•

It was 4th July and Jace and I had decided to have a cook out for all our family and friends, it's something we had been preparing for a month now and I was excited to see my family, Jace even invited my mother but I was sure she wouldn't show up, she was still mad about me saying I hated her even though I apologised many times.

Anyway the party had started like an hour ago and it was already over 30 people here. I just knew it was gonna be an eventful day hopefully with no drama.

We had the front of the house locked off so we didn't have no strangers lurking through our shit, everyone had to enter through the back gate.

"Chanie!" I yelled excitedly seeing Chanel here with my god baby Rico.

"Hey Aunty baby! Come" I gushed taking her son from her. "Rico gimmie kiss Papi" I puckered my lips and he grabbed my face.

"Where's Mani?" She asked. I rolled my eyes playfully, there was only one place Armani would be and that was "With Jace of course."

"Baby girl always with her daddy." Chanel laughed. "I know. She's the definition of a daddy's girl"

"It's cute... So how's wedding planning going?" She asked and I sighed. "Honestly it's been absolute shit, we're both so busy we haven't had any time to sit and talk about everything. He said we should just get a wedding planned and let the do everything."

"That's not going to work, you're the biggest control freak ever." She laughed and I couldn't help but agree.

"I know! So I think we're gonna pause on this whole wedding planning thing, especially since we're about to move again."

"Aww my baby!" I heard a familiar voice squeal, I turned around to see Lexi coming over to me reaching for Mani.

"Hi baby" she smiled taking Armani from me.

"Is your mom here?" I asked and she shook her head. "Nah it's just me and Quan, she said she'll come later."

"Quan here?"

"Yeah there he go right there." She said pointing over to Quan as he walked over to us. "Wassup Cuz"

"Where you been nigga?" I asked, I hadn't seen him in minute, wasn't even sure he would come today. "Trying to stay lowkey, got too many niggas on my case."

"You need me to help with anything?" He shook his head. "I'm good for now."

"Where's Nic?"

"Over there somewhere... Nic look who's here!" I yelled and she turned around frowning but smiled once she saw Lex and Quan.

"Omg hi!" She waved.

"y'all want something to drink? Eat?" Nicki asked. "YASS! I'm hungry as fuck! Here take your baby" Lexi said dramatically quickly handing Mani back over to me.

"You good baby?" I asked Nic she nodded, yes before talking to Armani.

"Mani! Hello little girl. Armani" Nicki said reaching for Armani's hand but she just she pulled away whining.

"Leave her alone" I said moving away a little. "No, you see how she is? She only wants to know me when she's hungry. Other than that I don't exist to her."

Nicki pouted and reached for her again. "Armani you still ignoring mommy?" She asked. "Alright cool, I don't care cause when I have my son he's gonna be a mamas boy."

"What son?" I asked raising my eyebrows at her causing her to roll her eyes. "I told you already... After we get married I want another baby and I want it to be a boy."

"Nic you crazy." I laughed as she sucked her teeth and reached for Mani again. "Give me her"

"No she don't like you" I said pushing Nic away gently. "Hush." She said as she insisted on taking Mani from me.

"See!" I said as Mani started screaming. "I don't care how much you cry, I'm not putting you down." Nicki teased, eventually Mani calmed down.

"Oh so you remember me now? The food lady?" She asked as Mani stuck her hand in Nic's shirt.

•

-

"Who is this fine ass woman chilling in my yard?"

"Gurrrlll!"

"Cassie you looking thick as fuck girl, let me find out you fucking Dominic again." I smirked and she looked down blushing. "Bitch!" I gasped.

"Shh." Cassie quickly hushed me. "Since when?"

"Since I broke shit off with Jace's dumb friend." She said rolling her eyes."Tez?"

"So where's Jordan?"

"In the car with Dom he said he trying to find a parking space, you got like 20 cars out front." She described and I sighed, I knew it was a matter of time before the neighbours started complaining. "I know. I don't know what we're gonna do-"

I was cut off by the sound of a child screaming. "No!"

"You hear Jordan's loud mouth?" Cassie laughed. A few seconds later Dominic, her Babydaddy and Jordan appeared in our sight.

"What you crying for boy?"

"What's up with him?" Cassie asked reaching for her son. "I wouldn't let him play with my phone." Dom shrugged. "Wassup Nic" he said finally noticing me.

• • • •

"Here. I fixed you a plate" I handed Jace his plate and was about to walk away until I felt him wrap his free arm around my waist and pull me down on his lap.

"Where's my daughter?" He asked as he started eating. "With Lexi." He nodded and took a sip of his drink.

"You want a son for real?" He asked and I nodded, yes in response."Yeah."

"Alright ima give you one."

"After we get married tho!" I added and I noticed a small smile appear on his face. "Jace I'm serious."

"You're gonna have my baby whenever I say you are."

"Nigga please. You ever heard of birth control?" I laughed waving him off.

•

After eating and sitting with Jace for a little longer I decided to go sit with my Aunt for a little while. "AuntyJ! You look mad cute, let me take a picture of you."

-

"Excuse me?" I heard someone call out softly. I turned around to see a girl holding a baby.

"This Nicki's house right?" She asked. "Yeah, you her friend?" She shook her head. "Cousins. My names Deja."

"Jace...the last I seen Nicki was over there by the bar." I told her, she thanked me before making her way over to the bar.

•

"Was that Deja?" Tez asked standing next to me as she walked away.

"Yeah I think she said that's her name, why?" He sighed deeply. "Shit!" He cursed.

"What?"

"Where's Chanel?" He asked, he was acting strange for no reason."I don't know why?"

"Jace I gotta go man."

"Yo Tez stop acting crazy wassup?"

"She carrying a baby right?" I nodded and gestured for him to get to his point. "He mine."

"What?! Nigga you know that's Nicki cousin right?" I semi-yelled, surprised at the news. "So you cheated on Chanel with Nicki cousin?" I asked to confirm I was hearing him right.

"We weren't official then but I heard Dejas been looking for me since she had the baby, Jace I'm not ready to be somebody daddy."

"You do know that once Chanel and Nicki find out they're both gonna kill you." I said chuckling lowly, if Nicki found out she'd be mad at Tez and then probably take it out on me.

"Yeah but-"

He was cut off by baby girl herself. " I'm gonna fuck you up! It's niggas like you that piss me off! You want to fuck every pretty bitch you come across but won't take responsibility for your actions!" She yelled, catching the attention of those nearest to us.

"Nigga you got a kid. Stop running around in these streets like a little boy and be a man! You think being a deadbeat is cool? We'll see how cool it is when your son grows up to hate you."

"Shut the fuck up Nicki" Tez yelled making Nicki squint her eyes and look at him then at me like we both lost our minds. "Are you gonna let him talk to me like that Jayceon?"

"Baby chill." I said as I tried reaching for her waist. "Don't fucking touch me!" She snapped. "Get the fuck out my house Tez!" She spat before storming off.

•

"Nicki." I called out to Nicki as she was sat around the pool with some of her friends. "What?" She answered with an attitude.

"Let me talk to you for a minute." She sighed and walked over to me. I grabbed her hand and pulled her into the house. "What was up with you earlier?"

"Like I said I hate when dudes try to play women." She shrugged. "Yeah but you know how Tez is, he can't help it"

"That doesn't make it okay Jace." She said and I noticed her voice crack, ever since the Dre situation she's been a lot more emotional and not her usual self.

"That's all? Talk to me Nic. I thought we were over this secret shit." I tried to get her to say what was in her mind.

"Okay...When I was in high school I dated a guy like Tez, a ladies man all the girls wanted him. He was a couple years older than me. I though I was special because I was the only one who had him, come to find out he was fucking half the cheer squad.

I knew but I loved him so like an idiot I forgave him... He was a good boyfriend besides the cheating but that all changed when I got pregnant."

"Once I told him he cut me off, I was just like Deja chasing after him so we could talk about it, but it never happened, I was scared and I knew I couldn't raise a baby alone so I got rid off it... A couple months later I got an invite to my God sister who lives in Philly's, baby shower and guess who was there stood right by her side."

"It was his baby?" I asked.

"Yeah. And apparently they had been dating for 4 years, she lived next door to his grandma, she knew nothing about me and him so I decided to keep it that way. Till this day she still doesn't know."

"Tez just reminded me so much of him and I snapped. I'm sorry I'll call him later to say sorry and-" I started to explain how I was going to apologise but he cut me off. "No, Tez is my best friend but he deserved to hear what you said."

I nodded. "I'm hungry, let's go get something to eat." I said grabbing his hand. "You're always hungry. I already ate and so did you." He said laughing, "and how did we go from talking about Tez's situation to food just like that?"

"Because I can smell the barbecue and I'm hungry, so come on before your fat ass cousin over there eats all the food." I said pointing over at Jace's cousin who was on his 4th plate.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

I was meant to post this earlier, sorry.

Please excuse any errors

10 comments for an update ✨🌹