Page 39 of Chrome

“Do you think I should just let it be and let him find someone his age? I got a lot going on right now, especially with my child.”

“Girl what? You and Chrome are cute together and he don’t play about you at all. He really fuck with you. Why you tripping?”

I reached over and grabbed the packet from the doctor’s office. She was a sister, not a friend so telling her about the baby was only right. Hell, she would be gaining another godchild anyway.

Chrome’s love wasn’t one sided at all. I loved him and possibly the child I was carrying as well. My thoughts on the baby had yet to settle. Nonetheless, I knew how I felt about him. Rejection just scared the fuck out of me and now that the baby was involved, our picture was no longer black and white.

Onyx grabbed the packet and emptied the contents. The first thing she read over was the doctor’s summary. Pregnant washighlighted and in bold letters. She dropped the papers and covered her mouth as her eyes grew big as saucers. The time of being shocked was over for me. However, she was just joining the party.

“Are you serious?” she asked in a hushed tone.

“Very. Seven weeks and I still don’t have a clue on what to say or do.”

She noticed the brochures and picked them up examining them one by one. She didn’t want children but loved on Melanie like her own. She didn’t hesitate or drop the ball when called. She took her role serious, and I loved her for that. One by one, she tore up the abortion clinic brochures. She always expressed how kids were blessings even though they didn’t suit her personally.

“You gon’ get dressed and take yo’ ass to that nigga party, apologize, then tell him you’re pregnant for him. I’m confused on what the fuck else there is to do or say,” she snapped.

“He’s twenty-five, Onyx. What the hell is my old ass doing carrying his baby?”

“I wish you would get the fuck off how old that nigga is and focus on the right shit. Age never defined nothing ‘bout a nigga, it always been how he treated you. Who the fuck cares that he’s ten plus years younger than you? He’s protected you better than the last, he’s treated you better than the last, and he damn sure loves you better than the last. That man was ready to catch a body over you. If you don’t wake the fuck up and check the facts, I know something. He’s not Houston, Kosha. Get yo’ shit together and fix whatever the fuck needs to be fixed because you gon’ lose him and I’ll hate that for you. Melanie had a father, let this child have theirs as well.”

Tears raced down my face the entire time she vented. There wasn’t a lie told, and I knew it was only a matter of time before Chrome said the hell with me. Pregnant or not, I didn’t want tolose him. My entire being was at ease with him. That kind of peace was a need, not a want.Hewas needed.

“You think he’ll hear me out?”

“Yes. He likes you too much not to. Get dressed and meet me downstairs. Oh, does Mel know?”

“Yup. She hasn’t voiced how she feels about it yet, but she was with me when I found out. I feel like I’m in the twilight zone, Onyx.”

“Don’t. Just deal with one situation at a time. Now get dressed.” She grabbed my hands and pulled me up.

I stepped off the bed and entered my closet. I was still in and yucky mood, so I settled on a cute dress and pair of heels as well. It was his birthday after all. The least I could do was show up in something that he would approve of.

It took me a little over forty-five minutes to get myself together. The shower was what took the longest. I made my way downstairs and found Onyx in the living room putting his gifts in bags. “I don’t have anything to give him, bestie. Maybe I should just stay home.”

“Nope. I just ran to the mall and bought him a watch while you were in the shower. You owe me seven thousand dollars bitch. This Cartier watch wasn’t cheap.”

“Thank you for doing that. I really appreciate you. I’ll give it to you next week.”

“Cool with me. Let’s go. I’m already late. I been telling Zinc I was on the way for two hours now. You look cute, too. I like that green on you.”

“Thanks.” I grabbed a bag from her, my keys out the foyer bowl, and followed her out the door.

We hopped in our own cars and headed out. I didn’t have a clue as to where Chrome and his crew were from, so I had to follow behind Onyx. We drove for about fifteen minutes before we pulled into a neighborhood named Myers Park. From what Iwas gathering, he was deep in the hood. It made sense with the way he spoke and all.

Cars were lined up as soon as we hit one particular road. People were walking down to a certain area which I assumed was designated for the party. I called Onyx and told her to call Zinc about the parking. She reassured me he’d make sure we could get in and out without hiccups. He directed us to park in the middle of the road and one of the BMG members would get us right.

I didn’t move or step out my vehicle until someone from the crew showed. This was a place I didn’t know a damn thing about. I wasn’t that naive to trust a nigga words so easily. Onyx walked back to my truck and got me once they took her car. I gave my keys to someone whose vest said Cobalt and he followed Zinc’s orders.

“Zinc wants us to meet him at the bottom. I knew we in heels, but we got to make it work.”

“I can handle it,” I said strutting across the gravel.

We hit the sidewalk and made our way down to the bottom where the crowd was so thick you would think there was a celebrity performing or something. The DJ was playing the jams, and the folk seemed to be having a good time. As soon as we spotted Zinc, Onyx dragged us over to him.

“My bad baby, I got caught up intaking shots with bro. Y’all straight?”

“Yeah, we good. Where do you want us to put his gifts?” bestie inquired.

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