Page 51 of A Minute Past Midnight

“Anything for you, baby.”

I smirked. “Now why are we celebrating in these people's house?”

He chuckled. “There you go, asking a thousand questions. Come on here so we can celebrate you, woman.”

I laughed and allowed him to lead me right to the food.

This man was determined to make me fat.

As the evening approached, I realized it was becoming one of the most beautiful nights of my life. We ate an incredible gourmet meal. There was laughter, music, and funny stories about Samir and Quamir that they didn't tell me the last time we had dinner.

Conversations that had my stomach hurting from laughing.

Mya stayed close beside me most of the night, teasing me about how emotional I had become.

Gam kept checking on me.

Mrs. Raquel hugged me every chance she got.

Mr. Amir and Quamir joked with Samir while pretending they weren’t secretly impressed by everything he had arranged. And for the first time in a very long time, I felt surrounded by love.

Real love.

Eventually, the night came to an end, and everyone hugged us goodbye before slowly leaving the house to go to their villa not too far from here.

“I’m proud of you, sis,” Mya said as she stood by the door.

“Thank you, Mya. For being a friend and a shoulder when I needed one.”

“I’m only being what I wished someone would have been to me. You deserve every good thing that comes to you, girl. Embrace it. You found a good one. Or should I say, a good one found you.” She winked and smiled while hugging me tight.

We said our goodbyes as the ocean waves continued crashing outside, and the house had finally become quiet with just me and Samir left.

I stood near the large windows overlooking the water, when soft music suddenly began playing.

“Stay” by Jodeci filled the open space as I turned around to see Samir standing a few feet away.

His hand extended toward me. “Dance with me.”

I smiled. “I’m pregnant.”

“So?”

“I might step on your feet.”

“You ain't even that big for you to be saying that shit.”

“So,” I sassed playfully.

He laughed. “Come here, baby.”

I placed my hand in his as he pulled me close, one hand resting against my waist while the other held mine. We slowly moved together with my cheek resting against his chest.

“This was the best birthday I’ve ever had,” I whispered.

His hand moved gently against my back. “Good.”

“I mean it.”