Page 19 of Blake University: HBCU Chronicles: Brynleigh & A.Z.

brYNLEIGH

“Look at my sisterrrrrr,” Bree gushed as she walked around me in a circle with her phone in one hand and her vlogging camera in the other. She was making a big deal out of the black, sequined gown with a very high split on the left side that I was wearing.

I smiled as she alternated between taking pictures and recording videos. “And she’s going to the gala with Deonte Malone. Eat that up hoes.”

“Bree!” I hissed.

I was sure people would be taking pictures at the event and the person that he was going with wouldn’t be a secret for long.

That didn’t mean my sister had to announce it to the world, however.

I knew she was doing it hoping Kelli would see it and that made me a little less annoyed.

The doorbell rang, and Kelli’s mini photoshoot finally ended.

I grabbed the gold clutch that went perfectly with the gold heels that adorned my feet while Bree opened the door.

“Okay Mr. Malone!”

I clearly wasn’t the only person that she was hyping up, but she wasn’t even exaggerating when it came to Deonte.

His black tux with gold embellishments looked like money.

The black Versace loafers on his feet topped the look off.

His fresh cut, expensive cologne, and the diamond stud gleaming in his ear made him look nothing short of perfect.

“You look nice,” he grinned the moment that I came into view.

“So do you,” I smiled.

“Stand by her, so I can take a picture,” Bree instructed like a proud mother.

Deonte grinned as he inched closer to me. He wrapped one arm around my waist, and we posed for the picture. After Bree snapped a good twenty photos, she allowed us to walk out of the door.

“Sorry about that,” I apologized.

“You’re good.”

Earlier that day, I ran into Craig in the same shopping plaza that I’d gotten my nails done at.

He confirmed that the day I called him, it was a police officer that answered his phone, and he was glad that I hung up.

He was out on bond and facing a minimum of three years in prison.

That was better than double digit years, but I didn’t want to do any years in prison, and I was sure he didn’t either.

I had been scared straight and prayed every day that Kandi had woken up from the coma she was in and let the police know that Rhia’s hating ass had lied.

The way she was trying to play with my freedom, she must have wanted another ass whooping, but I was too anxious about jail to give it to her.

If she ended up at the gala, however, it would take an abundance of maturity to ignore her.

I snapped back to the present as Deonte’s driver held the rear passenger door of the Escalade open.

I climbed inside, and Deonte got in after me.

His mood had shifted a bit from inside the apartment, and I was tempted to ask him what was wrong.

“You want some champagne?” he asked looking over at me after he’d been staring out of the window for a while.

“No, I’m good. You cool? You seem a little distant.”

Deonte chuckled. “It’s that obvious, huh?

So, my on again off again ex came by last night to give me some news.

She’s pregnant and wants to keep it. I’m not even sure that we’ll get back together, but my life will probably be complicated for a little minute.

I just wanted to be transparent with you. ”

A smile inched across my face. “I really appreciate that, Deonte. Most men would have played games and strung me along until they couldn’t hide it anymore. You’ve definitely changed my views on athletes.”

That made him laugh. “Not too much on athletes. What’s wrong with us?”

“Most are womanizing whores. And you know I’m right.

However, you are the complete opposite of every stereotype that I’ve heard.

You are a really cool guy, and I’m glad I met you.

” I was being honest. Deonte was a breath of fresh air.

Maybe at another time, we could have been something because he didn’t seem like a bad guy at all.

“Same. It was nice being able to kick it and vibe with someone that didn’t run to google and look up my net worth the moment we met.”

“I definitely should have,” I jested making him laugh.

The venue where the gala was held was beautifully decorated.

The décor was of course, gold and black.

Everything and everyone looked so elegant.

My gown was sleeveless, so the tattoos on my arms were on full display but as far as I could see, no one gave me a second glance.

I didn’t feel out of place at all. My hair was in an elegant updo, and I had on subtle makeup that enhanced my look but didn’t give funeral home.

“You smell good as hell,” Deonte leaned toward me and sniffed the air as we walked into a large ballroom.

As I giggled, I managed to lock eyes with A.Z.

, and he didn’t appear pleased. The smile was instantly wiped from my face, and I cleared my throat while looking away.

We hadn’t spoken since the day he popped up at my place.

Maybe he had decided against calling and if that was the case, I couldn’t be mad at him.

My feelings were valid indeed, but maybe I had been giving him a hard time.

A.Z. had no way of knowing that Deonte and I were at the gala on a platonic level, and I could tell from the way his nostrils expanded that he was pissed.

Deonte grabbed a glass of champagne off a nearby server’s tray while he talked and mingled with the other guests.

I stood by his side smiling for a bit until I caught A.Z.

glaring at me again. I excused myself and walked over to him.

His expression didn’t soften. In fact, he looked even more agitated by my presence.

“I guess now it’s your turn to hate me.”

A.Z.’s scowl deepened. “I don’t hate you. I just don’t have time to play games. Fine time to want to acknowledge me when you’re here with someone.”

“Deonte and I are just friends. We’re strictly platonic. He’s never even tried to sleep with me.”

“Maybe he’s giving you time to heal from your abortion.”

With a chuckle, I shook my head. It surprised even me that he wasn’t upsetting me, but he wasn’t.

“There’s the asshole I remember,” I stated in a soft tone.

“I never got the abortion, Azra. The day you saw me I’d gone to the clinic, but I wasn’t sure.

They gave me some time to think about it, and I never went back. ”

A.Z.’s eyes darted downward and landed on my flat belly.

I wasn’t showing. Most days, I didn’t even feel pregnant until certain smells made me queasy or when I took a three hour nap and woke up still tired.

I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to work two jobs for long, but I needed all the money that I could get.

“When were you going to tell me?”

“Soon.”

“So now what?”

“You tell me. We don’t know each other. We aren’t in a relationship. I’m not trying to trap you or make your life hard. I simply didn’t want to get the abortion, but I don’t expect anything from you.”

“You should,” he stated with conviction. “My child will be taken care of and not just financially. I’ll play my part. I can get up at night for feedings, diaper changes, and all. If we decide not to be together, I want joint custody.”

I was very relieved to hear that A.Z. was willing to step up to the plate. It would definitely make my life easier.

“Wait. So you’re working two jobs while you’re pregnant?”

“Yes. I definitely need money now that I’m expecting.

I’m about to move into a place, and once the baby comes, I’m going to be out of work for six weeks.

” Talking about it was stressing me out, but I was going to be optimistic.

“I’m not even showing yet, and I sit down most of the time at the tattoo shop. ”

“I don’t care. What kind of man would I be letting the mother of my child work two jobs? I know you don’t want to give the tattoo shop up, so you can put in your notice at the server job.”

My brows hiked. “Um, first of all, how you just gon’ tell me what to do? Secondly, it’s your responsibility to help me with the child. It’s not your job to take care of me.”

A.Z. kissed his teeth. “I’ll pay your utility bills and buy your groceries once you move into your place. If you need help after that just let me know, and I got you.”

I stared at A.Z. because I wasn’t anything like my sister and her friends. I wasn’t having the baby because he had money. “And what will your mother say when she finds out you got a commoner pregnant?”

“I don’t know, and I don’t care. I’m an adult. And also, she told me to tell you that she’s sorry and if I brought you around, she’d tell you herself.”

I bit my tongue because I didn’t believe him, and I didn’t want to disrespect his bitch of a mother. “I have to get back to my friend. I don’t want to be rude.”

Envy danced in A.Z.’s eyes. “This is a black tie event, and it’s in celebration of my fraternity. I’m going to play nice, but please don’t make me have to catch that nigga outside.”

With a slight simper on my face, I rolled my eyes. “I hear you, Azra.”

Sauntering off, I headed back in Deonte’s direction where he was still talking a mile a minute. Everyone that passed him wanted to stop and hold a conversation with him.

“They aren’t even giving you a moment to breathe,” I stated when a well-known surgeon had walked away from Deonte after their conversation ended.

“I know right. It’s all apart of the game. Mingling and networking never hurt anyone.”

“Does your ex know you’re here with another woman?”