10. Chapter Ten
10
Chapter Ten
Nic
sometime later…
T oday I was having the worst case of morning sickness that I’ve ever had. I’d done a good job at keeping my pregnancy from my mama because I didn’t need her all in my business or judging me. All that went out of the window today because she heard me throwing up and came in to check on me.
“So, how far along are you?” she asked. I gave a dumbfounded look because why did she automatically assume I was pregnant. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m your mama and I’ve been pregnant three times, so I know the signs. Besides, I haven’t seen you take a drink in weeks.”
Sighing, I brushed my teeth and rinsed my mouth out before I turned to her and respond.
“I haven’t been to the doctor yet, but I can’t be more than two months,” I responded.
“Do you know whose it is?” she asked.
I frowned because I know she didn’t ask me that.
“Ma, for real? Why wouldn’t I know who I was pregnant by?” I countered.
“I’m just saying. I was young once too. Hell, I had to get a test for you because I didn’t know if you belonged to your daddy or Mel’s.” she shrugged. I could do nothing but shake my head because our mama is always upfront with us, so I shouldn’t have expected her to say anything else.
“Yeah, I know whose it is. I just don’t know what to do about it because we’re not together and he’s not exactly the father-figure that you would want for your child.” At that moment, I realized I fucked up. I couldn’t raise a child by myself, and Buck didn’t give me Father of The Year vibes, so I know I was in a fucked up situation.
“What did he say?
“He really didn’t say much. Initially, when I went to tell him, he had another girl with him and tried to play me, so I blurted it out in anger and left. When I came home, he was outside waiting for me.”
“Wait. It’s your boss’?” she asked for clarity.
“Yeah,” I breathed out.
“Nic—,” she started, but I cut her off.
“I wasn’t working for him when I slept with him. It was like a week prior. It was a one-night thing that just got out of hand,” I revealed. I let her know we used protection, but some kind of way I still ended up pregnant. She felt a little better after knowing I wasn’t out here being completely irresponsible.
“Well, I’ll tell you this. You’re not getting rid of it because that’s not what we do. If he doesn’t want it, fuck him. That’s why you have me as a mama. I suggest that the two of you sit down and have an adult conversation about your adult actions. Whatever you decide, though, make sure it’s what you want to do and not what he wants you to do.” I nodded because my mama was right. I knew she would support me as well as Mel. I just didn’t want to burden them with my problems.
“Thanks, Ma.” I hugged her, and she reciprocated.
“Anytime, baby. But you really tripping making me a grandma. I’m at the prime of my life and you come with this grandma shit.” she smirked.
“You’ll be a fine grandma, though.”
“I know that’s right.” We laughed as we exited the bathroom. She went her way, and I went mine. I had to go to work tonight, and I was going to talk to Buck before the night was over with. He’s been avoiding me, and I’ve been doing the same. My mama was right. We need to talk like adults since fucking like some got us in our current situation.
***
It was Friday night, so I knew we would be busy tonight. Even without the people here watching the game, we still had the after-work crowd. I spoke to Kasha on the way and went straight to my spot at the bar. Like clockwork, Armani brought her loose wig wearing ass over to bother me. I ignored her for the most part because she knew better than to try me. Pregnant or not. I’d wear her ugly ass out.
“Hey, Nic. You okay?” Kasha came over to ask. Her question caught me off guard, but she gave me a knowing look.
Did he tell her?
“I’m fine. Thanks.”
“Okay. Let me know if you need a break or just to sit and I’ll step in for you,” she offered.
“Since when do you offer to help?” Armani butt in.
“I can take over for you right now since you wanna get in my business.” Kasha cocked her head to the side. I knew she meant sending her raggedy ass home. Instead of responding, she rolled her eyes and went back to the customers that were waiting.
“You good, girl?” Jazz asked. We became close since I started working. We both had a common dislike for Armani.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” We busied ourselves to make sure that the customers were straight and avoided Armani at all costs.
Kasha left the bar area, and I went back to work. I didn’t want any special privileges because I was pregnant. I came here to do a job, and that’s exactly what I intend to do until it was time for me to push.
We had a brief rush that was finally over, and we had an hour left before we closed. I started my end of the night routine when Stacks approached me.
“Aye, Nic. I got this. My brother wants to see you in his office.” I turned around and saw that he started breaking things down.
“You don’t have to do that. I got it,” I voiced.
“You good. Besides, he told me to come do the shit like I’m on his payroll or some shit,” he chuckled, and I followed suit. Stacks was cool and funny as hell.
“Thank you, but I’ll come back and finish,” I offered before walking off and heading toward the back where Buck’s office was located. When I got to the door, it was shut, so I knocked.
“It’s open,” he yelled from the opposite side. When I walked in, he was smoking a blunt and on the phone. “Aye, let me handle this. Hit me up later.”
“Aight, bro. Act like you got some sense, nigga.” I heard a male voice say.
“Watch out,” was Buck’s rebuttal. He hung up the phone and stared at me.
“You wanted to see me?” I asked, since all he was capable of at the moment was staring at me.
“Yeah. I need to holla at you. Go get your stuff and meet me at the back door,” he ordered.
“I’on think that’s a good idea. We can talk here. I’on need people starting rumors about me fucking you. I’m already two seconds from losing my job if Armani keeps trying me,” I contended.
“Fuck Armani and anybody else. They know better than to have my name in their mouths. Now, go get ya shit so we can slide.” I looked at this nigga like he lost his mind but for some reason the look on his face let me know not to go against what he just said.
Turning on my heels, I went to get my things from my locker and my money from upfront. When Armani saw me retrieving my things, you could visibly see the fire in her eyes.
“You out, sis?” Stacks asked. He had Kasha backed in a corner but gave me his attention when he noticed me.
“I guess so. Kasha, is it okay that I leave now?” Even though Buck paid me, Kasha was my immediate supervisor, so I wanted to clear it with her first.
“I don’t override the boss, so you’re good.” I simpered as I watched her shove Stacks out of her way. After grabbing my things, I left them and headed toward the back entrance. The closer I got; I heard Buck’s deep timbre cursing Armani the fuck out.
“Armani, I swear on my mama bro, if you question me again, I’m gone knock ya teeth in ya shoes. You ain’t my bitch, so what the fuck I do ain’t got shit to do with you. Question me again and you gone hate me, bro.” I made my appearance, and he looked up and saw me before Armani did. “You ready?” he asked. When he spoke, Armani snapped her head in my direction.
“Yeah,” was all I said as I walked past this thirsty bitch.
“You might wanna worry about your wig lifting instead of what I do with my pussy,” I spewed as I walked her. She stood there fuming, but that was her problem for always fucking with me. Buck held the door open for me, then opened his truck door. This side of him was foreign because I never heard stories about him being a gentleman, but I guess it wasn’t revealed to his hoes.
Wait. Ain’t I ones of his hoes?
“You hungry?” Buck asked as he pulled off.
“No.”
“You ate tonight?” he countered, glancing at me briefly.
“I snacked on some chips,” I revealed. I couldn’t eat much without getting sick, so I tried not to eat much at work.
“That ain’t shit. You need to eat something other than chips,” he voiced. My only response was to stare at the side of his sexy ass face. He said nothing else as he continued to drive.
“I get sick when I eat,” I mumbled.
He glanced over at me before picking up the phone and making a call. When it connected, a woman’s voice that flowed through the speakers.
“Ma. What’s good for throwing up?” he asked.
I almost died because if he was asking his mama these types of questions, that meant she knew about me.
“For you or the young lady?” she asked.
“It’s for her.”
“Give her some peppermints or ginger ale. Orange juice can help too, but some women develop acid reflux with the juice. The mints should help in the meantime,” she informed.
“Thanks, Ma.”
“You’re welcome, baby,” she countered. “Lincoln,” she called out his government name.
“Yeah, Ma?”
“Be nice,” she said right before hanging up.
Laughing at his mother’s words, he pulled up to a gas station and got out, saying nothing. I watched as he got his fine ass out and swaggered inside of the store. I took that time to text Mel.
Wyd heaux?
I didn’t know if she was asleep or not. I knew she worked earlier, so she could’ve gone to bed already.
Sissy: Talking wit’ my boo. Wassup?
I smirked because she still hadn’t told me who this mystery boo was, and they’ve been dealing for the past two years. I’ve concluded he was married, and she was a well-kept side chick. I wasn’t judging my sister because that was her business. I was just nosy and wanted to know.
When I’m gone meet this mystery man?
Sissy: When it’s time. Wassup, though?
I was just letting you know I was with Buck. He’s trying to feed me, so if something happens to me, he did it.
She laughed at my text right when Buck was getting back into the car.
Sissy: Stop being dramatic, but I’ll check your location to make sure you’re not in the middle of the woods somewhere.
“I know that ain’t no nigga you texting in my shit, Goldie?” he snarled when he got back in the car. I gave him a nasty glare before turning my attention back to my phone.
Not this nigga getting his friendly dick in this car and questioning me…lol.
Before I could see what Mel said, he snatched up my phone.
“Who the fuck is Mel?” he asked, dialing the number in the process. I didn’t respond because he would find out soon as she answered the phone.
“Nic?” she answered in a worried tone.
“Aye, who is this?” Buck asked.
“Where’s my sister?” Mel countered.
“She’s good. She’s right here,” he answered.
“Nic,” she called out to me again.
“I’m good Mel,” I assured. If I didn’t, she would be on the way. I already heard her moving around.
“Oh, aight,” was all he said before he hung up. “Why you and yo’ sister got nigga names,” he quizzed.
“We don’t have nigga names. My name is Nicari, and hers is Jameala. We just go by Nic and Mel for short. Why the fuck you and your brothers got old white men names,” I countered, and he chuckled but didn’t respond.
I was surprised to see that we were pulling up to his building. Instead of parking in the front lot, he went through the back and parked in a parking garage. I looked at his side profile once again, but he said nothing. Once he had the truck parked, he rounded the truck and opened the door for me. He still said nothing. I was started to get nervous because this lot was dark as hell. I reached for my phone but realized he still had it.
When we got inside, we went to a different elevator. I watch him press P5. The doors opened to an apartment like the one downstairs, but this was more on a penthouse level. It had floor to ceiling windows that gave a beautiful view of downtown. There was a fireplace in the living room with a seventy-five inch tv mounted above it. The entire color scheme, from what I could see, was brown and gold. I turned around, and he was right behind me, causing me bump into his chest.
“Here.” He handed me the bag he got from the gas station and walked toward the kitchen, which was equally massive and beautiful as the living room. It had brown marble counter tops with copper-colored appliances. The connected dining area had a glass table with eight copper- colored leather chairs around it.
“Whose house is this?” I asked.
“It’s mine, and now yours.”
Mine? What did he mean by mine?
“I thought you lived downstairs and what do you mean by mine?”
“I live there too, and you’ll be staying here so I can keep an eye on you. I got some shit in the other room until tomorrow. You can make a list, or we can go together, but this is going to be your residence until we find out if that baby is mine or not. For your sake, you better hope it is or both of y’all gone be singing ‘Going Up To Yonder’, because you’ll definitely go to be with your Lord.” I just stood and looked at him like he’d lost his mind before he started speaking again. “Come on,” he demanded as he walked down the hallway and opened the door to a bedroom.
“This is your room. It only has the basics right now. You can do with it as you please. My room is on the other side of the house but don’t just walk in my shit. You’re free to make something for you to eat. I got some shit in there and whatever I don’t have that you fuck with, I’ll grab it.”
“You’re going to stay here, too?” I had to ask because this wasn’t the place I came to.
“Yeah. I’on bring bitches up here, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“So, you’re going to be fucking other bitches while I’m up here doing what, exactly?” I placed my hand on my hips and cocked my head to the side.
“You’re not my bitch, so it shouldn’t matter,” was all he said before he turned around to leave.
This nigga has really lost his mind as I stood there and watched his sexy ass walk away. I couldn’t wait to tell Mel about this shit.