PAULA

      "How long has that shit been going on?" I asked Is as we left the club.

      She sighed and said, "Since I've moved here."

      "And Omari hasn't handled that shit?" I asked frowning.

      As overprotective as he was I'd have thought he would have fixed the situation already. This chick was going above and beyond the ex-girl drama and the last thing Is needed right now was stress.

      "He doesn't know," she replied lightly before turning to look out the window.

      "And why the hell doesn't he know?" I questioned her.

      "It wasn't that serious at first. Terri said some slick shit every now and then but that was usually the end of it."

      "That didn't look like the end of it," I referred to the situation we just experienced.

      "Ever since she ran into me at Barnes & Nobel and saw that I was pregnant, she's been tripping."

      "Well you need to tell Omari what's going on before that chick does something off the wall," I warned her.

      Isabella waved her hand and said, "She's just spouting a lot of bullshit. The girl isn't that crazy," she argued.

      I didn't agree with her but I wasn't about to argue with her about it. It didn't take us long to get to her apartment and as soon and she unlocked the door she slipped her feet out of her shoes and held them in her hands.

      "Have fun ladies?" Omari called from the living room.

      "Lots," Isabella replied brightly as she leaned down to kiss his cheek. "Are you leaving now?" she questioned.

      "In a minute. I have to hit the bathroom and then I'm going back to the hotel," I told her and assured her that I could see myself out so that she'd go ahead and get comfortable. Once she was out of earshot I turned my attention towards Omari who'd just rose from the couch. "O, let me get at you for a minute."

      He nodded and followed me to the front door. "What's up Paula?"

      "I don't know what went on between you and your ex but you need to get at her and make sure she understands that she needs to leave my best friend alone."

      "Wait, what are you talking about?" he asked confused.

      "Some chick named Terri was all in Is's face tonight and so, of course, I jumped in it. Now Is told me that wasn't the first confrontation she's had with that chick and so I'm letting you know because Is doesn't think it's serious enough to involve you."

      A frown crossed his face and he nodded his head and thanked me for informing him. "No problem O. Just take care of it because the next time she comes at Is I'm going to place my foot where it isn't meant to be."

      He laughed before saying, "I hear you ma. Be safe aight."

      "Always."

DRUEX

      I double checked the room number before ringing the doorbell and waiting for Paula to answer. Not even five minutes passed before she opened the door and greeted me warmly.

      "Come in," she invited as she pinned a pair of drop earrings in her ear.

      The earrings went well with the somewhat transparent patterned tunic she wore while her blue denim skinny jeans clutched her thick legs. Her brown eyes, which were accentuated by golden yellow and green pigments, sparkled in genuine happiness as she breezed around her suite.

      "Let me put on my shoes and grab my purse-"

      "You don't need that. Just get your shoes," I told her.

      "I don't go anywhere without my purse," she informed me before disappearing in what I assumed to be the bedroom.

      She returned shortly in a pair of high heeled pumps encasing her feet along with a huge brown purse in the crook of her right elbow. "This s fine for where you're taking me right? I'm not too overdressed?"

      "You're perfect," I told her before placing my hand on the small of her back and leading her out of the suite.

PAULA

      After having a light breakfast at some beachside restaurant Druex took me to the Miami Art Museum. Art had always been a love of mine. I can't even begin to tell you the amount of time I've spent at the Met looking over priceless pieces that had been created by some of the most innovative thinkers. We were strolling through the museum when a beautiful portrait caught my attention. It was a piece done by Kehinde Wiley, an artist I became familiar with after he'd done some work for the VH1 Hip Hop Honors.

      "Do they sell artwork here?" I questioned.

      "You might be able to get a print," he replied as he coaxed me away from the piece. I took one last look at the oil painting before my attention was grasped by a marble sculpture.

      "Who's the one person you'd like to meet, dead or alive?" Druex asked as we took a stroll on the boardwalk.

      "That's a tough one," I replied and really thought about it. There were so many great people that I admired and would have loved to meet. Picking one was extremely difficult but after a few moments of contemplation, I finally chose a person. "I suppose I'd like to sit down and have a conversation with Johnnie Cochran. That man was just a legal genius. The cases he won with the evidence provided is just crazy."

      Dreux nodded and listened to me attentively and I have to say that's was I loved about him. It didn't matter what we talked about, he always gave me one hundred percent of his attention. I turned the question to him and he looked out at the ocean and stared the the clear blue water for a while before turning to me.

      "My father."

TERRI

      I'd just finished making a call to a floral shop my boss had a relationship with when the door to my office opened. I glanced up and saw Omari walk in with long smooth strides and couldn't help but smile. I knew it would only be a matter of time before he came crawling back. It wouldn't be that easy though. I'm going to make him grovel a bit before taking him back.

      I shrugged my shoulders inconspicuously to make my draped gray top fall to reveal the sequined tank had beneath. "What brings you to my side of town Omari?"

      "Not pleasure," he replied shortly. "Listen, I've heard how you've been treating my wife and I'm here to tell you to dead the drama. Besides the fact that she's pregnant you should be woman enough to let the shit go. It's been months since our break up Terrelle. Get over it." I opened my mouth to snap at him and he raised his hand to stop me. "I don't care about what you have to say Terrelle. Just know that I'm going to talk to Isabella about getting a restraining order again you and if I ever suspect you've been giving her any trouble I will press charges on you so quick you won't know what hit you. Is that clear enough for you?"

      "Crystal," I spat.

      Omari nodded before turning around and leaving my office.

OMARI

      "See, now that's what I'm talking about," I told Bella as she came out of the bathroom looking ready for our late lunch. She entered the room in a black halter that didn't do much to hide her baby bump, a pair of wide leg jeans, and pointy toe flats. She waddled slightly and I couldn't help but think it was the most adorable thing in the world.

      "You would," she snapped playfully before sighing and saying, "My fingers are so fat."

      She proceeded to moisten her ring finger and twist the gold solitaire ring she'd slept in off her finger. Surprisingly enough she never complained about her weight gain so much as she did about how she had to coax her rings on or about how curly her hair was now that she couldn't get her relaxers anymore. She'd read in one of her many pregnancy books about how the chemicals in relaxers weren't good for the baby and so other than cutting and deep conditioning treatments, her hair stylist didn't have much to do anymore. Bella placed the ring on our dresser before grabbing a simple 'Forever' band I picked up from Debeers for her earlier in the day that fit her slightly bigger fingers perfectly and slid it on.

      "So what are you in the mood for?" I asked her as I led her out of the room.

      "Chicken tacos!"

ISABELLA

      "Oh, excuse me," I mumbled as I just stopped myself from bumping into a couple as I left the bathroom. This child was just sitting on my bladder.

      "Isabella?" a curious male voice asked and I looked up to see Jarell staring at me.

      "Hey Rell," I replied with a pleasant look on my face. "When did you get back in town?" Last time I heard, Jarell was in California for a business deal. He was looking into opening a clothing store on Robertson Blvd.

      "A couple of weeks ago," he replied before letting the girl's hand he was holding go and enveloping me in a warm smile. "You're huge girl," he stated the obvious. "How far along are you?"

      "Almost five months," I told him, not at all phased that he'd called me fat.

      The girl next to him cleared her throat and Jarell turned around to glance at her. I caught the girl motioning her eyes between me and Jarell with a raised eyebrow. "Nicole this is Isabella. Is this is Nicole."

      "It's nice to meet you," I replied.

      "Likewise," she replied and stared at me in wonder.

      "Is Omari here?" Rell asked.

      "Yes, would you like me to show you to our table?" I questioned.

      "Yeah," he started before turning his attention to Nicole. "Why don't you let them show you to our table? I'll find you when I'm done."

      She looked like she wanted nothing more than to disagree but did as he asked. I waited until Jarell and I were out of hearing range before speaking. "Is that your girlfriend?"

      He snorted and said, "Please. I don't do girlfriends. She's just someone I'm kicking it with at the moment."

      I shook my head and said, "One of these days a woman is going to come along and lock that ass down."

      He shook his head negatively. "Please, I haven't found the woman yet that could." He smirked widely before adding, "They're more than welcome to try though."

      "Yo," Omari replied as he looked up and caught sight of Omari. "What's going on J?"

      "I ran into Is in the lobby and noticed her condition. When were you going to tell me that you're about to be a father?" Jarell asked as they did their handshake/half-hug thing.

      "Whenever your ass popped up. I swear, you're never anywhere for too long," Omari replied.

      "Life's to short to stay stagnant," Jarell replied. "So what are the two of you having?"

      Omari shrugged before nodding his head at me. "She doesn't want to know yet so-"

      "Ah," Jarell replied in understanding before frowning. "I heard that auntie came to help the two of you out. How did she help with the nursery and shit if you didn't know the sex?"

      "Unisex colors," I answered. "You know, yellow's and greens. Things like that." Jarell and Omari talked until our food was brought out before leaving to join his date.

PAULA

      "Your father?" I asked curiously.

      He shrugged and glanced in one of the store windows before looking up at me. "I never really got to know him. He was killed in a plane crash when I was three; he was always flying from one country or another and that last flight..." he trailed off and shook his head. "My mom talks about him every now and then and I've heard we are very similar. Beyond anyone else, he's someone I wish I could get to know."

      Just then a bikini clad female walked past and leisurely stroked her eyes over Druex's form. If I was a jealous female I would have flipped. I mean we were strolling the boardwalk together and his left hand was resting comfortably on the small of my back so it wasn't as if the signals didn't point to the fact that we were here together. Add to that, the fact that this had been going on all day. Women had, obviously, found Druex very attractive.

      "Okay, well I have a question for you," I replied, switching the subject.

      "What's that?" he questioned as he looked down at me.

      "Why have you been pursuing me? You have more than a few women here that are more than willing to have you on their arm and they're more convenient seeing as they do live in your state."

      "Convenience is a poor excuse to settle," he spoke evenly with as he nodded his head towards the jewelry store that catered to semi-prescious stones and led me inside.

ISABELLA

      The ending credits to Boomerang rolled across the screen as the desire for something sweet came over me. I braced my arms against the side of the couch and arose from my spot before making my way to the kitchen only to be disappointed when I realized that I didn't have any more of my ice cream left. All we had was Omari's Cafe Vanilla flavored ice cream and that was hardly going to do. I'd slipped a pair of comfortable cotton shorts under my Juicy tank and was about to grab my car keys when I remember how Omari acted the last time I made a food run. To put it mildly, he'd been pissed. Because of that, I placed my keys back on the table and made my way to our bedroom where he slept peacefully. I felt badly for having to wake him up but I really wanted my Ben & Jerry's.

      I walked over to Omari's side and shook his shoulder gently. "Hmm?" he groaned.

      "Baby I want some ice cream."

      "Hmm?" he groaned again before turning to the other side.

      I sighed and shook him harder. "Hmm?"

      "Omari get up!" I whined as I shook him harder.

      "What baby?" he growled out with his sleep laden voice.

      "I want some Ben & Jerry's."

      He looked at me before saying, "Are you serious?"

      "Yeah. I mean I would have went to get it myself but-"

      He raised his hand and told me to give him a moment. I nodded and watched as he tossed the covers to the side and sat on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands. He rubbed his eyes for a few moments to fully wake himself up before grabbed his keys off the nightstand and asking me what type of ice cream I wanted.

      "Oatmeal Cookie Chunk and if they don't have that get Cake Batter and if they don't have that get me Karamel Sutra."

      He shook his head and put on his Nike flip flops and walked out of the bedroom.

      "Thank you," I spoke to the hostess as I took the offered menu and tried to find something appealing as I waited for Paula.

      She'd been spending the last couple of days with Druex and finally set a little time aside for me. Quite frankly I was all for a free meal and to find out how the two of them were progressing. I'd just placed my reading glasses back in my bag when I noticed Paula from the corner of my eye. She strutted towards me in a casual pair of cropped jeans and a pretty white romantic top with a pair of Fendi stilettos I was envious us. Damn Omari and his 'no heels' policy. What caught my attention, other than her heels, was the radiant look across her face. Someone must have had a good time with Druex.