Grabbing the last few necessities for her purse, Chloe snatched her heels and slipped on her slides, knowing she would change into them later. As she made her way to the living room to collect the bags she needed, her steps halted abruptly at the sight of Rakim still lounging on the couch, fully dressed. A frown creased her face as she questioned his tardiness.
'I'm not going,' he uttered dejectedly.
Chloe's frustration surged, and she dropped the bags in her hands. The pressure of planning this event was already weighing heavily on her; she didn't need this additional stress. 'I don't have time for this, please get ready before we're late.'
Rakim remained silent as Chloe stormed out of the room and headed outside to load the car. Upon her return, she found him still rooted in the same spot. 'Don't you think you've held a grudge long enough?' she asked, her voice laced with exasperation. 'I understand you're upset, but it's been six months. You need to let it go.'
Rakim's silence only fueled her anger. She had been meticulously planning this baby shower for months, and he was fully aware of it. 'Why didn't you tell me earlier?' she demanded. 'You knew about this.'
'I never said I was going,' Rakim replied calmly.
'You're unbelievable!' Chloe exclaimed. 'You waited until the day of to tell me you weren't going? You know I've been talking about this for months.'
'You're making this deeper than it is,' Rakim retorted, uninterested with the conversation.
Chloe shook her head, her eyes darting to the clock. Time was running out, and she had to go. "I hope to see you there, I know Nina would to see her big brother as well,'
Rakim stared at the closed door, Chloe's words echoing in his mind. 'I hope to see you there, I know Nina would to see her big brother as well.' He ran a hand through his hair, the weight of her words pressing down on him. Six months. Six agonizing months since he'd last seen his baby sister, since he'd last heard her voice, the last time he'd felt the warmth of her presence. All because of a lie, a betrayal that cut deep.
"Fuck." he muttered to himself, his voice raspy with barely suppressed emotion. He remembered a time when they were inseparable, when she would confide in him about everything, from her first crush to her anxieties about school. Now, there was a chasm between them, a wall of silence built on hurt and disappointment. He couldn't forgive her for hiding her relationship with Dom, for keeping something so significant from him, especially after everything he'd done for her.
Dom, who was practically family, the man who'd helped raise them after their father's passing, had broken that unspoken code of trust. The fact that Dom, who he considered a brother, had gone behind his back and lied to him, felt like a punch to the gut. It was a betrayal that went beyond romantic relationships, it was a betrayal of loyalty, of the bond they had built over years. The memory of Nas' funeral, the last time he had seen Nina, flashed in his mind. Her face, pale and drawn, her eyes red-rimmed with tears, filled with a guilt he couldn't comprehend.
He had wanted to reach out to her, to comfort her, but the anger at her deception choked any words he might have had. He was torn between his love for his sister and the stinging pain of her deception. He was a protector, a big brother, and he felt like he had failed her. He needed time. Time to process the pain, the anger, and the hurt. He needed to figure out if he could find it in his heart to forgive, to bridge the gap that now separated them. But most of all, he needed to understand why she had lied.
—
Upon arrival, guests were greeted by a charming outdoor oasis draped in warm shades of brown, reflecting the anticipation of welcoming a new life without knowing its gender. The intimate gathering buzzed with love and excitement as Nina and Dom emerged, their radiant faces beaming with anticipation. Nina's flowing maternity gown, in a soft shade of café au lait, cascaded elegantly over her growing belly, while Dom exuded warmth and joy in his casual linen attire.
