A Beautiful Mess

Twenty

(London)

Zyale came out but nothing seemed to change. “Where is it?” I questioned getting out of my seat. He lifted up his shirt and the dates of everything that occurred in our relationship was on his back and inside a pad lock. “I do love it, gotta be honest.” I smiled. “Good, now let’s make a move next door, baby.”

We entered and poked around. I picked out a few things but put them back. “Hi, I am Tiffany. Don’t be shy to ask for help.” She smiled, she was young but from all the smiling she was growing wrinkles. “Hi, I would like an engagement ring.” I spoke up returning a smile. “Okay, you’re in the wrong section so please follow me.” She gestured. I bobbed my head and followed behind her. Zyale sort of lingered in the back. “Babe,” I sighed, “walk up.” He looked as if he was caught in a daze and mumbled something. “Uh baby, c-can we come back a-another time? Tomorrow maybe?” He looked me in my eyes and alarms looked like they were setting off. “Um, okay. What’s wrong?” I blinked a few times.

Tiffany seemed to be confused with a falling frown. “Later” I gave a weary smile and followed behind Zyale’s quickening footsteps. Once we pulled off I looked at him but he did not once take his eyes from the road. “Are you okay?” I grumbled. He didn’t answer. “Zyale.” I persisted. “Yeah?” He shook himself. “What. Is. Wrong?” I grilled. A bit of annoyance bubbled in my tone but who wouldn’t? He basically left our engagement ring back there, our promise. He got me excited for nothing and I do hope he realises that. He was all ‘baby want to be my fiancee?’ and had me jumping for joy. “Nothing, really London” he calmed down. “Oh alright. Nothing is wrong? Great.” I rolled my eyes from behind my shades. “Why you say it like that?” He turned onto the parkway. “Because I can” I shrugged. “Oh so it’s like that? Because you can? Please.” I chuckled, “That’s exactly what it is, you know why? Because you’re all great but left my engagement ring back there and play it off like nothing. You’re all fine and dandy wandering back into our life. Destroying something and then leaving! You know why it’s like that? Because you left me out there for years! I became a damn stripper to support Jada AND managed to be there for your other family. That’s why it’s like that.”

He pulled over and looked at me so deeply, it was almost as if he could crack my shades. “I don’t have another family.” He growled. I took my eyes off him, “you’re right. Not anymore.”

“What do you mean not anymore?” He pinched his eyes as if daring me to say something I’ll regret later. “I’m not going to say anything right now because we’re both pissed and you’re pushing me. So let’s both drop it. Get Jada, and go home.” I proposed. “He shook his head and put the car in drive. The car filled with unspoken tension. I wanted him to say something to me and I wanted to say something to him but I wouldn’t dare speak. I felt like I was in some high school relationship. Minus the fact that I’m grown now. We pulled up and I exited the car. I felt him eyeing me so automatically I put more sway into my walk. My heels hit the concrete and I knocked on Laylee’s door.

“Hola mama,” Laylee greeted. “Hi baby, where’s Jada and Elijah?” I stretched my neck to see past where I was standing. “Watching a movie, I’ll go get her but here’s her bag” she handed it to me. “Okie Dokie” I put my weight on my left leg, and flipped my ankle up so only the heel of my shoe touched the ground. “Mommy!” Jada squealed. I bent down and opened my arms. “Jada!” I used the same excitement. “Thanks Lay” I kissed her cheek and parted.

“Hey princess” Zyale looked back at her. “Hi daddy!” She blew him a kiss. “Got it.” He touched his cheek as if planting the kiss there. “Mommy, kiss daddy’s cheek and take half my kiss!” She grinned. I leaned over and poked my lips out touching his smooth cheek. “Took it” I stuck my tongue out at her. “Half right?” She asked seriously. “Yes baby” I laughed turning around in my seat. Zyale reached out and placed his hand on top of mine. I got butterflies from the small gesture and I knew, he knew, I got butterflies because he smiled.  

Two weeks later

I brushed my teeth for the fortieth time this damn week. I hurled at least five billion times. “You okay ma?” Zyale put his face in the crook of my neck. “I’m sick get away from me.” I joked. “Nah,” he sucked my neck, “I like being close to you.” I attempted in slipping out his grip but got pushed up against the wall his member jabbing my area. “Gimme a kiss man” He puckered up. “No ew” I laughed. “Fine! Don’t ask me for anything.” He fake cried which made me laugh harder, “you’re evil.” He laughed. “No” I smiled. “But you’re going to the doctor so come on.” He quickly got dressed. I rummaged through my closet searching for baggy pants and a tank top. Once I found it I slipped into it and tied my hair up.

“Baby!”

“Yes?” both Zyale and Jada poked their heads out of Jada’s room. I cracked a smile and went over to both of them helping Zyale dress Jada. It was simply an Adidas pink and white shirt, sweatpants, and Nike sliders. My baby was poppin’ no lie. I put her hair up neatly then picked her up, following Zyale out the house. “I need my bag Z” I whined. “I already got it.” He hopped into the drivers seat. “Thanks” I took gum out my bag, passing a piece to each of them.

Entering the office I explained my situation and got a pregnancy test. “Well no doubt - you’re going to be having baby number two.” The doctor smiled showing me the plus sign.