“Mari, I told you I’ll take care of it. He was my brother. I was closer to him than you. So, trust me and leave it alone, okay? I got it. Leave it alone.”

I didn’t give her dumb ass the chance to get another word in edgewise. I hopped, skipped and swagged my black ass back to the house and left her ass right where she was.

TASHA

We finally came downstairs to chill and enjoy the atmosphere and of course, go through my gifts. I couldn’t believe some of the gifts us mommies got for our baby girls. I’m talking about Gucci diaper bags, Burberry outfits, and the 2k stroller, which I had looked at, but refused to buy. After three kids, I was over all that name brand shit. Sike! I can’t believe I just said that. I was so happy looking at this stuff because I wasn’t prepared to have a baby, nor had I been shopping. And Trae, quiet as it was kept, was a shopaholic just like me and was enjoying going through the gifts just as much as I was.

Trae leaned over and whispered into my ear. “Yo, beautiful. I hope you’re ready.”

“Ready for what?”

“Tanite.” He said in his Bernie Mac voice.

“Tonight?”

“You heard me. We fucking all night. And I mean all night,” he emphasized.

I giggled as I kissed him gently on the lips; I felt myself getting moist. “I hope you are ready for tanite.” I said in my Bernie Mac voice.

“Oh, yeah? It’s going down like that?”

“You know it is.” I was literally soaking my panties at that very moment.

“Bring it on then. But I’m telling you now, I don’t want to hear you crying out, ‘Oh, please, Trae, please. I can’t come anymore, pleeeease stop.’”

“Whatever.” I couldn’t help but close my eyes and visualize it. My husband aimed to please me in every way that he could. And I wanted him I could beg and plead all I wanted, but when he got in that zone, he had tunnel vision. All I could do was hang on and ride the rollercoaster. I was enjoying the visual. But when I opened my eyes, I was in a bad dream. “Who . . . what—is that— Mari? I know damn well Angel did not invite her to my baby shower.”

“Apparently, she did,” Trae said. “And she’s coming right this way.”

“I swear, Trae, I am not up for any—”

“Chill out.” He squeezed my hand.

“Hello, Trae. I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

“Mari, I wasn’t expecting to see you neither; what’s up?”

“I stopped by to see Kay and to ask if I could count on him to make sure that you received this. But since you are here, I can put it in your hands myself.”