“Say it’s real for you.”

She took the box from my hands.

“It’s real for me too.”

She slipped the ring on her finger, and I pulled her into my arms. Just like that, I had a woman and a baby on the way. Life was good.

Chapter 21

The last three months had gone by in a blur. I’d moved to New York, moved in with Kellon, and started a job. It was crazy, and most people may have thought I was being delusional or moving too fast. I’d made a bunch of dumb choices in my life but deciding to be with Kellon Barnes was not one of them. Kellon made my life feel full in a way I never knew it could be.

I was six months pregnant now. I waddled more than I walked. I complained half the day about the little baby boy I was growing. He enjoyed kicking me in the side thirty times a day. Still, Kellon made me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world. He listened to all my fussing and lightened all my loads. It was becoming hard to believe that I even thought I could do this without him.

I moved through the kitchen, fixing myself a bowl of cereal. Kellon had an early morning team meeting, so the house was quiet. It was about to be me, this bowl of cereal, and my new favorite black daytime soap Beyond the Gates. I had barely kicked my slippers off to sit on the couch when the elevator dinged, letting me know someone was about to get off. My head turned to the entrance. I wasn’t expecting anyone. Kellon had only been gone thirty minutes, and nobody besides Ms. Barnes had the code to get up here this way.

I stood as my heart pounded. Me and my belly prepared to run and hide. The doors slid open, and my mouth dropped open.

“LoLo!” I screamed as my best friend made her way toward me with her arms open and a rolling suitcase beside her.

“OMG! What are you doing here?”

Before she could answer, Kellon’s voice popped in through the security system.

“Surprise!”

“Your man flew me out here… private jet and all. Said you needed some girl time.”

Lolo hugged me before pulling me back to look at my stomach. “Let me find out you’re moping around here missing your bestie.”

“She is,” Kellon added. “You ladies have fun. I’ll see you later tonight, Phileigh Cheese.”

“Thank you!” I squealed, grabbing Lolo into another hug as tears rolled down my puffy cheeks. “Wait a minute, heifer. I just talked to you last night. You didn’t say anything.” I pushed her arm.

“And ruin the surprise? I think not.” Lolo grinned before looking me up and down. “We need to get you ready.”

“For what?” I blinked, confused.