Voyage to Atlantis

Chapter 9

The next couple of weeks went by in a blur for Lacey. If she wasnt hanging out with Whitney or studying, she spent her off days with Nikki and Miles Jr.

Miles had a job where he worked a lot of hours so Nikki was always complaining about being lonely. On that particular Saturday, they were visiting Lacey. It was late April and the weather finally broke so they went to the park.

"Thats right son," Nikki said as Lil Miles ran towards the small jungle gym. "Run around so you can take a nap."

"Shut up!" Lacey said, laughing. Nikki shook her head.

"What two-year-old you know doesnt take naps?" she asked before pointing to her son. "That one!"

"I might keep him tonight. I have no life."

"You still havent talked to Trig?"

"He called a couple of times to plead his case," Lacey explained. "I feel bad but I dont want him back."

"What for? He knew what was up!"

"I never gave him a straight answer."

"That nigga knew!" Nikki said, keeping an eye on Lil Miles. "I mean come on, yall were together all the time, he had clothes at your spot. Hes dirty for coming over here and letting you lick wounds."

"I did not lick his wounds!" Lacey said, cutting her off.

"Shut up, you know what I mean," Nikki snapped. "Hes wrong but if you move on with him, move on from it."

"So you saying forget it?"

"No, Im saying do what you want."

Lacey let the conversation die. She didnt want to deal with the insecurities and paranoia now that she knew he messed with other girls. Shed be lying if she said she didnt miss him.

"Whens the last time you saw Aiden?" Nikki asked. Lacey frowned.

"He calls every blue moon, she said. Why?"

"Cause hes here."

"What?"

Nikki pointed to Aiden walking through the park with a girl. Lacey, for reasons unknown to her, immediately got jealous.

She looked a little tall, but everyone was tall compared to Lacey. She had smooth caramel skin and bright make up. It was cute but a bit much. Her brown hair was slick and pinned on one side with soft curls to the other, reaching her shoulders. She was smaller than Lacey, but once she saw the small bump in her shirt, Lacey knew it was Nel.

"Is she pregnant or fat?" Nikki asked.

"Pregnant. What is he doing here?"

"Go ask him."

"Nik, Im not going over there!" Lacey said, turning red in the face. She pulled the hood of her sweatshirt over her head.

"He sees you, Lace." Lacey shrunk down in her seat but it was too late. Aiden and his girlfriend were already on their way over. "Oh Lord, look at my child."

They both laughed to see Lil Miles laid out in the sand, almost sleep. Nikki got up and jogged over to him, just before Aiden reached the bench.

"We run into each other at the weirdest places," he said smiling. Lacey smirked. "What you doing around here?"

"My place is around the corner," she said. She sighed when Nikki made it back with Lil Miles in her arms. She sat down and he laid in her lap.

"We're ready when you are," Nikki said to Lacey. "Hi Aiden, who your friend?"