This November

Chapter 38

Today was going to be a good day and that was all there was to it.

He woke up early, took his son to get a haircut, bought him a new outfit for the reunion picnic, and himself as well. Today was the day he was going to propose to Nova. Right in front of all their so-called friends, their high school peers.

They could all suck it!

He was with Nova, he loved her and he was happy.

He dared any of them to say anything. If Starchima dared to bring up that little incident, he would deny it. Or continue to lie about it.

No, that was wrong. Either it came out and he fessed up, or it didn't and he would never tell. He preferred if it never came out and if he saw Starchima first, he would pull her to the side and beg her not to say a word. He knew her mouth. He knew how much she hated Nova. She would say something in a heartbeat.

He was picking Nova up at her place. He didn't get to see her all the previous day since she left so early in the morning. He did not want to go another morning not waking up to her. After he asked her to marry him, he was going to ask her to leave with him for L.A. in a few days. It was only right they started their lives together.

"Are there going to be a lot of old people at this picnic?" Anthony asked him while they sat in the car outside of Nova's place waiting for her.

He chuckled. "I don't know. Do you consider me old?"

"Yeah."

"Then, yeah." He said then laughed. "But no, it's a family event, there may be other kids there."

Although, he may be the oldest. He didn't know how many people in their class graduated and had a baby already on the way. He didn't know if peeps would be more shocked that he was with Nova or that he had a kid that was nine years old.

Nova walked up to the car and got in. "Hey, you guys. Ready to go."

She looked beautiful in her new twists all down her back. A long white, summery dress that was a stark contrast against her beautiful dark, brown skin. Absolutely stunning. She was glowing. He pulled her to him for a long, passionate kiss, he did not care that his son was in the back seat watching.

"Ew!" Anthony said.

"Son, that's how you kiss the woman you love. One day, I hope you feel the way I do about Nova for a girl."

"Not me!"

He and Nova laughed at that as he took off.

Of course, the picnic was at Tower Grove Park, the park closest to Roosevelt High, which often hosted events for the school. He felt anxious. There was a lot going through his mind.

What if Nova said no?

That was his main fear.

He picked up Nova's hand and kissed it. "Have I told you I love you today?"

"No." She smiled at him. "Have I told you how much I love you?"

"Oh my God!" Anthony groaned from the back seat.

"I think we better cool off for him," Nova said.

As soon as he pulled into the park, he felt a sense of doom. This either was going to be a great day or the worst.

He found parking near the pavilion where the picnic was happening. He could see several arriving as well. They wouldn't be late, only fashionably late. He could make an entrance. He was Malik Hunter, the most successful in their class, hands down.

Maybe he would take a lot of pictures, sign autographs, do some TikToks with old friends and all have a good time. There were good times in high school as well. He and Nova were in the Drama Club, and they did a lot of fun activities. Some of those people were just into the art of acting as they were, so maybe they would be happy to see them together.