Page 61 of Pretty

Other times, Dani and Chloe were stealing him away to have fun with him. He was a loved child, and I was thankful for the village he had to keep him safe, loved, and protected. My thoughts briefly drifted to Noah and Kendra. I hoped that she had settled down and given Noah a safe home and space. I prayed that he had a village that loved him and kept him safe.

Pretty had taken the prenatal paternity test, and we had gone out to eat at a quaint little Cuban restaurant after we got the results. There had never been a doubt in my mind, but because of what I’d gone through, it was important to her that there be no doubt in my mind.

I grabbed Pretty and pulled her into my arms and danced with her.

“You gon’ work that ass for me, baby?” I teased, gripping her hips and grinding against her from behind.

“Boy, you’d better stop that. Our parents are here,” she hissed.

“Aye, I’m a grown man in my own home. Besides, we’re married. You’ll be thirty-one in a few months, and I’m thirty-seven. You think I’m trying to hear what anyone has to say to me?”

She spun around and looped her arms around my neck. Smiling seductively at me, she replied, “It’s about respect, baby.”

“Respect that I’m about to get in that ass tonight.”

She giggled and shook her head. “I can’t with you.”

“Y’all cute or whatever,” Chloe declared, walking by and winking at us.

We laughed and turned our attention back to one another, shutting the world out.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” Pretty asked, looking confused.

“For making my life better. So much better than I ever could have imagined.”

“Well, thank you for taking a risk on loving me. I was in a dark place when we met, which would explain my impromptu decision to sleep with you. In hindsight, I regret nothing. You taught me how to grab life by the horns and live it to the fullest. You genuinely brought me back to life again, Drew.”

“Good. Because you and DJ are my life.”

I pressed my forehead against hers as the music slowed down. I rested my hands on her hips, and we swayed to the beat. I closed my eyes and thought about my life two years ago versus now. I was glad that all the women, the parties, and the fast living had ended. My life was truly full and rich in ways it had never been before.

Our families and friends had left an hour earlier, and the cleaning crew had finished up and left fifteen minutes ago. It was just Pretty, DJ, and me.

“I saw your girl earlier today.”

“What girl?” Pretty asked, putting away the last leftover dish.

“Tanika.”

“She is not my girl. Chloe said that she’s selling feet pics online.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised. Jason said she’s got an OnlyFans page.”

“And how would Jason know that?” Pretty asked, twisting her lips and frowning.

I shrugged. “He wouldn’t be Jason if he didn’t know.”

“I guess. Where did you see her?”

“When I finished getting my shapeup at Knox Cutz and Stylez, I stopped by Baby Got Buns to get the cake. She was in there trying to sell some paintings she’d made. Baby was polite, but she told her that wasn’t a beauty salon, and it wasn’t the place to roll up in trying to hock your wares.”

“Good for her.”

I had finally met Tanika almost a year ago. I had set up some mini football camps to test out the market. Tanika had arrived with a friend of hers who had a little boy. The friend was all about her business, focusing on getting her little boy enrolled, but Tanika could only focus on Pretty.

She tried to step to Pretty and apologize again, but my woman wasn’t hearing that. She politely told her to step away before she took out a restraining order and filed charges for harassment. That chick looked confused as a muthafucka, but she backed away.