REASON #2
For the next forty-five minutes, my cousins whooped their asses to a pulp.
When they were done, Tianna and Ann couldn’t even part their lips to speak.
They looked around; each had one eye that wasn’t swollen shut.
I had instructed my cousins to give them a black eye each because I needed these bitches to see their way up out of my establishment.
I moved away from my spot near the wall and towered over the bloody mess. The women were slumped on the floor, groaning, crying, and barely able to move.
“Now that that’s settled, y’all better have my muthafuckin’ money back in my account in twenty-four hours.”
I thanked my relatives and then motioned for them to leave.
They would never charge me, but they knew me, and they knew I would bless their accounts before the day was over.
“Back to y’all sticky fingers, snatch eating asses.
If y’all utter a single word to anyone about today’s events, you’ll see me again, and next time it won’t be so pretty.
I’ll even create a slideshow with these photos and release it to y’all families.
With that being said, be grateful that all you’re leaving with is a good ole beatdown. ”
I paused, and all the muscles in my face twitched while my eyes pierced them.
“One more thing. Don’t think about tryna run away either.
I’ve got y’all passports and each one of y’all family member’s passports in my possession.
Be mindful of what you decide to do after you leave here.
” I paused briefly before I continued. “I get my money back, and then I’ll return the passports. Simple.”
I signaled to the guards.
“Yo, get these broads off my property. And make sure I never see y’all faces again.”
I swaggered out the door, and once I was alone, I breathed a sigh of relief.
Now I could go meet with my lady and discuss this baby situation. Then, if I was lucky, we wouldn’t waste any more time and start going half on a baby.
Saje picked a seafood restaurant on the beach for our date. She was running late due to filming, so I chilled at our table scanning the menu. I already decided to order scallop and salmon penne pasta.
“Excuse me, sir.”
I looked up and stared into the eyes of an attractive, big, curly haired, light skinned woman.
“Why is such a handsome man sitting by himself?”
“Because he’s waiting for his wife. Now, bitch be gone.” Saje appeared, answering the woman’s question before I had the chance to dismiss her.
The lady made up her face in disgust and scurried away.
One thing about Saje: she didn’t hold back for anything or anyone. She said exactly what was on her mind and meant every word, too. Sometimes it could be a good or bad thing.
“Babe, you ain’t had to do the woman like that,” I stated, as I tried to hold back my laugh when I remembered the look on the stranger’s face when she heard Saje’s voice.
Saje’s beautiful, fox-like eyes turned to slits. “What? Was you tryna entertain the hoe?”
I looked at her to see if she was serious. It didn’t take long for me to find out.
It also didn’t take long for me to hit her with my comeback. “All I need in my life is you.”
“I already know, baby.” She gave me a half smile.
“Then stop playin’ with me and come over here and gimme them lips.”
Saje placed her purse on the table and happily rushed over to my side of the table. She smothered me with pillow-soft kisses and a hungry tongue. After forgetting we weren’t in the confines of our bedroom, she sauntered back to her seat and picked up the menu.
“Ooo, the scallop and salmon pasta sounds delicious. I think that’s what I’ll have.” Saje did a little shimmy in her seat.
I chuckled. Her gorgeous smile lit a fire in me. I loved seeing her excited, even if it was over food.
“It’s funny, out of all the available options, we both decided on the same meal.”
Saje was cheesing hard.
“My love, great minds think alike. Cliché, cliché.”
I nodded in agreement while closing our menus and placing them at the edge of the table.
In the middle of Saje and me staring each other down, the waiter approached us.
“Hello, and welcome to Surfside Grill. I’m Javier, and I’ll be your server this evening,” the waiter announced, introducing himself.
“Evening, Javier. We’ll have two of the strongest drinks on the menu, fried calamari for our appetizer, and for our main course, we’ll both have the scallop and salmon penne pasta, please.”
“Great choices. I’ll get that started for you all right away.” Javier collected our menus from the table and headed toward the kitchen.
“Okay, now. I see it’s going to be one of those drunk nights we haven’t had in such a long time.” Saje reached across the table and massaged my hands.
I smiled and licked my lips. “Something like that.”
She didn’t know I wanted us to be relaxed for the conversation that was coming. “Tell me about your day, baby.”
That’s all Saje wanted to hear. She opened up about every part of her day, the scenes that were filmed, the cast members who pissed her off, and anything else she could remember in that span of time. I let my lady get it all out. She talked until our food came out twenty minutes later.
We demolished our meals and sat around longer to enjoy the calmness of the oceanside scenery. It was the perfect atmosphere, and the drinks were kicking in. It was just enough to feel something, but not strong enough to alter my brain.
“Baby, I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”
She picked up her glass and gulped down the last bit of her drink. “About?” she asked. Her eyes were lower than normal.
“Having a baby,” I said flat out.
I’d sugarcoated and tiptoed around her feelings for a minute now.
“Oh, a baby?” she responded.
“I think it’s time. We have everything but a child we’ve created together out of love.”
I couldn’t wait to see Saje wobbling around carrying my baby. I had plans to spoil her from the day she took her first pregnancy test ’til the day I gifted her with a push present.
Saje called the waiter over. “Javier, can you bring us two shots of the strongest shit y’all got on the shelf?”
“Of course, ma’am. Coming right up.” He laughed on his way to the bar.
Her attention shifted back to me. “Reason, sweetheart. There’s nothing I’d rather do than carry your seed and become the mother of your baby.”
There was a gleam in her eyes as the corners of her lips lifted. Then, just as fast as that smile came, it disappeared.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, praying she wasn’t having another episode like the last one she had when we talked about having a baby.
“It’s just that…” she drew in a deep breath. “It’s just that I—I don’t know if I can carry a baby.”
She looked away, embarrassed and unable to look me in the eyes.
“What you mean?” I stirred in my seat with multiple scenarios flashing in my mind.
“What I mean is look how long we’ve been having sex, and not once have I gotten pregnant.”
She had a point, but it wasn’t enough to make me give up on the idea of having a baby with my wife. “To be fair, we’ve never really planned or tried to get pregnant.”
Saje lifted her gaze to the clear night sky before staring into the dark ocean. Then, seconds later, she looked back at me. “Really think about it… No slip ups? Not even a surprise pregnancy?” she questioned.
“Shit, it just wasn’t our time yet.” I paused, taking a minute to think, then I said, “And timing is everything.”
Suddenly, Saje’s expression turned into a frown.
“What’s wrong, beautiful?”
She sat there quietly, and I gave her time to gather her thoughts.
The sadness I saw in her eyes pulled at my heart. It made me get up, move to her side of the table, and wrap my arms around her.
“Reason?”
“Yes?” I drew back to look into her eyes.
“My love, what if I’m never able to have kids?” She blinked back tears.
“You’re still young and healthy,” I told her, knowing some women didn’t want children after a certain age, but these days, anything was possible.
“I know you’re good. You’re only thirty-five years young, but if anything, we gon’ cross that bridge when it comes.
” I gently pulled her chin upward so she could face me. Then, I kissed her.
Saje closed her eyes.
“We gon’ have a baby one way or the other. Don’t worry your pretty lil’ self about anything. I’ll handle whatever comes our way.” I kissed her forehead. “I promise I will.”
“Okay,” she whispered under her breath.
I pulled her closer and held her tightly as we listened to the calm ocean waves.