Page 57 of For the Love of City

PORSHA

I SHOULD’VE KNOWN better than to think that my girls would’ve given me something normal. Not when Rye, Billy, Yzzy and Lyric were in charge of this gender reveal. I couldn’t even imagine what the damn baby shower was going to look like.

We’d been back from Atlanta for a few weeks and everything had gone right back to normal.

Between checking on the baby and putting in work at the salon, I was also working with Royce, soon to be known as Vine, on his professional image.

He and Lyric had shot the video for Drip and I was less than impressed by his girlfriend.

She was pushy, thought she was the talent and never seemed to grasp that he was the one we cared about.

His best friend, a girl name Reagan, could tell that we were running out of patience with Shanice, his girlfriend, and tried to run interference.

The only reason why we dealt with her was because Grant was in the video with Lyric.

We offered the chance for him to let her join him and regretted it instantly.

Corey was doing his best to council him, but there was only so much that we could do.

True to his word, Corey had ensured that I wasn’t stretched thin.

I had time blocked off in advance for things for Lyrically Sound and still had enough time for my subscription clients.

I had a backlist of stylists that wanted to stock my product in their salon and I had plans to hire on more people to help package orders.

Life was good and I was now standing beside a man who’d kept every promise to me as we were going to find out if we were having a boy or a girl.

Nobody wanted to seem as if they had a preference but it was clear that folks had picked their sides based on what they were wearing.

The women hosting the event were all in white as was I, because they already knew what we were having.

There were dueling themes depending on if you thought we were having a boy or a girl.

The blue side was dubbed ‘ A tale of two Citys ’ which was a play on not just Corey’s nickname but also our differing hometowns.

There were mini slabs all done up and decorated in blue as well as Braves and peach memorabilia on the table.

For the girls’ side, there was the Princess theme of course.

Little mini crowns placed on quilted royal style pillows.

They were done in shades of pink and light purple and I couldn’t believe it when Rye said they were made completely out of sugar and cake.

“This is really too much.”

I wanted them to keep it small and had thought about just doing it at somebody’s house but with the level of fame amongst our peer group it wasn’t the smartest idea. Tiana volunteered the Desperados ballroom where they held the annual gala and I was happy for it to be in a familiar neutral site.

“I don’t understand why you would think so.

The way that you have always done everything you could for us, it’s your turn.

Of course we’re going to do it big. Despite you hiding that man for so long.

” Yzzy rolled her eyes at me and I could only laugh, especially since her bridal shower hadn’t been too long ago.

I was sure she had the ability to plan this with ease given how lavish her wedding had been despite technically being a backyard wedding.

Corey walked up in the middle of all the women and gave out hugs to everyone. He was wearing purple because he didn’t care what the baby was. After he spoke he turned to me and I could tell he was confused. “What are we supposed to be doing right now?”

“Exactly what we are what you mean?” I looked around the room and saw how everyone was eating and enjoying themselves.

My mama had flown up and stayed in my condo since I was in the process of moving out.

Corey wanted me to find a house but I was leaving that up to him.

My only request was that we weren’t too far out from our businesses.

I knew we’d end up in a neighborhood close to Grant and Lyric, which would put us near Rye and Antwan.

Those were the neighborhoods that had been vetted as far as security and we didn’t want land like Billy and Coby’s place.

“I thought we were finding out about the baby.” He looked around and I was trying to understand what he was in a rush for.

“That comes at the end I guess. Why you seem so damn nervous?”

I was watching him and for the first time he looked uncomfortable. Corey was always so self-possessed I wasn’t used to him looking anxious. I’d seen him shoot a gun without a tremor but he looked like he was about to jump out of his skin.

“Cause man I already raised one girl. I would like to have a boy but if this ain’t one her ass gonna be spoiled as fuck just like Lyric.

” He was rubbing the back of his waves like this was something that was weighing on him.

I frowned up because he was swearing that he didn’t care now he was hollering about a boy.

“Please don’t think you gone have my baby out here shooting guns and shit.”

“Just like his big sister!”

Lyric was more than happy to dote on this baby because she was adamant she wasn’t about to push any out.

She and Grant were serious about enjoying being married and I knew he felt like he wanted to be far more hands on than he could be with the kids.

He’d better take a note from Coby’s playbook on balance because there was clearly something in the air with the Desperados and the people around them.

“Lyric, I thought we agreed we weren’t going to let this generation of kids go through the shit we did.” Corey was looking at her like they’d literally had this conversation more than once.

“Yeah but we ain’t raising no punks. They can have the soft life but know how to grind if need be. Damn, y’all thought we were raising some damn lame ass kids? Pffft y’all got my lil sibling fucked up. Gonna raise a baby thug ain’t that right, stinka butt?”

Lyric put her hands on my belly like she was really talking to the baby and I could only glare over her head at Grant silently pleading for him to come and get his wife. But true to form, he just sat there with that same indulgent smile he always had on his face with her.

“Grant?”

“You think I’m going to interrupt their bonding? Besides, this will be good practice for in a few years. Lyric done already started setting up a room for her lil brother.”

He shrugged and I could only roll my eyes.

He was in a blue polo shirt with his curly hair pulled back in a low ponytail that hung down his back.

Lyric matched him in a blue sundress and I was surprised but they were in the minority.

Even Travis was wearing a light pink shirt because he swore Corey was destined to only be around girls.

“It’s gonna be a girl.”

Grant looked down at my stomach and shook his head. “That’s a baby boy.”

“You’re only saying that because you want a boy first whenever the time comes.”

Lyric bumped his shoulder with hers and he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back to him. He placed a kiss on the side of her head and my hormones were going to make me cry looking at the two of them.

“I want whatever you gone let me have from you. As long as the both of you are healthy at the end of the day, that’s all that fucking matters to me.”

I wasn’t the only one who had to be hormonal, because Lyric looked like she was about to melt into a puddle. “You always know the right thing to say, CB.”

“I say what’s in my heart, Lyric. I call you my angel but I want you walking beside me on earth not watching over me from heaven.”

“Y’all are actually disgusting to watch. I hope you know that.” I was teasing but damn Grant was making the book boyfriends look extremely average right now.

“It really doesn’t look good for you to be a hater like this, P.” Lyric was teasing but hadn’t even lifted her eyes from her husband’s face.

Billy was playing hostess and she walked up like she was the one to keep us on track for the day. She was wearing white, high-waisted shorts and a white silk tank top. “If you want, we can go ahead and get started. We have food and just wanted y’all to enjoy yourselves.”

“Cool. Can I say a word of thanks for everybody coming out? Y’all gone have to find somebody else to bless the food though, that ain’t my thing.”

Billy nodded and went to find a mic for Corey to use to address our friends and family. My mama and brother stood near me and I felt her wrap her arms around me and squeeze.

“Thank y’all for being here.”

“Ain’t no reason for us to be anywhere else. I gotta check and make sure everything is good with my nephew.”

I rolled my eyes at Man cause he’d worn all white trying to throw me off. “Of course you want a boy.”

He nodded emphatically like there was no other choice. “Damn right. I’ve been surrounded by women alone for the last twenty years. Give me a lil nephew to spoil.”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head at him. “You could always have your own.”

Man looked at me completely confused, “Why would I ever do that?”

Before I could clap back at my brother, Corey pulled my hand so that we could do this welcome or thank you thing and get the cake cut.

I stuck my tongue back out at Man and he just smirked at me.

I followed Corey to the front of the room and turned to face our family and friends.

He had his arm around my waist and pulled me close so we were a united front.

Everyone was looking at us with anticipatory smiles on their face.