Chapter 9
A Conscious Decision
ADAI
I’d changed my clothes not once, not twice, but three whole times while getting dressed for Grandma Lettie’s party.
I usually wasn’t this indecisive, but tonight was a big deal.
It was my re-introduction back into the Sullivan family.
I wanted to dress to impress. I also wanted Pryce’s eyes to be on me all night.
I already knew I was on his mind because he’d texted me twice today.
And though the messages had been about the baby, we were one, so he was checking on me too.
The first dress I tried on was a black wrap around midi dress. It was the safest option. It hugged everything just right and had a subtle control like black always did. At the same time, the color gave guarded and serious, two feelings I didn’t want to display. So, I changed.
Key hadn’t given me a dress code. Her words were, “Be photo ready because I paid the photographer good money to get those Teyana Taylor angles.” I had to look the part.
The second option was a yellow two-piece set that I had hanging in the closet with the tag still on it.
It was a knitted top with a long skirt that stopped at my ankles and a split in the back.
The set was cute, but I didn’t want to give cute.
I wanted to give a bad pregnant bitch is in the building.
So, I changed again. By the time I slipped into the nude dress I finally chose, I knew it was the one.
The square neck halter maxi dress was perfection.
It showed an acceptable amount of cleavage and fit close at the top without doing too much.
It gave the bump an I have arrived moment that I loved as well.
In this dress, I felt like I was stepping into the room honestly instead of carefully.
The way the family greeted me upon arrival let me know that I made the right choice. Not only had I showed up despite my initial reservations, but I was right on theme in my nude, blending in with the creams, nudes, and browns. They couldn’t deny me as an honorary Sullivan if they tried.
When Pryce’s mother reached me with her hand covering her mouth and tears in her eyes like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing, I smiled big.
“Look at you,” she said, pulling me in for a hug. “And look at Granny baby.” She rubbed my belly.
I could hear the other family members awwing as they made their way over to show me and the bump love.
Grandma Lettie was the last to hug me. When she did, she whispered, “I knew you were the one,” in my ear.
Squeezing my hand, she winked at me and walked off.
Funny thing was, it wasn’t the first time I’d heard those words from her.
She’d said them a year into me and Pryce being official. I never questioned it.
The excitement poured out of Pryce’s mother as she paraded me and the baby around like we were trophies.
Her introduction of me and Baby Sullivan had me giggling on the inside.
One would have thought it was her baby, and I was the surrogate.
I loved that she was happy about her grandbaby.
However, by the fourth introduction in under five minutes, my ankles needed a break from all this baby and all this ass I was carrying in five-inch heels.
I breathed a sigh of relief when Kyiris walked over.
“Heyy, Auntyy,” she sang, wrapping her arms around my waist. “I think my friend could use a break.” She smiled.
“Oh.” Mama Jess laughed. “Y’all know I can get carried away. I done took over, and she hasn’t even spoken to the daddy. Go head, Dai. We’ll catch up more later.” She kissed my cheek, and Key pulled me away.
“Girl, how’d you know I needed you?”
“I saw you kept swaying from side to side. And I have those Dior slingbacks. I said, my bitch feet hurt.”
“And do.”
We both cracked up laughing as we walked around the dance floor to the other side of the room.
“I’m taking you to your seat.”
I nodded, following close behind her. We passed a couple tables then stopped at one toward the back where Pryce was seated alone. There was an empty chair on the side of him that Key pointed to.
“This is your seat, friend,” she said, pulling out the chair for me. After warning Pryce to be nice, she told me she’d be back.
“Hey,” I spoke first, setting my purse down on the table.
“Wassup?” He replied in a way that was inviting yet semi closed off.
I didn’t point it out nor let it bother me.
I mean, this was the Pryce I knew. It took him a minute to process once he felt wronged.
Turning my back to him, I people watched and danced in my seat.
The DJ had just dropped Usher’s Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home), and that was my song.
Baby Boo was an active little something today, kicking every time I moved like it knew we were at a function.
“You made the appointment yet?” I heard Pryce ask.
“It’s the weekend,” I said over my shoulder. “I’ll do it in the morning.”
“Cool. Come here so I can say hi to my baby.”
I turned my body so that I was fully facing him. “You should’ve been the first person to greet us at the door. Instead, you over here sulking.”
He scooted his chair up and placed his hand on my belly. The baby kicked, pulling a smile from him.
“I ain’t sulking. I knew how my people would be once they saw you. So, I gave them their time. Especially my mama.”
“You’re not a good liar.”
“You’re right. I still ain’t feeling you,” he spoke honestly. “But yet I still have the urge to hold you and stick my tongue in your mouth then my dick.”
My mouth fell open, and my body heated up. Leaning forward, he kissed my belly.
“You hungry?”
I wanted to say yes, but not for no food. Feed me dick and dick only. “I don’t think your girl would be okay with you offering up dick to your ex,” I said instead.
“I’m just as single as you betta be. My dick go where I say it go.”
I caught the threat. “You may tell me what to do when it comes to this baby, but this pussy is mine to speak over.”
He licked his lips and slowly dragged his hand from my belly down to my inner thigh. “That pussy does what I tell her to do when I tell her to do it. Now, are you hungry?”
I eased up to the edge of my seat. “You think you still got it like that?” I challenged, turned on by his dominance and aggression.
“I’m gon’ always have it like that, Dai. I told you the moment I put my dick at your entrance, and you begged me to stick it in. Your pussy is mine. And I know for a fact that you ain’t give it to that rapper nigga. Ask me how I know.”
I was treading a thin line. My nipples were hard, my pussy was wet, and my palms were sweaty. Still, I answered him. “How you know?”
“Because you wouldn’t be able to face me.” In that moment, he’d switched to serious mode. We both knew he couldn’t have said a truer statement. “You eat yet?”
“I nibbled. I was saving my appetite for the party.”
He chuckled lowly. “I wonder if this baby gon’ be greedy like you.”
“Umm, excuse me. You mean greedy like us.”
He smirked. “So, you gon’ sit here and act like you don’t eat more than me?”
“That’s not an act. That’s a fact.”
“Dai, how many times have we had a meal where you’ve eaten your food and some of mine?”
“I don’t know what you talkin’ bout.” I looked away, smiling.
“How bout that time we went to the Taco Factory? We both had meals. I went to the bathroom and came back, two of my tacos was gone.”
“I told you they fell.” I laughed.
“There was no food on the floor.”
“Them people took pride in a clean establishment.”
“Mannn.” He shook his head and sat back in his seat. “Greedy.”
“That example don’t count.”
“Yeah, aight,” he said, standing. “I’ma see what they have over there and bring you a plate.”
“You don’t have to. I can…”
“I got it.”
He started walking away before I could stand.
Some things about Pryce would never change.
It didn’t matter the time that passed or how complicated things were for us currently.
If he said he was doing something for me, it was done.
I watched him cross the room until he disappeared into the crowd.
Sitting back in my chair, I pulled out my phone to text Ebone.
Me: Remind me again why it’s not good to go backwards in a relationship please.
My Other Half: You sure you texted the right number?
Me: Come on, Eb. Stop playin’. I’m serious.
My Other Half: Bitch, me too. You know I done spun a couple blocks. I ain’t never been shamed about it either. It’s over once my mind and body stop craving you. Until then, REVERSE REVERSE.
Me: Lmao. You really irk me.
My Other Half: So you say. How’s the party? I saw your pics on IG. Cat’s out the bag now. My girl showing out.
Before I left the house, I took a few pictures and uploaded them to my page with the caption, Bumpin around. Now that the most important person in the world knew, I no longer felt the need to hide.
Me: It’s going really well. Key put on another successful Sullivan production. And they loved on me and Baby Boo.
My Other Half: Pryce too?
Me: We had a… moment.
My Other Half: Baby steps. I like it.
I started to type my reply when Kyiris came over with two women, one I recognized from Sullivan’s Diner, but the other didn’t look familiar.
“Hey, boo. I wanted to introduce you to the newest additions of the Sullivan family by way of Aura and Enzo,” Key said. “You may have seen Danae before. And this is her cousin, Thyri.”
Setting my phone down, I stood to greet them. “Nice to meet y’all.” We gave friendly hugs. “Wait, which one of y’all did Aura lock down? And which one been tussling with EJ?”
Thyri chuckled. “Hey, y’all gon’ stop talkin’ bout my perfect little angel.”
“Shiiiid,” Key let out.
We all laughed, and Danae held up her hand, flashing a rock on her finger.
“Wife to be of Aura Sullivan.”
“I know dats right.” I clocked it.
“You are carrying so well, girl,” Thyri said. “Is this your first?”
“Aww, thank you. And yes.”