Page 61 of Kobalt

“There wasn’t going to be a wedding. Just a small private ceremony between him and me. I always told you I wouldn’t have a big wedding, just something small and intimate.”

“Yeah, but I thought I’d be there.”

“It was supposed to be a private ceremony at a retreat.”

“I swear, I can’t stand your bougie ass. You could’ve looped me in so that I could’ve helped you find that gorgeous-ass wedding dress that highlighted that fat ass and those juicy titties. Now I know why that body’s banging. Got a baby up in there. Hmm. He didn’t waste no time shooting up the club.”

I giggled. “Listen, you were the one who didn’t answer your phone. I tried calling you several times and texting you.”

“I blocked your ass and forgot to unblock you. So, y’all said fuck Nia, we’re getting married?”

Shrugging, I replied, “Not really. I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you all those years ago, though. You meant the world to me, and as much as you loved me, I knew you loved him. To ask you not to say anything to your brother would’ve been unfair. I didn’t want to put you in that compromising position, because I knew that I didn’t want him to know—not yet.”

She sucked her teeth and replied, “I guess,” before she finished the wine in her glass.

“Do you forgive me? Can we go baby shopping and do friend shit together again now?”

She giggled. “I was gonna call you later today. I just wanted you to suffer a little longer. Yes, we can go shopping for my little niece or nephew. I’m gonna be a rich auntie. Don’t I give rich auntie vibes?” she asked, holding up the wine bottle and dancing in her little teddy.

“Girl, whatever. Now that we’ve dealt with that, let’s talk about who just pulled out in that midnight-blue Navigator, and who you thought I was at the door.”

“Girl, sit down.”

“What? I wanna know.”

“I mean, if you’ve got secrets, why can’t I have some?”

“That’s the game we’re playing now?”

She sucked her teeth and giggled. “I mean, yeah. But you can have a seat while I get dressed so that we can take a trip to Kobe’s—wait, you moved in with him, too, I guess, huh?”

“Yes. We’re married.”

“Don’t be on that whole I’s married shit now, sis. It’ll be just a second for me to throw something on real quick.”

“You need to put some soap and water on that funky coochie and ass of yours before you think about stepping foot in my house, sis,” I hollered behind her.

“Excuse me?” she replied, sticking her head back around the corner.

“I saw you just had company leaving, and look at what you’re wearing. Don’t tell me you didn’t just finish getting dicked down before I pulled up.”

“I mean—in the shower, yeah. We washed afterward. Now I was on my knees taking cum shots before you arrived, but that’s another story,” Niagara teased.

“Ewww! Friend, you better tell me who he is now!”

She laughed and ran out of the living room, leaving me with a thousand questions.

Kobalt and I were cooking dinner as Niagara sat at the island sharing her feelings with us about the past. We listened intently and heard her heart before either of us spoke. When she finished, I had plated our meals, and we all headed into the living room. Niagara sat in the middle of the floor with her plate, and I sat on the couch, and Kobalt had his arm wrapped around me. Every now and then, he would drop a kiss on my shoulder or temple. I smiled lovingly up at him in return, and then I would reach out and stroke his hand. When I wasn’t doing that, he would be feeding me or vice versa.

Niagara rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth. “I can already see you two are going to be sickening.”

“Well, at least you’ll get to be a rich auntie,” I declared.

“Heffa, what’s that got to do with anything?” Niagara asked.

“It means that I’m gonna keep her knocked up,” Kobalt replied.

“Ugh. I can’t stand you two,” Niagara professed.