Page 22 of I’m So Mega

“What’s going on? Fiona trying to leave you?” I knew that wasn’t it, but I couldn’t help but fuck with him.

His eyes tightened to the point that they looked closed. “Fiona leaving who? Don’t fucking play with me. That woman’s soul lives in mine.” He rubbed his hand down his face. “Croya is pregnant.”

I choked on my beer. “I hope you mean pregnant with purpose. She better be pregnant with the holy spirit.”

“Nah, she’s very much pregnant with a baby,” Riker confirmed. “This man is about to be a grand pappi. Shit is crazy.”

Ned asked Croy how he knew. “Man, I tapped her nigga’s phone some time ago. I heard them talking about how they were going to tell me and Fiona.” He glanced down at his watch. “He’s suppose to be here in an hour. Lil shit got my baby pregnant and ain’t put a fuckin’ ring on her finger.”

I sat there with a tilted head. “Croy, you said you tapped that boy phone like that’s normal. So, you just be listening to their conversation all willy nilly. What if they’re talking about freaky shit?”

“I only monitor their calls once a week or so. If I hear something I don’t want to hear, I fast forward the tape.” Croy waved me off.

Samuel burst out laughing. “Boy, I tell you. Things were a lot different when I was a father of a young girl. I thought I was crazy.”

My head bucked back. “Sir, did you forget that you have a four-year-old daughter who abandoned me on our date to go play with some lil boy?” I snickered at the remembrance, shock on his face. “See, that’s that having a baby after fifty stuff. Forgot he got a whole ass daughter.”

“So, what’s the plan when he gets here?” Draco asked. His daughter, Zoie, would catch hell when it was time for her to date. She had three brothers and a psychotic father.

I observed all the men around me. My friend circle was a bunch of psycho niggas. The only person here that hadn’t worked for Christianson Enterprises was Riker. That was neither here nor there because he was loose in the head too.

We sat there and talked until the doorbell rang.

All of us pepped up when Croy went to go get him.

We got our game faces on. Croy was the first to come through the back door.

When the boy stepped out, he stopped to take all of us in.

I lifted my hand and wiggled my fingers at him in a taunting wave.

“Oh, hi, everyone. I didn’t expect all of you to be here.” He smiled. I didn’t see fear, and that made me proud. I didn’t need my niece to be with a weak, scary man. He found a seat and sat down.

My ear moved to my shoulder as I gawked at him. Where did I know him from? “Aye, where do I know you from?”

“Um, I met you at Ned and Shan’s vow renewal reception years ago.” He settled deeper into his seat. “My name is Trevor.”

Like a wrecking ball, it hit me. “Wait, not the heathen drummer boy? I thought you went away.” My jaw clicked. “Croy, what happened to the doctor fella?”

I couldn’t keep up with these growing adults.

Last I remembered, Croya was with some doctor that her stupid mama introduced her to.

Tiffany popped up at Croya’s college graduation like the doting mother with her little family.

Since Croy took custody of Croya, Tiffany got married and had two additional kids.

Torren moved to Texas for a job when Croya was in college, but he was still extremely active in her life.

“I don’t think it matters what happened to the doctor fella. I’m here now. That’s what matters,” Trevor responded.

TJ laughed. “Ah shit. I like a nigga that ain’t intimidated. Drag your nuts, young nigga.”

Trevor smiled. “I once learned from a wise man that Joshua 1:9 says, ‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’ I fear no man. God is the only person that I fear.”

I bowed my head slightly to him. “Respect. That is in fact what it says.”

Croy sat up in his seat. His attention was stuck on Trevor. “That’s all good and shit,” Croy blurted. “Trevor, what can I do for you this evening?”

“Mr. O’Brian, first I want to let you know that I respect you and your wife tremendously. I’m here to tell you something as well as ask something of you. First, I felt as a man I should be the one to tell you that Croya and I are expecting a baby together.”

I wasn’t going to lie. Yeah, Croy told us before Trevor got here, but it hit different hearing it from Trevor himself. “See, I told you those drummer niggas be gyrating on the air. It was only a matter of time before he gyrated where he had no business.”

Trevor ignored me to continue with what he had to say. “I know this is unexpected and not necessarily planned. At this point, there is nothing that can be done except accept where we are. Find the joy in a new life and prepare for our child.”

Ned cleared his voice. “I need to understand what not necessarily planned means? Can you explain that to me.”

“What I mean by that is we were not planning for a child. At the same time, we were not taking the necessary precaution to guard ourselves from having one.” His attention went back to Croy.

“Mr. O’Brian, I would like your permission to ask your daughter for her hand in marriage,” Trevor said before he reached in his pants pocket and pulled out a ring box.

Croy said nothing when he picked the box up to look at the ring.

He then passed it to Riker, who sat next to him.

The box made its rounds for all of us to get a look at.

Samuel was the only one to compliment the ring.

It was a nice ass ring. When the ring got back to Croy, he just gazed at it.

I saw a gamut of emotions play out on his face.

Surprise overtook me when Croy’s head rose, and there was a tear in his eye. “Trevor, if you ever hurt my daughter, I will kill you. Understand that this is not an empty threat. Do you see the men around you? We will kill you without thought or remorse behind my baby girl and grandchild.”

Croy set the ring box on the table between them, reached behind his back, pulled his gun, and cocked it. Oh, okay, that kind of party. Like an orchestra of clicks, each of us did the same, even Samuel. Trevor’s eyes bucked for a split second, but he recovered quickly.

Croy continued. “This is not a game, Trevor. If you can’t guarantee that you will never hurt my daughter, then I need you to walk away.

You did once before, and I remember her tears.

Fiona saved your life that time. If you change her last name and you feel like you might hurt her, bring her back to me.

That is the only thing that will save your life. ”

Trevor sat there quietly for what felt like forever. Without a tremor in his voice, he responded, “I guess I won’t be walking away, sir.” That’s what I’m talking about.

Ned Sr. had been quiet this entire time. When he cleared his throat, we all turned his way. “Man, I’m so happy my daughter was already married with kids. Mega, I would have had to shoot you at least once.”

There was a pause, then we all erupted in laughter. Ned Sr. was a man of few words. When he did speak, it was serious sometimes to the point of humor.