Page 216 of The Ninth

“We’ll have her name added to the lease, drop yours, and I’ll pay it until Christmas next year. Then she need to move in with her nigga, on foenem.”

I cackled, reaching over and taking his hand. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you, Cassie.”

He held onto my hand, standing and turning his chair towards me with the other. The seriousness in his eyes made me untuck my feet, sitting up straighter. His head dropped down only for a second before I reached with my other hand, lifting his chin.

“What’s wrong, Kenzo Maddox III? Tell me.”

“The reason I was already looking for you...it’s because of Devyn. She made a realization that knocked some sense into her rockhead ass. Then she confessed.”

My eyebrows scrunched as he took a deep breath,

“Cassandra, I and Duke know about the pregnancy tests. We know Devyn being pregnant is why she stayed and y’all went. Except...Devyn got her period that night. She spoke to her mother, and she sent her proof that her birth control was going for twelve years and not three.”

“W-what?”

My hand snatched away from his face, grabbing my stomach. When I realized the physical response, I removed my hand, placing it on my thigh instead. My breathing became thin. I suddenly noticed how humid it was.

K3’s hand on my thigh caused me to look towards him. He slowly caressed it, giving me a caring look.

“She doesn’t believe the positive came from her, which means it could only come from you. There’s a chance that you are pregnant right now, Cassandra.”

“I can’t be pregnant, K3! I did everything. We did everything. I was in a shootout last night, falling, sliding under trucks! I could’ve kill—there’s no way!”

“I did bring two tests until we can get you to the doctor. Do you wan—oh, okay.”

I hopped up, walking inside and straight to the bathroom. Fuck he mean do I wanna take them? Hell yeah! I’m about to double fist them hoes. Ain’t no fucking way I’m the one pregnant. We were so careful. I tracked my ovulation like the white hoes said to online. And I’ve had no symptoms!

As Kenzo approached me with the box, I thought back to the headaches I’ve been having. The hunger. The sleepiness. My head shook like a rattle as I tried to knock the possibility loose. Grabbing and tearing open the box, I immediately removed the caps to the tests, sitting and taking both. My eyes looked up to Kenzo for reassurance, but his eyes were trained to the floor.

After placing the caps on the tests, I got myself together and begun washing my hands. One had dashes, taking a moment to say pregnant or not pregnant. The other was supposed to be a positive or negative sign. The horizontal sign appeared immediately. Before I could even turn the sink off, the vertical line started to slowly appear. I could just hear it saying “surprise, surpriseeeee, bitch!”

I continued as if I didn’t see the shit. Instead, my hands gripped the sink in disbelief. Kenzo is out of jail. The proposal. The house. The salon. The dangers. There’s so much going on which is why I was avoiding this. My mind couldn’t even train on a single thing because there was so much happening.

“I’ll give you some space...” K3 murmured.

“Why would I want space from my fiancé right now?”

He didn’t respond and I didn’t press it. Instead, I paid attention to the single thought that kept running in the back of my head.

This is everything I wanted.

I always wanted Kenzo to come home and immediately propose. The house. The baby. Even with him being gone, I feel like we still had a well-established relationship the entire time. No part of me wanted him to come home and go slow or restart. I want this man in every way I can get him. When the second test displayed the single word, I couldn’t help but feel sad. Sad that my parents weren’t here to share the happiness that was creeping up in me.

Kenzo and I are having a baby. We’re getting married. Regardless of any feelings of being overwhelmed, I just couldn’t believe it. Both were commitments and devotion towards each other. We’re really going to be together forever.

We met eyes in the mirror, “Kenzo, I’m carrying your baby...” He didn’t smile or respond. Just stared. My chest slowly tightened. “You’re not happy...”

“Of course I’m happy,” he responded immediately. “I’ve been worried sick about you. I’ve prayed over you several times since finding out. I just...know you didn’t want this. Right now, at least. This baby is all I’ve thought about. I’ve already dreamt of a beautiful girl with your entire face. With everything going on...I’m concerned for you. I don’t wanna burn you out and it affects you negatively or our relationship.”

My shoulders shook before the smile popped onto my face. I spun around, throwing my arms around his neck. His arms tightly wrapped around me as he laughed loudly. Kenzo is always thinking about me which is why I couldn’t be happier to mother his child.

“Shit happens, Papa. I would never look at a blessing for us as a burden. You always thinking of and caring for me is why I feel so confident. I know you’ll do whatever to make things easier. Whether it’s your mother coming up while I’m postpartum or going on maternity leave from the salon. It’s a lot, but nothings too much for you, Kenzo. We’re having a BABY!”

I pulled back, looking into his glossy eyes, “You came home and did everything you said you would, K3. Including the baby I tried to put off! It’s time, Papa. Did the nursery come with the house or not?!”

He threw his head back, cackling. “Okay, folks. It didn’t come with the house, BUT! I swear I didn’t purposely get you pregnant behind your back! On bro nem grave!”