UNBROKEN (Friends, Lovers, or Nothing Book 5)

by Jackie Chanel

  Sunny’s security system buzzed, indicating that someone was at the gate. I had the gate installed much to Sunny’s objections. She doesn’t seem to realize that the paparazzi will drive right up her driveway if it means getting a good photo of me. As much as she claims to hate the paparazzi, she should be grateful that I’m trying to keep them off her property.

  I buzzed the delivery guy in and waited outside in the driveway for him to park and bring me the food. I don’t want strangers seeing inside of her house either. My child sleeps here.

  “You’re Aiden Tyler?” the female driver said. She was a cute little Chinese girl with spiky hair and big eyes. “Oh my God! You’re really him!”

  “That I am, babydoll,” I grinned. “How much do I owe you?”

  The driver fumbled with the receipt. “Umm, $44.17.”

  I handed her a hundred dollar bill. “Don’t worry about the change.”

  Her eyes lit up. “Really? Wow. Thanks.”

  “No problem. Have a good one.”

  Any other person would have taken that as a sign to get in their car and leave but the girl was frozen in place. I shook my head and tore off the menu stapled to one of the bags of food. I sat the bags on the hood of my car.

  “What’s your name?” I asked.

  “Ummm…An-Mei,” she stammered then told me how to spell it.

  To An-Mei, I wrote. Thanks for feeding me! Love Always

  I signed my name then handed An-Mei the menu and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “Have a good one, sweetie.”

  I didn’t stick around to see her reaction. I heard her giggle and say “O-M-G” as I walked back into the house with our food. That was enough.

  Sunny was waiting for me with that I’m famished look in her eyes. I recognized it right away. She was always hungry when she was pregnant with Summer. ALWAYS. I should have suspected she was pregnant way before she told me back then. It only got worse as her pregnancy progressed. Sometimes, I think that because she’s always worried about gaining weight being pregnant is her excuse to eat everything that she normally deprives herself of. There’s no other reason for me to be walking in the house with $45 worth of cheap Chinese take-out.

  She took the bags out of my hand and walked into the kitchen. She laid out a small buffet of containers on the counter, handed me a pair of chopsticks, and sat at the wide counter on her ridiculously comfortable high-back chairs and ate right out of the containers. I was halfway through a container of Moo Goo Gai Pan and listening to Sunny’s rundown of her New York trip when I stopped her to ask the question that had been bothering me for an hour or so.

  “Why don’t you want to tell me what E and Clay said about us getting married? Was it that bad?”

  Sunny stuck her chopsticks into a container of Lo Mein and chugged half of her ginger ale before answering.

  “They didn’t say anything because I haven’t told them yet. I haven’t told anyone.”

  “Why not? You embarrassed or something? Am I that bad? Do your friends hate me that much that you don’t want to tell them you’re marrying me?”

  “Aiden, my friends don’t hate you. It’s nothing like that.” Sunny tried to be soothing but her tone didn’t feel sweet. It felt condescending and that sure didn’t help.

  “Then what?” I replied angrily. “Why haven’t you said anything? My mom and sisters know. Roxy, Tracy, and Paulie know.”

  Sunny chuckled. “Well, damn. Who else is left to tell?”

  “Don’t play,” I said. “I understand keeping it out of the public for now but family doesn’t count. What did your parents say since you haven’t told your friends?”

  Sunny stared into the box of noodles like she was hoping it would answer for her. I repeated my question.

  “Okay, don’t get mad,” she pleaded.

  “Too late. You haven’t told them either?”

  “No,” was her quiet answer.

  “Why?”

  “You don’t understand, Aiden,” Sunny whined. “You forget how my parents can be at times. They’re really traditional about a lot of things. I thought they were going to disown me when I told them I was pregnant with Summer. You weren’t around for most of that pregnancy. You didn’t see how disappointed they were that their only child was pregnant out of wedlock and a single mother on top of that. Now here I am again…knocked up and not married. My mother is going to lose her shit, engaged or not. And my dad,” she shrugged and picked up her chopsticks to resume eating. “He’s going to be pissed that you didn’t come to him first. If I tell E, who we both know can’t keep a secret to save her life, then she’s going to tell her mom and it’ll get back to my mom. I’m already too stressed to deal with that drama.”

  “How do you think they’re going to feel when they find out after Fashion Week that you’ve been engaged for two months and didn’t say anything?” I asked.

  “Why is this so important to you?” Sunny huffed. “They’re my parents. Don’t make it a big deal.”

  “Our marriage is a big deal!” I shouted. “And did Xavier go to your father and ask for your hand? Did Tristan? Or is it just me, the rockstar white boy from the ‘burbs who has to prove to your parents that I’m good enough?”

  “Don’t start that,” Sunny said. “No one cares that you’re white. I don’t see what the big deal is, Aiden. FYI, Tristan never proposed, and Xavier took my dad out golfing. Over eighteen holes, they talked and he asked for my dad’s permission to marry me. It’s the proper thing to do and my father is going to be pissed that you don’t respect him enough to do the same.”

  “It’s a lame ass tradition that no one does anymore,” I argued.

  “Didn’t I just say that Xavier did it? It’s not lame. It’s important and you just bypassed that. I can’t change the way my parents are going to feel about that and I’d rather wait.”

  “Neither Paulie or Tahir asked my dad anything.”

  “And that’s why your sisters walked down the aisle without their father’s blessing,” Sunny retorted. “How long did it take for your dad to accept their marriages? Why go through all that? You and I have been friends for a very long time but my parents don’t know you like Kat and Joey know you. They have the right to know what you’re all about before I commit my life to you.”

  “Sunny, you’ve already said yes,” I said slowly. “Why would I ask permission to do something I’ve already done? Furthermore, your parents know me. Your parents love me.”

  Sunny squinted at me. “Is that what you think, Aiden?”

  Immediately, I could see that unless the Goddess of Rational Thinking descended from the heavens and slapped the shit out of Sunny, there’s no way I’m winning this argument. I decided to chalk this one up as a loss.

  “Fine. I’ll go to Atlanta and talk to your parents. I gotta go there anyway to work on the Final Hour album. Happy?”

  Sunny smiled. “Thrilled. But no baby talk, remember?”

  I grabbed the egg roll Sunny was reaching for and took big bite. “You damn sure better be worth all this trouble, Sunny Rain.”

  Sunny slid off her chair and stood between my legs. The flecks of green in her eyes danced under the bright lights in her kitchen. She wrapped one arm around my neck and pulled me down closer to her. The other hand snaked up my leg and grazed the crotch of my jeans. My cock sprang to attention.

  “Aiden,” she whispered. “I’m more than worth it.”

  ***

  “Aww shit!” Kat shouted while unlocking the screen door of her house. “Didn’t you just leave here? What you doin’ back so soon?”

  I was actually surprised that Kat was home at all. Her house is right on the way to Rabbit’s and my gut told me to stop there first. If she was home, I could hit Memorial Drive and head towards Dreamz’s studio in Decatur after telling Kat what I came here to say.

  I wasn’t lying when I told Sunny that I had to work in Atlanta. Joey and I have lined up some great producers for this Final Hour album but they’re giving us discounted
rates if we work around their schedule. I have to check in with Christian and Carson to make sure they’re doing what we need them to do and exactly what Dreamz says to do. I know how artists think because I might be the most hardheaded artist that ever stepped in a recording booth.

  I came a day before Sunny because I can’t let Kat find out about our engagement from her sister-in-law. That’s like my mother finding out from one of her HOA friends. Kat is Sunny’s aunt but this is different. Aunts aren’t as high-ranking as parents and that’s what Kat is to me.

  Kat was in one of her somebody-pissed-me-off red and black ensembles which meant she was about to hop in her new BMW and haul ass down to Rabbit’s to fire somebody. Probably the bartender. Last time I was here, she suspected him of stealing.

  “Boy, you’re blocking me in my own driveway. I done told you to park that ugly Firebird on the street a million times. You know I don’t like being blocked in.”

  “In case you have to make a quick getaway? Who are you tryin’ to run from?” I teased.

  “The law. What are you doing back here so soon? You just left a month ago.”

  Kat opened the screen door wider so I could enter her humble home that she believes is on par with Buckingham Palace. She and Jerry could afford a nicer house. Lord knows I’ve volunteered to buy one enough times, but she’s not having it. They have lived in the same house for thirty years. I’m afraid she and Jerry are going to die in there.

  “This is the last time I’m gonna ask you,” Kat said as we walked towards her kitchen, completely remodeled and upgraded. “What brings you back to Atlanta?”

  I sat down at my usual spot at the big L-shaped black granite countertop and watched as Kat started pulling the makings of a turkey and ham sandwich out of the refrigerator.

  “Your silence is wearin’ on my nerves, Aiden. Spill it, boy. What have you gone and done now?”

  Might as well get it over with and not prolong the suspense. “I proposed.”

  Kat laughed heartily as if my proposal was the punch line of a Kevin Hart joke. “To who?”

  “You know who.”

  “No, you didn’t.”

  She slathered mayo on one side of a hoagie roll then brown mustard on the other side. After the meat, she piled on cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and pickle then slid the plate over to me. “Eat. I know you’re hungry.”

  I wasn’t but I knew better than to turn down Kat’s food. Food is very important to Kat Mays. If she feeds you then that means she loves you. Turning down whatever she put in front of you is the ultimate disrespect.

  “Yes, I did.”

  “No, you didn’t. If you had proposed to Sunny, her mama would have been ringing my phone while standing on my doorstep banging on my front door. Peaches ain’t called me in two days. That’s how I know you’re lying.”

  I took a bite of my sandwich, chewed, swallowed, and then answered, “Her parents don’t know.”

  The knife Kat had been using to make herself a sandwich clattered into the sink when Kat tossed it. She put both hands on the edge of the counter and gripped it so tightly that I saw her knuckles turning pale.

  “Are you telling me that you proposed to my niece without talking to her parents first? How the hell can you call yourself proposing to anyone without telling their goddamn parents? Jermaine is going to kill you, boy. That’s for damn sure. Do you know how disrespectful that is?”

  “I know now,” I answered after swallowing the now dry bite of sandwich. “That’s why I’m here. Sunny wants me to ask her dad if we can get married.”

  “You got that look on your face like you think it’s stupid,” Kat said. The look on her face wasn’t any better than mine.

  “It’s an ancient tradition. I have better things to do with my time than flying across the country when a simple phone call would have done the trick.”

  “In this family, you better learn how to respect our ancient traditions,” Kat replied sharply. “There’s not a single girl in this family who has gotten married without her fiancé asking her father for her hand first. If you wanna marry his daughter, you damn sure better ask her father the right way.”

  Exasperated, I let out a huge breath. “I am! I know I said that already. Listen instead of just yelling at me.”

  “Excuse me? Have you lost your manners as well as your mind?”

  “Sorry. But—”

  “Don’t ‘sorry, but’ me, Aiden.”

  “Sorry. Anyway, I thought it would be better for you to hear this news from me instead of hearing it from Miss Peaches. I didn’t want you mad at me too.”

  Kat came around the counter and wiped her hands on a dishtowel before giving me a huge squeeze.

  “Do you love her, Aiden? Like really love her?”

  “I do. I want to marry her. I want to officially be a part of your family. I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”

  “Then I am happy for you, baby. And I think my brother will give you his blessing. When do I need to start planning the engagement party?”

  That was the reaction that I hoped for. Kat can be a very intimidating and I don’t like making her angry or disappointing her. She’s been so supportive of me, even more than my mother in the beginning of my career. Her being upset with me just can’t happen anymore.

  “Sunny gets here tomorrow and we’re talking to Peaches and Jermaine the next day. I’m taking them out to dinner. As long as you don’t tell Peaches that you already know, you can start planning the engagement party whenever you want.”

  Once again, Kat wrapped her arms around and hugged me tighter than she ever hugged me in her life.

  “You finally have her, baby. Whatcha gonna do to keep her?” she asked when she let me go.

  “Whatever it takes,” I promised Sunny’s aunt. “Whatever it takes.”

  The smile that spread across Kat’s face warmed my heart. Her smile was the smile of true joy. Her smile was supportive. But most of all, I saw in Kat’s expression exactly what I saw in my father’s expression the night he saw me play with the Rolling Stones. They were proud of me.

  Chapter 4: Countdown

  “MOMMY! I WANT ICE CREAM!”

  I rubbed my temples and continued to stare at the long line of cars stopped on North Avenue. We were passing The Varsity in the middle of rush hour traffic in downtown Atlanta. I don’t know why Aiden let the driver come this way. I’m sure it’s because I hired a driver to pick me up from the airport because I didn’t feel like riding in his Firebird. There are a number of different ways this Atlanta native could have directed our driver in order to get to our apartment. Driving through downtown at 5:30 on Friday damn sure isn’t one of them.

  “I’m sure Mona had them put some ice cream in the house,” I muttered in Summer’s direction. “You just have to wait until we get there.”

  My stomach gurgled again. This has been happening since our plane hit the runway at LAX. Part of the problem is this pregnancy. The other is pure nerves. I was starting to regret insisting that Aiden talk to my parents. I have a gut feeling that this weekend is not going to end well for any of us. Aiden swears up and down that my parents love him but that’s just his ego. He thinks everyone loves him. I know the truth.

  Peaches and Jermaine tolerate Aiden because he is the father of my child and my best friend after Erica. They love him the way parents do when they have no other choice. They find him amusing and I believe they respect him as a father. However, I’ve always got the vibe that they don’t believe he’s the best man for me. It’s a vibe that I’ve kept from Aiden because he doesn’t take rejection well.

  Dad and Aiden get along well since they’re both musicians. My dad has been playing with a local jazz band since before I was born. He never wanted a career in the spotlight though. He just wanted to play his bass on the weekends. I don’t think he admires the lifestyle that Aiden lives but he definitely admires and respects his talent.

  I know that I am Aiden’s biggest fan. He makes pure magic with a guitar, a
pen, and a pad. His talent is natural like my daddy’s. If I’m Aiden’s biggest fan, then my family, collectively, is a close second. Aunt Kat still treats him and Delilah like she gave birth to them. Uncle Joey acts like Aiden’s his son too. My parents know good music so they attend all of his shows that they can, especially since they can go for free. My cousins act like he walks on water so that they can get into all the VIP spots with him when we’re in town.

  Liking his music and wanting him to be my husband are two very different things. Our track record isn’t the best. I love this man more than my heart can stand but I think I just set him up to walk onto a minefield.

  I felt Aiden’s hand resting on my knee. I turned my head. He had the biggest grin on his face.

  “What are you smiling like that for?”

  “I don’t know. I’m just happy, I guess,” he answered. “What’s wrong?”

  I shook my head. “Nothing.”

  “You’ve been quiet since we left the airport. Are you worried about work or something?”

  “I’m always worried about work,” I snickered. “This collection is so important. I mean, RainDrops is nice and it has my name on it, but it’s Delilah and Daniela’s baby. However, Uninhibited, that’s all me. Every stitch, every thread, every button has to be impeccable.”

  “I know,” Aiden assured me. “That’s why I don’t bother you that much when you’re working.”

  I almost laughed out loud. If what he does is not bothering me when I’m working, I’d hate to see what bothering me looks like.

  “You doing this line is like when I made my first album after playing with Joey all those years,” Aiden continued. “So I get it, Sunny. I should be telling you not to worry because that’s what I’m supposed to do but we both know you’re not going to stop worrying until that last model walks off the runway. I just want you to relax and try to have a little fun this weekend. Will you do that for me?”

  I nodded as I twisted my ring around my finger. We were a little less than half a mile away from Aiden’s apartment in the city when his words hit me.