Page 142 of Deuce

I chuckled as I shook my head and grabbed her hand to lead her to the dining hall.

“Bring your ass on, woman.”

Dinner was underway and everybody seemed to be in good spirits. Ms. Karen fell right back into old relationships, like no time had passed. She and my mama made fast friends. Moms told they had met briefly when Iman was alive, but never became familiar with each other. My Grams was too happy to see her. She hugged that woman like she was her long-lost daughter or something.

Most everybody had finished eating when Salima nudged me.

“I’m ready,” she said softly.

I nodded and stood to my feet. “Aye! Y’all shut up for a second!”

My mother slapped my arm. “Stanley. Show respect.”

My siblings snickered at her reprimanding me.

“My bad, Ma. For real though, I need y’all’s attention. I have something to say.”

The room quieted down, and all eyes fell on me.

“Now, y’all have been clowning me for months now because the nigga that didn’t do relationships when and found himself in a relationship.”

Kerrion fake coughed. “Simp!”

“Go on, laugh it up. Yeah, I’ve been simping, but you see my lady.” I reached for Salima’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “Go on and twirl for them, baby.”

She giggled as she gave a slow twirl. My mama, sisters, and Shar clapped and whistled at her.

“Tell me you wouldn’t simp behind this beauty?” I leaned in and kissed her lips. “We started off a little rocky, but this is my baby right here. I ain’t ashamed to say I love her.”

The women in the family let out a round of “awwws”.

“Now, I’ve never really had a serious girlfriend, so sometimes I don’t know how to act. I’m aggressive by nature. I’m rude and I mostly do what I want. She gets me together, though, all while letting me still be myself. This is my rib… the woman who is going to be my wife. Yeah, I said that. My wife.”

“Talk yo’ shit, nephew!” Uncle Blake yelled.

I grinned. “We have an announcement. In about thirty weeks… we are having a little Dillinger.”

“Oh shit!”

“I know you lying!”

“Not my boy done shot the club up!”

Those were just a few responses coming from our table. My sisters and Ms. Karen shot up from their seats and came around to hug her. Shar and my mama had the proudest looks on their faces. My father looked shocked, and my grandmother was making her way down to us. As we were swarmed with questions about details, I felt a sense of pride.

Life was wild as hell.

Here I was about to be a father when months ago, a serious relationship was not on my radar. I just wanted to fuck onsomething. I never expected to actually like this woman, let alone fall in love with her. Now she was having my baby, and I was talking about making her my wife. Well… I wasn’t just talking about it.

I motioned for the crowd to back up a bit and give us some space before I grabbed Salima’s hand.

“You know I’m not a romantic ass man. You know I don’t do the sentimental shit, so I’m gonna come straight out with it. I love you. You’re carrying my firstborn, and I’m not trying to see you with anybody else, ‘cause you know what’s coming for them.”

She rolled her eyes as she playfully slapped my chest.

“My point is… I’m trying to see what forever with you feels like, Salima.”

As I reached into my pocket, several gasps when up around the room. Her eyes widened as I presented her with a three carat, princess cut, diamond ring.

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