Pretend.

A few weeks had passed and as much as Aria was indifferent to it she spoke to Nawf everyday. Mostly to relay messages or to call for Aura. Since him taking Aura, Aria set boundaries. She understood her fault in Antjuan missing out on Aura's life but she needed him to understand he couldn't just do what he wanted.

After a few arguments they were able to come to an understanding. Aria promised to go over anything pertain Aura with him. That included baby sitters, school and so forth. She made him promise that he needed to be understanding. She wanted him to understand that Aura is priority and that has been her life since the day she was born.   Nawf understood he couldn't just take her whenever or wherever without telling Aria. Aria knew this was all new to him so she was trying her hardest to be understanding but she was standing by what she said.

Aria looked down to her phone ringing.

Of course it was Nawf calling like usual.

"Hey, I haven't picked up Aura yet." Aria answered.

"Where she at?" He asked her.

"My parents. I'm leaving the office now to get her." She told him as she got into her car.

"You know I can watch her?" He said.

"I figured you would be busy. My mom and dad dont mind. Since meeting her they love every moment they get to make memories." She admitted to him.

"What you mean since meetin her?" He asked as she connected him to her stereo.

Aria realized the two hadn't really talked about anything outside of Aura. Really they had a daughter but the two barely knew each other. Aria didn't even know his favorite color.

She shook her head disappointed. Strangers.

"Well when I found out I was pregnant my parents weren't to happy." She told him.

"You was grown as hell." He said.

"I was still their child. I had a plan. Things changed. They didn't like it. Especially that it was by someone I didn't even know. They wanted me to have an abortion. I said no and they basically told me not to tell them about my problems. So I didn't. For years. It was just me and her. When I moved back I decided she needed family especially cause I didn't think I'd run into you again." She told him as she made her way through traffic.

He was quiet for a moment. He didn't expect her to say that but he admired her. She had his child and was raising her without help from anyone.

"Hello?" Aria said looking at her phone.

"Yea, my bad. Well  I'm here. I'm not goin no where." He told her.

"I know." She said with a sigh.

"Damn you say it like you hate it." He said.

"It's just taking some time to get use to. You not the easiest nigga to deal wit." She told him truthfully.

"Goes both ways." He told her.

"Okay Antjuan." She said trying not to get irritated and argue with him.

"How long til you there?" He asked her.

"Like 10 minutes I'll call you back." She said.

'Why?" He asked her.

"Uhm cause what else do we need to talk about?" Aria asked.

"Tomorrow?" He said.

He had been asking to keep Aura over night and Aria had agreed.

"I told you already she can go with you. If you cant drop her off, ill pick her up. I mean if you want her for the weekend just let me know." Aria said.

He had been asking to keep Aura for the night and she figured maybe it was time. They seemed to be bonding well and although Nawf was a dick at times she knew he wouldn't let anything happen to Aura.

"You dont wanna come?" He asked her.

"No. I'm sure she will be fine with you. You said its a cookout right?" She asked.

"Yea." He told her.

"Then she should be fine. Uhh, do you want her for the weekend?" She asked him.

"I can take her if you will let me." He said.

"I'll just come pick her up but if you want her to stay Ill pack her bag just in case." She told him.

"You trust me wit her?" He asked her.

"Should I not?" she started to wonder.

"Na she good. You jus handin a nigga over yo baby." He laughed.

"Yea, now you got me concerned." She said.

"She good." He told her.

"She better be she my one and only." Aria told her.

"Mines too nigga." He told her.

"I get it Ant damn." She told him.

"Yo chill out." He told her.

"Let me call you back." She said.

"Why?" He asked her.

He already knew she was getting irritated but for some reason he wanted to bother her.

"Cause our conversation done." She said.

"You like five minutes away. You might as well stay on the phone." He told her as she sighed.

He laughed.

"You honestly are so immature." She continued to drive.

"It'll grow on you." He told her laughing.

"Yeah, no." She said making him laugh harder.

"Man hurry up so I can talk to my baby." He told her.

It got quiet.

"Ant?" Aria called his name.

"Did you even want kids?" She asked him realizing she never did before.

"Honestly at first na. Hell na. But as I got older yea. It's just unexpected but Fa real? There's nothin that would keep me from her regardless if I was ready for her or not." He told Aria.

Aria was in her thoughts.

She couldn't help but think to hurt on his face.

"Hello?" He said thinking she hung up.

"Yeah I'm about to pull up to my parents. Ill pass her the phone." Aria said as she pulled up to her parents and look to Aura already running outside.

----------------------------------------------------

The next day Aria pulled up to Nawf's grandmother's house with Eryka.

It was a little after 7 at night and she figured she would wait near Aura's bedtime.

Eryka refused to let Aria leave in a boring outfit. So she decided to spice up her style. She put her in a all white body suit that laced up in the back all the up to her shoulders. Eryka donned a similar outfit. She wore a plain mauve bodysuit with thick straps.

"He lives right by yo old house." Eryka told her.

"I know. I'm glad I ain't meet his bad ass when I was younger." Aria rolled her eyes getting out the car.

"Yo ass woulda been pregnant then huh?" Eryka joked as Aria pushed her as she was getting out the car

"Girl please. Dick probably didn't get good til I got it." Aria said as she got out seeing Nawf standing nearby looking at her.

He looked her over as his cousin walked up standing next to him. He instantly smiled looking at Eryka. Aria remembered him from that night at the club. He was the one Eryka ditched her to dance with. Eryka Damn near looked just as excited as they made their way to them.

"Where's Aura?" She asked  walking up with Eryka.

She saw people outside but not her daughter.

Nawf grabbed her and kissed her. When Aria tried to pull away he only kissed her harder grabbing on her ass. After a minute Aria gave in kissing him back. It was long and deep as he tongued her down in front of everyone and she didn't stop him.

Nawf pulled away making both her and Eryka look at him. Speechless.

"I know we hate this nigga right now but damn." Eryka said laughing as Aria remained speechless.

Nawf leaned into Aria.

"Dick was good long before you got it. I was tryna give it to you jus so you can see how much better it is." He whispered in her ear.

Aria was turned on but she couldn't deal with his love and hate with her. First they seemed cool but she knew he couldn't forgive her or he at least he refused to. Now with how he was kissing her was giving her mixed emotions.

"Where's Aura?" She asked again trying to avoid his eyes.

He ignored her turned her towards Eryka and the other familiar face.

"That's my cousin JR." He pointed as he waved breaking from his conversation with Eryka.

Aria waved looking back to Nawf.

"She's sleep in my old room." He said finally answering.

Aria looked to Eryka still talking to JR.

"I'll be here when you get back." Eryka told her as she once more turned to his cousin leaving Aria with Nawf.

"C'mon." He said grabbing her hand and pulling her.

"Damn I can follow you know." she said.

"Aria chill." He said still pulling her into the house.

"You know you didn't have to kiss me. I get it you was tryna prove a point. Haha, I was just trash talking. Just don't want people to think the wrong idea." She told him.

"Wrong idea?" He looked at her.

"Yea, I'm not your girl." She said.

"Aria you mines." He said as they made it to his room.

She laughed snatching her arm away.

"Says the nigga who don't fuck wit me." She pushed past him and opened the door.

Aura was laying on his bed with her head in her hands trying to stay up.

"Momma." Aura yawned.

"Baby." She picked her up.

"Can we spend the night with dad?"  She asked her.

"You can and I can come get you in the morning." She rubbed her back.

"No I want you to be here too." She whined.

"Yea momma." Nawf mocked his daughter as Aria rolled her eyes.

"Aura we're not finna do that. Antjuan don't enable her. You wanna spend the night with dad or come home with mom?" Aria asked her.

"Momma." She said.

"Okay let's go." Aria told her.

Aura climbed up and out of the bed.

"Give your dad some love." Aria told her smiling.

Nawf bent down Aura jumped onto him and planted kisses all over his face.

"Love you daddy." She told him.

"I love you more princess." He told her.

He picked her up kissing her cheek before they all headed out his room.

As they made it down the stairs Aria saw her boss Laura hugging Nawf's grandmother catching her off guard.

"Aria?" She looked to Nawf holding the little girl.

"Wait, this is what granny was talking about?" She looked at her grandmother then to Nawf.

"Ooo." Laura started to put everything together.

"Aria, Laura is my older cousin. I'm guessin you ain't know. Laura, Aria is my daughter's mom." He said as he held Aura who was falling asleep on him already.

"Well that is surprising. " She looked at them as they continued down the stairs.

"Aria and Antjuan, eh?" Laura put her hands on her hips.

"O no. I'm just picking her up. We just have a child together." She waved her hands.

"Uhmm hmm." Laura looked at her making Aria want to laugh.

It was different seeing Laura dressed casually.

"We all saw y'all kiss baby." His grandmother said.

"That, that was not what it looked like." She stuttered trying to explain.

Nawf chuckled as she nudged him.

"The outfit? You are dressed up" Laura teased.

"Coincidence." Aria said.

"Uhmm hmm. Well you look nice." Laura said smiling as Nawf eyed Aria.

"Thank you. Remember my friend who designs? She's here if you want to meet her." Aria offered.

"She made that for you?" Laura asked.

"Yea. She just started a mommy and me line called Aura. She does designs for PLT and Fashion Nova." She told her.

"Oh she is good." Laura smiled admiring her outfit.

"Thanks." She smiled.

"I'll let you guys finish and we can talk on Monday." She smiled at Aria.

"It was nice seeing you again." Aria hugged his grandmother.

"Same here. You know you are also welcome to stop by okay?" She smiled.

"Thank you and thank you for having her. Ill see you all later." She told them as she headed for the door and Nawf followed.

"See." She told him as he walked behind her.

"What?" He said.

"I told you I didn't want people to get the wrong idea." She said as he followed

"What's the wrong idea?" He asked.

"Were not together. We barely know each other and obviously were not on good terms." She said.

"How aren't we?" He asked her.

"You still feel some type of way, I can tell. I get it I'm just not here to fake it or mislead myself." She told him opening he back door so he could put Aura in.

After he put her in her seat and buckled her up her turned to Aria.

"I hear you." He told her.

"Okay." She said about to wave at Eryka as he grabbed her waist.

"Stop playing." She swatted his hands as he gripped her waist harder.

"Mmm." She moaned out.

"I mean Mmhmm." she cleared her throat.

"Don't do that." He said.

"Antjuan, stop. That shit is not funny." She told him.

He pressed down on the same spot on her hip as he smirked. He knew when he found out that it was a spot for her as he saw her bottom lip quiver as she bit it.

"Can you unhand me?" She said as he looked at her.

Her eyes were definitely saying something else.

"Ight." He said letting go as she let out a deep breath.

He could tell she was fighting him. Of course he still felt some type of way about her not saying anything about their daughter but that never stopped his attraction to her. It was like the more he saw her with Aura it was harder for him to be upset. It was easy to smile at her since she seemed to make Aura so happy.

In all right he knew she felt bad. He understood where she was coming from. He thought maybe if he didn't lead with trying to fuck she would have said something. He wasn't sure but whenever her looked at Aria he knew he wanted her.

"Eryka c'mon before we leave you." Aria said to her friend who reluctantly walked away from JR.

"I'll have her call once she gets up." Aria said.

Nawf grabbed her hand.

"Huh?" She looked back before she turned away.

"You look good." He told her eyeing her.

She knew that look as she looked away and rushed to the drivers side.

He let out a light chuckle knowing exactly what she was running from, him.

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