Page 31 of Juke (DeLuca Brothers #4)

Sophi

This morning felt heavier than most, and not just because of the appointment.

It was the first time I’d ever sat in a doctor’s office with someone who was actually excited about being there.

My nerves were doing laps in my stomach, but Rashad sat next to me, cool as ever, with his hand resting on my knee to calm my nerves.

“You good?” He asked.

I forced a smile. “Nervous.”

“Don’t be. This the easy part.” He smirked.

“Ms. Johnson?”

I looked up, and Eve stood in the doorway with a smile. My shoulders eased a little. Eve was family—through marriage, she was married to Nic and Mel’s cousin, so seeing her face made the nerves fade some.

“Hey, girl,” she said, walking us back. “I didn’t know I’d be seeing you today. Congratulations, by the way.”

“Thank you,” I simpered.

Rashad trailed close behind, scanning every wall and corner. Eve noticed but didn’t comment, just gave him a knowing smile before focusing on me.

“First prenatal visits are pretty routine,” she explained as she checked my vitals. “Weight, blood pressure, all that good stuff. Any questions before we start?”

I had a few—honestly more than I thought I would, but Eve answered each one with patience. Once she was done, she told us the doctor would be in shortly.

The room got quiet. Rashad reached for my hand, squeezing it. “See? You good. Told you.”

I exhaled, leaning into him. “Still feels unreal.”

He kissed my forehead. “Real as it gets.”

The door opened, and the doctor finally walked in. “Sophia Johnson?”

“That’s me,” I confirmed.

She smiled, then turned her attention to Rashad. Her eyes widened. “And you must be Daddy?”

Rashad gave a small nod.

“I’ve heard good things,” she said, shaking my hand. “You’re in excellent hands here. And… this is awkward, but do you think I could get an autograph for my son after the exam? He’s a big fan.”

“We’ll see how well you take care of her first.” Rashad smirked.

The doctor laughed and then got down to business. She walked me through the exam step by step. She confirmed I was ten weeks along, and it felt like the air shifted in the room.

“Ten weeks,” I repeated, stunned.

Rashad grinned, like he’d just won a title fight. He kissed my temple. “Told you it was real.”

I couldn’t help but smile, too. Nervous, yes, but excited in a way I couldn’t put into words.

Afterwards, the doctor gave us the prenatal instructions, a list of dos and don’ts that already felt overwhelming. But Rashad was calm, nodding along like he had it all memorized already.

Before we left, he scribbled his name across her prescription pad for her son, shaking her hand as she thanked him again. We scheduled the next appointment and walked out with the reality settling that I was about to be somebody’s mama.

Ten weeks.

Ten weeks of growing something we made together.

Once we were inside the truck, I buckled my seatbelt, still holding the stack of papers the doctor gave me. My fingers played with the corners, but my mind wasn’t really on them. It was on the little life inside me.

***

Back at the condo, it took me a while to work up the nerve to call my parents. Rashad was stretched out on the couch, scrolling through his phone like he didn’t have a care in the world, and there I was pacing with mine in my hand.

Finally, I hit call.

“Hey baby,” she answered as soon as the call connected. “Baby, I was just thinking about you. How are you feeling?”

I swallowed, biting my lip. “I’m good, Mama. Actually… we had our first appointment today.”

There was a pause, then a sharp inhale. “Appointment?”

Rashad sat forward, catching my eye. He nodded once, steady.

“Yeah,” I said softly. “Mama… Daddy… I’m pregnant.”

The silence lasted all of two seconds before my mama’s voice cracked. “My baby having a baby.” I could hear her sniffling, her joy spilling through the line.

Daddy’s voice came next, deep, and steady. “Sophi.”

“Yes, Daddy?”

“You happy, baby girl?”

I looked over at Rashad, and his eyes were already on mine. “Yeah, Daddy. I’m happy.”

“Then I’m happy for you.” His tone shifted, heavier now. “But Rashad…”

Rashad leaned closer, his voice low but clear. “I’m here.”

“You know what needs to happen now.”

“I know. And I promise you—it’s handled.” He nodded.

There was silence on the other end, then a long breath. “Good.”

We talked a little longer before ending the call but not before promising to call tomorrow. Before I could get lost in my head, Rashad stood, took the phone from my hands, and pulled me up with him. His mouth crashed against mine, hungry, claiming.

“Rashad—”

“Don’t say nothing,” he growled against my lips, guiding me back toward the bedroom. “Just let me love you.”

By the time we hit the bed, clothes were gone, his hands gripping every inch of me like he couldn’t get close enough.

The intensity in him wasn’t just lust—it was something deeper, something that had been building for weeks.

He moved inside me hard, deep, pulling sounds from my chest I didn’t know I had.

“Fuck, Lovie,” he groaned in my neck as his pace never wavered. “I’ain never letting you go.” He affirmed. “You hear me, baby? Shit… I’ain never letting you go.”

I couldn’t answer him if I wanted to, so I just clung to him, lost in his strokes and the way he spoke to me even when words failed. My body trembled around him, pleasure shaking through me. Right as I felt my orgasm about to erupt, I heard Rashad speak words that I never thought I’d hear.

“Marry me.”

My eyes flew open. “What?”

His pace didn’t falter; his gaze locked on mine. “I said marry me.”

I let out a breathless laugh. “Stop playing…”

His grip tightened on my thigh, and his thrusts became sharper. “Do I look like I’m playing? I love you, Sophi. Ain’t nothing in this world I want more than you and this family we’re building. So, I’m asking you to marry me.”

The seriousness in his eyes hit harder than anything. My chest swelled, tears spilling before I could stop them. “Yes,” I whispered. “Mmm… yes.”

He groaned as he kissed me. I wrapped myself around him, both of us breaking apart together. When it was over, he held me close, our breaths tangled. This may seem random, but I’d never felt surer about anything in my life.

***

I wanted everything to be perfect. It was Rashad’s birthday.

It was his first one with me, and I woke up before him, so I could get myself together.

By the time he rolled over to an empty side of the bed, I was in the kitchen finishing breakfast; the smell of bacon and fresh pancakes rolled around in the air.

When he finally came out, I could smell his woodsy body wash, letting me know he had taken a shower before he had come to find me.

When he walked into the kitchen, I couldn’t contain my smile as he got closer.

He looked at the counter and froze. I already had our plates already set, and gift bags lined up neatly on the counter.

“You serious right now?” he asked, smirking as he came closer.

“Happy birthday, baby,” I said, unable to hide my grin.

He kissed me, soft and lingering. “You didn’t have to do all this. You already gave me the best gift ever.” His hand brushed against my stomach, and my heart flipped.

“It’s still your birthday,” I told him. “You deserve more than I could ever give you.”

We ate together before he started opening his gifts. I got him a new outfit and shoes that he will wear tonight, and the cologne I loved on him. Watching his face light up made every bit of sneaking and planning worth it.

“I really appreciate this, Lovie. You ain’t had to go through all of this, but I appreciate you for it.” He kissed me, taking it further like he always does. He was on the way to heading back to the bedroom when there was a knock on the door.

“The fuck,” He groaned as he went to the door.

“Happy birthday!” His mama came through the door with Jacob behind her.

“Thanks, Ma,” he countered, dropping a kiss on her temple.

“Morning, baby,” she said to me, pulling me into a hug before turning back to her son. “I wasn’t leaving town without seeing you first and bringing your gifts.”

“Don’t say I never gave you nothing.” Jacob grinned.

We all laughed before his mama sat at the counter. Her eyes softened. “So how was the doctor’s appointment yesterday?”

“It was good,” Rashad smirked. “We’re ten weeks.”

“Lord, finally. I’ve been waiting for this day. My baby having a baby.” She simpered.

Her joy filled the entire room, making me smile even though I was terrified of being someone’s mother. She asked a few more questions about how I was feeling, and what the doctor said. Every time I answered, she squeezed my hand assuring me I wasn’t in this alone.

“So what you got planned for tonight, birthday boy?” She turned her attention to Rashad and asked.

Rashad glanced at me, then back to her. “Not much. Sophi’s cousin invited us out to his club. We’ll probably stop by there for a little bit.”

“Don’t you go showing your ass in them people’s club, Rashad. You got a baby on the way now.” She fussed.

“I know how to behave, Ma.” He chuckled. “You act like I’m Deion?”

Ms. Chenelle and Jacob stayed a little longer before they had to leave to get ready for their trip. Once we said our goodbye’s and they left. Once they were gone, Rashad leaned in and kissed me with all the passion that his body held.

“Thank you,” he praised.

“For what?”

“For being you and giving me my first kid and the ones after that.”

I simpered, and in that moment, I realized this wasn’t just his birthday. It was the start of everything new for us.

***

By the time the sun set, I had him getting dressed, still thinking we were just heading out for a chill night like he told his mama.

He had on the outfit that I got specifically for tonight.

It was a black Armani shirt with a gold snake adorning the side.

I picked out a pair of black Armani jeans with some Jordan Black Taxi 12s.

I complimented his look with a fitted black dress that stopped mid-thigh and was sheer on the back and sides.

I wore gold accents on my ears and wrists to match the twin Cuban links around his neck.

Standing next to him, I smirked at how good we looked.

“You must want niggas to die tonight wearing that dress?”

“Rashad, please. The attention that I’m worried about tonight is yours.” I confirmed, sliding my clutch under my arm.

“It better be.” He gripped my butt before dropping a kiss on my lips.

When we pulled up to Stacks’ club, nothing looked out of the ordinary, so when he saw all the cars, he thought nothing of it because Stacks always had his place packed.

Rashad parked and rounded the truck to help me down before we made it to the front.

The second we stepped inside, the sound of Future’s ‘Like That’ blared through the speakers.

“Surprise!” Everyone yelled as black and gold confetti and balloons dropped from above.

I looked at Rashad, and for once, he was caught off guard. His eyes swept the room, then landed back on me.

“You did this?” He asked in disbelief.

I nodded. “I wanted to do something special for your birthday without you knowing.”

“I appreciate this, Lovie, and I’m gone show you just how much when we get back home.” He kissed me deeply, not caring that we were in front of a crowd of people.

“That’s how she got pregnant in the first place.

Save that shit for later.” His cousin Deion yelled through the crowd, causing everybody to laugh.

Once we separated, I wiped my lip gloss off his lips and turned to the crowd.

Buck and Stacks were the first to come up, Buck clapping Rashad on the back so hard he almost stumbled.

“The fuck off me.” Rashad frowned.

“I was just tryna tell yo’ Super Saiyan ass happy birthday, but I’ll take my shit back since you wanna have an attitude about it,” Buck joked.

“Fuck you,” Rashad laughed before turning to Stacks. “You a sneaky ass nigga too, but I appreciate this.” They slapped hands.

“No thanks needed. It was all your girl.” Stacks smirked.

Nic, Kasha, and Mel came pulling me into their little circle. “You really outdid yourself. He looks happy.” Kasha praised.

“He is,” I whispered, watching him laugh with MJ and Deion by the DJ booth.

“He better be,” Mel teased. “This was a lot of work to keep it a secret.”

I rolled my eyes but laughed anyway, my chest warm from all the love in the room.

As the night went on, drinks flowed, people danced, and the entire club felt like it belonged to us because it did. Right when I thought things were winding down, Rashad lifted his hand. The DJ dropped the volume, and conversations slowed as everyone turned toward him.

He glanced at me, then back at the crowd.

“Aight, y’all know I’on talk much.” His voice carried, calm but commanding, like always.

“But tonight… it ain’t just about me.” My heart started racing when he turned back to me fully, pulling a small black box from his pocket.

“I asked her this last night,” he admitted, his voice softening.

“But I’ve had this ring for a minute. I just needed to make sure I was ready.

She’s been through a lot, and I wanted to make sure I was the man she deserved.

” He opened the box, and the five-carat emerald-cut diamond took my breath away.

“Now I know I am. So, Sophia Johnson, I’m gone make it official and ask you again… will you marry me?”

I knew I looked a mess by the way I was crying, so all I could do was nod my head as my response. The crowd erupted into cheer as he slid the ring onto my finger. He pulled me into his chest, and kissed me deep while the entire room cheered.

“I love you,” he whispered against my lips.

“I love you, too,” I whispered back, my hands gripping him tight like I never wanted to let go.

The crowd’s noise faded around me, and all I could feel was him, and in that moment… my thoughts were clear. I’d been broken before, trapped in fear, and convinced I’d never know peace again. But now I was free… loved… protected… and happy in a way I never thought I’d be.