Chapter Eighteen
Birthday Changes
Ella
Istep back and admire the three-layered chocolate cake I spent hours in my kitchen baking and decorating in a Sonic the Hedgehog theme.
We were in a private party room. But thankfully, it had large glass windows that faced out toward the play area. It made it easy for parents to sit comfortably in the room's privacy but still be able to monitor their kids.
A smile fills my face when I spot Mitch play fighting with the boys in the giant ball pit.
Since that night two weeks ago, I haven’t brought up an expiration date. I’m still terrified of the outcome of this. And I still believe that there is an expiration date. However, I’m finally doing what everyone has been suggesting, and that’s living in the moment.
Something I haven’t done in forever. I’m always planning and trying to figure things out. But this time, I’m just allowing life to happen without planning for the outcome.
As if he could feel my gaze on him, Mitch looks up from where he’s standing, and his sight falls on me. One of his brows quirks up in that silent question of “are you alright”. I smile and nod my head.
He winks at me. It sends a shiver up my spine.
I swear that man has a spell over my body.
With just a wink, a touch, a smile, he can have my body hot and ready for him in an instant.
I don’t think I’ve felt this desired since I was in high school and Andrew and I would make out for hours before we started having sex.
Mitch makes me feel like a teenager again. As if he can’t keep his hands off me. If I walk into a room, he’s ready for me. If I brush up against him, he groans with need. He does not know what that does to my ego. To be wanted like that is such a big turn-on.
“Dang, that cake is beautiful.”
I turn at the sound of Pam’s voice. She walks in with a large gift bag in her hands. Behind her are Destiny, Kyra, Ari, and Meagan.
“Ladies, what are you doing here?”
Although they all knew about this party, and they were all invited, I didn’t expect them to come. I figured Meagan would show up because the twins would want to come and play. But Pam and Destiny didn’t have kids.
Pam waves me off. “Of course we were coming. You know we’re going to support our nephew.”
“Exactly,” Destiny says as she hugs me.
“Well, I’m not going to lie,” Meagan says, placing her gifts down on the table. “I came for the free babysitting.”
“Meagan?” Kyra scolds playfully, handing me Ari.
I laugh as I kiss Ari’s chubby cheek.
Meagan shrugs. “Y'all know the twins are nonstop. And thankfully, their big cousin AJ has no problem running them until they're tired.” She chuckles. “As soon as he saw the boys, he came and took them from me. He and Malik took them over to the kids' area.”
Pam takes Ari from my arms and gives her one of the juices I have in the cooler. I rake my hand through my hair.
“You know, anytime you need a break from the twins, you can drop them off with me. Besides, maybe it will help my relationship with AJ.”
I pull one of the folding chairs back from the table and take a seat.
“Is he still being a moody teenager?” Destiny asks, taking the seat beside me.
“Yes,” I let out a deep breath. “It’s nothing as bad as the vaping and the beer, but it seems like everything I say to him lately gets under his skin.
If I tell him to pick up his shoes, he grumbles, ‘I was gonna.’ If I ask if he wants spaghetti for dinner, he groans, ‘I guess’.
It’s like he isn’t doing anything horrible, but he seems so negative lately. ”
“Have you tried talking to him?” Pam wipes Ari’s mouth with a napkin before giving her the juice back.
I roll my eyes. “I’d have better luck plucking the stars out of the sky.”
She grimaces. I understand that AJ is older now, and he’s going through hormonal changes, but I swear this behavior is so random. I’m used to the side-eyes and the sighs. That’s typical teenage behavior, but this new attitude is hard to navigate.
“Didn’t you say he and Mitch are close?” Kyra asks.
“Yeah, they are. When we were going through the divorce, he and Mitch would often hang out and talk.”
“Maybe you can have Mitch talk to him,” Kyra tosses her long, straight hair over her shoulder. “I only say that because AJ has always been such a sweet, level-headed kid. His mood change is so sudden, it could mean something is bothering him.”
It’s not like I hadn’t thought of that. I figured if I gave him time and let him know I was open to talk, he would eventually come to me with the issue. But what if he can’t? Hell, what if I’m the issue?
“You’re right. I’ll talk to Mitchell about it.”
The girls and I talked for a few minutes before my mom and dad walked in with arms full of gift bags.
“Look at my girls,” Mom shouts.
“Hey, ladies,” my dad says in greeting.
“Hi, Mr. Alexander,” all the ladies sing together.
My dad comes over and places a kiss on my head.
“Hey, Daddy.”
“Hey baby. What perfume are you wearing? It smells familiar.”
My face heats. I probably smell like the man who fucked me good last night. Even though I’ve showered, I can’t get his scent out of my system.
I subtly sniff my shirt, hoping I’m not too obvious. “Must be my new body wash.”
Dad hums but doesn’t say anything else about it. He turns to Meagan and smiles. “Where’re my boys?”
Meagan grins. “With your grandson probably driving him crazy.”
Daddy waves her away and quickly scurries out of the room. No doubt looking for the boys.
“Pam, give me that baby.” My mother immediately comes over and takes Ari out of Pamela’s arms. Ari kicks her little chubby legs to get to my mama.
“Oh, I see how it is, Ari. You're leaving me for your granny?” Pam jokingly pouts.
All of my friends have turned into sisters to me, and my mother has taken them up as her daughters.
Although Pamela and Destiny have plenty of family, Jada, Kyra, and Meghan don’t.
Meghan has only lived here for two years.
She has no family in the area, so my mother and father have practically become her adoptive parents.
“Girl, you know how she gets with Mrs. Alexander,” Kyra laughs, sinking back in her seat.
“Well, we all love Mrs. Alexander.” Jada announces her presence as she walks in.
“There’s my Jada girl,” Mama cheers when she sees Jada. Although my mom loves all the ladies, she has a special bond with Jada.
“Now I know something is going on,” I tease. “Jada King is at an eleven-year-old’s birthday party.”
Jada hugs my mom before dropping her purse in a chair and placing the small gift bag on the table.
“I’m not going to lie. I’m only here because I thought I’d get to finally meet mystery man.”
“Jada,” Pam scolds shoving her arm.
Jada shrugs, unbothered.
I burst into laughter. “That's why all of you came, isn’t it?”
“I told you why I came,” Meagan shrugs folding her arms over her chest.
“Well, now, since we’re all here, maybe you can go ahead and introduce us to him?” Mama asks, looking around. There was only us in the room.
“He’s not here.” I lie effortlessly.
However, my gaze draws over my shoulder and out the window to find Mitch with one of Meagan’s twins helping them jump into the ball pit. He looks so at peace playing with the kids. That man was made to be a father.
I turn back to face the women in the room. They are all staring at me.
“What?” I ask nervously, hoping they didn’t catch on to who I was looking at.
“So you’re still keeping him from us?” Jada asks.
I tuck my hair behind my ear. “We’re just—”
“Friends,” everyone says at the same time, causing me to laugh.
“I’m not ready to reveal him yet.”
That was the truth. Despite what Mitch thought, telling them the truth would change everything.
“I have to admit, I like this new Ella,” Kyra gushes. “She’s so free and bubbly. That man has you glowing.”
There was nothing to dispute there. Mitch was definitely having an effect on me.
“Which is another reason we need to meet him.” Jada rolls her eyes.
I playfully stick my tongue out at her, causing her to laugh.
“Let her take her time,” Mama says with a big grin. “I’m just glad there is some man out there keeping my baby happy.”
“Thanks, Mama.” I cup my hand over my heart.
“And by happy, I mean on your back with those legs spread.”
I choke on my saliva. The girls nearly fold over as they laugh so hard.
“I know that’s right, Mama Faye,” Jada sings giving my mom a high five.
“Now, Mrs. Alexander, what do you know about that?” Pam teases.
Mama kisses her teeth. “You young girls think ya’ll doing something new. We were getting and keeping men way before ya’ll came along. Ya’ll ain’t done nothing we haven’t.”
We all laughed, even Ari burst into laughter as if she knew what we’re talking about. The ladies helped me finish setting up the party room. We were all laughing and enjoying each other until my mother spoke, getting our attention.
“Lawd, this man gone make me kill him.”
Pam and I were hanging the Happy Birthday sign. She and I both stopped what we were doing to give our attention to my mother.
“Is that the fiancée?” Kyra gasps.
I turn to look out the window to see what has all their attention.
Immediately my body goes rigid. Talking to one of Cameron’s friends’ father is Andrew.
He’s wearing a linen button-up shirt untucked and a pair of dark-wash jeans.
His beard and goatee are trimmed to perfection.
Although seeing Andrew was startling, it was the person he had with him that had my heart pounding in my chest.
Standing beside my ex-husband was the woman he told me not to worry about.
Kiely was biracial like Andrew. Her golden-brown skin was as flawless as a twenty-five-year-old's should be. Her chocolate-brown hair hung bone-straight and down to her shoulders. The crisp white off the shoulder shirt she wore matched Andrew’s.
Even her dark-wash skinny jeans were the same shade.
And of course she’s wearing heels to a kid’s party.