Jay

"You wanna get outta bed?" Nina asked, snuggled up under me. I kissed her forehead, not wanting to leave from our spot.

"Not yet. Please," I wrapped her up tighter. I was on my way back to sleep when I heard Correy's voice outside, and his footsteps followed. He bust through the door, his clothes all messed up from sleeping crazy, slobber on his face and crust in his eyes. Nigga looked like a monster.

"Queenie! Daddy! Guess what?"

"Aht, aht. Whatchu say first?"

"Good morning, Queenie. Good morning, Daddy."

"Good morning, Correy. Now gon head."

He nodded excitedly then jumped in our bed, wrapping his arms around Nina. "It's Nina's birthday!"

"It is?" she faked surprised.

"It is! Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Queenie, happy birthday to you!" He sang in one breath, blowing that hot ass shit in her face. I pushed him up off her, cause I knew she wasn't gon do it herself. She thought Correy was the most adorable person ever and didn't mind at all some of the shit he did, like this nasty ass morning breath.

"First of all, back up. Second of all, you singin' it wrong. It's like this," I started clapping, asking him to follow. "Happy birthday to ya, happy birthday to ya, happy birthday," I sang the Black version. We always did things better, and this had way more soul than the shit they be teaching him at school.

Correy joined in as we sang Nina happy birthday, which turned into a full on dance party of them turning up in the bed. By the end of it all, they had messed the sheets all the way up and were jumping on the bed together. These two were a hot ass mess.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she scooped up Correy in a hug and they both erupted in giggles, laughing at something I didn't understand.

"What?" I asked, confused. They stayed doing some undercover shit.

"Nothin'." They said at the same time.

"Thank you for the amazing singing, baby," she covered Correy's eyes and gave me a real kiss, grabbing my chin and taking control. While she had me right where she wanted me, Correy fought to see what was going on. She pulled away from my lips right as he got free.

"What are we doing for my birthday?"

"It's a surprise," I answered.

"Is she gonna have a party like Carter?" He asked. Ever since we went to Nina's nephew's birthday party, this nigga hasn't stopped talking about it. He made too many damn friends and he asks me every day when we going back. Nina's family loved him too, rightfully so, because I raised him right.

After they chewed me out, asking me every question they could about my personal life and my relationship with Nina, everything was pretty chill. I won't lie, her twin intimidated the fuck outta me, and it was confusing to see Nina's face with a different personality. Ja'Niyah was a hardbody fasho, and I wasn't ever gon get on her bad side. Her moms, Junira, and Cole was cool, just like Nina said they'd be. Carter Sr. did give me some trouble, and Cameron had some slick shit to say. But it wasn't nothing I couldn't handle, and Nina helped me out when they were getting too deep with the questions.

I tried to avoid mentioning Domonique at all because I finally feel like I'm in a place where what happened between us doesn't define me. I spent so long trying to shove down my guilt and regret about how I handled things and ignore those emotions. The events of the past few months has made me confront those feelings and sit in them. That shit gets hard, and some days is worse than others. I haven't "seen" D anywhere else, and the blocked calls have come less and less, therapy is still therapy'ing and Nina and Correy keep me going. I feel like the stars are starting to align or whatever the astrology folks be saying.

Don't get me wrong, it's not a day that goes by where I don't think about her. I will always miss her. But I can't spend my life wishing she was still with me, driving myself insane trying to get her back. Not when I have someone in my life who has attempted, and succeed, at filling that hole she left.

"You'll see. Now go get dressed," I shooed him out the bed. "I ain't tell him all what we doing today, cause he got a big mouth and it wouldn't be cool anymore." He knew a little bit of my plan for Nina's birthday, but he couldn't get all the details; those two were close as hell and he'd have told her in a heartbeat.

He said bye and ran out our room and towards his own. "And you too. It's time to get up."

"Wasn't you the one that was just sayin' you wanted to stay in bed?"

"Yeah, but if we stay in now, we ain't ever getting out."

She pushed the rest of the covers off, even though the majority of them were hanging off the bed. After standing up, them shorts was showing everything and so was that little bra she like to sleep in. I licked my lips just taking the sight of her in. "Come shower wit' me?" She smirked, clearly seeing the effect she was having on me.

"No." Whatever I wanted to do, I needed to save it for tonight. Everything had to be perfect, and while shower sex was nice, I could wait. She could, too.

Nina gasped, a fake mad expression crossing her face. "Not you telling me no on my birthday."

"You need me to repeat myself?"

She smacked, walking over to the bathroom without me trailing behind her like she wanted. Like I wanted. It's alright, she was gon be happy as hell tonight.

At this point, Nina had been gone for hours, giving me enough time make sure everything was straight for tonight. Me and Correy were at Nina's mother's house, picking things up for dinner tonight. Well, I was packing and he was upstairs playing around with all the cousins.

I was absolutely nervous. What if I fuck up and say the wrong shit? Or if something backfires and--

"You in yo head too much," Ja'Niyah mushed my head. I grabbed her wrist and threw it back at her. "Hands to yoself, weirdo." When Nina said she was gon give me hell, she ain't lie. Ever since we met she's been picking at me nonstop.

"Who you calling weird?"

"You. And what you even doin' here?" Nina and a few of her friends were out on a lil girls day. Probably getting full body massages, nails, lashes, eyebrows, allat beauty stuff. I was surprised to see Niyah not with her, being that it was her birthday too.

She shrugged, then sat next to me on the couch. I was just taking a quick break to text Nina, but I got a little distracted on Twitter. "I don't like Nina friends, so I sure as hell wasn't goin' wit them. Plus, we was born on different days."

This was news to me, but Niyah sensed my confusion and explained. Apparently Nina was the older twin, born at 11:55pm on June 21st, while Niyah was born 12:01am on June 22nd. "Me and Nina always did our birthday together. Now, I want my own shit. So this her day, and tomorrow mine."

"Man, you don't like nobody. Not even yo damn twin."

She smacked. "Yeah, and I don't like you neither."

"Then that's yo fault, cause I be chillin'. But what her friends do to you?"

"Nothin' really, they just not my type of people. Plus, I may have broken a few hearts in that friend group..."

I gasped. "Not you was lovin' the crew."

"More like they was lovin' me. But now it's too awkward for me to be around 'em, knowing how I used to eat--"

"Alright, alright, alright we good. Yeen gotta say no more." Niyah and Nina shared the same face, so I just know that was odd as fuck. Imagine your best friend's twin fucking you, then y'all fall out, and you gotta see they face on your best friend like everyday. I couldn't do it.

"Anyway, what you get Nina for her birthday?"

"What didn't I get her?" It was a better question. Cause I spoiled her rotten for sure. I just thought of everything she mentioned wanting that I hadn't already gotten her. And of course, I asked her friends, Wren and Flora, and her sisters. Trust and believe she'll be satisfied.

"Okay. And what you getting me?"

"Nothin'. You don't like me remember?"

"Just say you broke and keep it stepping. Empty ass pockets." She rolled her eyes.

"Niyah, leave him alone," Junira chimed in from the kitchen. "And I don't know why both of y'all sitting like we ain't running behind. Come get the last of these boxes," she ordered.

"Yes ma'am," I said, making my way to the kitchen.

"You not my momma, Junie," Niyah mumbled.

"Bet. Then don't eat, lil' girl."

"Ooou you lucky it's posed to be a good day cause I woulda been caught my ones wit' you," Niyah stood up and grabbed a box of plates off the island.

Upstairs, there was a loud thud. All of the kid voices stopped all at once, followed by ooooH, you in trouble.

"I'm whoopin' all y'all ass if something up there broke! And it better not be you fuckin' around, Deuce!!" Cameron yelled up the stairs.

"You gon' stop cursing in my house and cursing at them kids," Ms. Janise flicked his head. He flinched, not being able to process how fast she came up behind him.

"Y'all come down here," Solana, Carter's wife, called out. "We gon have to deal with whatever that is later. We late!"

"We Black. What did you expect?"

I woke up to Correy stirring on my chest. We had collapsed on the couch after getting everything set up. All that was left to be done was wait for Nina to get back, then get ready. Apparently the first of that had just happened.

"Queen's back!" He said, as if he wasn't just slobbering all over my chest.

"I am, Kingy," and they hugged for a second as I rubbed the sleep off my face.

"Alright, go start getting ready."

"Yes sir!" He ran over to his room.

Nina kissed her teeth. "Always tryna break us apart."

"Cause you my lady, not his."

"Yeah, yeah."

"How was your day wit' the girls?"

She smiled real big. "It was soooo fun. I didn't realize how much I missed them, so it felt good to catch up and just talk shit like we normally do." I hadn't met the four of them, but Nina always spoke of how kind and caring they were. Also they helped a bit with the planning for tonight, so they had to be cool people.

"Lemme see these nails you was fussin' over," I held out my hand so she could take it.

"You know I don't like long nails..."

"Lie again. These damn knives on yo fingers."

"She ain't cut them short enough. And she know she did that on purpose so she could charge me extra."

Whenever they do something she don't like, she never speak up. One time I even had to come up there and complain for her cause she wouldn't do it herself. And anyway, the nails would start growing on her by tomorrow. She always hate 'em for the first day or two.

"They look good though, baby. You wanna get them redone?"

"Nah, they still cute."

"And is," I kissed her hand.

"Okay stink! Picking up on my lingo!"

"Aaaand you ruined it."

Correy ran back out of the room with his outfit on: a little olive green matching button down and shorts set Nina picked out for him a while back, as well as the white sneakers he loved pulling out on special occasions. "Ready!"

"Bet, let's go." I had my fit in the car, freshly dry cleaned. I knew if I put it on now, I'd stain it.

"Ummmm, y'all just gon leave me here?"

"I mean if you wanna get left..."

"Where we goin'?"

"We not goin' nowhere. You can't come just yet, cause it's a surprise. Go check in the room."

Nina raised her eyebrows and gave me a suspicious look, then slowly made her way to the bedroom. I did want to stay and watch her reaction, but this next part could only work if Correy and I left right now.

We tiptoed out the front as she revealed the first part of tonight. I left a note on the bed for her, as well as her dress for tonight and some flowers.

Omniscient

This night had to be perfect, they both thought to themselves.

As Jay stood in the empty lot that they had finally finished decorating, he let out a huge breath. He always tried to do things that showed her how much he loved and appreciated her for who she was, but this was the biggest gesture he had ever made. He just wanted her to feel as special as possible on her birthday. He'd have loved to take her on a trip to Jamaica or some nice tropical island. But she was taking summer classes to finish her degree early, and he didn't want to throw her off track when she was almost done.

Nina rode in the back of the luxury vehicle, her heart just about pounding out of her chest. She was already so overwhelmed by how much he had spoiled her just today. The dress he picked out was simple, just as she liked it, and fit her body and curves perfectly. He even laid out beautiful, delicate gold jewelry for her to wear. There was a gold necklace with his initial in cursive. He's definitely tryna brand me with all these damn Js, she thought. He had already given her earrings with his initial, but this was adorable too.

After she curled her hair and did her makeup, she put on the entire outfit and felt like the prettiest girl in the world.

A few minutes later, she got an incoming facetime call from a number she didn't recognize. Out of curiosity, she answered, only for Correy's little face to show up on her screen.

"Kingy!"

He gasped, looking up at someone and smiling, then returning his eyes to her. "You beautiful Queenie."

"Thank you, handsome man. What's up?"

"I gotta message for you." He giggled and grinned.

"Mhm?"

"Daddy said it's a car waiting for you outside. It's gon bring you here."

"And where are you?" Nina asked, fishing for information.

"Oh, we at---" Correy began, but the call ended abruptly. She figured it was Jay trying to stop him from revealing the surprise.

Immediately, she got a text from another number she didn't recognize. In fact, it was the driver that Correy mentioned. The automated text let her know to come down to the front of the apartment building, and that a driver would be standing outside of the car for her. She almost laughed at how sweet and random this was, then got all her things and made her way down in the elevator.

The receptionist's eyes almost fell out of her face once she spotted Nina. "Girl you look gorgeous, as always!"

"Thank you, Taylor," Nina smiled. She blushed hard, as she was never able to take compliments. She wasn't used to being called beautiful so often, but Jay coming into her life changed that.

"Happy birthday girl! The driver is right out there."

There was a woman dressed in an all black pantsuit, smiling at Nina and standing in front of the car. Her natural hair was pulled back into a sleek bun at the back of her head.

"Hi Nina! I'm Shae and I'll be your driver for today," She instantly moved to open the door to the all white Tesla Model Y. This was the nicest car she had ever rode in, besides Jay's Benz. "Thank you," Nina said shyly as she got inside. It smelled like vanilla and fresh cookies, making Nina's stomach growled.

Meanwhile, Jay was getting worked up waiting for Shae and Nina to arrive. He kept adjusting the watch on his wrist, or fidgeting with his chains.

"What I tell you? Get out your damn head," Niyah mocked him. He just side eyed her and pinched her ear.

"Ouch! Imma tell my momma."

"How old are you? 5?"

She walked off, going to get her nieces, nephews, and Correy together. They were running around as they waited for the surprise to actually begin, but since it was almost showtime, it was time to calm them down.

Cameron and Carter made sure that the entire projector screen was dark so as to not give off the surprise. Nina would be coming any minute, and they all took their places once her location showed that she was five minutes away.

Jay's heart pounded in his head. Anxiety crept up in his chest, as he wanted this to go perfectly. Below him, Correy squeezed his hand for reassurance just as the Tesla pulled up with Nina and Shae inside.

"Oh Lord what he got me into now?" Nina muttered as she stepped out into the empty field. She didn't have time to take it all in before music started coming from the speakers and images began to flash on the screen.

It started as pictures of her mother, pregnant with her. The first photo was of Janise about ready to pop with baby Nina and Niyah. Surrounded by her were younger versions of Junira, Carter, and Cameron. Her father had his arms wrapped around her mother's enormous bump, and the two were smiling wide.

Nina fought back tears, remembering how close she used to be with her dad. But those emotions weren't for today. She didn't have time to dwell before her mother was coming from behind the huge screen and walking towards her with a red rose in hand.

"Oh my bee, happy birthday!" She jumped into her mothers arms, tears about ready to fall.

"Momma what's all this?" she gestured around.

"Just wait, girl," her mom turned their attention back onto the slideshow.

The next few photos showed Nina as a newborn, and then pictures of her and her mom as she grew up. Taking her first steps, getting her hair braided for the first day of first grade, fifth grade graduation, eight grade prom, senior prom, high school graduation, up until a few photos from the last time they went to brunch together.

Next, the video back tracked to when Nina was barely a toddler, her oldest sister carrying her in her lap. Junie must have been about ten years old holding a slobbering Nina. That's when she came from behind the screen holding another red rose and walking towards Nina.

"Happy birthday baby sis!" And they hugged tightly. Nina was wiping tears away, seeing the photos she hadn't seen in a while. These pictures traced through the years again, this time showing a young Nina at Junie's graduation, trips to the waterpark and teaching Nina how to swim, Junie's wedding, Nina with Junie's kids. That's when Alina, Alana, and Amiel came out from behind the screen with roses for their aunty. Mo, Junie's husband also came out.

"My babies!" Nina squatted and hugged each of them as they handed her roses. "Happy birthday, auntie!"

"Yeah, happy birthday Auntie Nina!"

She thanked them and kept watching. Eventually Carter came up on the screen, and he walked out with Sol. Photos of Nina with her nephews came up, and Junior and Sage came out with roses and happy birthday wishes.

Soon enough, Nina had an entire village behind her, of cousins and friends and