Page 131 of Maceo

My mother scoffed. “Excuse you! I still go out with your aunties,” she said, referring to Pops’ other baby mamas.

“And Daddy lets you leave the house in those short, tight dresses.”

Alec chuckled. “Baby girl, that’s all for me. I love to watch her leave.”

“Ewww!”

The room erupted with laughter.

It was a relief that nobody was mad, but a little sad that they all expected this from us. Either way, a win was a win. We ended up staying with the Gladdens for most of the afternoon. What started as a secret reveal soon turned into a cookout. Mrs. Cicely called Salima’s mama, who called Salima. She, Deuce, and Darlyn pulled up with Smoke right behind him.

Once Steel, Mia, and Jaeda found out where we were, Mr. Paul told them to come through too. He even invited my father to join us, and he brought Maddie along. Before the night was over, Pops, Mr. Paul, and Alec were drunk as hell, rapping and dancing to some old-school hip hop. They were damn near tripping over each other and laughing about it.

“This is our reception right here,” Shar said as she sat on my lap to watch the chaos.

“It’s gonna be lit, that’s for sure.”

She peered down at me with a smile. “Are you happy?”

“I am. As long as you are happy, I’m happy, love.”

“I’ll be happier once we are on this island.”

I’d booked us a two-week stay in Bora Bora, and we were leaving next week. It had been a while since I’d been out of the country, and I couldn’t wait to fuck up that island with her.

“We might not come back empty-handed,” I warned her with a grin. “You stopped your birth control, and we’re gonna be on an island with nothing but privacy between us. I’m going to town on your ass.”

She laughed. “If it’s in the stars for us to come back with a little Maceo and Shar, I’m okay with that. I couldn’t think of a better wedding gift.”

“Really? I guess I should return what I got you then, huh?”

“Let’s not be hasty!”

“You don’t even know what it is yet, woman.”

“True, but I know that you know exactly how to surprise me, so I’m still excited. Now, when can I have it?”

“What are you gonna give me for it?”

She smirked. “I mean… my old bedroom is right upstairs. We can sneak away, and I can show you.”

I looked around the backyard. Everybody was lit and probably wouldn’t miss us dipping off. I tapped her legs and slid her off my lap. She grabbed my hand as I stood to my feet. Just as we made it to the back door, here came my hating ass siblings yelling at us.

“Bring that ass back!”

“Ain’t no sneaking off to be nasty!”

“Turn it around and sit it down!”

“We can’t take y’all anywhere!”

“Ain’t got no couth!”

Shar and I laughed as we turned to face them, and that was the start of a roasting session. Our drunk fathers joined in, and shit really got ignorant then. Neither of us minded. If this was how married life was going to be, I could get with that.

“Shit!”

I gasped as Maceo hit me with that final stroke that stole my breath away. My body collapsed to the bed. I lay there for a moment before rolling over onto my back and staring up at the ceiling as I tried to catch my breath.

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