Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Titan
I know Tink thought that I was mad and bailing on her, but the truth was that I needed to find out sooner rather than later if she was carrying my baby or not. On the way out of the room, I ran into Lani coming out of the kitchen.
“Cady feeling any better?” She asked. She was following behind me like a damn puppy I almost stepped on her ass.
“Man, back up,” I laughed. “And yeah, she said she’s feeling better, but I’m about to go get her a pregnancy test.” Just saying that shit out loud made my chest hurt.
“You really think she could be pregnant, Bubby?” I saw the concern on my sister’s face and that shit made my chest even tighter. My sister was my first baby, and here I was thinking I could be somebody’s daddy for real.
“I guess we’re gone find out.” I started toward the door. “Stay here with her until I get back.”
She nodded, and I headed out to the nearest store that had a self-checkout. I needed to be in and out as quickly as possible without being noticed, but I knew that wouldn’t be possible.
“Shit, I didn’t think this through,” I huffed.
All I needed was the blogs to get a photo of me buying pregnancy tests and the shit would be plastered everywhere whether it was true or not.
Picking up my phone, I dialed Sasha’s number.
While I waited for her to answer, I thought about the possibility of being a father and wondered if I would be able to do the shit right.
“Yes, Titan?” She answered on the third ring.
“Damn, Sash. What if I were in trouble? You’d be the last muthafucka I call. Fuck took you so long to answer the phone, anyway?” I rambled. My nerves were all over the place, and she was taking her precious time.
“I was minding my business, now what do you need?”
I threw my head back against the seat and let the words come out.
“I need you to go get a pregnancy test,” I admitted.
Silence…
“Sasha?” I called out.
“Ye-yeah, I’m here. Please tell me this is for Cadence and not some random hoe, Titan,” she fussed.
This wasn’t our first rodeo with pregnancy scares, but this one was different. I wouldn’t mind if the outcome was that Tink was pregnant. Hell, I’ve been careless as fuck with her while I was cautious as fuck with them hoes.
“Yeah, it’s for Tink. I was about to go myself, but I didn’t want the shit plastered all over the internet. I want this shit to be private whether she is or not.”
The line was quiet for a few seconds before she spoke again.
“Go back home, I’ll be there with the tests,” she uttered before hanging up.
Releasing the breath I didn’t know I was holding… I turned around and went back inside the parking garage. I hadn’t gotten far when I called Sasha, so I was basically doing a U-turn.
When I got back upstairs, I found Tink in the kitchen with Lani sitting at the island. She looked at me and I understood every word she didn’t verbally say. She was scared, and hell, if I’m being honest, so was I. I walked over to her and pulled her into my arms and held her close.
“How you feeling, Tink?” I sincerely asked.
“Like I’m about to throw up my lunch,” she responded, and I moved quickly.
“Don’t you throw up on me, Tink.” I frowned.
“You’re pathetic,” Lani laughed. “If the girl is pregnant, it looks like she’ll be on her own because your big ass about to pass out by just mentioning vomit,” she added.
“Man, shut your ass up. I’ain ask you shit.” I mushed the side of her head and gave my attention back to Tink.
“I’m good… just nervous,” she admitted. “What if I’m really pregnant?
What am I going to do with a baby? Hell, I get mad when I can’t have my way…
how can I raise a kid? I just graduated.
I work at a strip club. Oh, God… I work in a strip club.
My baby is going to think I’m a hoe,” she rambled, and I couldn’t help but laugh because she was really freaking out.
“Whoa… breathe, baby,” I coached her. “If you’re pregnant, we’ll be fine… I promise.” I kissed her temple just as there was a knock on the door.
“That’s Sasha,” I said to Lani so she could go let her in.
Sasha came in and sat a bag on the counter and took out a single box before she looked at the both of us.
“Under normal circumstances, I would be cursing you out for everything in the book by now, but this is different,” she stated.
“Damn, Sash. Tell me how you really feel.” I mugged her.
“And Cady, you have my sympathy if these tests are positive,” she joked to lighten the mood.
“That’s fucked up, Sash.” I shook my head and picked up the tests before grabbing Tink’s hand and taking her into the bedroom.
Once inside, I closed the door behind us and headed to the bathroom. I placed the tests on the counter and looked at her, and she looked like she’s about to pass out.
“Breathe, Tink,” I coached as I rubbed her back. “Baby, calm down for me.” I continued to rub her back. “Let’s just take the tests and go from there.” She looked at me with worried eyes before picking up the box and reading the instructions.
“You never taken one of these before?” I asked out of curiosity.
“Only the routine ones they give you at the doctor’s office,” she responded.
I nodded as I watched her read the instructions on the box before getting one of the cups I kept in here for mouthwash and peed in it.
Once she was done, she wiped, flushed and dipped the sticks in the cup before washing her hands.
Once she did that, I pulled her into me and circled my arms around her waist as she laid her head on my chest while I rested my chin on the top of hers.
My mind was running rampant, and my heart was beating out of my chest. I thought back to all the times I fucked on these hoes and was in this same position quite a few times, but I never felt anything remotely to what I’m feeling now.
During those times, I knew those hoes were lying, or the baby wasn’t mine.
Now, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that if Tink was pregnant, that baby was mine and I wanted it.
Shit, I didn’t know what a condom was when it came to her, and the few times that I did pull out were a task within itself.
I didn’t care about a Plan B, and I wasn’t worried about her trying to trap me.
She didn’t want anything from me, including me at one point, so I knew she wasn’t planning to have a kid with me, but here we were.
We both stood here in silence for what seemed like forever, and I could feel her heart beating just as rapidly as mine.
“Tink,” I called her name. She looked up at me with so much worry in her eyes. I wanted nothing more than to erase that shit, but I knew she had to go through the emotions. “You know, regardless of those results, we’ll be alright… right?”
She nodded.
“I need your words, mama. I need you to tell me that you believe and trust me enough to know that I got you and we’ll be alright.”
She looked into my eyes, and I saw the worry, but there was a hint of relief dangling between it.
“I believe you, Titan. I just… I just didn’t think we’d be here so soon,” she admitted.
“I feel you, but baby. Have you experienced that goldmine between your legs?” I smirked. “We were destined to be here, Tink,” I laughed to lighten the mood. “You ready to find out what our future holds?” I asked her.
She nodded, and we both picked up a test and looked at the results.
The one I picked had the word PREGNANT displayed big as day, while hers had a plus sign.
When our eyes locked, hers were filled with tears while mine were filled with joy.
I didn’t know what this meant for us, but I was already putting shit in motion, even if it was only in my head.
“You okay with this?” I asked because I didn’t want her to think that she had to have my baby. I wasn’t going to police her body, and whatever decision she made, I’d respect it.
“I… yeah, I’m okay,” she assured me. “I just can’t believe you trapped me,” she laughed through her tears.
“Fuck outta here, Tink,” I laughed. “That pussy sucked me back in every time I tried to pull out and now look. You’re stuck with a nigga.
” I smirked as I kissed her tears away. “We’re gone be okay, Tink.
I put my life on that. You and our baby are and always be my number one priority. Don’t ever doubt that shit… aight?”
“I know.” She nodded.
“Aight… let’s go out here and let these two in on the news. I know Sasha’s nosy ass is still here as well as Lani.”
I shook my head because I knew that Lani was going to be on her shit. When we returned to the front, all eyes were on us like we were about to be interrogated. I walked over to Lani and pushed her head before I spoke.
“I guess you finally got your wish. You’re about to be an auntie… I just don’t know about the rich and fine part.” I smirked.
“Ahh, Bubby!” She shrieked as she jumped on me like a little kid. I almost dropped her ass because she hit my shoulder and that shit hurt.
“Damn, bro. Watch that shit.” I grimaced but quickly turned it into a smile.
“I’m sorry, I’m just excited.” She beamed. “How are you feeling, Cady?” Lani asked.
“I’m scared, but I’m okay,” she answered honestly.
“Don’t worry about anything, Cadence,” Sasha started.
“We’re all a family over here. We’re going to make sure you’re comfortable and supported the entire time,” she offered.
“And I’m proud of you,” she addressed me.
“You really grew up right in front of my eyes, and I’m honored to have witnessed it. ”
I pulled Sasha into a hug and kissed her temple. “I appreciate you, Sash. You never gave up on a nigga, and for that, I’ll forever be grateful,” I expressed.
The two of them stayed a little longer as we went over business, since Sasha was already here.
I had to threaten Lani not to go running her mouth to Mama because I wanted to tell her, but we decided to wait until after she went to the doctor so we could find out how far along she was.
She said she would ask Eve if she could fit her at the office she worked at, and I already knew I was gone have to beat that nigga Saint’s ass.
Once Sasha left and I threw Lani’s ass out, I lay on the bed with my head in Tink’s lap as I kissed on her stomach while she played in my hair.
“You know you stuck with me, right?” I asked between kissing her stomach.
“Unfortunately, I do,” she simpered.
“Unfortunately, my ass. I’m the best thing to ever happen to you, baby, just like you’re the best thing to ever happen to me. That’s how we got to this point,” I voiced.
“I guess you’re right,” she countered.
“I know I am, and I hope you know this is primary your place of residence now. We’ll go get whatever you need from your apartment and sell everything else, but it’s a wrap for you being over there.
I’m going to experience this pregnancy in real time, and I can’t do that if you’re across town.
I witnessed you peeing in that cup, and I’ll witness everything in between down to the moment you push that little muthafucka out.
This is it, baby, so I hope you’re ready. ”
I didn’t know exactly what the future looked like, but I knew that it wouldn’t be complete without Tink and now our child.