mine, I’m sure.”
“You got a point, but if anything, ya people are entertaining. My family will appreciate that. Trust me.”
“So you’re saying my family is a bunch of clowns? Got it.”
I laughed heartily. “What I’m saying is, your family are jokesters, and my family loves a good laugh, and they also embarrass me too.
You don’t think my brother and Sheena ain’t gon’ clown me?
And let’s not forget Tray. You see how the hell he’s been since you met him at the mansion.
Nigga been clowning me for weeks, baby.”
“He’s going to be there?”
“Of course. He’s family.”
“Oh Lord. Now this is really about to be a shit-show.”
I chuckled. “You’re thinking too much into this, my love. Get your fine ass up, and let’s go. My gang is ready to go play with their cousins and splash around in the pool, and you up here sulking about something that’s not even a big deal.”
She sighed again and nodded. I stood and brought her up with me. My eyes scanned her attire, and I wanted to sit her on my face.
“You know what wearing all white does to me,” I told her, licking my lips and grabbing a handful of her ass.
“You can get it if you want it. We didn’t have my birthday sex yet,” she flirted, sliding her palm over my dick.
I chuckled. “Nah, I know what you’re trying to do. Let’s go.”
She pouted, and I chuckled, leading her out of the room.
We arrived at my parents’ house around three. I got out of my truck, then went around to open the door for Alicia. I helped her out, then opened the door for the kids.
“Don’t forget y’all bags,” I told Chloe and Carsyn.
“We got them!” Chloe exclaimed in excitement, as always.
I unbuckled Carlee and closed the door, taking Alicia’s hand, then headed toward the back of the house. As soon as we turned the corner, everyone yelled, “Surprise!”
Alicia’s palm went to her chest, truly surprised by the outburst.
“What the—” Her eyes came up to me in shock as I smiled and kissed her temple.
“Happy birthday, baby.”
“Yayyy! A birthday party!” Chloe yelled in excitement. Carlee clapped along, oblivious to what was going on, but she knew we were celebrating something.
“Happy birthday again, Mommy,” Carsyn said, wrapping his arms around her waist.
“Thank you, my handsome prince.” She bent and kissed his forehead. “Baayye,” Alicia whined, wrapping her arms around me. “Did you do all of this?” she asked when she pulled away.
“I had a little help.”
My parents and hers walked over to us with smiles on their faces.
“Nana! Pop Pop!” Chloe and Carsyn rushed over to them.
My moms stepped up first. “Happy birthday, beautiful. It’s nice to finally meet you,” she said and wrapped her arms around Alicia. Alicia smiled widely and hugged her back.
“Likewise.”
“How are you, sweetheart? Happy birthday. I couldn’t wait to meet the lady who has my son doing the most,” my pops said, hugging her as well.
Alicia blushed. “Nice to meet you as well.” Alicia hugged and kissed her parents.
“And who are these adorable babies?” Moms asked.
“This my daughter, Chloe, my son, Carsyn, and my baby girl, Carlee,” Alicia introduced.
“Hi, babies. My name is Gloria. I’m Basil’s mom.”
“Hi!” Chloe and Carsyn exclaimed.
“So precious.” Moms beamed. “Well, let’s not keep everyone waiting any longer.”
“Right,” I said, side-eyeing Alicia. She nudged me with her shoulder, then went to hug her aunt. Everyone in attendance showered her with love and affection. My soldiers hugged her, then they all took off to get ready for the pool.
The party lasted well into the night.
Alicia had finally loosened up, and she and her family laughed and danced all day. She was worried for nothing because her family was actually on their best behavior. They were still their normal selves, but it wasn’t over-the-top like they would normally be with Alicia.
Her aunt Lex, Ms. Anika, Ms. Vicki, and my moms got along well. A little too well. They had been cackling and drinking the spiked punch Lal always made for every event. I warned them not to drink it, but they ignored me, and now they were buzzing and talking crazy.
After we ate, Alicia opened her gifts, smiled, laughed, and cried the whole time. When she opened my gift, she smiled even wider, seeing the Birkin satchel with her name stitched on it. She beamed brightly and thanked me a million times.
When I told her to look inside, she pulled out a matching legal pad cover with her initials on it, a lady Patek Philippe, a diamond bracelet with all the kids’ names on it, and twenty thousand in cash to do whatever she wanted with it.
My heart skipped a beat when she wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me in front of everybody.
We weren’t particularly hiding our relationship, because those who knew, knew how I was coming behind her.
It was because she was showing a public display of affection, and that shit made my chest explode.
I was so excited that I picked her up and ran toward the pool with her screaming, “Basil! You better not!” But it was too late. I jumped right in, soaking us both.
She was pissed at me for all of thirty seconds before we played around in the pool, then Lal, Sheena, and Tray joined in.
We were now dry, sitting in one of the cabanas, sipping champagne and bourbon while listening to DaBaby.
The sun was going down, and the parents took their party inside while we stayed outside, just vibing. It wasn’t until Raeley finally showed up that things got interesting.
Tray had called some chick over that he had been kicking it with to the party, and I could feel the tension before anybody opened their mouths to speak.
He told me Raeley had been dodging him and ignoring his phone calls. He also told me that they got married a week after the party, and ever since, Rae had disappeared.
I didn’t know which one blew me most: the fact that his ass actually married her, or that Raeley even went through with it.
This is going to be interesting, I thought, looking over at Alicia, who was tipsy and smiling at me, already knowing things were about to get messy.
Raeley walked over to the cabana, and Alicia stood to greet her.
“Hey, Cousin. Happy birthday, baby.” Rae smiled and hugged her tight while handing her a gift bag.