Page 88 of I Heard It All Before

Chapter 31

Cam looked around the room and he felt sorry for his son already. They had two tables set up in the rear of the room, both being occupied by card players. A man, who he’d never seen before, was in and out of the hall carrying the pans of seafood that he was out back boiling. The entire scene looked like a low budget rap video, right on down to the Gucci baby shower theme that Asha had chosen. The paid security officer had already broken up two fights because Asha’s messy ass invited her brother’s girlfriends and their side chicks. Asha just wanted lots of gifts. She didn’t care that she was creating drama in the process. Asha loved attention and she was the center of it, thanks to her shower. She had Cam walk in with her like they were a couple, but he didn’t call her out on it. He could have died when he saw all the fake Gucci decorations, but the picture backdrop sealed the deal. The cake was shaped like a Gucci diaper bag, with the baby shoes and bottle to match. Even the candy table was a hot ass mess, with the imitation Gucci cupcakes and candy wrappers. Cam knew that Demi wouldn’t believe him, so he sent her pictures and a video of it all. They would have a lot to talk about that night and he couldn’t wait.

“What time is this shit over with? And why the fuck is you still eating that shit?” Cam asked as he looked over at Asha.

She had a platter full of boiled seafood, even though the doctor told her to stay away from the salt. Asha’s feet were so swollen that slippers were the only thing that felt comfortable to her. She was seven months pregnant and looked like she was ready to pop. She was full of fluid because she never did what was required of her. She was just released from the hospital three days before her shower because her pressure was through the roof. Cam had never heard of preeclampsia before, but he knew all about it now since Asha had been pregnant.

“He didn’t say I couldn’t have it. He said don’t eat too much of it,” Asha replied.

“Common sense would tell you to stay away from the shit if you keep being admitted into the hospital,” Cam argued.

“I can’t help it if this is what your son has me craving,” Asha defended.

“Whatever Asha. What time is this shit over with?” Cam asked again.

“Why are you in such a hurry? That bitch ain’t going nowhere,” Asha snapped.

“This don’t have shit to do with Demi and I already know she ain’t going nowhere. We’ve been here for four hours and nothing is happening. I’ve seen two fights, card games, twerking contests, and all kinds of other shit that shouldn’t be taking place at a baby shower,” Cam fussed.

“I haven’t even opened up my gifts yet,” Asha replied, pointing to the two tables that were covered in gifts.

That was all that she cared about anyway. Most people were only invited for that reason alone. Asha didn’t have many friends and her family was as dysfunctional as they came. Most of her cousins were jealous of her and they had every reason to be. Asha always had more than the average girl her age, and her brothers made sure of it. Now that she was having Cam’s first son, she was sure that a lot of bitches were gonna be even sicker. His family hated her, but that was too damn bad. They were stuck with her now. Cam’s mother and her sisters were there, but Asha ignored them all. Asha and Laila always got along, but she had been acting distant a lot lately. Laila had even stopped answering the phone for Quincy. He tried popping up at her house one day, only to discover that she had moved. Asha didn’t know what was up with her and she honestly didn’t care. Her brother had him another side chick and another spot to make his money. His new girl, Kenya, was Asha’s friend as well, so Laila wasn’t missed.

“Come on man. You need to get the ball rolling. Hop on the mic and tell them that you’re about to open your gifts. This ain’t no damn club and I’m not trying to stay here all night,” Cam noted.

“You do know that I’ll need some help bringing all this shit home,” Asha informed him.

“I know. Kobe and two of the dudes from the shop are gonna come help me bring it all to your house,” Cam replied.

“Why can’t they bring some of it to your house? What, Demi got a problem with your son having stuff there?” Asha questioned.

“You’re trying to pick an argument with the wrong nigga and you already know that,” Cam replied.

Asha knew that he would only ignore her if she picked a fuss, so she let it go. Cam was nothing like Randy and that was what Asha would miss about him the most. Randy let her have her way, but Cam wasn’t having it. Asha hated what happened to Randy, but that further proved her point about how weak he was. She couldn’t believe that she wore his ring on her finger at one time. Word quickly got around about how he’d set Lo up, so he did the right thing by killing himself.

Asha got her mother’s attention and told her that she was ready to open her gifts. She had so much to open and she wasn’t sure that she could finish it all. Cam and his mother could have filled a table all by themselves. They had purchased mostly everything that she had. Asha was happy for the gift cards, especially the Visa ones. Some of them would be used on her, since she knew that Cam would have their son covered.

“What do you want me to keep at my house Asha?” Cam asked, once his boys showed up to help him take the gifts away.

“I don’t know yet. I’m keeping the cuter stuff with me,” Asha replied.

“Just bring it all to my house and she can decide later,” Asha’s mother instructed.

Cam and his boys carried everything out to their cars, as Asha and her mother said goodbye to her guests. Asha enjoyed spending time with him, so she wasn’t in a hurry for him to go. Demi had him all the time and she only got him for doctor’s appointments and baby shopping. Asha was jealous and she never tried to hide it. She was being good now, but she was gonna make Demi regret the day that she ever decided to get with Camden Davis.

“Can you take me home baby daddy?” Asha asked Cam.

“I don’t have no room. You should have said that before I put all that stuff in the front seat. I can ask my mama to bring you,” Cam offered.

“I’ll pass. My mama can bring me,” Asha replied. She didn’t really need a ride, but she wanted to be under Cam just a little while longer.

“I have room to bring you, but you just proved my point. Your ass didn’t need a ride home in the first place,” Cam said, calling Asha out on her bullshit.

She got into the car with her mother, while Cam and his crew followed them home. When Asha’s mother turned on their street, the entire block was surrounded by police cars and nosey neighbors standing outside. Asha and her mother couldn’t go any further, so they parked on the corner and got out. It wasn’t until they started walking that Gina noticed that it was her house that was the center of the commotion. Her front door was completely torn down, as officers roamed in and out of her house freely.

“Oh no!” Gina yelled as she took off running towards her house.

Asha tried to run behind her, but Cam grabbed her before she could get too far away. “Let me go Cam! Something probably happened to my brothers,” Asha panicked.

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