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Sonjay sat at the table, exhaling. “Zayden came to the school the other evening.”
“What?” Channing stopped chewing.
“Yeah, I’d stayed late to work on my test.”
“You were alone?”
Sonjay nodded.
“Anderson didn’t say nothing to me about it.”
“I didn’t tell him or Klein. I didn’t want to get Klein worked up and cause more problems. Zayden didn’t do anything.” She rubbed her wrist. “Well, he grabbed me.”
“He grabbed you? What the hell? Sonny—”
“I’m fine. He was trying to bully me and he threatened you. When he did that I didn’t give a damn about myself. If he goes near you, Channing, he won’t go near anyone else.”
Channing sighed, clasping her hands in front of her face as if she were praying. “This is all my fault.”
“It’s not and Zayden’s just a punk like you said. He’s nothing but talk.” She stroked Channing’s shaven sides. “How long have you and Anderson been fucking?”
Channing almost spit out the candy. “What?”
“Girl, don’t play me. I can tell when something is going on with you. You’re glowing and he’s been dancing on a cloud for days. Details, details.”
“Yes, we’ve made love.” Channing nudged, Sonjay blushing. “We’re making love I should say because it’s definitely been more than once.”
“Ooh, you dirty whore.”
They laughed.
“I’m so happy for you, sis. I adore Anderson and him being here is what you needed. You’d given up on love.”
“I liked him when I met him but pretended I didn’t.” Channing beamed, propping her elbows on the table. “He’s handsome, and he’s so sweet but the way he protects me is what I love. I feel like I’m dreaming
though. Like this is too good to be true. You know my track record. Haven’t always been with the best dudes.”
“Enough with the negativity.” Sonjay got the mitt and took the green beans out the oven. “You deserve happiness and if Anderson does that for you then I’m good.”
Channing giggled. “Thanks, sis.”
Sonjay tossed the oven mitt on the counter. “So what’s the dick like?”
“Sonny.” Channing guffawed, covering her face. “Girl. I’ll give you the juicy details after dinner.”
“You better.” Sonjay tapped Channing’s nose. “I’ll get the potato salad. Whoa.” She got dizzy before reaching the refrigerator.
“Sonny?” Channing rushed to her. “You all right?”
“Got lightheaded.” She leaned over the sink, stomach twirling.
Channing felt Sonjay’s forehead. “You don’t have a fever. Think you caught something from the kids at school?”
“Pass me a paper towel please.”
Channing did and Sonjay wet it and placed it on her face.
“Is it dizziness or something else?”
“My stomach.” Sonjay spit up in the sink. “Oh, god. I’m sorry.”
“Girl, what’s going on? When’s the last time you been to the doctor?”
“About five months ago.” Sonjay rinsed out her mouth. “I’m fine.”
“Fine my ass. You just threw up five feet from the food. How long has this been going on?”
“About a month.”
“Does Klein know?”
“Oh.” Nausea crippled her and she threw up again.
“I’m worried.” Channing rubbed Sonjay’s shoulder. “Let’s set an appointment with your doctor. I’ll go with you. We gotta find out what’s going on—”
“Channing, I’m pregnant.” Sonjay closed her eyes, bracing for whatever Channing threw her.
Channing gaped.
“I took about four pregnancy tests and they all came out positive.” Sonjay flinched. “Say something.”
“I...” Channing made jerky movements. “Sonny this is horrible.”
“Gee thanks.”
“It’s Dex’s. isn’t it?”
Sonjay wiped her mouth. “Probably.”
“How can this be happening?” Channing slapped her forehead. “You should’ve told Klein the truth and you wouldn’t be in this mess. No, wait. You shouldn’t been fucking your fiancé’s best friend in the first place!”
“The last thing I need is a lecture.”
“No, the last thing you need is a baby. Damn, Sonny.” Channing walked to the island, shaking her head. “If you’re gonna fuck around on your man, you can at least use protection.”
Sonjay clenched her teeth. “We used protection.”
“Every time?”
Sonjay pouted.
“You cannot keep this from Klein. No damn way.”
“Dex and I are over and Klein doesn’t need to know.” She got plates out the cabinet. “Tell the guys to come in. I’m hungry.”
“Fuck dinner.” Channing turned Sonjay around. “Are you considering passing this baby off as Klein’s? I know you can’t be that stupid.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Are you serious? it’s a fucked up thing to do to Klein and Dex.”
“Oh, please. The last thing Dex wants is a kid cramping his style. Klein wants to be a father.” Sonjay touched her flat stomach. “He’ll be ecstatic. Should I take that away from him?”
“Yes if it’s not his damn baby. Look, I had your back with the cheating but I can’t let you do something like this. Think about the kid. Jesus, I could never do that to my child.”
“Course you couldn’t.” Sonjay got orange juice out the refrigerator. “You’re perfect.”
“Don’t start that shit. This has nothing to do with me. I kept your secret when it was tearing me up inside. I can’t do that anymore, Sonny.”
“Nobody’s asking you to.” She sipped from the juice carton despite how much she got on Klein for doing the same thing. “Just don’t say nothing.”
“You think Klein wants to be your consolation prize?”
“Yes.” Sonjay drank, gulping. “That man worships the ground I walk on. He’d do anything to keep me.”
“Then tell him the truth if you’re so confident.”
“I don’t wanna hurt him.”
“It was your decision to have an affair and you need to deal with it the right way.”
“I didn’t plan to fall in love with Dex. I need my sister right now not to be blamed. Trust me, I hate myself enough.”
“Come here.” Channing hugged her. “I’m not trying to beat up on you but this isn’t like when we were kids and you broke something and hid it in the cabinet. This is a baby, Sonny. You gotta think about it and not yourself.”
“Please.” Sonjay held her tight. “Keep this between us until I have time to deal with it.”
“A lie can only last so long.” Channing let her go. “That baby will be born and then what? You can’t keep covering up secrets with secrets.”
“Sonny?” Klein charged into the kitchen with Anderson. “I got to leave.”
Channing got a piece of fish. “Going to the office?”
“Gotta get your daddy outta jail.” Klein got out his keys. “He was arrested.”
Sonjay and Channing yelled, “Arrested?”
“Yep.” Anderson straightened his belt, chuckling. “He was marching with Khadija by the hospital and a fight broke out.”
“Zayden and his friends showed up.” Klein looked through his phone. “Zayden snatched Boyd’s sign or something and Boyd socked him.”
Anderson snickered. “You go, Boyd.”
“Anderson.” Channing huffed. “I don’t condone violence.”
“Yeah, well I don’t condone assholes and Zayden deserved what he got.” He went into the refrigerator and got a can of grape soda.
Sonjay fixed Klein’s collar. “Daddy called you to get him out?”
“Hell no. You know Boyd can’t stand my ass. Your mother called me begging. If it weren’t for her I’d leave his ass in there.”
Sonjay swatted his belly. “You’re not leaving my daddy nowhere.”
He grinned and gave her a juicy kiss. “I’ll be back soon. Keep some fish warm for me.”
“Hurry back.” Sonjay crossed her arms, glancing at Channing. “We have a lot to talk about.”