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CHAPTER THIRTY
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    It was ten in the morning and although she was supposed to get up by now her mind had different plans. Amoura was recounting everything that leaded up to this day. How her and Dre were literally just strangers having a one night stand which turned into a friends with benefits thing. All for her to end up in her feelings over him, pregnant, and now in a relationship. Yet, he was in jail and today she was going to see him.

Crazy how life works you don't even know what your future will be like with a person. She definitely didn't see herself with Dre. He was rude as hell to her and was playing with her feelings while she looked dumb for him. Everything she went though with him in just a span of eight months.

"Mommy get upppp" Ace whined

"I'm tired why you can't just leave me be?"

He talked her head off as she laid there staring at the ceiling. Being pregnant made her more lazy than usual. She really wanted to stay in bed all day but knew that wasn't happening. Not only was she going to see Dre but she also was going out with Emani and bringing Ace to keep her younger cousin company.

Amoura got up and decided to start getting ready. She listened to some Jhené to ease her mind as she did a light makeup beat. Ace occasionally asking her random questions.

She wasn't going to bring him with her for the sake of him still being young and not fully knowing why Dre is there. She didn't want to have to explain anything let alone lie to him. All he knew was all "bad" people were in there.

  Amoura was done getting ready and went downstairs to eat. She was stalling because she sorta didn't want to go there. She'd never visited anybody in jail before.

"You seeing your boyfriend today?"

Amoura looked up from eating her cereal "Yup."

"I know he'll be happy to see you."

Amoura smiled a little

"How long is visitation?"

Amoura paused "Two hours I think."

"Oh wow. Well hope all goes well and he tells you good news."

"Thank you."

"Karin is coming past today to bring you some things for the baby since she couldn't make it to the shower." She said

"Oh really? Wait she coming by when I'm gone?"

"She most likely is."

"Aw no. Well make sure you let her know I said thank you and I appreciate it. I'll text her also."

"I will." She said "Have you still been applying to jobs?"

Amoura got up and poured the leftover milk out into the sink.

"Yeah. I actually got a few emails back I'm just waiting for a call back. I've been calling them and everything. Honestly, I'm just glad I'm still making quick money off doing nails. I'm about to start doing hair quick little side hustle to help me out."

"Okay that's good to hear. Should think about actually going to school for it."

"You think?"

"Girl yes. If it's what you like doing I say do it."

Amoura pulled her shirt down some "I've been thinking about it."

"Yeah you should definitely look more into it."

She nodded "I will."

She said her byes to Ace and her papa before leaving out. The drive to the jail was an hour away which wasn't bad. When she got there she knew she'd have to have a shirt that went over her jeans so she made sure to put on the one she brought and got out. Going inside she signed forms doing what she had to do.

She got frisked and soon was directed to a room in front of a glass. She watched as the guard took the handcuffs off Dre and let him sit. Just the sight right now made her stomach turn. She always knew she didn't ever want to be in a place like this seeing a loved one.

When the guards left out Amoura sighed. She didn't know where to start.

"Nigga grab the phone." Dre said, knocking her back into reality

"Um you ain't have to say it like that." She said

Amoura felt disgusted touching it. She knew the minute she got back in the car she was going to over sanitize her hands. She kept it close to her ear and mouth but made sure it didn't touch. Dre did the same.

"I ain't think you was really gone come." He said

"Why not? I mean it was hard to do... but I still did."

"You talk to my mom?"

"Yeah. I talked to her on the way here. She doesn't understand why I'm in her words supporting this behavior."

"She been pissing me off lately that's why I stopped calling her."

"She just wants better for you that's all. I understand her but some things just are better left unsaid. She needs to just be there for you right now because that's all we can really do."

He stared at her for a minute "You deadass care about me?"

"Yeah."

Licking over his lips, he took a deep breath "That's cute."

She gave him a blank stare "Dre."

"What?"

"Why you worried? Do you care about me?"

"Of course. Before I even got in this bitch. All this just making me care for you more damn."

"I was just asking." Amoura said "I got her some cute clothes. I know your mom is also getting things."

"Can't believe you having a damn girl."

Amoura laughed a little "Yeah it still kinda feels weird but I'm happy so." She shrugged

"You getting bigger?" He asked

Amoura rubbed her stomach showing her bump through the shirt. Since she was was five months and some weeks she was showing more.

"Yeah." She said looking back up at him "And she be kicking. She like know my whole routine now she be waking up when I do."

"How many months weeks or however y'all count that shit. What's the pregnant age?"

Amoura started laughing "Twenty weeks. Where you been?"

"Shit not keeping track." He laughed a little "I can't keep up with that."

"You'll look real dumb if somebody was to ask you how far along I am. Gone look real deadbeat-ish."

"I know now so I ain't tripping."

"You'll forget in the next few days." She laughed

"Imma try not to."

"What's it like in here?"

"Boring as fuck. I just wanna smoke or have a drink at least. A nigga having withdrawals and shit without it." He laughed making Amoura also

"Boy bye it's never that serious. You should be having withdrawals not being with me."

"I already told you I miss you and wanna see you."

"You really miss me or you just saying that?"

"Why you asking me dumb shit? I meant that. We been fuckin with each other for a minute right?"

"Yeah."

"Ion understand why I would be lying about that shit."

"I was just wondering I don't know. Sometimes I feel like you be jail talking me."

"If I was on that I'd be talking about wanting to marry you and shit."

"Oh so you don't wanna..." Amoura nodded "Okay."

"I knew you was gone do that shit." He laughed "If imma be honest imma be honest. I'm not looking at marriage. If we was to last up to like six years that's different. We not even that deep in for me to be feeling that way."

"Same way we not deep in but you said I love you... okay."

"I did."

"Exactly."

"Exactly what? That ain't got shit to do with me saying I love you. You been around me long enough to notice I don't like showing emotions and the minute I do you bring it up like it's a problem cause I said jail talking is me acting like I wanna marry you and shit." he shrugged "But it's cool imma keep that shit to myself now so as far as you concerned I don't love you. That's a bet?"

Amoura was letting all his words process before she spoke.

"I didn't mean for it to be like that it's not a problem. You just confuse me."

"Nigga you confusing me."

"Okay I get what you're saying I'm not ready for it either I just think that could've been left out as an example."

"Ard, Amoura."

She could feel herself ready to cry but tried her best to stop it. It wasn't the fact he wasn't ready for marriage that had her emotional. It was built on stress that was making her now wanna break down.

"You good?"

"I'm fine." She said low

"I should be asking you if you really love me by the way you reacted when I said that shit."

"It just caught me off guard. But I'm still confused and don't know. I like you a lot though."

"I respect it. If you ain't feeling that way you ain't got to." He licked over his lips "Shit maybe I'm confused too. But my feelings for you done started getting deeper so ion know. Being in here while with you and looking at some time in prison, realizing what I could lose get a nigga thinking."

"I pray you don't. Honestly don't even want to think about it. Let's just talk about something else and think positive not negative."

"You right."

"What's some names you like?"

"Damn. Not even gone hold you, I had all nigga names. I wasn't thinking of no girl names so this shit prolly be off the top of my head." He said as Amoura laughed

"The fact you really was so serious about this boy is wild."

"For a girl..." he sat there in thought "Dream."

"Dream? That's pretty. What else."

"Amoura I don't know.... Treasure or sum."

"I don't like that." Amoura shook her head frowning a bit

"I told you I had all the boy names picked so I'm just saying whatever right now."

Amoura chuckled "Okay try some more."

"What about summer?"

"Sir all these different ass names what about Kayla?"

"My daughter name gotta be some unique shit not basic." He said

"Okay these name you saying is common."

"Ain't never came across no baby named summer."

"It didn't have to be a baby but I've came across somebody named summer. A couple times."

"Ard how bout... Aaliyah?"

"It's cute but still want something different."

"You mind as well pick it out then. You don't like nothing."

She laughed "Baby that was only three names you're gonna have to go through a lot more. I just thought about Violet or Ava."

"These white ass names, Amoura."

"They not white names in my book. I don't do that whole black names and white names shit cause I know damn well my daughter not walking around as another Amiyah or Taliyah. If I want her name to be Chloe it'll be Chloe."

"Basic white names, like I said."

"Okay but you know what I'm really sticking with? Whether it be her first for middle name I like it it has to stay."

"What is it."

"Nala."

"Like simba wife? Stop playing with my daughter."

Amoura couldn't help but laugh "It's cute that's the name. I don't care."

"I actually do fuck with it."

"See. Besides that I'm struggling to figure out either a first or middle name."

"Iyana Nala Santana?"

"Mhm mm. I don't like Iyana that much."

"Imma leave the girl names to you. You focus on that I tried."

"You sure?"

"I'm positive. You come up with better shit anyway."

Amoura laughed a little "I'm starving."

"You eat this morning?"

"I did but I'm hungry again."

"Was about to ask what you gone get when you leave here but never mind don't even remind me."

"My poor baby. I would feed you good if I could." Amoura said

"Just made me realize how much I miss eating ya pussy."

"Dre shhh." She looked around laughing "You loud."

"Say it again and imma say it louder. I miss eating you out."

"I bet you do." She smiled

"When the baby drop imma give you your couple of weeks to heal and I'm back in that shit."

"Yesss speak it into existence." She said laughing

"When you leave here go past my moms and get my phone and order that shit I had saved. Get my card too and my keys."

"Um... you think she gone let me get it?"

"She better not be on bullshit. If she think you lying just tell her imma call her tonight and tell her I told you get it."

Amoura nodded before saying okay. She talked with Dre for another hour and some minutes before visitation was over. Getting in the car she wiped her eyes which were watery from tears. After sucking it up she went past Chickfila and ate in the parking lot before going past his moms house as he wanted.

She took off the long shirt she had to wear and put her jacket on. Amoura hoped his mom didn't give her any problems because that was the last thing she wanted to deal with. A few knocks later his mom answered the door.

"Hey Amoura what brings you here?" She asked as Amoura stepped in soon closing the door behind her

"Dre wanted me to come past and get his phone, his credit card, and his keys. I know that sounds crazy but he's gonna call here tonight to let you know. He wanted me to order the stuff that he had picked out."

"Then why he wants to give you his keys?"

"I have no idea you'll have to ask him but I'm more than sure it's because he can trust me to hold his things."

"I'm his mother he can trust me too."

"Didn't say he couldn't was just saying."

"I'll get it." She said and Amoura stood there

She came back downstairs seconds later with everything and handed it over.

"How's the baby been holding up?"

"So far so good. I have a doctors appointment next week." She said

"Okay, hope everything is well. I'll text you tomorrow to see how you feeling."

"Alright, thank you." She said before leaving out

It went a lot better than she'd thought. She honestly thought his mom was going to have a problem. Amoura put his passcode in and went to safari seeing the multiple websites with things for the baby.

The ride back home she listened to Jhené album. When she got home her papa and grandma both were entertaining Ace in the living room.

"Look at you." Amoura said smiling and Ace ran over to her

He hugged her and she gave him a kiss before standing back up.

"I missed you and baby sister" he said reaching to touch her belly

"We missed you too."

"Everything go good?" Her papa asked her and she nodded

"Everything went great I don't know anything as far as his court date yet but he'll let me know soon."

After talking to them for a little Amoura went up to her room and checked Dres phone. She couldn't lie and say she wasn't curious so she went to his messages and seen he'd had plenty of unread messages. She noticed he still kept old hoes in his phone but seemed to not be communicating with them since their messages were still either not opened from months back or not responded to.

  She clicked off it and went to his photos. Seeing picture of her and him and pictures of himself. She locked the phone and went back downstairs to get Ace ready to go out with her and Emani.

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2 months later (June)

   After having court Dre finessed his way out and just five months on house arrest and three hundred and thirty six hours of community service. Amoura was glad he was somewhat off the hook because she was going on twenty eight weeks pregnant and although he didn't have all the freedom she wanted she was still able to see him when she wanted.

Tomorrow was graduation and Amoura was happy to finally be done with school. She studied hard and although it was challenging while being pregnant and having Ace she still managed with some help from friends and mostly herself. She had reached out to some colleges and got written back which she was also excited about.

Amoura got out the car and went to open the back door, letting Ace jump out. He pulled his jeans up before running ahead of her and going up the stairs. Amoura used the key she had to unlock the door and let her and Ace inside.

  He wasn't in sight but she could hear him in his room. Getting to his room she started laughing, seeing how confused he looked trying to put the crib together.

"You struggling?" She asked

"Hell yeah." He put the pieces he had in his hands down and got up "This shit annoying I'm taking a break."

"How long you been trying?"

"Damn near three hours now." He mushed Ace head making him stumble back some "Wassup big head ass?"

Ace started laughing "You lucky I can't reach yours"

"I'm gonna try and help..." Amoura eyed the crib pieces "What the hell did you get? This shit do look confusing."

Dre laughed "Man ion even know."

She went and sat on his bed. She was out of breath from walking and Dre noticed.

"You tired fat ass?"

"Dre..." she looked at him seriously "Please don't start."

"You know I'm just playing with you nigga."

"Okay let's try and figure this out."

"Ard." He looked to Ace "You wanna play the game?"

Ace got happy and climbed into his bed "Yeah"

She waited as Dre set it up and gave him the controller before coming over to where she was. He leaned down and touched her belly before placing a kiss on Amouras lips. She kissed him back a couple times and he went and sat on the floor.

"It's hot out?" He asked her

"Is it?" She shook her head "Hot as hell thats why Ace got on some shorts. And me this tank top."

"I figured. It was earlier when I was out." He said

All Dre and Amouras time had been going towards the baby so they weren't as focused on their relationship. While Dre was on house arrest Amoura was most of the time either too tired to leave the house or she was out for checkups and to get the baby stuff. Other than that they rarely did relationship things or talked as much as they wanted besides on the phone.

"I hate being pregnant. First few months was cute and all but now I'm annoyed." Amoura complained

"You got a couple more weeks relax."

"I'm trying." She said "But lowkey I'm going crazy."

"Ion know why... you been through this before you should be used to it."

"Only one time and still that was when I was fourteen... I'm eighteen now. I wasn't even as big at seven months with Ace. On top of that I didn't have to do as much stuff for myself since I had people doing it for me."

"Ain't his birthday supposed to be coming up?"

Amoura took a deep breath and nodded "Yup next week. I don't even wanna be reminded about that. I already have to plan for that and I'm still tryna figure out how that's gonna go."

"You be seeming like you stressing... if you need help with some shit just tell me."

"Dre I don't want to put everything I have to deal with on you, especially since you already have your own things going on."

"But still I rather just put my shit aside to make sure you good." He said looking at her "Cause ion want you dealing with shit that might fuck with the baby you feel me?"

"I know, but I'm not stressing, I swear. I'm just very overwhelmed with some things but I'll be okay. I honestly don't even know if I'm going to prom."

"Why nigga?"

Amoura eyed him blankly "Really? Why? It's literally going to be ass I can't do what I really want cause I'm pregnant. Can't drink or go to another party after like it's just not going to be the same. I can't really do as much as I want if I wasn't."

"So cause you pregnant and can't get drunk you don't wanna go?"

"Not like that it's just it's not gonna be the ideal prom night. I'm so mad..." she paused "Literally pissed because I can't even spend my prom or last days of high school how I want because of this pregnancy."

"Shit at this point it is what it is. You can't change it so might as well just make the best out the shit."

"I know... it still sucks though."

"We gone make up for it when you have her."

"How?"

"Just know we will don't worry about it."

"Whatever, Dre."

"This complicated ass crib bouta piss me off though."

Amoura