Page 131 of Deuce

“No, I’m just?—”

I paused. The mention of period made me think a little too hard about when I had my last one. I went to my phone to check my tracker. Sure enough, I was late. Six weeks late at that.

“Shit!”

Shar frowned in confusion. “What?”

“I’m late.”

“Late for what? You going somewhere?”

“No. I’m late!” I turned the phone around for her to see.

“Oooo, bitch!” She jumped to her feet and clapped her hands. “Am I gonna be an auntie? If it’s a girl, you have to name her after me. Sharina Jr. Yes! I love that!”

“Shar, please! This is serious!”

“Of course it is! My baby is having a baby!” She dropped in front of me and rubbed my stomach. “Hi, TiTi’s pud!”

“Sharina!”

She looked up and finally saw the panic in my face. Her smile slowly faded, and she grabbed my hands.

“Don’t be scared,” she said, softly. “I’ll go get you a test so we can confirm before we overreact. It could be stress.”

“I don’t think it is, Shar.”

“Whatever it is, I’m right by your side every step of the way.” She kissed my cheeks as she pulled me into a hug. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

She released me and climbed to her feet. After grabbing her keys, she slipped her feet into her slides and left the apartment. For twenty agonizing minutes, I sat on my couch, staring at the wall. Could I be pregnant? Was I ready to be a mother? Was Deuce ready to be a father? What would my mother think?

I’d asked myself a million questions and by the time Shar got back, I was in tears. She helped me up from couch and led me to the bathroom in my room.

“I’ll be right here,” she assured me.

I nodded and took the bag from her hand. Behind the locked door. I emptied the contents of the bag and opened the box. Seated on the toilet, I waited and waited until I felt the urge to pee on this life-changing stick.

After cleaning myself up and flushing the toilet, I capped the stick and washed my hands, then waited.

“You okay?” Shar asked.

“Yeah. I’m just—” I caught sight of the two very prominent lines on the test. “Pregnant,” I whispered.

I leaned against the counter, steadying my breathing. I couldn’t even say I didn’t know how this happened because Deuce and I had been fucking like rabbits since the first time heslid within my walls. There was no way at least one of his soldiers hadn’t marched.

I took a deep breath and turned to open the door with the test in my hand. When it opened, Shar was standing there with hopeful eyes. I held it up, and this bitch screamed when she saw the results. She grabbed and damn near lifted me from the ground as she hugged me.

“We’re having a baby! I’m so happy for you!” She pulled back and looked at me. “How are you feeling?”

I blew a breath. “Well, it explains the headaches, vomiting, and tiredness. I’m really pregnant. Her I was thinking it was my nerves, and it’s a whole damn baby. I’m never gonna get rid of that man now.”

Shar laughed. “Girl please. You tried that weeks ago, and look where it got you. Y’all have been locked in since you met him and now he better lock you down before I have to beat his big ass. I fight niggas.”

I rolled my eyes. “He already told me I was gonna be his wife.”

“Then I need to see a ring on your finger before my niece or nephew is born. No excuses, no exceptions.”

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