Chapter 13 #2
“I thought we were getting ice cream, Neela? You can’t have both before dinner. Your daddy won’t be happy about that.” I looked down and she poked her lip out, but I wasn’t moved.
“Daddy won’t mind. Pretty please, with a strawberry on top.” I smirked at her now batting her eyelashes as if I would change my mind.
“How about I make you something better than a popsicle? Then get you changed into your bathing suit.” Neela tilted her head to the side as she tapped her chin.
Cece is rubbing off.
“Okay.” And like that she was off while I finished my quick search, then proceeded to pull up the Munchies app for all the supplies I would need.
After that I made my way upstairs, letting the girls’ giggles lead me to them.
I stopped right outside the door, listening to Cece and Neela talk about me.
“Cece, I really like Ms. Liv, do you think she’ll stay for a long time?”
“Me too, I hope so. We just have to pray and ask God for Ms. Liv and Daddy to love each other, and get married, then we’ll have a brother and a mommy forever.”
It was quiet for a minute, so I dared to look around the doorframe to see them now on their knees with their little hands in the prayer stance as Neela began to pray.
I took out my phone and snapped a quick picture for Highland. He had to see how hard his girls were working for our relationship right now.
I then waited until I heard the amen before I made my entrance.
“Okay, are my girls ready to relax?” I held out my hand, calling out to them so I could get them changed. I was working out of order since I was officially waiting for the pineapple to make my homemade pineapple cream slushies.
“Look at me, Ms. Liv!” Cece called out as she pinched her nose then dunked herself under the water.
” I yelled a cheer while Neela lay between my legs, playing on her tablet with her glasses on while I painted her toes a soft pink color.
I had done Ceona’s first since she was older.
I didn’t need a distraction for her to sit still unlike Neela.
After my homemade pineapple cream slushies with vanilla ice cream, we found ourselves laid out by the infinity pool with the special kiddie section just for them. This was different for me. I wasn’t used to having girls, but it was something I could get used to.
“Baby, we’re home.” Highland’s voice came in strong from behind me. I turned slightly, holding both the nail polish and Neela close to be sure I didn’t drop either.
My smile was wide as he moved in inches from my face, placing a tender yet quick kiss on my lips.
The act of stifling my moan was starting to become a new skill at this point.
The brief moment between us was done the moment the girls noticed him.
Their sweet calls of “Daddy” rang out while I looked around for mine.
Cece made her way out of the pool while Neela left my lap, both talking in unison about the slushies I made and showing him their little toes.
I looked on for a minute until I realized Jo-Jo was nowhere in sight.
“Um… you said we’re but I don’t see my baby.” I was up and looking around, with Highland hooking my waist, holding me back. The girls had both left and headed to the pool, leaving us standing there, Highland now engulfing me into both of his arms.
“He’s not a baby, Olive, and he’s changing so he can join Ceona and Neela by the pool. Now tell me what you and these two got into while we were gone?”
“He will always be my baby, Highland, and didn’t you just get a play-by-play?” I asked as I rolled my eyes. This was his second time stating that and I didn’t like how it sounded.
He leaned down and bit my cheek, making me wince in pain as he then kissed it.
“I zoned out once I noticed you and all this ass in this fucking bathing suit. I thought the bikini from our date was showing me something, but damn baby. This ass don’t stand a chance not being seen at all.
” Highland’s tone came out rough and strained as he spoke lowly in my ear, with his hands moving lower, giving my butt a squeeze with a little tap.
“Uht uhn” I groaned just as low as I did my best to break free from his hold. He felt too good, but he was causing a problem that the sunset and three wide eyed kids were blocking him from handling properly.
“Too many eyes and not enough adults for a sneak away,” I said just as Jo-Jo called for me.
I broke away and turned to see him in the doorframe with the trunks on.
“Mommy, did you save me some of the drink?” My nose scrunched up in confusion as I wondered how he knew since he wasn’t out here to see the cups because I had cleaned the kitchen of any evidence.
I looked around, catching Highland’s eye in the process.
He too now sported a gaped mouth mirroring mine as he began to shake his head.
“Damn, he was right? I owe him fifteen dollars on this bet.” That was Highland, further confusing me.
“Huh? A bet? And Jo-Jo, how do you know I made something to drink?” I had to know. Jo-Jo now wore a smug grin as he approached Highland with his hand out, waiting for his money. It was Highland who spoke up though.
“He said something at the course when you called that you would make lemonade or something. He even said it would be in a fancy ass glass too. Jo-Jo said that’s what you do with Byrdie and that I wouldn’t understand because it’s a girl thing. Damn, I shouldn’t have taken the bet.”
His little ass spends way too much time under me.
“Jo-Jo’s ass be around y’all too much. I’ma start taking him with me and Tunk on ball day. We gotta fix that. But back to his question, did you save us something to drink?”
I wanted to address the other issue but not in front of the kids.
“Hey, y’all stay in the shallow end, I’m going to make some more of the slushie, okay?
” The okays came in unison. Highland was hot on my ass, with me making my way back in the house, thankful I could watch the pool from here.
He slid the door slightly closed, just enough to still hear the kids.
I wasted no time going in. It was day one and I was already feeling a way.
“So you placed a bet with my son? He’s six, Highland.
He’s just a baby,” I said as I moved to grab the ice cream, pineapple chunks, ice, and coconut milk.
I turned my back to him as I watched the kids.
I felt him now surrounding me as he cornered me against the counter, placing both hands on the sides of me.
He released a heavy sigh as he leaned down on my shoulder, placing kisses.
I could tell that he was trying to finesse me right now, but I wasn’t going for it as I now put all of my weight on my hip and crossed my arms, still not looking at Highland.
“Olive, it was harmless. I make the same ones with the girls if that makes you feel better. But you really have to loosen that hold, baby. Jo-Jo isn’t a baby.
He’s a young boy who will grow into a man before you know it.
That fact that he said it’s a girl thing and I wouldn’t understand is enough to stop the coddling. ”
I shifted until we were face to face. Highland staring into my eyes almost made me crumble before I could state my argument. I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply before I put my hands on his chest, trying to create the distance I needed to be strong.
“Thank you for your input on my parenting skills but considering that you’ve been in our lives for less than a minute, I don’t think you’re exactly qualified to tell me much about my son. And no, that doesn’t make it better. They are babies, High—”
My lips were no longer moving with words coming out but instead allowing Highland’s lips to take control and make them do what he wanted.
The kiss was deep, and rough, as he hooked my neck with his hand.
By the time we came up for air, I was dizzy and breathless as he spoke with a definite tone that sealed it all for me.
“I don’t care if I just got here yesterday, I’m here now, and wherever his dad lacks, I’m officially stepping in and taking over.
Just like I’m letting you have your way with mine.
I didn’t even trip over the nail polish because I know that’s your lane and their smiles told me they’re happy and safe.
And since this love brewing between us is a forever type of thing, you gon’ have to trust that I would never do anything to hurt any part of you, especially him. Do you understand me?”
Well shit, the Captain has spoken, Olive.
I nodded first before my words came back without much pushback from me because he was right.
“Aye, Aye, Captain.” He smirked then pecked my lips.
“Good. Now let me see what this drink is all about, while I start this grill. All I want to see is my woman laid out by the pool in the very little material covering all the places my mouth can’t wait to taste again.”
The smack to my ass had me falling in line as I went to work on making more of the drink so I could do as my man requested.