“Hey, Daddy.”
“Hey baby. What perfume are you wearing? It smells familiar.”
My face heats. I probably smell like the man who fucked me good last night. Even though I’ve showered, I can’t get his scent out of my system.
I subtly sniff my shirt, hoping I’m not too obvious. “Must be my new body wash.”
Dad hums but doesn’t say anything else about it. He turns to Meagan and smiles. “Where’re my boys?”
Meagan grins. “With your grandson probably driving him crazy.”
Daddy waves her away and quickly scurries out of the room. No doubt looking for the boys.
“Pam, give me that baby.” My mother immediately comes over and takes Ari out of Pamela’s arms. Ari kicks her little chubby legs to get to my mama.
“Oh, I see how it is, Ari. You're leaving me for your granny?” Pam jokingly pouts.
All of my friends have turned into sisters to me, and my mother has taken them up as her daughters. Although Pamela and Destiny have plenty of family, Jada, Kyra, and Meghan don’t. Meghan has only lived here for two years. She has no family in the area, so my mother and father have practically become her adoptive parents.
“Girl, you know how she gets with Mrs. Alexander,” Kyra laughs, sinking back in her seat.
“Well, we all love Mrs. Alexander.” Jada announces her presence as she walks in.
“There’s my Jada girl,” Mama cheers when she sees Jada. Although my mom loves all the ladies, she has a special bond with Jada.
“Now I know something is going on,” I tease. “Jada King is at an eleven-year-old’s birthday party.”
Jada hugs my mom before dropping her purse in a chair and placing the small gift bag on the table.
“I’m not going to lie. I’m only here because I thought I’d get to finally meet mystery man.”
“Jada,” Pam scolds shoving her arm.
Jada shrugs, unbothered.
I burst into laughter. “That's why all of you came, isn’t it?”
“I told you why I came,” Meagan shrugs folding her arms over her chest.
“Well, now, since we’re all here, maybe you can go ahead and introduce us to him?” Mama asks, looking around. There was only us in the room.
“He’s not here.” I lie effortlessly.
However, my gaze draws over my shoulder and out the window to find Mitch with one of Meagan’s twins helping them jump into the ball pit. He looks so at peace playing with the kids. That man was made to be a father.
I turn back to face the women in the room. They are all staring at me.
“What?” I ask nervously, hoping they didn’t catch on to who I was looking at.
“So you’re still keeping him from us?” Jada asks.
I tuck my hair behind my ear. “We’re just—”
“Friends,” everyone says at the same time, causing me to laugh.
“I’m not ready to reveal him yet.”
That was the truth. Despite what Mitch thought, telling them the truth would change everything.
