Page 37 of The Hood’s Finest: Jersey & Mylani

Mylani

It was a shame what happened to Shanna’s sister.

I wouldn’t know what to do if I lost Trinity, especially to suicide.

Shanna was hysterical when she walked into the hotel room and discovered her sister unresponsive in the bathtub.

From my understanding, she called their mom first, and she didn’t respond, neither did Shanna, so they both were walking around with that guilt.

Her boyfriend was a mess at the funeral.

He put that girl through so much. I guess it was guilt eating him up, too.

Things between Jersey and me were still great.

I still hadn’t gone back to work; instead, he was helping me open up my own dance studio.

I was excited to be able to do something I loved without feeling degraded at the same time.

“What you in here doing?” Jersey asked, sauntering his fine self into our bedroom. I had officially moved in with him, and we both were enjoying the advantages of it.

“Nothing much. Just looking at furniture for the studio.”

“Word? What kind of furniture would a dance studio need? Y’all ’pose to be dancing, not sitting around,” he joked.

“You still need furniture, crazy. You think I’m supposed to talk to potential clients standing up?”

“Nah. I was just fucking with you, bae. Get whatever you want. You know your nigga got it.” He kissed me.

“Oh, shit. I gotta go meet Trinity at her doctor’s appointment. I almost forgot.”

“What you going for? Where that nigga Dantè at?”

“He’s gonna be there. She finds out what she’s having today and wanted me to be there. I can’t wait to see what we’re having.” I gushed. I was just as excited as my sister about this baby like it was mine. Hell, it would be. Trinity was mine, and I would love her baby the same way that I did her.

“Oh, aight. You need me to go with you?” he asked.

“No. I’ll be fine. I’ll keep you posted though.” I kissed my man and gathered my purse and keys and hit the door.

***

“It’s a girl,” the doctor announced, causing me and Trinity to cheer in excitement.

“Aww, hell nah,” Dantè groaned.

“Don’t worry, Dad. Everything will be okay. Just think about the precious baby girl you get to spoil,” the doctor said, trying to console Dantè.

“Yeah, aight. You ready?” he asked Trinity.

“Don’t be like that, bruh. We’re about to have a beautiful, spoiled princess,” I said.

“That’s the part I’m worried about. You got Trinity spoiled as fuck, so I can only imagine how our daughter will be.”

“I’m not that bad,” Trinity voiced.

“Girl, please. You might be worse. It’s alright, though. I can’t wait ’til my lil’ bookie gets here.” I was ecstatic that I was having a niece. I would’ve been happy either way, but what woman didn’t want a mini me?

“I’m gonna ride with Lani. I know you have to get back to work. I’ll see you when you get off, okay?” I observed as Trinity and Dantè shared a kiss. I knew people would frown upon it, but they were about to have a whole baby. They were past the innocent puppy love stage.

I stepped out the room to answer the phone for Jersey, while Trinity got herself together.

“Hey, baby,” I cooed into the phone when I heard his voice.

“Wassup, shawty. Y’all about done?”

“Yeah. I’m just waiting for Trin. Guess what?” I said excitedly.

“What’s that?”

“We’re having a girl!” I was real deal excited about this, like I had to push her out.

“Aww hell. Nigga gotta get more guns.”

“You sound like Dantè. Y’all will be alright.”

“It’s a man thing, baby. It’s like a curse or some shit for a nigga to have a daughter. I’m glad I can only have sons.” I laughed loud and hard at his response because he sounded foolish as hell right now.

“How can you say that when you only have a son?”

“Point proven. Now, hurry up and get back so I can work on my second one.” I blushed.

“I’ll be there as soon as I drop Trin off. You need anything?”

“Nah, just you, so hurry up.” I hung up with Jersey just as Trinity came out the room.

The three of us walked up to the front so that she could get her next appointment.

We both said our goodbyes to Dantè and headed on our way.

I was on a mission to get her home as fast as I could so that I could go give my man just what he was asking for.

***

I finally dropped Trinity off after doing a lil’ shopping for our baby girl and got a late lunch.

When I walked into the house, rose petals were littered throughout, and Jersey was nowhere in sight.

Instead of yelling out through the house, I just followed the flowers.

They led me upstairs to our bedroom. When I opened the door, I almost fell out from the sight in front of me.

Jersey was down on one knee with the prettiest ring that I’d ever laid my eyes on. The tears automatically flowed.

“What is this?” I asked, choked up.

“Mylani, I know people think it’s hard for a thug to love, but when I laid my eyes on you, I knew that was a lie.

I’ve never come across a woman with such a calming spirit in my life.

With the shit I do, I need that. So, what you say?

You gone be a nigga’s calm forever?” I stood, shocked.

I never thought I would experience the happiness that I had with Jersey in these few short months.

Who knew one free lunch would turn into a lifetime of happiness?

“Bae, you gonna answer me?” he asked, breaking me out of my thoughts.

“Yes! Yes, I’ll be whatever you want me to be!” I cried. He slid a five-carat emerald cut ring on my finger, and I was I awe. I wouldn’t have cared if it came from out the Cracker Jack box; I would’ve still loved it the same.

“Thank you,” I said.

“For what?”

“For loving and accepting me, for taking your time with me and everything else in between,” I confided.

“That’s what happens when you cross paths with a real nigga,” he confessed.

“And every day that I’m with you, I’m glad that I did.”

I couldn’t believe it. I was about to be somebody’s auntie, wife, and stepmama. The tables had definitely turned but for the better. I guess that was the price of being thugged out by the hood’s finest.