17. Lunch or punch?

Mateo and Sofia arrived in San Francisco barely two hours before Jessica's glucose test. They picked up their rental car and stopped to eat and were now headed to the hotel that they were staying in for the night.

Once they got in Sofia quickly laid down and turned the TV on as Mateo checked the time knowing he needed to leave soon to meet Jessica.

"How long is it going to take?" She questioned as Mateo easily shrugged his shoulders. "Never done this before. I think she said at least 2 hours though."

She sighed as she surfed through the channels. "And we're doing lunch after right?"

He nodded, "that's the plan." He took a seat on the end of the bed facing the TV as he put his watch on. "Her dude is coming too."

"She has a boyfriend?" She said with much surprise and delight.

Mateo chuckled a little as he looked back at her. "Yeah." Something like that he thought. "I told you it was nothing like that. She got her own shit going on just like we do."

She didn't respond as he got up, walking closer to her. "Alright I'm about to leave." He kissed her on lips before making his way towards the door! "Love you!" She yelled out.

He threw out a love you too and made his way out. He arrived with a little less than ten minutes to spare. He sent a text to Jessica as she easily let him know she was inside already.

He got out the car, locking the doors in the process as he walked in. Once he got to where she was they were calling her name, "Jessica Brown!" He watched as she got up, as she had not yet spotted him. So he just walked up beside her.

"Oh hey," she said a little startled as her eyes landed on him. He spoke back as they followed the lady to the back as she checked to make sure Jessica hadn't eaten anything and then went over how the procedure would go. She drew some blood then gave her a bottle with some type of  sweet liquid in it for her to drink. Once they handed it to her they were seated in a waiting area for her to finish it where it was just the two of them.

She made a nasty face as she took the first sip, "oh gosh, I think I chose the worst flavor." This caused Mateo to laugh. "It's not funny," she let out. "I have to finish this whole thing." She whined.

Mateo got up, going to sit in the seat beside her. "You got it. Just hold your nose as you drink it."

She looked at him like he was stupid, but did it anyways as she took another gulp. "Have you thought of any names?" He questioned trying to get her mind off the taste. She moved her head side to side as she took another sip. "Sort of kind of, not really. You?"

Mateo shook his head no. "Was thinking we could brainstorm some up together."

She nodded in agreement as she drank some more. "Crazy to think we're going to have a real life baby in a few months."

"I know," he let out as he sat all the way back in the chair. The thought of her not being Sofia came to Jessica's mind, not that she wanted to be Sofia. She was more than happy with who she was but the hurt surfaced at the thought of his words.

She didn't say anything as she took bigger gulps trying to finish it. The dislike she had for him intensifying in the moment.

"Our off season ends real soon. Practice will start up more and then games, so I'll be doing a lot more traveling and I'll be here a lot less." He stated as he interrupted the moment of brief silence.

She just nodded in understanding, not saying much. Out the mood to be in his presence with just that one thought.

"What's up?" He questioned. She looked over at him, "what?" She asked before looking at the bottle to see how much more she had to drink.

"What's wrong?" She scrunched up her eyebrows not understanding why he was assuming that something was wrong, though he had valid reason to.

"Nothing, why are you assuming something's wrong?"

He just looked at her for a moment as she made sure to stay away from his gaze. He shook his head deciding to let it go, then quickly decided against it. "You got quiet, quick. Went from conversing with me to shut down."

She rolled her eyes, which he quickly caught. "You're still mad." He let out.

"I'm not." She defended as she took another gulp of the disgusting drink. "Still bothered by it, yes. Still mad about it? No."

He sighed as he leaned forward and looked over at her. "What can I do?" He questioned. "What can I do to fix it? To make you feel better, to make you feel more secure."

She chuckled as she shook her head, now he wanted to do that? All he had to do was not say that and she would be fine. "Nothing," she let out.

It had been weeks, he didn't get why she was still on it. He apologized time and time again. They were back to conversing more regularly. He was clueless that she still felt some type of way, but sitting face to face with her made him realize the hurt was still very much there.

"Jessica," he started as the door opened and a woman peaked her head in to see how Jessica was doing with finishing the drink.

"You're doing good," she smiled before exiting back out.

He put his attention back on her. "If I could take back what I said I would. I'm lucky as hell that it was you, and not some crazy ass chick."

"What made you say that in that moment though Mateo, that exact moment?"

He was honest, "Sofia had just texted me stating how she wished it was her."

"She has so much control over you," she let lowly. Barely enough for him to hear as she drank more of the drink. One more gulp and she would be finished.

"No she doesn't, in that moment. Yeah I let how she felt control me."

She took the last gulp as she didn't respond. Checking the time, figuring they might ask what time she finished it.

"What are her thoughts of me?" Jessica questioned. "Honestly? She think I'm some home wrecker? Some groupie trying to come up on your money?"

"It doesn't matter," he started. "Just like it doesn't matter what Dwayne, that's his name right?" He paused as she nodded her head. He knew his name. "Just like it doesn't matter what he thinks of me. At the end of the day we all just need to learn to co exist. Because regardless of everything me and you will always be intertwined in one another's life because of our son."

It sounded good to Jessica, it really did. But she knew it wouldn't go over that well.

—

"You ready?" Jessica asked Dwayne as he sat on her couch playing on his phone. "Been ready, been waiting on your slow ass." He let out as he stood up.

"Shut up," she grabbed her clutch and keys as Dwayne headed out. She had changed into some real clothes, opposed to what she had on earlier in the day at her appointment.

They made it to Dwayne's car as he put the name of the place in his GPS. "I've never heard of this place," he let out.

Jessica agreed. "Me either but there menu looked decent." He shook his head. "Behave today," she let out as he looked over at her and smiled. "As long as he does."

They pulled up to the restaurant within fifteen minutes. Just as they pulled up Mateo sent her text letting her know the table was under his name.

Dwayne grabbed her hand kissing the back of it as they walked into the restaurant. Jessica gave the hostess Mateo's name as she escorted them to the table that Mateo and Sofia were already seated at.

Sofia was even prettier in person, that was one of the first things she noticed. Just as Jessica noticed her beauty, Sofia noticed Jessica's as well. Jealously striking her for a moment, and surprise as she didn't expect her to be black; but of Latino descent like her and Mateo.

Jessica and Dwayne took a seat from across the two as she spoke, they spoke back as Mateo started introductions. "Sofia, this is Jessica. Jessica, Sofia."

They gave each other small smiles, "Mateo you already know Dwayne," she cleared her throat. "But this is Dwayne," she stated moreso looking towards Sofia. She smiled at him as Dwayne gave her one back, keeping his eyes on her longer than intended as he tried to figure out where he knew her from, however he put it to the back of his mind for the moment as him and Mateo gave each other a small head nod.

The waiter came over taking their drink orders before coming back to take their food orders. Once their orders were put in real conversation began to flow.

"So this is your boyfriend?" Sofia asked Jessica as she held her drink in her hand playing with the straw. She recognized Dwayne's face but wasn't fond on trying to figure out from where. Her past wasn't the most clean cut.

"No," Jessica let out at the same time as Dwayne said yeah. They looked at each other as Dwayne decided to clarify. "Working towards getting back there."

Sofia nodded as a smirk played on Mateo's face. "Well that's good," Sofia started as she finally took a sip of her drink and put it down. "Then I won't have to worry about you trying any slick shit with my man," she smiled and tried to laugh it off as if it was a joke as she leaned into Mateo.

Nobody else laughed, Mateo thought it was wildly inappropriate. A small smile came to Jessica's face as she averted her gaze to Mateo who sighed and then to Dwayne, who gave her a look basically asking was she going to say something or did she want him to.

She quickly put her eyes back on Sofia. "That was rude as hell and not the least bit funny. This isn't what we're about to do," Mateo let out surprising Jessica as she looked over at him.

A small look of embarrassment crossed Sofia's face, she couldn't believe he would call her out like that. "No Mateo, it's fine. So is that what you're worried about?" Jessica questioned. "I mean we're all here for a reason, if we're going to jump into it, let's jump into it."

"It was joke," Sofia let out with an eye roll and a wave of her hand. "I know it's nothing like that between you two."

Jessica didn't believe her. "Okay good." She said anyways. "Anything you care to ask? Want to know?" Jessica questioned.

Sofia got comfortable as she looked at Mateo, "she's pushing for it." Mateo told her certain shit was off the table for her to bring up like asking if she was keeping the baby for money, and other bullshit Sofia pressed with him.

Jessica looked over at Mateo who connected eyes with her. He didn't want any bullshit going down, but he knew it was bullshit the day he even asked Jessica to meet Sofia. Jessica looked back over at Sofia. "Ask whatever you want."

Sofia tucked a hair behind her ear as she looked from Dwayne to Jessica. "I'm not trying to be rude or anything, this is our first time meeting and I honestly would like for us to get along," she smiled. "So please don't be offended." Mateo let out a deep breath as he shook his head and leaned back in his chair as his eyes focused on Jessica who stayed focused on Sofia without a hint of agitation on her face.

"But be real," Sofia continued, "why are you having this baby? You see he's in a happy relationship. I'm sure you knew I existed. And you clearly have your own thing over there that you're trying to work on. Like I just don't get you girls. Like is it the money? The possible fame? What is it?"

"Ask your nigga why he couldn't keep his dick in his pants if he was so happy with you." Dwayne threw out. "Talking about she clearly knew, don't nobody know who the fuck you two are and she ain't no broke ass chick. So kill all that shit." Dwayne never took disrespect easy when it came to people he cared about, this whole situation pissed him off as much as did Sofia but he wasn't about to let her rag on Jessica.

Jessica squeezed his thigh as she looked at him, "chill out it's okay." She put her eyes back on Sofia as she held a serious facial expression. "For starters, I had no idea who Mateo was until after I found out I pregnant. So I damn sure had no idea who you were either. I don't know if he told you how it went down but it was a drunk night, I barely remember the shit. I got tested and I even took a Plan B the next day for safety to hopefully prevent any shit like this from happening since I couldn't recall anything. However according to my doctor I was probably already ovulating and Plan B doesn't work if you're already ovulating so boom, now we're here. I didn't have it in me to get rid of this child. I wasn't going to live with regret I could prevent."

"So no, I'm not having this baby for money or fame. That shit does nothing for me. I would be fine without his money if I had to take care of this child on my own. As much as you wish this shit didn't happen, it did. We all wish it didn't happen but we're here and my son is coming," she grabbed her stomach, "and I hope I've cleared up any preconceived notions you have about me. And let's just be clear I'm good with or without Mateo's hand in the mix."

Mateo nodded, respecting her response. "So you cheated on him because you were drunk?" Sofia questioned as she pointed towards Dwayne. "Sofia," Mateo let out appalled by her question. "Kill that shit."

"So he cheated on you because he was drunk?" Dwayne asked back like she was stupid. "Me and her were broken up. She ain't cheat on shit over here. We aren't anything like the two of you weird ass mothafuckas."

"Dwayne!" Jessica let out as she looked over at him. "We were broken up during the time too bitch. Don't try me." Sofia let out towards him. She could be just as much of a firecracker as Dwayne was being.

Jessica quickly looked over at her as Mateo shook his head. He was trying to stay calm and levelheaded in the mist of all this bullshit. But he tightened his jaw, a sign he was getting aggravated.

"Can the two of you stop?"Jessica asked with a slightly raised voice.

"He acts like a little bitch," Sofia let out.

Dwayne laughed as he licked his lips, looking around the restaurant before looking at Sofia. Mateo was waiting for him to say something crazy because this is where he would indeed step in. He could admit that Sofia was doing too much. But Mateo would never go back and forth with another man's female and he felt like Dwayne was weak to even being doing it.

"And you act like one too!" Jessica let out before even allowing Dwayne to respond. Sofia was definitely doing the most to her, if Dwayne was acting like bitch then she definitely was. She didn't agree with Dwayne going back and forth with her but at the same time it was all for her sake.

"Excuse me?" Sofia questioned as she zoned in on Jessica.

"This shit is stupid," Mateo let out. "Everybody acting like a bunch of fucking kids right now."

"Nahh, you're girl a fucking kid. Throwing every blow she can at Jess and what the fuck you doing about it?" Dwayne countered.

"I'm asking her questions, you're the ones getting your panties in a bunch about it." Sofia let out.

"Sofia shut the fuck up" Mateo said before focusing on Dwayne, "nahh, I said we wasn't doing that shit and Jessica told her to go for it. And then I also told her chill the fuck out and you wanted to keep it going further by entertaining it. So both of you fucking children. Going back and forth like some females."

"Man fuck you, you let your girl come at Jessica sideways anyway she please." He looked towards Jessica. "You got a weak ass baby daddy, just know he not gon' ever have your back when it come to her," he pointed towards Sofia.

Sofia rolled her eyes as Jessica put her eyes on Mateo. "But fuck it," Dwayne continued pulling Jessica's focus back to him. "I'll play daddy, I always wanted a son anyways."

Part two coming soon... haha!