Keeping Secrets (Completed)

18. Return the Favor

Samantha King

I sat in Red Lobster, breaking apart the biscuit as I waited for Blue and Claudia to join me. These were my last two days of the two weeks I had been in L.A. and I wanted to say my last goodbyes the best way I knew how, over food! This was the first meal that Blue had given me when he took me under his wings, so this place had more than just food for my growling tummy, but it was filled with memories.

I stuffed my mouth, as I finished my third biscuit, washing it down with water. The waiter sat down another bowl of them and before I knew it Blue and Claudia waltzed in. I shrieked, jumping from my seat as I wrapped my arms around their neck. "I missed you guys!" I said, kissing them on their cheeks. "Sit!" I commanded, getting back into the booth.

"We missed you too." Claudia said with an eye roll. We had that kind of relationship, "so, I see you couldn't wait a couple minutes for us."

"I could not!" I rubbed my stomach, exposing the little pudge. I watched Claudia's expression change from puzzled to excitement. Blue still looking confused. "If you catch my drift." I said.

"I don't get it." Blue said with a chuckle, "why you rubbing your fat belly? You went to Toronto and they fed you good or something? You had a nice figure before you left." Claudia slapped his shoulder and he furrowed his brow. "What the hell? I'm not lying."

"She's pregnant you jerk." She spat out, before returning her attention to me. "And you still look good babe, don't listen to him. How far along are you?"

"I'm 21 weeks, five months." I sipped on my water, proud of the announcement.

"You haven't gained much weight, wow."

"The doctor said something about the baby sitting in my back, that he or she is pretty big and it'll catch up to me by next month or so. I am not looking forward to it whatsoever!"

"Wait, so let's get this clear." Blue placed his elbows on the table. "You, the one who was afraid of kids now... came to L.A. to announce that you're having a kid?" I nodded, "and you're excited."

"Very," I said, parting my lips with a smile.

"Wow... that man changed you," Claudia said in amazement. Before she could continue the waiter came back to our table. He took our orders and quickly went off to the kitchen. I sat, trying to contain how happy I was. Claudia was right when she said this man changed me, it was too soon for me to announce my love for him... but the feelings I had for him were too deep to not be love.

My life was so hard, that it was hard to find love. I stumbled upon a lot of boys but never a man... especially not one like Alonzo. He was different, the way he showed me care, compassion and generosity from a heart of pain was so amazing to me. I loved being in his presence, the way he spoke to me and treated me like a queen. Having this baby was no mistake, there was no one else I saw fit to be the father of his child I was carrying. No man better than the one I had waiting in our new house for my return.

We weren't officially together, but as they say; what's understood doesn't need to be explained and that is what it was like between us. We didn't need to explain a thing to anyone. He had me, and I had him. Nothing was going to come between us or break that bond we had.

Our food returned after a bit of catching up between the three of us, we talked about the club and how it was doing, me moving away, my new house, Claudia's new butt surgery, everything. It just felt good to be around good company, but most importantly... good food.

I licked my lips as the waiter placed the Seaside Shrimp Trio in front of me, I also ordered a side fries and a stuffed potato. I rubbed my hands together and took a snapchat of the masterpiece that I was about to dig into to. Once I was done, I sent it to Alonzo then looked up to see the two gawking at me. Blue chuckled to himself, and shook his head as he unraveled his cutlery. "That weight is going to catch up to you before you know it," he said, followed by Claudia hitting him again. "Chill on that." He said to her. Claudia rolled her eyes, then placed her napkin on her lap.