Page 74 of Feeling Blue

Bridges had just stopped next to Goody when Forever squealed loudly at Blue’s commentary. She could feel them looking at her, but the safety in Blue’s grip wouldn’t let up. A few calming seconds passed as she inhaled the woodsy scent of his cologne.

Bridges was too close, and it was annoying as hell to be for real. Forever was doing everything she could not to ear hustle on the conversation she’d started with Goody, but she couldn’t help it. Her relationship with Bridges was strained and had been since the beginning. They’d been too many functions together, since she was still actively in a relationship with her lying ass husband, but the tension was still there and very prevalent.

“Girl, Jerrica is over there beating her daddy’s butt,” Bridges tittered. “I told him I’d come get you.”

“What’s new? She’s always dragging Jerrico’s ass. That’s what he gets for spoiling her. I told him she was gon’ embarrass him one day, now look at her lil’ ass over there falling out,” Goody’s love filled commentary drew all their attention to Jerrica who was indeed bouncing in her father’s arms falling out all over the place.

In the corner next to Marcellus and Mr. Clarence, Jerrico stood quietly, doing his best to calm his daughter, who wasn’t going for it. A true product of her mother, Jerrica cut thefool however and whenever she wanted to, and like he did her mother, Jerrico allowed it with unprecedented patience.

“Look at that lil’ bad baby over there showing her ass. Just like her damn mama. Always on some bullshit,” Blue’s deep voice made Forever giggle and cream with arousal all at once.

Goody’s loud laughter came before her fist, but a short, swift punch to his shoulder followed immediately after. “Blue, shut your ass up talking about me and my baby.”

“Now, Zurich, you can talk about her mama all you want, but leave Tee-Tee baby out of it. That’s her mama and daddy’s fault. My girl is probably just hungry.”

“No, your girl is spoiled.”

Blue looked between Goody and Forever. “Don’t tell me that runs in the family? I don’t do well with that spoiled shit. I’ma whoop some ass if ours come out like that,” he spoke while rubbing Forever’s flat stomach.

“You’re pregnant, Forever?” Bridges’ question wiped the smile from Blue and Forever’s faces.

“No.”

Her answer was flat and void of her earlier emotion, but not nasty or rude.

“Heffa, stop lying to these people. You don’t know that,” Goody leaned over and tickled her stomach, making her smile before looking at Bridges. “She probably is.”

“I hope she is too, sis.”

Bridges’ smile grew. There hadn’t been many instances where Forever desired to pass licks as an adult, but seeing the way Bridge grinned at Zurich made her hot on the inside and out. She was already drop dead gorgeous, so when she began blushing from Blue’s words, it did nothing but highlight it even more.

“I hope she is too. Then all the cousins will be the same age. We’re expecting again, too.” Her hand went to her stomach, and Forever’s eyes followed.

“Oh, bitch, you been holding out?” Goody asked her. “Let me find out you being messy because my sister right here.”

In typical Goody fashion, she didn’t miss the opportunity to speak on something that seemed off. However, due to the friendly nature of her and Bridges' relationship, she didn’t take it to heart.

“Of course not, crazy girl. We were just on the topic, so I spilled the beans.”

“Mhm,” Goody nodded slowly before looking over at Forever and Blue. “Well, y’all go ahead and do that. I’m done having kids. Jerrica is enough for me and her daddy.”

The morale of the moment was discomforting, and Forever wished Bridges would just go away. In no way, shape or form, did she still want Marcellus, but hearing that he and Bridges were about to have another baby made her feel some type of way. It was like every time she found her way out of her feelings where he was concerned, he tossed her right back in.

Determined not to allow her past to interfere with her future, she looked toward Blue. “You wanna go sit by Auto and Nova?”

He nodded while dropping his arm from her waist and grabbed her hand instead. Like she’d needed him to do, he led her away from her turmoil and into a more comforting environment. Nova and Auto were chilling at the table in the back and enjoying the food and festivities when they got there.

“Look at you, beautiful,” Nova gushed with her arms out for a hug, even standing when Forever got close.

“You look amazing, girl! Just had a baby, where?” Forever admired Nova’s thick frame.

A full-figured woman, she filled out the dress she was wearing in every way she could, and she looked stunning while doing so. Nothing about her insinuated that she’d just given birth.

“Girl, Granny-girl got me snatched to death in this girdle. I feel like I’m about to pass out, but she swears by it, so I’m listening.”

“I told her ass to take that shit off, she don’t need to be trying to lose her stomach, anyway. I like it,” Auto mumbled from behind them.

“I don’t want my stomach all loose and hanging Auto.”

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