Ambrosine Brooks
I was finally in bed at Saint Josiah's house with our girls. He had gone out earlier for drinks with the guys and was just now getting back at 1am. I could hear his loud voice from upstairs, and it had taken forever to get both kids to sleep. I sighed, rubbing my swollen belly because, on top of hyperactive children, my son was kicking the hell out of me.
"Little boy, if you kick me one more time, I might pop your ass through the womb," I mumbled, staring at the tiny foot imprint pushing against my stomach.
"Audi baby, where you at?!" Saint Josiah's voice echoed through the house.
"Shhh nigga, she sleep!" Jah yelled back, clearly tipsy.
I shook my head, slipping on my fluffy slippers before tying my snow-white robe around my waist and making my way downstairs to calm down the ruckus.
As I approached the kitchen, the smell of weed and hard liquor hit me like a ton of bricks. Saint Josiah and Jah were raiding the kitchen like they hadn't eaten all day.
"I know how to make Alfredo," Jah argued, reaching for a jar of sauce.
"Nigga, no you don't. Stop playing in my food," Saint Josiah snatched the jar out of his hand and shoved it back in the cabinet.
"Can y'all shut the hell up? Two babies upstairs are trying to sleep," I rolled my eyes at the scene, and they all froze like kids caught sneaking snacks.
"Sorry, baby," Saint Josiah slurred as he stumbled over, trying to kiss me with those low, red eyes. This man must've lost his damn mind.
"Get out my face, you stink."
"I stink?" he scrunched his face up like I offended him.
"Yes, you smell like Henny and weed. I'm not kissing you."
"Say that then."
"I just did."
He sighed, rubbing his hand across his face. "Where were you two at?"
"Bar, getting lit. Jah out here depressed and shit," Saint Josiah said, throwing his friend under the bus.
"Why you depressed, Jah?"
"This nigga chatting, I'm not depressed," Jah muttered, side-eyeing Saint Josiah.
"Mmhmm." I eyed him skeptically. I'd been up all night, juggling FaceTime calls with Chasity on my phone and Zay on my laptop. After getting into it with Chasity over her cheating on Jah, she admitted she thought there might be someone else in the picture. She'd broken down crying, saying she might end things so he could be happy.
Then, not an hour later, I saw Saint Josiah tagged on Instagram in a picture with a bartender named Lucki—Jah was in the picture too. I kept that little tidbit to myself because I had a plan.
"Oh okay, so Saint Josiah," I said, looking him dead in his eyes, "who's this little bartender you were so cozy with on IG?"
Both of them froze, caught off guard. I knew the bartender was probably more into Jah, but since she had her arm around both their shoulders, I figured I'd stir the pot.
"Huh? What are you talking about? auditorium , I just proposed to you. Why would I—"
"You're stressing me out, I'm going to bed," I said, fake tears welling up in my eyes.
"Wait, baby, come here," he slurred, struggling to keep his balance. "Y-you think I'd cheat on you?" His words came out sloppy, eyes barely staying open.
