Page 53 of Don Caselli

I paused and waited for the laugh, and one never came. “Stevie, that is not wha?—”

“What do you want me to do about your decision? You want me to make it alright for you. You hurt Landon by not being truthful. You thought about only you, and now you want someone to smooth it over and make it alright for you. I’m not going to do… ouch.” She let out a breath and leaned back.

“Are you alright?”

“Stupid Toni Braxton contractions,” she took slow and deep breaths, as she held the top of her stomach.

“Braxton Hicks?”

“You worried about the correct term, or the fact that you’ll marry Alex and end up using your youth being unhappy? Menace doesn’t approve of what you and Landon would have, but you could have come to him, proved him wrong… he’s very open-minded.”

“Girl, what?” I blurted.

She raised her brow. “I’m curious. What did you think Menace would tell you?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Me and Landon got into it and he called me a wench and told me he wished me hell.”

“Well…”

“Stevie!” I laughed.

“All I’m saying is he had a reason. You lied to him, and he had to find out with the rest of the world. Maybe it’s best that you both go your own way. Him with this new girl, and you with Alex.”

“New girl?”

“Oohhh,” she groaned out.

Menace came running into the studio. “Wonder, you straight?”

In usual Menace fashion, he was dressed down in sweats, house slippers and a t-shirt. “These are more intense, Mavie.”

Menace kissed her lips a few times, and I turned to give them privacy. “You about to have my baby, Wonder?”

“I don’t know… what if this is a false alarm again?” She blew out a breath and took a few short ones.

“Hey Menace,” I finally greeted.

He looked at me, confused. “We had a meeting or some shit?”

“No… just wanted to talk.”

“About?”

“Nothing… you tend to Stevie.”

“Ooh, Mavieeeeeee!” Stevie hollered and held his shoulder while her face became red. “I think something is happening.”

He looked down, and she had soaked the couch she was sitting on. “Fuck, Wonder… shit… Duke!” he hollered.

“Stevie, you got this… you’re gonna become a mommy.”

She smiled in pain as he helped her to her feet. The jeans she wore were soaked, as Menace became her calm in this chaotic situation. I saw my way out, and called Don, and he sent me to voicemail.

Tossing my purse into the passenger seat, I pulled down toward the gates. Don could throw his little fit all he wanted; we were going to have a mature conversation about this.

“Isit alright to send her up? Okay, yes… well, thank you so much. Alright, I will send her up.” The front desk put the phone down and looked at me. “You are free to head toward the elevator.”

“Thanks.” I was glad he wasn’t on any petty shit today and had me down here waiting because he could.

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