Epilogue
A few months later . . .
“Sweet dreams,” I whispered to the twins.
After being breastfed until they were satisfied, they were down for a nap.
I sighed in relief because while I loved everything about them, mama still needed a break.
Having a four-year-old along with two newborns was not for the weak.
One of them was always in need of something, to the point that I didn’t even work at my shop anymore.
Perfect was my only client, and I couldn’t wait for our sons, Chosen and Chance, to get older.
I was definitely going to be their personal barber too.
They were three months old and coming into their features.
I pouted, looking at faces identical to Precious and Perfect.
I guess I was only good for carrying his little gremlins because none of them wanted to look like me.
After admiring them a little longer, I backed out of their nursery and closed the door softly. I sighed in relief and headed for the kitchen. Perfect looked up when my shoes came shuffling into the room. “Hey, Princess,” he said with a grin.
My stomach turned, watching him pop open the can of sardines. The smell of fish immediately made me want to gag, but I held it together. He had been going on for the longest about making us one of his prison set-ups, and somehow, today ended up being the day.
I took a seat at the island beside Pea. She was too busy coloring to pay me any attention. I leaned over to kiss her cheek, then sat upright. “Hi, babe. That’s a lot of ingredients.” I noted after eyeing everything he had laid out on the counter.
“Oh yeah, this is a masterpiece, baby. It’s lots of layers to get the perfect flavor.”
He kissed his fingers like a French chef, making me laugh. I decided to let him do his thing. I got up to head out of the kitchen, but Perfect’s panicked voice stopped me. “Wait. Where you going?”
I shrugged. “I was going to sit on the couch and watch a movie until you’re done.”
He gave me puppy-dog eyes and pouted. “Do you have to sit out there to do it? I want you to be in here with us.”
I couldn’t help but oblige. He looked so cute, and as much as he complained about me being spoiled, he also had his ways about him. The smile on his face when I came back to sit at the island with my iPad made any reason to complain leave my mind. This was exactly where I wanted to be.
I opened the Prime app and got a little excited.
I hadn’t had the time to watch a cheesy romance in a while, and I kept seeing people talk about Finding Joy, so that was my watch.
I plugged in my headphones, then started the movie.
Within minutes, I was chuckling and could tell I was going to love this.
It warmed my heart to see more true romance movies featuring beautiful women who looked like me being created.
Perfect stole my attention from the movie when he set the bowl of food in front of me.
It looked like rice and noodles mixed with the fish and some kind of beef sausage.
I glanced at Pea when he set a bowl in front of her too.
While he was busy fixing a bowl for himself, I went to the freezer and pulled out a bag of chicken nuggets.
I had a feeling I knew how this was about to go.
Sitting back at the island, I waited for him to come over. He pressed his hands together and smiled. “Okay. Dig in, ladies.”
Pea didn’t waste any time as she picked up her spoon and scooped out some rice. She took one bite and threw the spoon down. “I don’t like it, Daddy,” she told him honestly.
I held in my laugh because his eyes were on me next. “Okay, well, your turn, Princess.”
I gulped because the smell of the fish already had me hesitant, but for him, I shoved a spoonful in my mouth. I chewed slowly and could admit it was very flavorful, but the fish was ruining it for me. Before I knew it, I was gagging and ran to the trashcan to spit the food out.
“Wow, y’all really going to sit here and disrespect my cooking like this? I’m appalled.”
He picked up his bowl and stomped out of the kitchen. I felt a little bad because he genuinely looked hurt, but at the same time, some meals needed to stay in prison. There was no way this was the best he had for seven years. I felt sad even thinking of him having to bear with this for sustenance.
Turning to Pea, I asked, “Want some chicken nuggets?”
She nodded excitedly. “Yes, please, Mommy.”
I smiled because I expected nothing less. I popped the nuggets in the air fryer, then got her out a juice box and the bottle of honey mustard for her meal. When the air fryer beeped, I put the nuggets on her plate and set it all in front of her.
She was satisfied, so I went to look for Perfect. I found him in the backyard, rolling up a blunt. Going back into the kitchen, I went to the pantry for what I was looking for, then went back through the living room and out onto the back patio with him.
He pretended not to see me by blowing smoke in the sky, which made me laugh. Walking closer, I held out my hand. When he glanced at it, I opened my fist to show him the Hershey kiss sitting there. He squinted at me. “Fine. I forgive you for disrespecting me.”
I couldn’t help but laugh as I plopped down on his lap without permission.
He wrapped his arms around my waist. I felt grounded when he buried his face in my side and inhaled deeply.
His eyes were closed, and all I could do was admire his handsome face.
I needed to be careful before I was waddling around here again.
He would surely knock me up again if I let him.
“You wanna hit it?”
I nodded. “Hell yeah. I could use a little pick-me-up.” I tried to take the blunt from him, but he shook his head.
I watched him inhale and then motion for me to come closer.
He blew the smoke into my mouth when I was close enough.
His lips brushed against mine, and heat flared from the soles of my feet.
I started choking from the potent smoke, making him laugh. “You just wanted to kiss me,” I said between my hacking.
He smirked. “Yeah, I did.”
“Let me hit it again so I can go in here and check on your daughter.”
He gave me another shotgun, then I did just that.
He smacked me on the ass when I was walking away.
“I love the way that thing jiggles.” He bit his fist and shook his head like he was trying to get rid of thoughts of following me into the house.
Because I liked to play, I bent over and bounced my ass cheeks a few times for him.
“Don’t play with me, El. You know I’ll have you hemmed up somewhere screaming my fucking name. ”
I giggled innocently, then ran into the house. I was smiling up until the moment I walked into the kitchen to see Pea on the floor, covered in flour. “Ahhhh,” I groaned. I thought we were past this phase already.
Always on alert, Perfect was standing beside me within seconds.
He chuckled when he saw what she’d done.
I popped him in the middle of his chest. “It’s not funny.
It’s hell getting that stuff out of her hair.
” I paused as I had a thought. “Matter fact, since you think it’s so funny, you get the honor of cleaning this up and washing her hair. ”
He bumped into me as he walked over to her. “Okay, and? Like that’s supposed to hurt me.”
I flipped him off with a roll of my eyes, but I took off running when he jumped up and started running after me. I only made it to the hallway before he scooped me up from behind and pinned me against the wall.
“What was that thing you did with your finger?”
I shook my head. “Nothing. You’re seeing things.”
He licked his lips while looking at me like I was a flounder fresh out of some hot grease. “Mhm, that’s what I thought, scary ass.”
I was about to reply when I heard one of the twins crying. Seconds later, the other one joined in. Perfect smiled. “You handle them while I clean up Pea, then meeting in our bedroom when we’re done?”
I palmed his face and kissed him deeply. “You promise?”
“To knock the Mario coins out that pussy?” I nodded, and he tucked my hair behind my ear. “I was going to do that anyway, but yeah, I promise, Princess. Now take your freaky ass on before I say fuck these kids and take you in the room now.”
“Says the man who's got me pinned against the wall right now.”
He shrugged. “You be seducing me.”
I laughed. “No, I do not.”
He nodded and twirled my hair around his finger. “Yeah, you do. All you gotta do is breathe, and I’m activated.” He stepped back, allowing me space to walk to the nursery. “Aye, tell them lil’ niggas to save some milk for DaDa.”
“You’re sick,” I said with a smile.
“You like it.”
“You’re wrong.” I beamed. “I love it.”
He snatched me to him quickly and pecked my lips. “And I love you.”
The sound of our sons getting louder was the only reason I backed away from him.
It was cool though because I knew, without a doubt, that man was going to be in our bedroom waiting for me to join him.
We were obsessed with each other like that.
That knowing kept a smile on my face. My man had always been perfect, even before he knew it himself.
Second chances were beautiful like that. It was harder to give your heart to someone after they broke it. But like the old folks would say: if you love someone, then let them go, and if they come back . . . Well, you know the rest.
The End