Friends To Lovers

Chapter Forty

Zac's POV

Now that the Gab situation was handled — and I mean handled for real, no lingering tension, no "maybe later" talks, just clean closure — and with all our press obligations wrapped, it finally felt like my girl and I could breathe.

No cameras.
No court dates.
No agents, publicists, or assistants pulling us in five different directions.

Just... us.

And truth be told, it felt good.

Should we be wedding planning? Yeah, probably.

We've been engaged for a minute now, and every time somebody asks, "So when's the date?" Fatima just gives them that polite smile and says, "We'll get there."

And I get it.
She's been through a lot. We both have.
And even though she wants to be my wife and I want nothing more than to call her mine officially she's not rushing.

She wants to enjoy this season.
This baby.
This peace.

And honestly? I can't blame her.

Every time I try to bring up colors or venues or guest lists, she gives me that look like, "Zachary... you want to plan a wedding or come lay down and feel this baby kicking?"

The choice is easy every time.

Besides, we've got something just as exciting around the corner — it's almost time to find out the gender of our newest little Taylor.

Fatima swears it's a girl.
Me? I'm not so sure. She's glowing, yeah, but she's also way different than usual, hungrier, and craving stuff she normally doesn't even look at.

I don't care either way — boy, girl I just want a healthy baby and a safe delivery.

But I can't lie... I'm hype to find out.

We've been talking about doing something lowkey — just us and Kolby. Maybe cut into a cake in the backyard, let Kolby pop a balloon or something simple. Nothing Instagram-perfect, just a real moment with the people who matter.

Because for once, there's no pressure.
No performances.
No audience.

Just a man, his woman, their little girl — and the next blessing.

Fatima's POV

So listen...

Zac and I agreed that we wanted something lowkey and intimate to find out Baby Taylor's gender. Just us, Kolby, a little backyard moment, maybe a cupcake or balloon, something simple.

And I was with it. I swear I was.

Until I wasn't.

Because here's the thing — Zac says he doesn't want anything "Instagram-like," but... he knew who he proposed to. I'm extra. I've always been extra. And I'm definitely not about to find out the gender of our baby with a dry-ass balloon and no outfit coordination.

That's just not in my DNA.

I looked at him the other night, all calm and casual on the couch with his arm around me, and I said, "Babe, I hear you, I do. But we are not about to bring another Taylor into this world and act like it's just a Tuesday."

He gave me that smirk — the one that says, "Here go my girl again..."

Because we both know the truth.
We're posting about this baby.
On Beyoncé's internet.
On Crystal Renee Hayslett's internet.

And we're gonna do it right.

Don't get me wrong — I'm not talking about some over-the-top influencer-type production with drone shots and rented zoo animals. But we're gonna look good. There will be coordinated outfits. There will be laughter. There might even be a flower wall because, well, me.

And most importantly? There will be love.

Because this isn't about putting on a show.
It's about capturing a moment we prayed for.
A moment that says: "This is ours."
And I don't care how many filters or hashtags get involved — our joy deserves to be celebrated out loud.

Zac tried to act like he was against it... until I showed him the mock-up of the photoshoot I sent to Lauren. Then he leaned over and whispered, "Alright, but you ain't putting me in no damn pastel suit."

He's already onboard. He just doesn't know it yet.

So yeah...

We're keeping it intimate, sure.
But baby Taylor's gender reveal

Oh, it's still gonna be a moment.
One filled with soft colors, happy tears, our daughter running around barefoot, and maybe a few curated posts that'll break the internet just a little.

(gender reveal day)

The morning of the gender reveal, I woke up to Zac gently rubbing my back and Kolby climbing onto the bed saying, "Wake up Mommy! It's baby party time!"

And just like that, the nerves, the excitement, the everything hit me all at once.

This was it.

Today we'd find out who our next little Taylor would be — the newest heartbeat to fill our home with love, noise, and all kinds of chaos we'd secretly live for.

We decided to keep it in the backyard, like we'd said. Just me, Zac, Kolby, and a few cameras Lauren swore were "just for keepsakes" but we all knew they'd find their way to Instagram. Don't judge me. This is Beyoncé's internet. We had to show up just a little.

I wore a soft blush dress that draped just right over my bump. Zac had on a cream button-up, his chain peeking out just enough to be disrespectful. And Kolby? She had on a little tutu with a shirt that said "Big Sister" in silver glitter.

My heart almost burst just seeing her spinning in circles in the grass, completely unaware of how her little life was about to change.

We set up the balloon — one big matte white balloon filled with either pink or blue confetti — and Kolby was the one who got to pop it.

Zac came up behind me and rested his hands on my belly, whispering, "You ready, Mama?"

I nodded, even though I wasn't.

Kolby held the little stick Serena helped her with, giggling as she counted down.

"1... 2... 3!"

POP.

The balloon burst and pink confetti rained down like magic. It stuck to the grass, our hair, Kolby's curls. She screamed, "It's a SISTER!!" like she fully understood what that meant.

Zac picked her up, spinning her around, and I just stood there, hands on my bump, eyes filled with tears.

Another girl.
Another little light to love.

Zac came over and wrapped his arms around me, Kolby still giggling between us.

"You called it," he whispered. "You said it was a girl."

I smiled through my tears, leaning into him. "I felt her. From the beginning."

And in that moment — surrounded by soft sunlight, confetti, and the two people who already had my heart — I realized:

Our family was really growing.

Baby girl Taylor,
we already love you more than words.
And now the world knows you're on your way.

Alright yall here's a short chapter cause I was threatened and yes I have added proof but here yall go. Maybe since I'm off tomorrow I'll drop another chapter too