Chapter 31 – Holly
Chapter
Thirty-One
THE COOKOUT
HOLLY
It was Juneteenth, and Hitman had decided to start having an annual cookout every year for the hood.
We set up outside of Dirty D’s and got the mayor to approve a blockout, which was like a block party with no time limit.
The party started inside the club and had the entire block lit up.
It was a dedication to all the lives that were lost and a way to stop violence and bring the streets together.
A lot of blood had been shed. I had personally played a part in the bloodshed, but I wanted a safe place to raise my children.
Hitman had gone all out; he had a BBQ grill set up, with jerk chicken, BBQ chicken, chicken kabobs with peppers and onions, beef hot dogs, hamburgers, and beef sausages.
There were all types of sides, from pasta salad, seafood salad, baked mac and cheese, candied yams, potato salad, macaroni salad, deviled eggs, baked beans, and jerk chicken rotel dip.
There were coolers full of juices, beer, wine coolers, canned sodas, and water.
There was even a large pan of sober fruit salad and spiked fruit salad that his cousin Kennetta had made.
Jungle juice and spicy bowls were available as well.
The colors were red, yellow, black, and green.
There was cotton candy, popcorn, face painting, moon bouncers, water ice, and a Juneteenth parade.
They were offering free haircuts for the kids and giving away free inflatable pools for the beginning of summer.
The DJ from Dirty D’s had the block turned up, playing the latest Reggae hits.
I smiled seeing Gutta Barbie and War walking through the block holding hands.
They were most definitely the cutest couple I had ever seen.
The way they loved each other has me hopeful when it comes to true love.
Looking at the two of them together, I knew that Hitman was my forever person.
The same way War looked at Gutta Barbie was the way that Hitman looked at me.
Gutta Barbie was rocking a yellow sundress that floated on the floor.
She was glowing like the Goddess Osun; her beauty made me smile.
She finally looked happy again, and I loved that for her.
War was matching her fly. Her pregnant belly drew attention from speculators who hadn't seen much of her since her and Wrizzles' breakup.
Regardless of what they were speculating about, the couple looked drop-dead gorgeous together.
Gutta Barbie and I embraced, and we held each other like we hadn't seen each other in weeks, but it had only been hours.
“This turned out really nice.” Gutta Barbie looked around and smiled approvingly.
“Thank you.” I smiled back.
“War and I want to speak to you and Hitman in my office.” Gutta Barbie said.
I looked around and called one of Hitman's little cousins over. “Hey, Mere, come here real quick.”
The young boy came running over.
“Can you tell Hitman that Gutta Barbie needs us inside?” I asked. He nodded his head and ran off.
Gutta Barbie rubbed my belly before we all began walking inside Dirty D’s.
I was a little nervous; there was so much shit going on that the last thing I needed right now was bad news.
As soon as we stepped into the office, Hitman came to join us.
He was out of breath from running. “Everything good?” he asked, looking from me to my belly and at Gutta Barbie and War.
“Yes,” Barbie responded with a laugh. “Everything is straight. I just had a business proposition for y'all, but before we discuss that, I wanted to see how y'all have been doing.”
“Everything has been amazing between us. After that misunderstanding with Fly Si, things couldn't be any better when it comes to where we stand. We have a baby on the way. Money looks good. Still grieving, but those types of losses don't ever fade away,” he said, making me emotional.
“I'm happy for you, bro, and I pray that grief gets better over time for you, Holly, and Gutta Barbie.” War stepped in.
The room fell silent. We all just stood there and had a moment of silence for Hood Brat. I still couldn't believe that she was really gone; it felt weird not having her here, especially during my pregnancy.
“I wanted to talk with you, sis, because you, of all people, know the history that comes with Dirty D’s good and bad.
But you have been here from day one through everything.
To be honest, things haven't felt the same since I was released from jail, way before things got crazy between Wrizzle and me.
There have been fistfights, shootouts, baby daddy drama, whatever the case, you've witnessed it all right with me.
This business was supposed to be a gift to me that turned out to feel more like a curse.
I wanted to burn it to the ground, to be honest, but I realize how much you love this place.
It's your second home. You've put in work here for years and recently, became the top dancer.
I don't ever want to take from you, as a friend, my job is to fill your cup when it's empty. So I would like you to have Dirty D’s indefinitely.” Gutta Barbie said, and tears began to pour down my face. I had never owned anything in my life.
I ran towards her, hugging her tightly. I couldn't stop thanking her. I knew the painful memories that came with Dirty D’a, but that's what made it into what it was, and I was going to make her proud. Someday, those painful memories will be replaced with lifelong memories of new beginnings.
After we went over all the details of how the transfer of power was going to be, we went to join the party and celebrate.
The DJ was playing Summer Time by Vybz Kartel, and the entire block was turning up.
There wasn’t a dull face in the crowd; the turnout was amazing.
Hitman posted up against the wall next to the DJ and pulled me closer.
My ass rested against his dick, and I instantly began to whine to the beat of the songs.
This pregnancy had my ass sitting down, unable to dance at the club, and now I was taking it over, shit changed fast for me.
I danced on my man feeling his dick get hard against my ass cheeks causing me to look back at him and lick my lips.
If only he knew what I wanted to do to him right then and there.
Hitman had that effect. He pulled on his freshly rolled blunt, looking like a fine ass gangsta, causing my pussy muscles to jump.
Before I knew it, we had the entire crowd cheering us on while I winded against my man like we were making a video and I was the main model.
“Eat that shit up, sis!” Gutta Barbie hyped me up.
I stuck out my tongue and bent over before throwing my ass back against his dick.
Hitman grabbed my ass with one hand and leaned against the wall.
I did my big one, letting all them niggas on the block know why he was stuck to me like glue.
I put on a show for the entire block, me and my nigga was the center of attention.
I was the queen when it came to this dancing shit, pregnant and all; my title wasn’t up for grabs.
“Damn Ma!” Hitman mumbled. I smiled, looking back at my man.
I turned the block up so much that the block niggas decided to have a dance off and pay the winner 5 bands.
I even put it on the pot. I had my money on my young girl, Beautiful.
She was next up, my little protege and I knew she would eat all these bitches up, young and old.
The DJ played Spend Dat by Yung Miami, and the girls went crazy doing their big one.
Of course, like I had bet, my girl Beautiful walked away with the 5k.
She did her thing and had made me proud; it was easy money.
THE GENDER REVEAL
I decided not to have a big gender reveal because I really wasn't in the mood to be around too many people, so I made arrangements for just me, Hitman, and a few guests.
He had been amazing my entire pregnancy, the complete opposite of my first pregnancy with Lil Insane's baby.
Hitman was the real MVP, and for that, I wanted to do something special.
I rented an Airbnb with a pool, a jacuzzi, and a rooftop with one of the best views in the city.
I was having issues with my feet swelling, so I hired the cook from Dirty D’s and a host. Tonight's dinner party only had Gutta Barbie, War, Hood Gorgeous, her fiancé, and our closest friends and relatives.
Nothing more, nothing less. Just the people that I was the closest to.
I was really missing Hood Brat; it felt unreal that she wasn't on the guest list, and honestly, I didn't know how to feel.
I was crashing out. My emotions were all over the place.
I have been taking her death really hard.
Most days, I didn't know whether I was coming or going.
I was thankful for Hitman; he stayed close to me most nights. He didn't allow me out of his sight.
The entire rooftop glowed like a dream.
Gold candlelight flickered against black satin tablecloths while pink and blue flowers overflowed from crystal centerpieces. The city skyline sparkled behind us, the buildings shining like diamonds against the night sky.
Everything was perfect.
Or at least it looked perfect.
Inside, my nerves were tearing me apart. I had so many mixed emotions from sad, to happy but most importantly I was thankful, to be giving a second chance at becoming a mother.
I sat beside Hitman, my hand resting protectively over my stomach as family and friends filled the long dinner tables. Soft jazz floated through hidden speakers, and the scent of grilled steak, lobster tails, and garlic butter drifted through the warm summer air.
But I couldn’t focus on any of it.
Not when we were minutes away from finding out whether our baby was a boy or a girl.
Hitman squeezed my thigh beneath the table.
“You good, baby?”
His deep voice instantly calmed me.
I looked over at him and smiled.
God.
That man was beautiful. Everything about him was attractive and he was my baby father, that alone caused me to smile again. I was happy that we were able to work through our problems, it was important for the life that we were preparing to bring into this world.
The gold cufflinks on his black dress shirt caught the candlelight. His tie matched the decor perfectly, and his diamond watch flashed every time he moved.
But it wasn’t the jewelry that made my heart race.
It was the way he looked at me.
Like I was his entire world.
“I think I’m gonna throw up,” I admitted.
The guests laughed. But I was dead ass serious. My nerves were getting the best of me.
Hitman chuckled and kissed my forehead.
“Nah. You got this my love, relax.”
I smiled.
“You nervous?”
“A little.”
“A little?”
I laughed.
He smirked.
“Okay. A lot.” I admitted.
Everyone laughed again.
The truth was, Hitman had been talking about this baby nonstop for months.
Every night.
Every morning.
Every chance he got.
He’d spent hours building a nursery.
Argued with me about baby names.
Bought enough baby clothes to dress a small army.
Watching him prepare for fatherhood had made me fall in love with him all over again.
The host stepped forward with a microphone.
“Tonight, we’re celebrating two amazing people and the beautiful life they’re bringing into the world.”
Applause erupted.
My eyes instantly filled with tears.
Hitman wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
“Don’t cry yet, Holly.”
Too late.
I was already crying.
The host smiled.
“Hitman. Holly. Are you ready?”
We stood together.
The rooftop suddenly felt silent.
My heart pounded so hard I could hear it.
The giant black box sat in the center of the room, decorated with gold ribbons and emerald-green roses.
Inside was the answer.
Boy or girl.
I grabbed Hitman’s hand.
He squeezed mine.
Hard.
“Whatever happens,” he whispered, “that’s my baby.”
Tears immediately filled my eyes again.
I nodded.
“Ready?”
“Ready.”
Together, we pulled the gold ribbon.
The lid exploded open.
Thousands of emerald-green and gold balloons shot into the night sky.
Then came the blue.
So much blue.
Blue confetti.
Blue smoke.
Blue streamers.
Blue lights.
For a moment I couldn’t breathe.
The crowd erupted.
“It’s a boy!”
“A BOY!”
“Oh, my God!”
The cheers echoed across the rooftop.
My hands flew over my mouth.
A boy.
We were having a son.
A beautiful baby boy.
I started sobbing.
Hitman froze.
Completely froze.
His eyes locked on the blue confetti floating through the air.
Then suddenly his head dropped.
And I realized…
He was crying, too.
The crowd went silent for a second.
Nobody had ever seen Hitman cry.
Nobody.
Not the streets.
Not his friends.
Not his enemies.
Not even me.
But tonight?
Tonight was different.
Because he wasn’t thinking about himself.
He was thinking about his son.
My heart shattered and healed all at once.
Hitman looked at me through tear-filled eyes.
“A son.”
I nodded.
“A son.”
His voice cracked.
“We made a son.”
I laughed through my tears.
“Yeah, baby.”
He pulled me into his arms and kissed me.
Slowly.
Passionately.
Like nobody else existed.
The cheers around us disappeared.
The city disappeared.
Everything disappeared.
It was just us.
Me.
Him.
And the little life growing inside me.
When he finally pulled away, he dropped to one knee.
The entire rooftop gasped.
I stared at him.
“What are you doing?”
He reached into his pocket.
My heart stopped.
A black velvet box appeared.
No.
No way.
Hitman opened it.
The emerald-cut diamond nearly blinded me.
The crowd screamed.
Tears poured down my face.
“Holly.”
His voice shook.
“I spent years chasing money.”
He swallowed hard.
“I spent years chasing power.”
More tears rolled down his face.
“But nothing I’ve ever touched means more than you.”
I covered my mouth.
“Oh, my God.”
He smiled.
“Tonight we found out we’re having a son.”
The crowd watched silently.
“And I don’t want him growing up wondering why his father never made his mother his wife.”
I completely lost it.
My knees nearly gave out.
“Holly…”
His eyes locked onto mine.
“Will you marry me?”
The rooftop exploded.
People screaming.
People crying.
People recording.
But I only saw him.
The man I loved.
The father of my child.
The man who had become my home.
“Yes.”
I was already crying too hard to breathe.
“Yes!”
Hitman laughed.
I laughed.
The crowd lost its minds.
He slipped the ring onto my finger before pulling me into his arms again.
And as gold candles flickered around us, emerald roses swayed in the warm breeze, and blue confetti covered the rooftop, I rested my hand on my stomach.
Our little king was coming.
And for the first time in my life, I wasn’t afraid of the future.
I couldn’t wait for it.