auntie!” Neisha sang, sounding more excited than Sunshine.
Sunshine’s other lined beeped. She checked the caller ID on her phone. “Speaking of the devil,” she smiled when she saw Ace’s name flash across the screen. “Neisha, I’ma holla at you later,” Sunshine informed her as she clicked over.
“Hello?” She smiled into the phone; she loved hearing Ace’s deep voice. It didn’t matter how bad she felt or how horrible her day was going. Whenever she heard his voice, it always changed her mood for the better.
“How you feeling?” He inquired.
“I feel a little better. Ace, we need to talk in person,” she stated.
“Okay, I’ll be home in ten minutes, twenty tops,” he assured her. “I love you,” he said before disconnecting the call.
Sunshine looked at the phone with a smile. “I love you too,” she whispered as she sat her phone on the nightstand then closed her eyes. As soon as she dosed off, she was jumping right back up and racing to the bathroom. Sunshine couldn’t wait until her sickness passed. She leaned over the toilet just as the vomit spilled from her mouth; she flushed the toilet when she was done. Then she washed her face and brushed her teeth. Slowly, she made her way back to bed, climbed in, and threw the covers over her head. Although she heard Ace walk into the room, she didn’t want to move. She listened as he moved around for a few minutes before climbing into bed then wrapping his strong arms around her; she smiled.
“What’s up? Talk to me,” he whispered in her ear. Sunshine removed the covers from her head. Turning around to face him, she looked into his handsome face then stated, “I’m pregnant.” Ace sat there quietly as he allowed what she had just conveyed sink in. It didn’t take long for a smile to spread across his face. He tried to hide it but couldn’t. Ace had always wanted his own family. He just needed to see where Sunshine’s head was.
“What do you wanna do?” He asked, now leaning up on his elbows.
“I want to keep my baby but it’s something we need to agree on. Are you ready for this, seeing as how deep into the streets you are?” She asked with concern written all over her face.
“I want you to have my baby,” Ace avowed. He knew it was a bad time but things happened for a reason. Yes, she was on the verge of graduating from college with a degree in Business. However, that wouldn’t stop anything.
“Ace, I would love to have this baby. In spite of this, a lot of things have to change, starting with you leaving the streets alone.”
“I just need some time; and I promise I’ll get out of the streets.” He assured her, kissing her forehead. Sunshine could tell by his tone of voice that the words he spoke were sincere.
The opening and closing of the room door drew her back to the here and now. It didn’t matter how many times she attempted to prove Ace wrong with regard to all thugs being one in the same, he disproved her time-and-time again. Yes, he was a street nigga. Yet, he told her on their first date that his word was bond because it was the only unquestionable thing he had.
“I fucked a good thing up for no reason at all.” Sunshine thought. She knew there was no purpose to continue crying over spilled milk. If she wasn’t murdered, the only thing she could do was try to rebuild the relationship she and Ace previously shared.
Before Sunshine could move from within his reach, she was forcefully snatched up by the back of her hair.
“Aaahhh!” She screamed as she fought against the strong grip. He was clutching a fist full of her hair so tightly that she was beginning to get a headache. “Please, you’re hurting me,” she said just above a whisper as she was being dragged out of the room she had been held in for the past three years.
Chapter 3
Aaliyah stood in her office staring out the window. It felt damn good to be back at work.