“What’s wrong with you and your brother? He gets married. You move a woman and her sons into your home! Your home, mijo! Nobody consults me, their mother.” She pushed his face away playfully. Dru couldn’t help but laugh. He was expecting his mother’s dramatics. She wouldn’t be herself if she wasn’t being extra.
“I didn’t know I had to consult you, Ma. I’m grown.” He laughed as he moved to the refrigerator to grab a water. All that playing around with the boys had made him thirsty. Before he could take a sip, his mama had reached back and slapped him in the back of the head.
“Dang, Ma. What was that for?” He rubbed the back of his head as he turned around.
“Don’t play with me, boy. Grown my ass. You dated Janel for eight years and she didn’t move in. What makes you think you are ready to take on that girl and her kids?”
Dru swallowed his water. He understood her concerns, he still had some doubts himself, but he couldn’t run from the feelings he had for Marli. It was never his intention to move her and the boys in, but somewhere on that flight back to St. Louis he got a feeling and went with it.
“Janel and I were never together, Ma.”
“And you and Marli are?”
“Not exactly.”
“What?”
Dru could tell she was confused. There was no clear way of telling his mom that he’d snatched Marli up and moved her into his house the same day. The shit sounded crazy in his head, so he knew it sounded crazy when spoken.
“Marli’s pregnant, Ma.” His mom stood there for a minute staring at him before moving to the barstool. She was mumbling about needing to sit down.
“A baby, mijo! Is it yours this time? Are you sure?”
“It’s mine, DNA test confirmed it.” He lied. He trusted Marli. She wouldn’t go through all of this if there was a possibility that the baby wasn’t his. He didn’t need the DNA test anymore. He knew deep down this baby was his.
“What are you going to do, mijo? A baby with a woman like Marli.” Ms. Natalie’s eyes rolled. She didn’t care for Marli after the whole paternity test thing. She didn’t understand how someone could be careless enough to sleep with two men unprotected and get pregnant. Plus, Dru hadn’t made it any better when he’d confided his hurt feelings to his mother. That was all in the past now and he only hoped his mama could get over it.
“Ma, I’ve already moved her in, and I hope to marry her one day. When we are both ready.”
“This is a big jump, you just said y’all aren’t even dating, mijo.”
“I know, I’m kind of just going off a feeling here, Ma. I love her and her sons. I know you don’t like her--”
“I never said I didn’t like her, mijo,” Natalie interrupted. “I just don’t care for what she did. It hurt you.”
“I get it, Ma, but I can’t put all the blame on Marli. If I had stepped up long ago and made her my woman none of this would have happened. We were both playing games.”
“And you won stupid prizes. I don’t know why you’ve been so content running around here with these women with no title, mijo.” Dru joined her at the counter. He sat on the stool across from her. He confided a lot of things in his mother but the hurt he held in his heart surrounding her and his dad he’d never told her about.
“Ma, seeing Dad cheat on you constantly kind of had me scared to commit to one woman. I never wanted to hurt someone the way you were hurt. I honestly don’t even know if I’ve forgiven him for hurting you. I’m terrified of fucking this up and hurting Marli and the boys, but I love that girl, those boys, and my unborn kid.” Dru dropped his head. It felt good to finally get that off his chest.
“Mijo, you have to forgive your father. You are not him. You are your own man. You were right for not getting serious until you were ready and I’m proud of you for that. If you love her, mijo, everything will be okay. I forgave your father and stayed in our marriage for you and your brother. The times were different then. Know this, mijo. If you cheat on that girl... She is not the type that’s gon’ stay around. I can already see that.”
“I know, Ma.” Dru smirked. Marli would make his chest hurt if he cheated on her. “To be honest, I don’t have any desire for anyone else. Marli is it for me.”
“Then go with that, mijo. I’m so proud of you. It takes a big person to raise someone else’s children.” Natalie stood from her stool and rounded the counter. She embraced Dru with open arms. Dru knew his mother understood. She’d been there and done that.
“Go get her and the boys so I can officially be introduced.” She shooed him. Dru smiled as he walked outside and called Marli and the boys. The boys appeared at the door first then Marli. Dru didn’t get to say anything before his mother wrapped Marli into a hug. The look on Marli’s face showed the affection caught her off guard at first, but she welcomed it. The two women whispered something to each other before Marli turned to the boys.
“Deuce and Tres this is your grandma Natalie,” Marli introduced. Now Dru was caught off guard. He smiled at the scene in front of him. The introduction was fitting. He had two sons now he just needed to get their mother on board, and they’d officially be a family. He had a feeling that he was finally wearing her down.
Eighteen
Marli
The morning sun peeked through the curtains as Marli’s eyes slowly popped open. She stretched her arms and legs in the warmth of Dru’s soft bed. Everything was so bright and cheery at Dru’s house, including the birds that seemed to live outside his bedroom window. It had only been a week since she’d moved in, but she didn’t think she would ever get used to it. Blackout curtains and earplugs were on her list of things to buy for her new residence. She let out a sigh. She was grateful for Dru and all he’d done to make her and the boys comfortable in his home. She was crazy for moving in with a man she wasn’t even in a relationship with, but it just felt right. She’d done worse things in her twenty-nine years of life. She rolled over to glance at the time. The brightness outside was telling her it was later than the boys normally let her sleep, but when she turned to her side, she saw something that made her heart skip a beat.
On her nightstand, there were several designer gift bags. On the floor, there lay multiple large beautifully wrapped white gift boxes. There was a note lying on top of one. Marli grabbed it. Her eyes scanned over the words.
Good morning babymama,
Happy Sneaky-link Anniversary! From sneaky link to baby mama. It’s the classic ghetto love story. I got you some things to make your transition back to full-time content creator a bit easier.
PS: the boys are at Blue and Kay’s.
-Dru
Confused and surprised, Marli’s eyes widened as she realized that today was indeed the anniversary of the day, five years ago, that they’d upgraded from just fucking sometimes to being official sneaky links. She quickly sat up and grabbed the first gift. Gifts and acts of service were her love languages. She couldn’t wait to unwrap them. Savagely, she tore through the paper, unwrapping it to reveal a blinged-out necklace with a heart-shaped pendant. Tears welled up in her eyes as she read the engraving on the back of the pendant. A heart for my heart.
Overwhelmed with emotions, Marli opened the rest of the gifts, finding a bouquet of forever roses, a box of chocolates, and a ton of filming equipment. Everything she needed to record her content was there. She couldn’t believe how thoughtful and sweet Dru was. A few days ago, he’d asked her what she wanted to do now that she was no longer on Hip Hop in Love. Marli had responded with focus fully on being a content creator again. She’d made good money doing it full time before, so she had no problem continuing. The fact that Dru had listened and purchased her all this equipment was so thoughtful.
“Good morning, baby mama.” Dru entered the room with a proud grin on his face. He neared where she was standing and pulled her into a warm embrace. Marli hugged him back tightly as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Thank you.” She cried. She was feeling grateful for his love and affection, he was making her believe every day that she had nothing to fear when it came to loving him. She truly felt safe and at home with him.
“You deserve it. I told you, you’re pregnant by a boss nigga now.” He smiled at her, and Marli couldn’t help but blush. She didn’t know whether it was her pregnancy hormones or not, but her pussy was throbbing, and the need to pleasure Dru took over. She began to slowly ease to her knees to thank him but was stopped by his hands on her arms.
“Hold on, girl! Later.” He kissed her forehead.
