Saving Gracie// Nba Youngboy Story

.38

July 13, 1995

"Can you believe it's been a whole year since we met?" I asked Kentrell as we walked hand in had down the beach as the wind blew, giving us some kind of breeze in this hot ass weather. We ducked off from everybody and decided to ride down to the beach for the day

"It feel like more than a year, honestly" he replied with a chuckle. He wasn't lying

In this one year, so much has happened and changed with all of us. A year ago today Sophie and I were on our way to a simple concert to try to pull me out of a deep ass depression just to end up in an accident and having to ride around with three complete strangers. Now look at where we are today. All of us are now as close as possible like we've known each other all our lives, everybody's in love, Sophie's a mom and I've been the happiest this year alone than I've ever been in my entire life.

I looked at the water, admiring how beautiful it was in the sunset. The colors of the sky reflecting on the water

"This scene is so perfect. It feels like I'm in one of those movies right now" I spoke and Kentrell laughed

"Nah this ain't no movie shawty. Lucky for you, this is real life"

"I know... lucky me" I smiled, looking at him. He let go of my hand and threw his arm across my shoulder

"Whatchu wanna do tonight before we head back home?"

"I don't know" I sighed but quickly looked at him again "you know what, I think I want some seafood"

"Seafood?" Kentrell questioned me, raising his brow. I nodded and laughed

"Yeah. I can go for some crab legs and shrimp right now"

"Ight then. Whatever you want babygirl"

When Kentrell said that, I let off a big grin and looked at a couple that were playing in the water. The guy had a little boy on his shoulders while his girlfriend, I'm guessing, took pictures with her Polaroid before kissing him and took the little boy off of his shoulders

"Baby" I called out to Kentrell and he looked at me

"What's up?"

"Have you ever thought about having a family?"

"Yeah. I guess. Ion really plan shit like that out though. I feel like if it happens then it just happens" he shrugged and I nodded

"I remember I used to tell my momma that I wanted to have 4 kids by Michael Jackson"

Kentrell looked at me some type of way before bursting into laughter "What the fuck Gracie?"

"What?" I laughed along with him "That's all my momma would play on tv. And Michael Jackson was sooo fine. I just knew he was gonna find me and ask me to have his babies once I was old enough"

"You on that shit" Kentrell mumbled, shaking his head and I rolled my eyes

"Whatever. Cause so don't care about him nomore. I know who I want to have my babies by now"

Kentrell smirked and I grinned "Tupac"

His smirk dropped and he pushed me away from him, making me laugh even more

"I'm just playing trell. Get out your feelings" I said, amused. I grabbed his hand and he bawled his face up at me

"You ain even fuck with Tupac till you met me"

"Well I thank you for putting me on. Well send you an invitation to the baby shower" I joked and Kentrell let go of my hand

"Better tell Tupac you need a ride back home"

"Get out ya' feelings Kentrell" I grabbed his hand again and snickered softly "you know all my babies are gonna be yours"

"I know. Cause you stuck with me forever. One year down and forever to go" Kentrell responded, making me smile

"That's right"

We continued walking a little bit more in silence, hand in hand again before Kentrell spoke up

"You ever though about moving in with me?"

I quickly looked over at him. What made him as that question?

"Honestly.... Yeah. Me and my momma actually had a conversation about that"

"Y'all did?" He asked, chuckling

"Yeah. Cause the house is kinda packed right now. And I don't think there's enough room there for us anymore" I answered with a shrug

"Us?"

I nodded "Yeah.... us"

I placed kentrell's hand on my stomach and looked at him. His eyes grew wide as he stopped walking and soon a smile appeared on his face

"You pregnant?"

"Yes Kentrell. We're having a baby"

He ran his hand across his face before pulling me into a tight hug

"So I'm guessing that you're happy?" I asked, laughing as I hugged him back

"Hell Yeah"

I smiled to myself before pulling away from the hug a little to look Kentrell in the face

"I love you Kentrell"

"I love you too babygirl" he responded before kissing me

—————

January 15, 2019

"9 months later, that's when I had you. And girl let me tell you, the second you came out your daddy wouldn't let you out of his sight" I told my 22 year old daughter, Kendra, as I stroked her long silky hair while she laid her head in my lap

Just like me, Kendra just recently lost her boyfriend of 4 years and she's so devastated. To make her feel better, I opened up to her about my first year after losing Darren, a conversation I NEVER bring up. But for the sake of my babygirl, I decided to tell her about it.

"But momma, you're so strong. I'm not like you. I don't know if I can hold up after losing Dre" Kendra said as she wiped the tears from her eyes, sitting up. I sighed and grabbed her hands

"Babygirl, I used to say the exact same thing. I promise you, you will get through this. And the same way Bailey's here for you" I pointed over at 23 year old bailey, who sat on the other side of Kendra "that's how Sophie was with me. Hell, bailey if it wasn't for your reckless ass momma and daddy, none of y'all would be here"

"Of course. Neither of them can do anything right" Bailey told me with a laugh

"But back to what I was saying. Kendra you got this. Continue with your life, you're young and beautiful. You'll eventually find you another guy when the times right"

"That's IF they ain't scared of my damn daddy and all my uncles" Kendra muttered and Bailey agreed with her

"Forreal, that's why I'm still single"

"The right guy is gonna turn up for the both of y'all. And if they can get through Kentrell and the boys the way Dre did, then they're meant for y'all" I told the girls, trying not to laugh in their faces because I already know they're probably gonna be single forever because of Kentrell and the guys

"Now Kendra wipe your tears babygirl. Bailey put a smile on Kendra's face. I gotta go back downstairs and make sure your lazy ass daddy didn't let KD on the grill again" I told them as I got off the bed and proceeded to exit the room

"Ma!" Kendra called out to me, causing me to turn around. She wore a weak smile on her face "I love you"

"I love you too babygirl" I replied with a smile before walking out of the room

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