King

The aroma emitting from the kitchen made me pause at the doorway. Someone was in our kitchen cooking and it couldn't be Uti because I left her in the room. Sound asleep. I continued to the kitchen, Junior was stirring something dark inside the frying pan, Uche was seated on the island while Tomiwa, the only man with common sense among my friends was properly seated on a high stool, the same place Uche should have sat.

"Good morning," I grumbled out and they replied with as much enthusiasm as I did.

Ignoring them, I stumbled to the sink to rinse my mouth while my mind rummaged the possibly places Uti's phone could be. If she hadn't made it sound so urgent, I wouldn't be worried. A smile tugged on my lips as I splashed water on my face, my baby was back and we were expecting our baby, a mini me. It was finally happening. God of babies.

I wiped my face dry on a towel close to me as my smile slowly faded. Uti didn't apologise, she didn't need to, I knew she was sorry. And Tomiwa was right, she didn't mean any of the things she said. A crackle resounded in the kitchen, I spun to face Chef Junior.

"What are you doing?" I asked, making my way to him. "Where did you get this?" The counter was littered with eggs, white powder I could only assume was flour or sugar. The store should be empty, no foodstuffs. There was no point getting them when I couldn't cook and Uti wasn't in the right state of mind to do so. Junior flipped the thing in the frying pan, I shuddered when he licked his finger to show how tasty it was. By sights alone, this meal was horrible. "Junior, what's this one?"

"He says it's Junior's special number," Uche volunteered with an eye roll. I chuckled, delighted to know I wasn't the only one who found that thing in the skillet unappealing.

"Hey," Junior roared, "this is Chef Junior's special delicacy. If you talk too much, no food for you." Laughter tore out of my lips, his threat might work on me not Uche, cooking might not be his forte but he didn't have a problem whipping up a meal. To me, he said, "I promised Esther pancakes." My eyebrow arched. Yes, I couldn't cook but I sure as hell knew pancakes were not that colour. "I'm making it with Milo instead."

The guys and I shared a knowing look, they didn't seem surprised at his admission and I nodded. I would have to trust him. He dished the pancakes into different plates, we settled into the seats by the island and Uche strolled to open the fridge and my eyes almost popped out of their sockets. Did I see right? 

"Woah." Uche's gaze alternated between me and the orange juice in his hand, I heard the sound of my chair clattering to the ground but I didn't look back. I didn't put that in there, I didn't put a bunch of the things I saw in the fridge. Uche took a step to the side when I neared him. I motioned to the fridge. "Open it." My jaw slacked, I had troubles closing my mouth at the sight of the items inside. Crate of eggs, cartons of juice. Even ice-cream. Tupperwares. Was that a bowl of stew? And soup? "What's going on here?"

The confusion on Uche's face cleared, he slapped my back and returned to his seat. I followed behind with glass cups. Last time I checked, the fridge was empty. I couldn't say I had been awake for up to thirty minutes so how did they get the time to make all these?

"Junior cooked."

My head rotated in Junior's direction, he fired Uche a warning look. "They made me do it."

Tomiwa, closer to him, slapped the back of his head. "Nobody made you do anything."

Uche supported Tomiwa by saying, "It was your idea for us to do this, remember?" He fixed Junior a stare. "We buy, you cook."

The frown that graced Junior's lips showed he was preparing a snarky reply, I interrupted him before he could say it. "Guys. Junior?"

"Fine, nobody made me do it. Since you have a lot on your hands, we just thought to make your life easier." I couldn't be sure why my heart skipped or my lips widened in a smile. If it was Junior's embarrassment at stocking our fridge, the guys thoughtfulness or the fact I had such good friends—a great support system. "A simple thank you will do, why are you smiling at me like an idiot?"

Bastard.

The laughter broke free from my lips. I shook my head and dug into my pancake, nodding my approval. The sight betrayed the taste, it was good. Excellent. I could eat this all day. I finished my meal, raised my head to see they already finished eating. Junior pushed the plate containing Esther's and Uti's share of the pancake to me, I expressed my gratitude with a smile, thankful they spent the night. I rubbed my hands together in slow motion, smiling sheepishly when I got their attention.

"Alaye, talk joor." I coughed twice and said nothing, sticking my tongue at the angry bird. "Speak now or forever hold your peace."

Impatient Junior. I cleared my throat, a slap on my forehead from Uche and I finally said, "We are pregnant." Junior was the first to snap out of his shock, he screamed and rushed to me, squeezing me like I was the pregnant one and I cackled. "Well, we still have to go to the hospital to confirm but the pregnancy kits says we are pregnant."

I made sure she peed on all six sticks, we could not take any chances. There was no way the six pregnancy lines could have been a mistake, right? I must, I would be a father.

More arms surrounded me, congratulations echoed in the air and it made it feel more real. We were pregnant, we would have a baby. She did it, she ended up being my baby mama. I burst into laughter, the guys ignored me as they started dishing out names for our baby. If only they knew my plans for that.

"If he's a boy, his name will be Junior. But if she's a girl..." I waited for him to continue, he smiled at us and patted his muscular chest with pride. "Her name will still be Junior."

Now, who was the idiot? Tomiwa cracked a smile, Uche picked the plates and dumped them in the sink. Junior's expectant eyes made me chuckle, the way he clasped his hands under his jaw got me. He couldn't expect me to name my first child after him.

No fucking way.

"Junior is not a girl's name," I murmured, drumming my fingers on the island top. He shrugged. Uche took a seat beside him.

"I don't care."

"She's taking none of your names. Simple."

We engaged in a stareoff, I could not back down on this one. He looked away with a resigned sigh, I felt bad but it wasn't enough for me to change my mind. Besides, the baby was a girl, she would need a feminine name, something worthy of a Daniels. Uche broke the silence to announce their leave, they took turns to hug me and I couldn't help feeling a bit lonely as they made promises to visit soon. Uti needed me, I would be fine.

Tomiwa laid a hand on my shoulder. I gave him my most innocent look. The corners of his lips twitched but he didn't smile. Oh, boy. Junior and Uche avoided my gaze, those two cowards. They had an idea what he was about to say and I was certain I wouldn't like it. If they left it for him, it couldn't be good.

"Keep in touch, do you hear me?" I opened my mouth to defend myself but he beat me to it. "Don't decide for us what we can handle, if you need us, give us a call. Don't text, call us. What did I say?" I mouthed his words back to him and he nodded. "Good. Give us a call. No texting. If I don't pick, one of them will."

Another round of bro hugs followed, plus the extension of good wishes to baby mama. Junior lingered while the two left, I folded my arms and he offered me a small smile. He cleared his throat to dissipate the fast growing awkwardness. Seriousness didn't become him. Junior was someone who was meant to always be happy, in a good mood. That intensity in his eyes looked out of place.

He shoved his hands into his pocket and I rubbed mine over my shorts. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I replied with a nod. "Yes." My answer was more confident the second time and I meant it. I was okay, better than I had been in a long time. He searched my face like a lie detector was plastered to my forehead. I chuckled. "Junior, I'm okay. For real, bro."

Junior hugged me again, a long brotherly hug that spoke volumes of our bond. Maybe he would miss Emma too. He was the only one in our group who got to meet him. We broke apart, he grinned and a smile slipped to my lips. What would I have done without them? Without this annoying handsome man with an ego the size of his big head. Nothing.

"We love you." My head bobbed. I knew that and I loved them back, more than words could express. He gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

I cackled at his retreating frame. Foolish guy. Of course I wouldn't do anything stupid. We were pregnant, a baby was on its way, I had to step up. Making my way to the guest room, I threw my hands in the direction of the sky when I saw Uti's phone on the table with her sewing machine. Mission accomplished, now I could get back to my woman. Baby daddy needed some kisses.

She was still asleep or so I thought until I set the tray containing her breakfast and phone on the bedside drawer. Her eyes flew open, she scrunched her face for a few seconds and a smile crawled to her lips when her gaze landed on me. She pouted, I pecked her lips and she palmed my face to stop me from withdrawing. She bit my lower lip, one hand lowered to palm my growing bulge and I smiled into the kiss. Someone was horny.

But that same someone had to eat first. I pulled away amidst her grunts and protests, taking a seat by the edge of the bed with the tray on my laps. She frowned at the fork of pancake I thrust in her face. Lust clouded her eyes and the little man in my shorts twitched but I reminded myself to keep it together. There was a baby who needed to be fed. Including herself. She pushed into a sitting position, I edged closer to her and pouted until she ate.

"Good girl," I murmured, she giggled but took another bite. Each bite earned her a kiss, I crawled into bed with her when she finished her plate and downed the yogurt. I slid her phone into her hand, littered kisses all over her neck she moaned. "Did you sleep well?"

Her head bobbed, our legs tangled under the cover and I slipped a hand under her—my shirt. She spread her fingers on my chest, I pulled her to my laps so she could straddle me and she laughed, a sound so beautiful, I tickled her so she could laugh again.

Bunching her shirt below her breasts, I laughed on seeing her underwear—my boxer. I didn't think too much before slipping it on her. It was bigger than her but thank God for elastic waistband. She took my hand to palm her belly, covered it with hers and pressed her forehead to mine. Gazing into her eyes as my hands moved on her belly, our breaths mingled and I cupped her breasts. She sucked in a sharp breath, her teeth sunk into her lips and her eyelashes batted furiously.

"What about Esther? Where's she?"

I tugged on a nipple, rolled it between my thumb and index finger and her lips parted to let out a delicious moan. She flashed me a cute little smile and I pecked her. My woman.

"School. Junior took her." It was safe to say he was her favourite, the others didn't even get a nickname. Lowering my hand to her belly, I asked, "How's my little princess doing this morning?" She rolled her eyes. "What?"

"It's not a girl, it's a boy."

Rubbish. I held a finger, she crossed her hands over her chest, obstructing my view of her taut nipples. "It's a girl," I started, "Daddy has said it and so shall it be. It's a girl."

Laughing, she pulled my lower lip between her teeth. "That's not how it works but okay."

"I love you, Wifey," I told her. She froze. The shock wore off quickly, her eyes moistened and she rubbed the back of her knuckles against my cheek. "And I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You're the best thing that happened to me this year, my life. You are the most important woman in my life."

Her eyes gleamed, she hid her hands behind her but I caught the tremors and my smile widened. Her nervousness was cute.

"I'll tell your mother you said that," Uti said.

We burst out laughing, mischief danced in her eyes and I dragged her hand to my lips, running my tongue over her fingertips. She could tell Mother whatever she liked. Mother had lived her life, it was time to live mine.

"So you do want to meet my mother?" I fired back and she squeezed my nipple poking out of my tank top until I let out a small yelp. "Mother would not be happy with you doing that to her only child. Her only son."

"I love you," she whispered. I loved her too, more than I ever loved anyone in my life. "Thank you for being you, for tolerating my excesses and loving me on my awful days."

Cupping her cheeks, I drawled out her name, "Uti. I've told you, it's me and you against the problem, you don't have to thank me." Tears coated her lashes, for the first time in a long time she looked so vulnerable and my heart slowed. I loved this woman, her pain was my pain; her happiness, my happiness. "Wifey."

"I'm sorry." Her lips trembled, tears leaked from the corner of her eyes. It shouldn't have been the case but my heart soared. She was finally crying, showing some emotion since the loss of Emma. "I'm sorry, King. I'm so sorry."

Fear flashed across my face as she burst into full blown crying, I caught the tears from falling, patting her back awkwardly. Okay, this was not part of it. What should I do?

"It's the baby," she said with a small laugh, wiping the snort running down her nose and I released my breath. I had a lot of reading to do, a lot of research on pregnancy and I hoped to God crying wasn't a normal part of the process. "He's making me so emotional."

Instead of correcting her on the gender of our little princess, I nodded. My lips met her forehead in a peck, she curled in my laps and hid her face in my chest. My fingers weaved into her scalp, tracing invisible lines and my free hand rested on her waist. Emotional Uti, I could handle that but without the tears.

"I didn't mean any of the things I said. I was furious. Angry at you, at everybody. It just seemed like you were not angry enough and you moved on too quickly. You laughed, you ate. You lived. You still live and he doesn't." There were a lot of things to reply to that but it didn't feel right to say them now so my lips remained sealed. "I was so angry." My lips pressed into a line. She sniffed. "I love you."

A peck on her scalp, another on her temple and I replied, "I love you baby mama." Eager to switch topics to lighter ground, I retrieved the phone that had fallen someplace on the bed during our rendezvous and unlocked it. "Why were you asking for your phone?"

She pulled away long enough to collect her phone, my brows furrowed as she made straight for her Photos app. "There's a video."