Page 177 of Buy Back My Love

“Can you just appreciate my work?”

“I do.”

“Then come on.”

The ride to the restaurant started normal enough, but about halfway there, Anika slapped the steering wheel.

“Damn.”

I looked over. “What?”

“I left something at the house.”

“What you leave?”

“Something.”

“Very descriptive.”

“I’ll be quick.”

She turned around, and I didn’t think much of it until we pulled onto her street and I saw cars packed into the driveway, parked in the yard, and lined along the road. Then I noticed the bright balloons tied to the mailbox, complete with little tacos and a baby bottle.

I slowly looked at Anika. “Trevon throwing a party?”

She gave me a dumb little shrug. “I don’t know. Let’s go see.”

“You live here.”

“And?”

“How you don’t know if your husband throwing a party at your house?”

“Come on, Lee.”

Something was wrong with her. I knew it. I just didn’t know what yet. She got out, so I grabbed my purse and followed her toward the house. The second she opened the front door, everybody screamed.

“SURPRISE!”

I jumped so hard my hand flew to my stomach. “Oh my God!”

The living room was full of people. Mama, Wren, Nina, Trevon, family, friends, everybody. Then I spotted Van. For a second, all I could do was stand there before I finally noticed the decorations.

TACO ‘BOUT A BABY was written across a huge sign behind the dessert table. Little tacos wearing diapers were printed on everything. There was a taco bar set up along one wall, cupcakes with tiny sombreros, bright balloons, games, and gifts stacked everywhere.

I slowly turned toward Anika. “You lied to me.”

She was already laughing. “You wasn’t gonna let us throw you one.”

“I said I didn’t need one.”

“We weren’t trying to hear all that.”

Wren came over and wrapped her arms around me. “Surprise!”

“You knew too?”

“Obviously.”