Chapter 11
Kannon
“Baby! Please come zip me up!” I exclaimed from my bedroom.
I tried to calm my nerves, but for the third time, I wiped my hands on a rag. I found out I was pregnant three weeks ago, and every time I thought about telling my loved ones, I became a sweaty mess.
When Neptune walked in the room, I noticed him squinting as if lost in thought.
“Neptune, are you okay? You’ve been more quiet than usual.” I looked at him through the vanity mirror.
“I’m okay. I’ve had a lot on my mind lately,” he admitted before kissing my shoulder. “I’ll tell you more about it once I have everything figured out.”
“I guess I’ll let you have it this time. Do you think this dress is showing too much?”
“If it was, I would’ve ripped it off your body.”
I snickered. “You’re so rough. I love it. Do you want to come with me?”
“Kitty, you don’t want me to go out with you and your friends. Why are you acting like a baby?”
“Because,” I whined. “I know my cousin is going to go off when she sees me with my little bump. I’m still surprised I’m showing the way I am. One day, I went to bed with a flat belly, and the next, I woke up with a bump.”
“One day, you’re going to wake up, and you won’t be able to see your feet. You might as well get it over with. You can’t hide forever.”
“Hiding would mean I’m ashamed. I’m proud to have your baby.”
“Then stop sulking, and finish getting ready. You already flaked on Yari and Nola the last time you were supposed to kick it.”
I breathed away my indecisiveness and sprayed myself with perfume while asking, “Can you drop me off? You don’t have to stay.”
“I got you, mama. I’ll drop you off, then post up at Echo’s gym until you’re done.”
I added the finishing touches to my simple look, then followed Neptune out the door.
The sky was gloomy, but I prayed my news added a little light to the day.
The last time I was supposed to meet Yari and Nola, I asked to reschedule.
I didn’t feel like being questioned about something I viewed as a blessing, and once I told my girls, I would have to tell my family.
When we arrived at the restaurant, I moved to open the door, but Neptune got out of the car. I expected him to kiss me goodbye and go on his merry way, but he grabbed my hand and walked toward the entrance.
“Baby, you don’t have to walk me in.”
“I don’t have to, but I am.”
“You’re parked in the red,” I argued.
He carried my hand up to his greased lips. “Stop worrying. I’m going to walk you inside, then I’ll go.”
As soon as we walked up to the restaurant, I saw my girls sitting at a table on the front deck. I purposely let my trench coat fly open, so my bump was on display in my fitted white dress.
“What’s good, ladies?” Neptune dapped their fists like they were his homeboys.
Yari twisted her neck, though a grin threatened to break through. “You tell me. I brought dinner to your house two weeks ago, and that bump wasn’t there.”
I shrugged. “It was. I just hid it under sweats and Neptune’s hoodie.”
“Why?” Yari asked with a twinge of annoyance.
“That’s my cue to go,” Neptune suggested. “Kitty, call me when you’re ready.”
Once my lover was out of sight, I had no one to stand between me and my girls’ questions. I took a seat, then reached for a menu, though it was pointless since they covered the table with appetizers.
“Hello. We’re waiting,” Nola restarted the conversation. “When did you find out?”
“Let me start from the beginning. About three weeks ago, I had a seizure while I was at Mr. Sinner’s birthday party, and Neptune insisted on me going to the hospital. They ran a blood test and confirmed my pregnancy.”
“Bestie, why have you been keeping so much from us?”
“Because she got a man,” my cousin added. “To be honest, I really love that for you. A sisterhood is beautiful, but there is nothing like having a man to confide in. That means you feel safe.”
My vision got blurry when tears accumulated in my eyes. “I do. Even if I don’t agree with his opinion, I trust he won’t tell me anything wrong. I kept the news close because we planned to have this big reveal, but Neptune told his family. I knew I needed to tell mine.”
Yari looked pleased. “Thank God! I was worried you hadn’t told your daddy.”
“I haven’t. When I said family, I was talking about you and Nola.”
“Girl, when are you going to tell your daddy?”
“Soon. He isn’t worried about me. He’s been in and out of town for months.”
“So you believe it’s okay for him to be in the blind about your pregnancy? You better watch yourself. Junior told my brother you’re dating Neptune, so I’m sure your daddy knows.”
I reached for a saucer like Yari was talking about something I should be concerned with.
“How far along are you? What are we having?” Nola fired off more questions.
My cousin laced me with a pointed glare. “The real question is, when are you going to tell your daddy?’
“Damn! One question at a time. I turned seventeen weeks today. I don’t know what we’re having.
Neptune doesn’t want to know, and I’m indecisive.
Our doctor has the gender on standby in case I change my mind.
” I glared at Yari. “Believe it or not, I’ve tried calling your favorite uncle a few times, but he didn’t pick up.
I can’t say I’m surprised, but I’m not eager to incite drama.
My pregnancy is high risk. I can’t lose my baby chasing behind my father. ”
Always thinking of me, Nola asked how I felt about my pregnancy.
“I’m happy. Scared, but happy.”
“What are you scared of? The moment you said the word pregnant, I started ordering baby stuff. My god baby will be straight.”
“I’m sure you have a cart full of baby Burberry ready to ship.” A sigh slumped my shoulders. “I’m afraid I won’t know how to be a mom. Neptune and I are both motherless kids. Maybe I can borrow Ms. Mosby from the nursing home.”
“Hm. No. We’re done with kidnapping people,” Yari joked.
“Your feelings are valid. No one can replace your mama. I also know what type of person you are. The time you had with your mama was enough to make you into the beautiful, smart, kind person you are today. If you pour into your baby the way your mama poured into you, you don’t have a thing to worry about. ”
I hadn’t been to The Sinner’s Spot since my fight, and as soon as I walked in, I regretted not staying in the car. As nice as it was, the place held memories of me showing my ass and pissing Neptune off more than I ever had.
“Do you want to come with me upstairs?”
“Nope. I’ll be at the slot machine until you’re done.”
Neptune dug in his pocket and handed me a handful of change. “Don’t spend it all in one place.”
“Why not? You’ll give me more if I need it.”
He yanked me to him by the collar of my blue Ralph Lauren polo dress.
Since my pregnancy was confirmed, I had been wearing blue a lot, trying to manifest my baby boy.
Next to being nervous about motherhood, I was worried about what having a little girl would mean.
We were on our way to meet Easy and his girlfriend for a double date, but one of Neptune’s cousins asked him to help with something at the casino.
The room was quiet, no one in the popular spot except for a bartender and a few security guards.
I got comfortable at the only slot machine in the building and played a few games. When I heard a heavy steel door close, I peered over my shoulder. The sight of Levi and his father made me swallow hard. They shared a menacing look that triggered me to grip the handle of the gun in my purse.
“Oh, shit. You gon’ shoot me now?” Levi chuckled.
“I’ll do more than that if you keep trying to press me. You don’t know me to have an issue.”
His father looked me up and down like he wanted to swing. “I know enough, especially if you’re anything like your grimy-ass daddy.”
“My daddy isn’t hard to find. If you’re still pissed about some beef that started before I was born, talk to him about it.”
Levi reached in my direction, and I smacked his hand away with my bag.
“Don’t touch me. Are you trying to give my baby bad luck?”
“I can’t touch you? Weren’t you looking for me?” He stretched his arms wide. “I’m here now. That could’ve been my baby if you paid attention to details.”
His father grimaced. “Over my dead body. No grandbaby of mine could ever share the blood of a person I don’t fuck with.” He smiled. “It’s too late to fix this and find a clinic.”
“It’s not too soon for me to send you to hell.
If you know my daddy like you said, you should know his daughter isn’t to be fucked with.
I will break into your house and shoot you with a drug that will make you feel like you’re burning from the inside out.
Leave me, my man, and my kid the fuck alone. ”
I smelled Neptune before I saw him, which caused me to put on a smile. He walked over to where we stood, then looked between the loser duo and me.
“Everything coo’, Kannon?”
“Everything’s cool.”
“You sure? Don’t protect these bastards.”
“I would never. I’m protecting you. They want to see you off your square. I’m creating balance, baby.” I showed him the end of my gun. “I got us too, Mr. Sinner.”
We shared a goofy laugh that birthed mumbles and groans from his family.
Neptune expressed how his brother was a stickler for time, so we hurried from the casino and arrived at the bowling alley ten minutes before Easy and his girlfriend were scheduled to arrive. While we waited, Neptune paid for a lane and bowling shoes for everyone, then guided me to the food court.
“Are you hungry?” he asked me.
“Not really.”
His curly lashes started flapping rapidly. “So, if I order food, you don’t want any?”
“Nope. I said I’m not hungry.”
“Yeah, okay. We’ll see.”
With everything ordered and paid for, I sat near our lane. Neptune insisted on putting on my bowling shoes, and I let him. Any time I thought to complain about his chivalry, I took heed to Ms. Mosby’s warning.
“Hello, Kannon. Are you feeling better?” Easy asked as he walked over with Stephanie at his side.
“It’s nice to see you again, Easy.” I gazed at his girlfriend. “It’s nice to see you again too, Stephanie. Are you ready to bowl?”
“I’m ready,” she replied with a toothless smile.
Neptune playfully smacked his brother in the center of his chest. “Don’t worry about the shoes. I already took care of that, baby boy.”
Easy adjusted his glasses, obviously annoyed. “You didn’t have to pay for me and my girlfriend. I have money.”
Neptune’s head jerked. “Don’t get it twisted. You have more money than me. I expect you to pay me back.”
“Okay. Request the money on Apple Pay. I don’t send tips either.”
As the pair went back and forth, I sat back and admired how Neptune treated his brother.
Regardless of Easy being different, Neptune spoke and pestered him like any big brother would.
In Easy’s presence, an innocence melted over a man I knew to be a mean ass.
The layers to Neptune only made me want to dig deeper and love him more.
Once everyone was ready to bowl, we all picked a ball, and our server brought our food out. My mouth watered as soon as the trays of finger food touched the table. It looked like Neptune ordered two of everything on the menu, which could feed a party of twenty.
While the Sinner brothers added our information to the monitor, I fixed Neptune and myself a plate.
“Stephanie, do you need any help?” I asked when she grabbed plates from the table.
“No, I know how to take care of me and Easy. We eat fine every day. I got it.”
On the inside I giggled, but on the surface, I nodded. I couldn’t blame Stephanie for checking me. Had someone I barely knew made me feel incapable of day-to-day tasks, I would’ve been sassy too.
“I thought you said you weren’t hungry,” Neptune whispered when he flopped down beside me.
“Shut up.” I snickered. “Here. I made you one too.”
Though we were stuffing our faces, Easy was ready for the game. He walked up, swinging his bowling ball like he was practicing his moves.
“Did we come here to eat or bowl?” he wondered aloud.
Neptune laughed. “Was that a dig at me too?”
Easy laughed and pointed to the plate. “You’re eating too, right?”
“Okay. You want to show out in front of your girl. Keep that same energy when I kick yo’ ass in this game.”
Easy pulled his glasses to the bridge of his nose. “Does it look like I’m scared?”
During the playful shit talking, I saw Neptune dig in his pocket, look at his phone, then put it away.
A second later, Easy had his phone in hand.
A heavy sense of worry caused me to put my fork down before taking another bite.
All day, Neptune’s gold grill had been on display, but in an instant, a grimace stole his joy.
His lips set apart, and his limbs got so loose the phone fell from his grasp.
“Neptune.” I placed my hand on his chest, and the quick pace of his heartbeat spooked me. “Neptune.”
A faraway look packed his eyes. “That was Uncle Luke. My dad died.”