Page 31 of Grown Folks Confessions: Black Lush

“Would you stop saying that?” I asked Meeka, pulling her in for a hug before waving at our friends, Cheyanne and Issac.

When Ivy had told me that her and Theseus couldn’t make it because they had another obligation, I didn’t have the heart to tell her that I was relieved. I hadn’t told her about my job opportunity, and last I checked, Ares hadn’t told them about his baby daddy status. We figured tackling the idea that we were in a legally binding marriage was enough to digest.

“Has Ares arrived yet?” I asked, giving Tone a head nod before looking around the room.

Meeka laughed. “Girl, you know he ain’t. As you can see, there are only four of us here, but he texted Tone that he’s on his way soon. Although since he’s your husband, he probably should have texted you instead.”

I shrugged. “I’m not trippin’ about it.” Except I was though. It hurt a little that even being married, I still had to do any form of communication through our mutual friends.

I fell into easy conversation with my friends as I waited for Ares to arrive. Since returning, I’d also had several conversations with Jess and had a better understanding of the Netflix competition. At first, I had only been expected to live in London for a couple months, but that was the other bonus I’d found out about since returning.

Nevaeh had a huge client she was working with who lived in London and figured with me being on the show, I’d be the perfect person to assist her with some designing. So while shooting the show was only a couple months, the job would take me another ten. And I desperately needed the money I would get from that job, not to mention the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

I’d called Ares right away, and despite how happy he was for me, we both knew it only made our situation more complicated. In so many ways, I felt like everything I ever wanted was coming true.

The job.

The loving husband.

The life I’d always wanted for myself.

And yet, a key part of that dream was on the cusp of being taken away.

“Ares, you made it,” Meeka boosted as she opened her front door. My head turned to watch him step inside, my breath catching at the sight of him in dark jeans, a black tee, and black Tims. It didn’t matter that it had only officially turned fall last week. Ares stayed in some Tims.

The tattoos on his arms were visible, and even from a short distance, I could tell he’d recently went to Kadaris Kuts to get a fresh cut.

It was confirmed when Tone asked him, “Why you ain’t tell me you were headed to Kadaris’ place?”

“I’m sorry, mom,” Ares teased. “Didn’t know I had to give you a heads-up when I headed to the barbershop.”

“Damn,” Issac huffed. “I needed my shit touched up, too, but I thought the shop would be too crowded on the weekend.”

“It was,” Ares confirmed, absently running a quick hand through his curls. “Had a muthafuckin’ line around the corner and shit.”

“Did you see Khloe there?” Meeka asked. “I invited them both tonight, but they couldn’t make it.”

“Nah, she wasn’t there.”

“I ran into her the other day,” Cheyanne announced. “She mentioned having a speaking engagement this afternoon in the suburbs.”

“Ah, okay.” Meeka waved a finger in the air. “Come to think of it, she did mention something about that to me.”

I didn’t even know I was holding my breath, waiting for him to see me, until his eyes found mine easily. He didn’t say anything right away, but his eyes were more intense than usual.Stress? Anticipation? Unease?I couldn’t put my finger on it, but he wasn’t like himself.

Just as I had most of the time lately, I missed the couple we were in Phoenix when things between us were full of unspoken promises that were finally coming to fruition. The individuals who had finally let themselves dare to be together despite all the almost-ready close calls we’d had.

“Layla, do you mind if we chat on the balcony?” Ares asked, clearing his throat.

“O-Of c-course,” I quickly sputtered, following behind him and sliding the glass door shut before taking a seat in the vacant chair across from where Ares was sitting.

It was so unlike us to be quiet and awkward, yet here we were, neither of us knowing how to act around the other. There were so many things I wanted to say.I miss you. I’m scared of what’s to come with us. I can’t imagine you not being in my life. I lo—like you so much.

“I don’t know how to handle our situation,” he admitted after a while. “I know I never officially told you Audrea and I are keeping the baby, but there was never a question that we wouldn’t.”

“I know that,” I confessed. “Even though I’m not close with Audrea, I know the type of man you are. Just like I know you’ll make a great father.”

He smiled. Not wide, but his mouth curled in the corner in that way I liked. “I feel bad for saying that I’m actually a little excited about being a dad, but I am. I told my brothers and mom this morning, and although they were shocked, my mom was ecstatic.”

---