“Just like his big sister!”
Lyric was more than happy to dote on this baby because she was adamant she wasn’t about to push any out. She and Grant were serious about enjoying being married and I knew he felt like he wanted to be far more hands on than he could be with the kids. He’d better take a note from Coby’s playbook onbalance because there was clearly something in the air with theDesperadosand the people around them.
“Lyric, I thought we agreed we weren’t going to let this generation of kids go through the shit we did.” Corey was looking at her like they’d literally had this conversation more than once.
“Yeah but we ain’t raising no punks. They can have the soft life but know how to grind if need be. Damn, y’all thought we were raising some damn lame ass kids? Pffft y’all got my lil sibling fucked up. Gonna raise a baby thug ain’t that right, stinka butt?”
Lyric put her hands on my belly like she was really talking to the baby and I could only glare over her head at Grant silently pleading for him to come and get his wife. But true to form, he just sat there with that same indulgent smile he always had on his face with her.
“Grant?”
“You think I’m going to interrupt their bonding? Besides, this will be good practice for in a few years. Lyric done already started setting up a room for her lil brother.”
He shrugged and I could only roll my eyes. He was in a blue polo shirt with his curly hair pulled back in a low ponytail that hung down his back. Lyric matched him in a blue sundress and I was surprised but they were in the minority. Even Travis was wearing a light pink shirt because he swore Corey was destined to only be around girls.
“It’s gonna be a girl.”
Grant looked down at my stomach and shook his head. “That’s a baby boy.”
“You’re only saying that because you want a boy first whenever the time comes.”
Lyric bumped his shoulder with hers and he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back to him. He placed a kiss onthe side of her head and my hormones were going to make me cry looking at the two of them.
“I want whatever you gone let me have from you. As long as the both of you are healthy at the end of the day, that’s all that fucking matters to me.”
I wasn’t the only one who had to be hormonal, because Lyric looked like she was about to melt into a puddle. “You always know the right thing to say, CB.”
“I say what’s in my heart, Lyric. I call you myangelbut I want you walking beside me on earth not watching over me from heaven.”
“Y’all are actually disgusting to watch. I hope you know that.” I was teasing but damn Grant was making the book boyfriends look extremely average right now.
“It really doesn’t look good for you to be a hater like this, P.” Lyric was teasing but hadn’t even lifted her eyes from her husband’s face.
Billy was playing hostess and she walked up like she was the one to keep us on track for the day. She was wearing white, high-waisted shorts and a white silk tank top. “If you want, we can go ahead and get started. We have food and just wanted y’all to enjoy yourselves.”
“Cool. Can I say a word of thanks for everybody coming out? Y’all gone have to find somebody else to bless the food though, that ain’t my thing.”
Billy nodded and went to find a mic for Corey to use to address our friends and family. My mama and brother stood near me and I felt her wrap her arms around me and squeeze.
“Thank y’all for being here.”
“Ain’t no reason for us to be anywhere else. I gotta check and make sure everything is good with my nephew.”
I rolled my eyes at Man cause he’d worn all white trying to throw me off. “Of course you want a boy.”
He nodded emphatically like there was no other choice. “Damn right. I’ve been surrounded by women alone for the last twenty years. Give me a lil nephew to spoil.”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head at him. “You could always have your own.”
Man looked at me completely confused, “Why would I ever do that?”
Before I could clap back at my brother, Corey pulled my hand so that we could do this welcome or thank you thing and get the cake cut. I stuck my tongue back out at Man and he just smirked at me. I followed Corey to the front of the room and turned to face our family and friends. He had his arm around my waist and pulled me close so we were a united front. Everyone was looking at us with anticipatory smiles on their face.
Corey cleared his throat but it didn’t do anything to erase the rasp I love. “I want to thank y’all for coming out to help celebrate today with us. Everybody in this room has meant something major to me and P and there was no way we could usher in this new era of joy without each of you here. There was a period not too long ago where I had nothing but time to think about life. To envision how I wanted my life to move forward when I had my freedom again. I was set up for something I didn’t do but my family wouldn’t let me sit in jail and rot. Despite me telling them to. Lyric has always been like my lil baby and my baby sister all rolled in one. She brought joy and purpose into my life and it’s because of her, I met the woman who is going to bear all my children. Porsha was there to befriend her, to guide her and to be there for her physically when I couldn’t be. Lyric would tell me about this girl that was helping her with her hair and shit and at first I didn’t pay attention. But then I heard how much respect she had in her voice. The type of advice that thisPorshagirl was giving her. And I was starting to feel replaced, not gone lie. Thought I was gone have to fight for my spot in Lyric’s life.”
I tugged on his hand wondering why he was cutting up like this. “Corey!”
He grinned at me and couldn’t help but smile back because this was the first time I was hearing about him hating on me from afar.
