Aria
A COUPLE WEEKS LATER
“It’s my mufucking birthday!” I yelled, lifting my glass up into the air.
I tossed the shot back and then poured myself another as I waited for my daddy to come and get Zion for me.
He works a hell of a lot, but whenever I need him, he’s always there for me.
Since I wanted to go out and celebrate my birthday, I needed a babysitter.
Normally, Wren would do that for me and if she can’t I’d go to my daddy.
If I was really desperate, I’d get on the babysitting application and book a babysitter.
I hated having people I didn’t know watch my son.
Whenever they did, I was always paranoid and couldn’t fully have fun while I was out because I be too worried about him.
I’d just end up ending my night early and rush home to him to make sure that he’s alright, but not tonight though.
I’m gon’ try my best to have a good time.
I owe it to me. I’ve been a great mama and been hustling too much to not enjoy myself for my birthday.
A knock at the front door grabbed my attention. Going over to it, I peeked through the peephole to see my daddy standing on the porch. I yanked the door open and he stood there with a bouquet of roses, a card and a gift bag in his hand.
“Happy birthday, princess.” Leaning in, he pecked me on the cheek.
“Thank you.” He handed me over the gifts and I stepped to the side for him to enter.
“Where’s Zion?”
“Back there in his room.” Turning, I yelled, “Zion!”
It took him a few moments, but he finally appeared in the living room with a monster truck in his hand.
“Hey, Granddad!” Zion ran over and my daddy scooped him up into his arms. The relationship that he has with my dad is priceless.
I loved it, but it’s nothing like him having a father.
Often, I find myself trying to convince myself that Zion doesn’t need a father in his life, but I knew that was far from the truth.
I know I’m one hell of a mama, but there’s just certain things that he needs to learn from a man.
“You ready to go have fun?” my Daddy asked him with a grin. Dad’s idea of fun is letting Zion eat whatever he wants and stay up for how long as he wants while he snores on the couch after falling asleep from watching television.
“Yes,” he answered.
“Let me go grab his stuff.” I went into Zion’s bedroom and got his bookbag off the floor by the bed and then took it to my daddy. “Have fun and don’t stay up too late.” I pecked Zion on the cheek.
“And you be safe,” Daddy said as he carried Zion out the door.
I shut the door behind them and then went into my bedroom to get dressed.
Wren was coming out with me to After Dark, this club where I was celebrating my birthday.
She told me that she was just gon’ pop in and head back home since she was pregnant and Maniac didn’t want her going out like that.
It was understandable. I told her that she didn’t even have to come out, but she was adamant about it.
I pulled my t-shirt over my head and tossed it into the dirty hamper before removing my dress from the back of the closet door. I’d already taken my bath before I went in the kitchen to take me some shots.
The dress I picked out was this pink bodycon dress with a corset like top.
The corset closed from the front, so I didn’t need any help getting dressed.
Once I was done, I went over and did my makeup.
By the time I was done with everything, I heard the doorbell.
Grabbing my phone off the vanity, I checked the Ring application to see who was at the door, even though I already had an idea.
Wren waved and I got up from my bench. “I’m coming,” I told her and headed for the door. When I opened it, I saw Maniac standing next to the Tahoe in the driveway with his phone in his hand.
“He said the only way that I was coming was if he was too. Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” For once, I understood why he was being overprotective this time. “Let me grab my clutch and we can leave.”
I rushed into my bedroom and grabbed my clutch off the dresser and then headed back for the door. Maniac held the back passenger door open for us and we got into the truck.
After Dark was blowed by the time we arrived. Maybe it was a good thing that Maniac had tagged along with us. People were standing in a long line to get into the club, which we were able to skip since I had a birthday section there.
We neared the door and the bouncer stopped us. “Name?”
“Aria Hollister.” He checked his list and nodded before opening the door for us.
We entered the club and went up to the second floor where my section was located at. I’d only invited a few people to come out and celebrate with us. Most of them were from work since I didn’t really hang with many people.
Entering my section, I already had a couple bottles of Patrón sitting on the table waiting for us. It came with the section when I purchased it. Instantly, I grabbed a bottle and popped it open. “To me!” I yelled and took a huge gulp. The liquid burned going down my throat.
Latto’s “Put It On Da Floor Again” came on and I ran over to the railing. All the females made their way out to the dance floor. Ass was twerking all over the place. I lifted my bottle up in the air and bounced mine.
“I’m looking for Aria Hollister,” I heard a guy say not too far from me. Turning, I saw some guy in a green vest approach Wren. He leaned down close to her ear and Maniac shoved him back. He stumbled, sticking his arms out to gain his footing.
“What’s going on?” I approached them and asked.
“I’m looking for Aria Hollister,” the guy said.
“Who are you?”
“Are you Aria?”
“Yeah.” I ain’t want to tell him because I didn’t know who the fuck he was, but Maniac’s crazy ass was here with us, and I knew he wouldn’t let anything happen to me off the strength of Wren despite our differences.
“I have a delivery for you. Can you come outside?”
“But I didn’t order anything.” I looked back at Wren, and she got up from her seat.
“What’s going on?” she asked me.
“He said that he has a delivery for me, but I didn’t order anything and how you even find me here?” There were so many questions that needed to be answered.
“It’s a delivery from a Mr. Saint-Mercier.” My eyes bulged from my head.
“He didn’t,” I said and headed for the stairs.
I had told Wicked a couple days ago that my birthday was coming up.
He asked me what I had planned for it and I told him that I was just going to go out for a bit and that’s about it.
I never really do too much for my birthdays.
Over the years, they hadn’t really been the best. My narcissistic ass mama used to make it her mission to destroy my birthdays.
I’d just gotten to where I’d do something after I had Zion.
I ran as fast as I could to the exit to see what was waiting for me on the other side of the door. Soon as I pushed the door open, the wind slapped me in the face. Parked on the back of a tow truck is a pink G-Wagon. My head whipped back to the guy who exited the building behind me.
“Is this the delivery?” My heart leaped to my throat. I just know this man didn’t.
“Yes, ma’am. Where do you want me to drop it?”
Pressing my fist to my mouth, I breathed deeply and then asked, “So this is really mine?”
“Yeah, you just have to sign for it.”
He opened the passenger door, jumped up into the truck and grabbed a clipboard. I grabbed the clipboard with trembling hands and signed my name on the line. He went over to the back of the tow truck and let the back down.
“Aria?” Wren called out my name, and I turned to face her. “What’s going on?”
“This man just bought me a fucking truck.” I stood there, staring at the man as he removed the G-Wagon off the back of the truck with my mouth wide open.
In that moment, all the liquor that I’ve been drinking prior disappeared from my blood stream.
I’m completely sober and well aware of what’s going on.
I ran over and handed the guy the clipboard and checked out the inside of the truck. It’s pink and white. This truck had to have been custom made.
Removing my phone from my clutch, I dialed Wicked’s number. He picked up on the fifth ring.
“You enjoyed yo’ birthday?”
“You bought me a fucking truck?”
“You like it?” From the tone of his voice, I can tell that he was smiling.
“I can’t believe you bought a truck!”
“Aria, that’s light work.” This man was really making crazy moves while behind bars. He really is that nigga. “Did you check the glove compartment?”
I climbed into the truck and pulled the glove compartment open. Inside was stacks up cash. I’m not even sure how many was in there, they started falling out soon as I opened it. This is insane.
“Happy birthday, beautiful. I gotta go.” The phone beeped, letting me know that he’d hung up. That’s it. I was wrapping up my birthday and taking my ass home at this point. The last thing I wanted was for someone to try and rob me for that money.
My fingertips glided around the steering wheel. “Is this real?” I asked Wren as she stood there next to me.
“It’s real, sis,” she replied.
Moisture filled my eyes. Wicked and I had to sit down and have a talk about everything if things were gon’ go any further because the way he’s been stepping behind me, lets me know that he’s pretty serious. We both deserve the truth.