My eyes fluttered open, I did a morning stretch before yawning &' grabbing my phone . Checking my messages of course Tae was cursing me out

I sighed , closing the messages app out &' looked over. I already knew Don was going to put me in the bed cause he hated when I slept on the couch , I quickly glanced at the time was stamped on the left top corner of my screen. I ripped the covers off myself before making it to his bathroom, I quickly brushed my teeth &' washed my face exiting the bathroom I flicked the lights off &' headed downstairs . Feeling a little hungover I grabbed the bottle throwing a shot back before cracking a can of Vernors open &' taking a sip , I know if I was hungover he was forsure, I pulled his pans out he used to cook breakfast before grabbing a few bowls &' what else I needed to make a quick meal .

I grabbed some pancake mix hurriedly mixing it with milk stirring it until it was at the right consistency.

I grabbed the bacon sitting on the counter so it could get to room temp, I cracked 4 eggs before dropping the yolk into the bowl &' added all the seasons I added some milk &' beat the eggs until they were right as well I then began cutting a few potatoes into little slices .

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Finally the food was finishing up , I left everything in the oven heated on 250 so it could stay warm. I began plating the food, I felt a warm presence press up against me rubbing the front of my body up until grabbing my neck firmly pushing against . For a minute I just sat there closing my eyes wishing things could've been like dis for real, I took a deep breath before backing him up &' finishing what I was doing . Don passed me the wood , I grabbed it taking a pull then blowing the smoke out I poured him a little more then a shot &' making me a mimosa as we sat at the island eating .

"I take it you ina better mood you cookin &' shit." He stated tryna make small talk, I mentally rolled my eyes. "I just got hungry." I said back stale sipping my mimosa as I ate

"Cut da attitude shit, we was friends before feelings got involv-

"I was a fuckin hostage before we were even friends." I cut him off looking at him "Oh my god Mari , let it go . Every time we get into it bout sum other shit you bring up dat shit but claim you healed." He spoke looking back at me. "Cause I am healed , you just seem to forget dats how we became what we were." I explained back . "What can I do , to help you?" He said after a sigh . I licked my lips sitting back in the seat "Tell me why you didn't tell me you had a kid Don." I sternly said taking another sip of my drink

"It's a long story to the whole kid situation in all A'Mariell my baby mama, Ariel we was together for some time, Like a while. We wasn't trying for no kids but she wasn't on birth control &' I wasn't pullin out either." He started , he took a quick pause &' threw his shot back then refilled it &' slid the bottle to me signaling me to take a shot in which I did .

"We damn near lived together , I was all she knew I thought she ain't even live in Nola I met her on Instagram &' she flew out &' we was connected since. She got pregnant , then she miscarried it." He cleared his throat

"She was pregnant by you?" I confirmed to make sure I didn't miss any parts of the story.

"Yeah but I ain't even know she miscarried it , she told me she was flying back home to tell her parents &' allat good shit. She ended up staying up in Cali for like 4 months. She come back to New Orleans like everything was smooth, we went through her whole pregnancy together . Outta nowhere she started getting insecure claiming I was cheating doing all this extra shit so she left me &' went back home."

I stopped him before he finished the story .

"Were you cheating?" I asked , I didn't want him to leave a single piece out. "I ain't never cheated. I ended up meeting Noel on sum fluke shit &' that's where we came about . She heard about Noel came back to town with a 2 year old baby girl. &' at first I was just so like headstrong on meeting my baby I ain't care too much , so I did what I was posed to do to be a dad, I got in da game heavy as hell den cause dats how I was providing for everybody around me . We jumped some new nigga in da gang, he go around tellin everybody he came down here for his baby moms get ta shower pictures &' I see Ariel." He told me using his hands to explain the story to me.

"So I check him bout it , 'I'm like dis my baby &' my baby moms you sum typa goofy nigga?' He confused as fuck, He ain't even get on tip or nun of dat . He like 'Shit I'm finna call her.' I'm like naw I got sum shit for this bitch, don't trip."

"Yo Ari." Don yelled out through the house kicking his shoes off. "Don why you yellin? I just got Nana to sleep." Ariel said back to him coming down the stairs

Don apologized before giving her a hug gripping her ass. "How yo day been?" She asked him sitting down on the couch with Don, he just rubbed his hand down his face &' responded . "Long."

"I can make it better." She said pulling her head back. Don shook his head no &' stretched

"I really just needa shower &' sum sleep." He told her back . As they made it upstairs Don stayed up staring at the black space around as his mind wandered . He looked over seeing Ariel was peacefully sleeping he just sighed moving her off of him &' climbing out his bed to his dresser grabbing the dna test he had his hospital plug get for him.

He walked to his daughters room, said a quick prayer before testing his daughter for her dna.

"The results came back a week later &' she wasn't mine, but she wasn't dudes either. The rest of the story not mines to tell." Don finished . I sighed of relief before getting confused "So she's not your baby mama?" I asked

"She is , we had a baby then we lost it. My family still get her daughter &' I see her time to time but she came over here the other day tryna get some play or some shit but I can't trust her , she always has a plot. She seen your clothes here &' left her panties for you to find &' of course you did ." Don said finally finishing how we got to the point we're at .

"I didn't lie to you nor hide anything from you, Shit just played out wrong." He added

I just shook my head taking it all in . "I just need some time Don, shit just gotta click for me." I said

I'll give you time , just don't hate me over some shit I hated myself for , for years." He replied grabbing my hand rubbing his thumb over it .

"Just take me home Don." I said .

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I'd been home for an hour or two before my front door came swinging open . "A'Mariell!" Marlon yelled, i furrowed my brows before hurriedly grabbing a pair of sweats &' meeting him in my living room . "Hey. You okay?" I asked him confused

"Naw is yo ass okay? Tae said yo ass ain't been home in days but yo car been here." I sighed thinking it was something major . "I stayed the night out last night, I'm fine." I told him making sure he knew I was okay. "Well Zaylin said she was coming over here, she made it?" He asked me , I shook my head no. "Shit she ain't even tell me she was coming , but when does her ass ever?" I stated more den asked

"Dat bitch know better den to be lying &' shit."

"Yo punk ass daddy a bitch." Zay spoke from behind him with my baby in her hands . "Ooouuu My SugaaaMama Girlllll" I exclaimed grabbing her out her arms &' tickling her making her make spit bubbles &' giggle .

"Marlon you got stink for the night." Zay spoke handing her diaper bag to him . "I ain't got no cars-

"I got one." Zaylin interrupted him "&' Whatever else you need I fuckin got . Goodbye." She said kissing him &' pushing him out before grabbing the baby &' kissing her bye as well .

"Bitch we is going outttt tooonighhhttttt!" Zaylin said dancing . "I ain't ina going out mood." I said walking back to my room as she followed . "Girl don't nobody give a fuck you sad bout these fuckas, Put yo party clothes on. Durk got a lil hosting going on &' I got us a section." I broke my neck

"Durkio Smurkio?"

"Yeah you love da goat!" She added , i damn near ran to my room to find an outfit .