Birthday Surprise

Nut

I turned off my location. Choc’s got a meeting with a client, but that’s over at one. Depending on if the meeting was in the conference room or her office, I got fifty-eight to sixty-one more minutes before my better half starts blowing my line down. 

I pray to God Macy’s slow ass is on time. I ain’t ever met someone who is just casually late. To everything. One time I asked Choc how she is at work, and she told me her and Brina told her that her clock-in time is an hour and a half before her actual time, so that she’s there when the building opens.

I couldn’t use the same method because as Brina and Choc’s secretary, Macy knows all the times of her meetings. But I stressed to her how important it was that she be punctual. You think she listened? No. Her ass just nodded and continued butchering that sundae she and my lil nigga were sharing.

The doorbell chimes and I look up. God must have known I needed this, because here comes Macy, rushing in, teeth chattering because it’s cold as fuck on this December day.

She takes in the spot I asked to meet her at, a smile overcoming her round face. I see why Macy and Choc clicked so well when they were younger; they’re two peas in a pod. Both loud. Both got a wild temper. And both swear they know everything. Macy though, she worse than Choc fasho. I think Choc having my lil nigga so young kind of curved her reckless decision making. She be thinking before she do shit foreal, got that mother gene activated. 

Macy ass just don’t give a fuck. Reminds me of a me before I locked Tati down. She sweet as hell, like the sweetest foreal, so that’s why when she switches that mouth or them hands on you be throwed off. You’d think her being pregnant would mellow her out, but I think that baby got her really turnt up, if having to pick her up from jail last week was any indication.

“So you ready to lock my bitch down?” Macy asks, leaning onto the display case.

One of the workers comes and stops in front of us. “Ma’am, you can’t–”

“Bitch if I wanted to break this shit it would take more than my big ass to lean on it, don’t you think?” Macy swings her head away and glares at the man. I cough to cover my laugh. She off the fucking chain.

“Mace. We don’t have much time for yo lunch, bro. Chill.”

I grab her wrist like she Anaïs and take her to the back to the VIP room, with her grumbling the whole way.

“I’m just saying. He only came over there cause we Black. And only said something because I’m wide as all outside.”

I just shake my head and pull us into the wood and velvet room. Armand, my jeweler, grins at me before doing a double take at Macy.

“Mr. Rivera, who is this goddess?” his old ass says, putting whatever’s in his hand on the counter before coming to meet us.

“Waddup Armand. This Macy, my sister through Choc. I brought her here for a woman’s opinion.”

He takes Macy’s hand and kisses it, making her crazy ass blush and flutter her lashes. “I should tell you about my son AJ, but I fear I want you for myself.”

“If you cool with being a step daddy I’ll give you my number now,” she got the nerve to purr. But they can do this shit another time.

“Ay, c’mon Mace,” I call, walking over to the ring Armand got out for me.

I haven’t known my better half a year, but shit, when you know, you know. And I know she and Denver are it for me. I need us official as fuck, and some carats is a cool place to start. 

Armand’s been a jeweler most of his life. His son AJ is the one who makes our grills, chains, and bracelets and shit. But Armand is the true OG, and he and I have been working on Choc’s engagement ring since June.

Since right after she blessed me with that goodness between them legs.

I don’t tell a lot of people this shit, but I got an eye for shit. In another life, I would have went to the league, then retired and become a designer or some shit. I mean, I designed my crib. I designed Palace, and most of the clubs we bought. Shit, I’m working on BirchFest right now. So it was nothing to design Choc’s ring.

But I still need the stamp of approval from Macy. She knows Choc the best, and shit, if I got it right, the brownie points from sis are cool, too. Though I don’t need those; I told you she a girl version of me.

Macy and Armand follow me to the counter, and Macy’s dramatic ass gasps.

Armand just grins, picking up the velvet box and bringing it to her face. “A fourteen carat natural purple sapphire, oval-cut, set on an eighteen carat gold band. It took me a month to carve the ivy leaves,” Armand grins.

“Whatchu thinking sis?” I nudge her. She looks up at me and blinks away tears before pulling me into a hug.

“She’s gonna love it, Peanuthead.”

“You sure? I was gone put throw some diamonds around it–”

“No,” she shakes her head on my arm. “It’s simple, timeless and perfect. You did your big one. And it’s purple.”

“Aight, I’ll take it. I wired the bread to you this morning, Armand.”

He hands me the box and waves me off. “I’ll give it to you for free if Miss Macy here will let me take her out.” He winks at Macy, who just giggles.

“As soon as I drop this load I’m knocking on your door, baby.”

I push Macy’s ass out the VIP room and out the jewelry store before she has his old ass signing it over to her. After walking her to her car, I make my way back to the office, only turning my location back on once I’m in the parking garage.

I got the perfect ring, now I just need the perfect set up.

Choc

“Okay, you sure you can handle Denver and Anaïs?”

Macy nods, slurping up her ramen. “Don’t they have bedtimes? How hard can it be?”

That does not make me feel any better, but I have no choice. Ms. Ayesha and Sergio are on their anniversary trip. G-Pops is back to having a house full of kids since Renelle upped and disappeared. Autumn, Patience, and Turk are in their own little bubble. And Set’s threatened everyone twice about asking Brina to do anything but just exist, and besides, Brina and Shad are nursing his ass back to health anyway. Rico still hasn’t turned up. Ty would have my babies watching him instead of him watching them. And Reem has his hands full between being in charge of whatever and looking for his baby mama.

I’m shit out of luck. And Patrick turns thirty next week, and deserves a small vacation before he really gets BirchFest together.

So I hold in my groan, plaster the fakest smile on my face, and tell myself Macy, who couldn’t keep a cactus alive, can keep Denver and Anaïs for two days.

“Mace, they both have school. You gotta help Anaïs with her writing and make sure they eat.”

She just waves me off, slurping on her ramen still. “Dal, I got this. I’ll get my niece and nephew to school, pick them up, make sure they do their homework, and they’ll be in bed before midnight–”

“Eight-thirty.”

“Damn! That’s before the best shows come on!”

I palm my face and this time I can’t hold in my groan.

For a month I’ve been planning this surprise turnaround for us. Having Turk book their jet under his name so we can fly to Northupton. I got us a suite in this fire hotel and resort right outside of town. Couple spa package, gambling, dinner at this special steakhouse that just opened, then sucking the soul out of him. The second day we’re supposed to be ATV riding in the desert, but depending on how well the first night goes, we might need it to recover.

Auntie ain’t a spring chicken no more.

“I’m kidding, Dal. It’s two days. I’m not totally helpless, and this will give me good practice for when my bean comes.”

My hands drop as I beam at my best friend. There was a time where we cried because she thought she couldn’t have children. And I know the circumstances surrounding her mysterious baby daddy are less than stellar, but this bean is a miracle from God. 

Mace doesn’t take much of anything seriously, but she’s trying to mature enough to be a mom, a single one at that, and I love this for her, even when she stumbles.

“You’re gonna be the best mom, Mace. Shit, I just might let Patrick put one in me so at least one of my babies grows up next to yours.”

Mace’s eyes light up as she puts her ramen down and grabs my hands. “Oh bitch, don’t even joke like that foreal! And Patience and Brina are pregnant, too! It’ll be like the Kardashians!”

Mace and I always talked about raising our kids close in age. Of course this was before I got with Mo and had Denver, so now instead of our kids growing old together, they’ll be best friends/cousins.

“Okay, okay. Don’t tell him I said that, either. I know y’all be talking about me behind my back.”

She has the nerve to try and look innocent. “What ever do you mean?”

Nut

I’m on alert the second Choc lifts my arm from around her. But my baby just turns and winks at me, excitement barely contained. “C’mon, I know you’re up.”

I rise up to watch her take out two duffels from my closet. She refuses to move all the way in, so we still alternate between our cribs, but I grin knowing that’s finna be a thing of the past. The best birthday gift to myself is having my kids and my better half under my roof before the year ends.

“Go brush your teeth and wash your face. The jet leaves in ninety minutes.” 

“Jet?” I ask, finally standing.

Choc grins and retightens her scarf. “Yep. You thought you was turning thirty here? C’mon. I’ma go check on the kids and let Mace know we’re leaving.”

“That’s why she stayed over? Choc, you know she be eating us out of house and home? You sure she not having twins?”

She just glares at me until I surrender and go do what she says. Whatever. She be mad too when Mace eats all the wings in the fridge.

Choc blindfolds me in the car and puts on noise cancelling headphones with one of our love playlists blasting. After she leads me into the cabin and gets me situated, I’m out like a light. Sheeit, my baby say she wining and dining me for my thirtieth, then I’m finna be the princess that I am.

I’m jolted awake by our landing and Choc takes off the blindfold and headphones. I look out the window then smile at my baby. “Northupton?”

She nods, turning away all shy and shit. “Just somewhere far enough for us to feel like we’re getting a break, but still close to home.”

I pull her by her neck to capture her lips. “You the best, you know that?”

“Be sure to show me all night long how thankful you are,” she says, biting my lip.

My better half is insatiable. If I couldn’t feel that IUD when I’m carving my full name in her pussy, I’d think she was pregnant like all the other homegirls.

I don’t even get to look around the resort Choc booked because as soon as we get there the concierge takes our stuff and whisks us away to the spa.

It’s all cool stone and serene nature sounds and shit. We go into this nice stone room for our couple’s massage, and I swear Ima have a room like that built back home. That real deep tissue massage, where they stand on your back and hold onto the bars… I fall asleep again to the sounds of my baby moaning–a little too hard, but Ima let her make it–and the feeling of all my knots melting away.

“If you tell anyone about this–”

“Relax, Patrick. My phone is in my purse. No one will believe me if there's no proof.”

I turn my head to Choc and ball my face up. “Why do you insist on me being a square, Choc? I thought you loved my gangsta.”

She cuts her eyes to me before focusing back on the woman doing her nails. “Gangstas can have nice hands and feet, too, Patrick.”

I grunt and give her the side of my head. I have nice feet, fuck is she talking ‘bout? And I keep my nails cut low so I can strum her cat like Raphael Saadiq.

“So my feet ugly Choc? My shit cute.”

“I didn’t say that… excuse me. Make sure you get his big toenails. Thank you.” 

She really trying it. I look down and just like I thought, they not even long to begin with.

“You saying I got long toenails bae?”

“No, baby.”

I grin at her.

“I’m just tired of them slicing up my legs,” she mumbles, but I catch that shit and shoot her mean ass a glare.

Part of our spa package is a couples manicure and pedicure, too. I wasn’t going for it, but she said I could pick out her set if I do it, so I’m right next to her, getting done up like the real pimp I am, and she getting some oval shaped nails. French tip, but the tips is sea foam green, with that nude color I love to see gripping me. They not that long, since Choc be needing to type at work, but when I steal a peek, I see they still meet the vision in my head, and go with her favorite color, too.

“I’m not getting polish on my shit, Choc. Not buffing ‘em either. I draw the fucking line, bro.”

“Yes, yes, I know. P-Nutty is a–”

“Real nigga,” we say together. It’s not that I have a problem with nail polish foreal. It’s just, when you have a baby girl who looks up at you with doe eyes asking to try out her nail tech dreams on you, you don’t say no. But now that she has her Mommy Dally, they be playing with the nail polish, and I’m finally free.

But that don’t mean I’ma let another nail tech play with me. Shit, I feel bad cheating on my nail tech now.

“And I won’t tell Lil Mama you got your nails done by someone else, too,” she snickers.

“Yeah, you laughing until she tries to take your shit off, too.”

With an eye roll, we move onto lighter topics before the next part of our package starts, and we’re separated. Choc goes to get her hair blown out, but I ain’t letting no one touching my head, especially these bougie niggas.

So while Choc is off beautifying her already perfect ass, I venture off into my own adventure.

Choc

Pissed is an understatement.

I had this whole dinner planned for Patrick’s birthday. A private table on the rooftop terrace. Do you know how much money that is?! Even after Mr. Espinosa worked his magic, I still had to come off bands. 

Now, don’t get me wrong, my Patrick is priceless. Nothing is ever too much for my baby. The way he takes care of us, and leads our little family, I always try to show him how much I appreciate him every day. 

But when my high-yellow, perpetually scowling, lowkey sensitive bean pole of a other half calls me from the toilet of our suite to tell me to come take care of him because he’s not gonna make it to dinner, it’s hard not to think about how much I dropped.

Dammit, I was excited for the tomahawk steak!

But no. I’m waxed, plucked, and shiny like a new penny. Hair pinned up with pieces framing my face. Deep purple mini dress that hugs every curve and sets off the undertones of my skin. And I’m heading up to clean up throw up and rub my man’s scalp.

This better not be an inside look to getting older.

I check my attitude at the door though. Something I’ve been working on with my therapist. It’s too easy for me to take my frustrations out on Patrick, and where things like that don’t bother me, I’ve learned in our group sessions that my big baby holds onto that.

After a deep breath, I open the suite door. “Patrick? I’m here, baby.”

When I fully step into the room, I freeze.

The living area is filled with purple dahlias–my favorite, lavender, and purple peonies. They’re everywhere, like a flower shop came and threw up everywhere instead of my honey.

The windows are covered in a wall of white roses, and pictures of us from these past seven months. I finally find my legs and shuffle over, dropping the heels I stripped off in the elevator.

There’s seven pictures in total. The first was one he snuck of me when he took us all to the fair. Our first date. I’m devouring an ice cream cone.

The second is of me sleep in his bed. The fourth and sixth are similar, pictures of me sleep or doing my hair, not paying attention to him obviously being a creeper.

The fifth picture, though, I remember vividly. It was the morning after we made up at my birthday party. He and Lil Mama stayed over, and that morning he came into the bathroom as I was brushing my teeth and started taking pictures of me. He took so many obscene ones of me bent over, that I took his phone from him, and we finally got the best one we were going to get. Patrick palming one of my boobs hanging out his wife beater, kissing my cheek, as I giggled from him licking my ear right before. 

The last picture is the one that pushes the tears clinging to my lids over. It’s from Halloween. Lil Mama wanted to match, as usual, so she was mustard, and I was ketchup. We couldn’t find a costume small enough for her, so me and Ms. Ayesha worked on both of our costumes, and then it turned into a family thing, with Denver being barbecue sauce, and Patrick being relish.

Ms. Ayesha took our pictures. While Denver, Anaïs and I smile at the camera, Patrick’s staring a hole at the side of my side, a small smile blossoming. Not even paying attention.

“That’s when I knew I’d be making you my wife before the year was up.”

I turn to see Patrick, dressed in a black button down and tailored pants with his Versace loafers. His tapered haircut is fresh, with his hair waving at the top just like he knows I like it. He’s got one hand in his pocket as he begins to walk over to me.

“I knew you’d be mine the second I seen you at your grand opening, but Halloween was when I realized I needed to do it soon. I didn’t want too many more holidays passing with you not having my last name.”

He stops in front of me and takes a black box out of his pocket. When he opens it, I gasp. 

Tears are pouring down my face by the gallon, now, as I take in that gorgeous, perfect, engagement ring in my favorite color set in my favorite metal.

“Oh, Patrick,” I whisper, as he takes it out and puts the box back in his pocket.

“You talked about going about shit the normal way with us since you felt you didn’t get everything with Mo. But baby, ain’t nothing normal about you or what we got. So no, I ain’t get you a diamond, I went with your birthstone sapphire in your favorite color. And nah, I ain’t getting down on one knee, because I ain’t gotta prove to you that you’re the only woman I’ll ever kneel for. You more than my better half, Choc. You my peace. You my voice of reason. You my reminder that God didn’t forget about me. You, Denver, and Anaïs are my personal blessings, and I wanna spend the rest of our lives making sure you understand how much you mean to me. And it starts with you wearing this ring, bae.”

I’m a blubbering mess as he slides it onto my finger. He lifts my hand to his mouth, kissing the ring and then my knuckles.

“How did you–”

“I know what you finna do before you do it, Choc. I knew you’d wanna surprise me for my birthday, so it was nothing to check the flight plans for the jet, and hit up some flower shops. You love getting pampered, and this place got the best spa. I know you, girl.”

I try to scoff but it comes out strangled since I haven’t stopped crying or looking at my man, my fiancé. “Then what am I finna do now?”

He smirks and gently kisses my lips. “You’re gonna take a pic of this fire ass ring and send it to yo group chat with Rico and the girls. Then you’re gonna try and suck the skin off my dick. That’s why they bringing that meal you cursed out the executive chef about to the room in like two hours. Plenty of time for us to consummate this new development, take a rose petal bath I made, and then still eat my birthday meal.”

He’s always right. And right now, I’m not even annoyed.

I just throw my arms around him and kiss him all over his face. “I love you so much, Patrick Rivera. You took my heart with no apologies and every day you show me why it’s safe with you. You’re such an amazing father, brother, friend, and partner baby. I can’t wait to be your wife.”

I kiss his lips again and let him deepen it. “You and Denver moving in with me when we get back.”

“Whatever you want, future husband,” I moan. He kisses my jaw before sucking my neck.

“You gone have my baby, too. I need you big as hell walking down that aisle.” He licks my earlobe like he ain’t just throw ice water on us.

I try to step back but he tightens his hold on me, peppering kisses down my neck to my collarbone.

“Patrick… no. I’m not finna be pregnant during my dream wedding. You can put one in me after we jump the broom and not a second before.”

He groans before leaning back to scowl at me. “You just said anything I want.”

I roll my eyes at his little tantrum. “Macy, Pay, and Brina are pregnant right now. One is homicidal, one can’t stop crying, and one acts like she’s a bottomless pit. Let me have my dream wedding before I bring another life into this world, please.”

Patrick’s hands travel to my ass, squeezing it. “I’m giving you six months. We planning the wedding of the fucking century. Everyone’s baby will have dropped, so it's an open bar. And then that night I’m snatching yo IUD out myself and putting one in ya. I had a dream we had four kids and I’m tryna see it come true.”

“Four?! Pat–”

He silences me with a heart-stopping kiss, and when I glance at my ring behind his big ass head, I almost forget he was implying getting me pregnant twice instead of once.

“I can’t wait to make you my wife,” he says against my lips. Tears swim in his eyes as he stares at me. My sensitive baby. I rub his scalp, his cheek, and his ear as he takes me in. “Thank you for loving all of me, Choc. I know I’m not the easiest, but you hold it down every day.”

The corner of my mouth lifts. “Loving you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done.”