ALL TO MYSELF

XXIII - Pluto

Today was the day. A day that could change my life forever. As confident as I was that Draya's baby wasn't mine, I couldn't help but think about the what if. What if I was being punished for running around on Liyah? What if I was being punished for my past with women? What if? I stared at the envelope as Liyah walked in, stopping when she saw what I was looking at. She knew Draya gave birth and we were both anxious to know so we could put this in the past.

"Are those the results?" she asked, standing on the other side of the island.

"Yep. Just came in," I replied, still looking at the envelope.

"Why do you look nervous?"

"What if it's mine, Liyah? Londyn is 6. I can't ask you to help me take care of a newborn."

"If I was going to leave I would've left already. You've been saying for 6 months that the baby isn't yours and I stayed without knowing for myself. If I'm gonna be with you I have to accept everything that comes with you and I've already made my peace with that."

Knowing that she would stay regardless of the outcome put my mind at ease. I grabbed the envelope and opened it, closing my eyes before reading the results. I started laughing as everything was finally confirmed and I could put this behind me.

"What does it say?" Liyah asked raising her eyebrow.

"The same thing I've been saying for 6 months: not the father."

She took a sigh of relief as she walked around to hug me. I picked her up and sat her on the counter, giving her a kiss as she wrapped her arms around my neck.

"You know I was lying right?"

"About what?"

"If that baby was yours I was leaving," she laughed.

"Uh uh, remember what you promised."

"Don't use my mama words against me. She had one love, one boyfriend, and one baby daddy."

"Speaking of baby daddy, did you call Alonzo?"

"Yes I did. Everything's all set for my visit. I just wish you were coming with me."

"You know I can't. As much as I want to I can't miss Hendrix's birthday."

"I know," she whined. "Just don't do nothing crazy while I'm gone."

"I guess I'll be watching porn until you get back," I chuckled before she playfully punched me.

I picked her up off the counter, carrying her upstairs to finish packing for her trip.

two days later

I gave Liyah a kiss before she got out of the car, watching her walk into the airport before I started making calls.

"Hey, she gone yet?"

"Yeah, just dropped her off."

"You sure she has no idea about us?"

"Positive."

"Okay. I'm not far so I can meet you at the spot in like 20 minutes."

"Cool. I'll see you then."

The driver pulled off as I sent a text to Moms.

Ma

I need a favor Ma

Anything. What's up?

I need u to hide something for me

Is it what I think it is?

Yeah. It's time.

I walked into the jewelry store and saw Tiff waiting for me at the counter.

"Did you find anything yet?" I asked walking over.

"Hell no. She's already hard to shop for but this is stressing me out."

"I've never had that problem," I chuckled. "She likes everything I buy her."

"Because she loves you. She appreciates the gesture but trust me, she doesn't like everything."

We looked at more rings, going back and forth on what style we both thought she would want.

"She's not flashy. She doesn't want a fucking planet on her hands."

"Pluto don't do small."

"Pluto must not want her to say yes. When are you planning on doing this anyway?"

"I'm not sure yet. I just wanna get the ring now while she's not able to be up under me. I can't even take a shit in peace with this girl."

"Wait, so how did you get out of going to Houston with her?"

"Hendrix's birthday is Monday."

"How convenient," she laughed.

We finally settled on 2 rings. I asked the jeweler to hold both of them and we decided it was fair to let my mom choose when she came to pick it up to hold it for me. I gave Tiff a hug, thanking her for helping me before we went our separate ways. Liyah's flight was landing soon and I wanted to be home when she called so she wouldn't be suspicious about me being out. I made it home just in time, her call coming through as soon as I sat on the couch.

"Damn, was the flight rough?" I asked as I answered her Facetime, seeing her once smooth bun had become a messy bun.

"Shut up, I just woke up. Did you tell Alonzo what time to be here? I don't see him."

"Yeah, he said he was there already."

"Never mind, I see him. What you doing tonight?"

"Crying while I sleep alone."

"Good answer. Hey, Daddy," she greeted Alonzo as she got in the car.

It took a while to convince her to stop calling him by his name to his face and I was glad to see how naturally it flowed off the tongue.

"Baby, I'm on 11% so I'll call you when I get to the hotel. I love you."

"I love you too."

We hung up as I sat in the living room in complete silence, finally realizing what Liyah meant by the house feeling empty.