Inevitably Love. (Complicated #2)

Chapter 8

Eight

F uck it …

She’d been in there too damn long. So, I decided to open one of the two doors to the bathroom. This girl could have been dead in my tub while I’d been out here trying to busy myself with work under the guise of giving Hayden her privacy. Enough was enough.

Once inside, I saw she was there, stretched out in the tub. Hayden looked so small resting in the freestanding porcelain bowl with a portion of her head just inches above the raised lip.

“What’s that I hear?”

Hayden looked my way, then down toward her feet. “The drain. I’m letting go of some of it to run more hot water. Is that okay?” Her voice was small, too. Sad.

“If you’re okay. I’m okay. How long can you—pregnant women—stay in bath water?”

Slowly, she answered, “As long as the water isn’t hot, I can stay in as long as I want.”

“And how long is that?”

Another spell ticked by before she answered, “I haven’t figured out how to remove your tracker. Or you.” She wouldn’t look at me.

Boo-baby …

You can’t .

“Can I help?”

That’s when Hayden looked my way again. “You’re the opp,” her words fell innocently.

That shit made me chuckle. It was Mehki’s generation’s language. I began pulling off my shirt. “I don’t want to be.” Next, I kicked out of my shoes, peeled off my socks, then removed my pants and underwear. I tossed everything next to the door and sauntered over to her. As Hayden paid close attention to every advancement I made toward the tub, her jaw collapsed. That’s when I knew I hadn’t lost her. She was still unable to school her reaction to my features, especially my bouncing dick. After placing my phone on the stool next to the tub, I stepped into the opposite end of the tub. “This shit is hot.”

“That’s because your first touch was the surface where the hot water is coming in.”

She was right. When Hayden pulled her long, toned legs in, bringing her knees above the water, I was able to reach the bottom of the tub. The water there was cooler. She grabbed the small bottle of oil and squeezed in a few drops. The fragrance was immediate and pleasant.

“On a scale of ‘after a good night’s rest, you’ll be more rational in the morning’ to a ‘I’m cutting this nigga’s cock off as soon as he falls into REM’ where are you mentally?”

“Oh, I’m feeling violent. But I can’t go to prison. I’ve got a baby to look after.”

I smiled. “So, I’m safe from harm?”

“Your life is safe. The quality…” She seesawed her head. “I don’t know.”

“What can I do to help?”

“Help what?” She reached over to turn off the faucet.

“Help you work through your feelings.”

“If I told you, you wouldn’t agree to do it.”

“Try me.”

Her sad eyes lifted to me. “Give me space.”

“For what?”

“To think. To get my shit together.”

“And then what?”

Hayden’s eyes circled above my head. “Then I can be fresh to think and work on my feet again.”

“Then?”

“Then I’ll be strong again.”

I reached for her leg beneath the water. “Then you wouldn’t want me.”

“Why do you care? I’ve already told you, I don’t expect anything from you for this baby, Ishaan.”

“But what if it’s about more than the baby?”

The muscles in her face turned hard. “What else could possibly bind us?”

My brows lifted as I scoffed, feeling silly for my impending words. “I like you. I told you that earlier. I think you’re a special woman.” Hayden’s eyes squeezed closed. A thought occurred. “You know what I think you’re struggling with more than anything?”

“What?” she asked with sarcasm.

“The fact that you like me, too.”

“I wouldn’t say all that.”

“Because you’re not honest with yourself. But the more you get to know me—aside from the tracking shit and me being firm about where you and the baby will live—you like me a bit more.”

“I don’t like you. I like…”

“Fuckin’ me.” I smiled knowingly.

That irritated Hayden. “And fucking and liking are two different things.”

So, I was right.

“You shouldn’t be carrying stress like this. All I’m here to do is provide solutions, not to burden you. I’m a professional fixer. Put it all on me, except for carrying the baby. I can’t do that. Anything else, try me.”

Her eyes narrowed and head bounced over her shoulders in the water. “And past temporary shelter, what can you relieve, Mr. Patterson?”

I reached between my legs and grabbed my dick. Disturbing the water, I palmed it awake, which didn’t take long. Then I lifted my pelvis toward the air for a reveal. Her low eyes stapled against my erect flesh, completing it to steel. Hayden licked her lips, lashes beating.

“I won’t judge you. Do what you need to do, Boo-baby.” I could hear the strain in my voice.

I was patient but eventually Hayden made a move. She gripped the sides of the tub then pulled her legs in to stand. I was prepared to assist but Hayden had it alone. When she stood in front of me, gloriously naked and dripping, I was now the one seduced to silence.

Fuck …

Her round breasts—the nipples were wider and darker. There was a dark line running from the top of her belly down to her pubic bed. It was as foreign as aliens the first time I’d noticed it, and so fucking sexy at the same damn time. Ringlets of water raced down her leggy body as Hayden peered down at me, eyes low with a hanging lip.

I’d done this. I’d done this to her. I melted a baby deep inside her womb. It was also me who made her body hum the way it was before me right now. It all needed to be bottled and captured in an image. Without much thought, I reached for my phone. Hayden was patient as I adjusted the camera view. This wasn’t a lewd act. It was an intimate one. I didn’t want her pussy included. I even snapped one without her nipples but damn sure caught her alluring cleavage and full bottom lip as she gazed down on me. Once I got what I needed, I placed the phone back on the stool.

Hayden was visibly tense, muscles contracting, and not from being chilly. I trailed my fingers up her leg and onto her toned thigh. Then I toured to her apex until I found her clit. As I rubbed her swelling nub, I felt cool air shower down on my face from her heavy exhale. Hayden’s legs loosened and thighs opened invitingly. Her eyes were closed as I strummed her into a gelled wonderland. I pushed a finger inside her warm pussy while using my thumb to sweetly circle her clit.

Closely measuring her cadence, when Hayden’s whole pelvis began tightening, I withdrew my movements and hand. That’s when her eyes burst open. At first, they were tight from the muscle strain. Quickly, they turned dark from anger. My boo-baby was still hot with me. This act had just exasperated it. Again, I lifted my steely rod above the water level and motioned for Hayden to proceed.

She wasted mere seconds deciding. Then, with a severe scowl, Hayden positioned her legs outside of mine. I adjusted to make room for her then strained to raise my ass in the water so she could lower herself onto me. After a few grunts and hip strains, she was safely mounted, and I held her tight at the hips as I submerged back into the water.

Hayden took no time to start riding me. The first few strokes were slow and short. As she plunged, my attention went to the contour of her breasts. They were generous, far more pronounced than they were when we’d met. They were bigger and firm. Her areolas were like five times darker than her tits, similar to the line running down her round belly. I loved the color combination. Slowly, I outlined them with my fingers then gently plucked her pebbled nipples.

Damn. This was pregnancy. And I fucking loved it . Was it this good for all men? Because shit, I was now more familiar with Hayden’s body in gestational form than I was in her natural state. Nah. I was fucking crazy about her expectant body. Everything about it turned me on. It stroked my ego and expanded my masculinity. Feeling the massage of her pliant tissues gripping my shit, I fought for control of my mind to endure the pleasure. I couldn’t believe I’d done this. I’d inhabited a woman’s body—transformed it. I’d created a life which was now incubating.

My eyes roved up her amazing casing, and I reclined to rest my head on the lip of the tub. When my attention landed on her beautiful face, Hayden’s scowl contorted. She looked down on me with disdain. Even in my seduced state, I understood her disposition. Hayden was weakening riding my dick. She appreciated my anatomy and all things accompanying it. She even liked my adoration of her. What she hated was enjoying it all. I had a feeling she didn’t want anything I was giving her, including my dick, but she helplessly relished it. And as long as that was her position, it would be difficult for us to move forward.

I was engaging with a woman who relished independence. For her, independence gave control. And obsession with control as an adult could have stemmed from feeling you didn’t have enough of it as a child. Judging by the chemistry she shared with her mother earlier, I doubted my inclinations were far off.

So, as Hayden gazed down on me with disdain, I wouldn’t address it. I wouldn’t attempt to dominate the angry energy she exuded. I’d let her take from me what she needed in the moment. I’d make her feel in control. The truth was, though Hayden was carrying my baby and had to acclimate to my world, she retained a lot of control.

“Get it out, Boo-baby,” I invited on a whisper.

Hayden blinked and disturbed the rhythm of the sloshing of the water. “Get what out — Are you talking about an orgasm?” She grunted sexily but with a full attitude. “Are you that arrogant?”

I shook my head. “No. We know that’s imminent. But I meant your frustration. You can always be real with me. In fact…” I sucked in my bottom lip, attacked by the sensation of her rolling over me while driving my cock like a stick. “I require honesty. So, get it all out. Take it all out on me. I won’t judge or fight back.”

That was followed by her scoff, “I think you should be careful of what you ask for. You have no idea just how pissed the hell off I am.”

“Then get it off your chest, Boo-baby.” My voice and tone were gentle, “Do what you need to do.”

Hayden didn’t speak after that. She continued with her thrusts, building into a purposeful drive. I studied her face to show her I was here in the moment with her, keeping up my end of the bargain. I was also studying the girl. She was struggling with a lot. After a while, I realized the one thing she was battling with was not being uncomfortable with my body or my presence. Pregnant and all, Hayden rode the shit out of my dick with determined energy. Her face strained with disdain as she cupped my shoulders.

My eyes grew lazy, lids lowering as I endured her cushioned walls.

Oh, my fucking …

I felt my jaw drop, mouth so wide open, I could have caught one of her bouncing tits or grip the meat of her hips with my hands to join her motion. I couldn’t because I had two fucking things to do: keep my word about remaining defenseless and not cum before she did. So, I had to tap into the military brain my father developed in me years before I thought to enlist. I had to mentally retreat from this room and leave my body here. With Hayden.

I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing. This always helped teleport me. As my breathing evened out, I felt Hayden’s soft hands move, which could be a distraction. Still, I remained motionless. Steeled. Her palms’ grip intensified, and body tensed. I assumed Hayden was preparing to explode. But her soft hands continued to move above my shoulders, which confused the fuck out of my senses. When her fingers and palms wrapped around my neck, finally in a hold I was familiar with, my eyes flashed open.

Fuck.

Hayden was choking me. Her eyes were glossed, holding a pool of tears. Those beautiful lips trembled with emotion. I knew not to panic. Hayden wasn’t stronger than me. How much strength she possessed would soon be learned, but she could never overpower me. So, I did not overreact. Besides, her hips didn’t stop their motion. My dick massage was still happening lecherously. The shit confused the hell out of me. At the same time, I knew I could fuck this up irreparably if I made the wrong move.

So, with our eyes locked onto each other’s, I tightened the muscles around my neck, hardly able to breathe. Then I thought to finally grab her ass and begin upward thrusts. I had to relax her, and soon, because… Fuck! I could hardly breathe. If she didn’t relax shortly, I’d have to forcibly remove her hands. And as easy of an act as that would be for me, it would not be one my boo-baby would enjoy experiencing. I didn’t want to cause her a second of discomfit in my presence ever. Regardless, what Hayden didn’t know was better than I could fuck, I was an even greater fighter. Combat was a sport to me, and I was one hell of a competitor. So much so, the only reason I wasn’t in defense mode now was because she was a soft woman on top of me, riding my dick.

I watched her nose lift and lips curl. But Hayden’s thrusts increased in pace. The shit was weird—getting weirder and weirder by the second. Still, my gut warned me to relax. I knew worse could happen. I’d wait.

Then —

Damn.

My groin began to tumble, and the pads of my feet heated. I was about to explode. Tears raced down Hayden’s face, her jaw relaxed, and lips broke apart. She continued to fuck me hard with wild ass abandon. Crying. Choking. Fucking.

What the fuck are we doing?

My eyes strained, balls heating. “Boo-baby,” I managed to wheeze against her grip on my windpipes.

Her head fell back, and Hayden howled like a wounded dog, “Oh! Ohh! Oh!”

Her cries went on and on, and eventually, so did her strength on my neck. But her palms weren’t fully relaxed before my orgasm exploded, lifting me from the porcelain finishing of the tub. Hayden almost lost her balance, forcing her one hand to slide down to my shoulder. Nutting while trying to catch my breath intensified my orgasm. I couldn’t stop cumming. I couldn’t stop impaling into her, anchored by the fat of her ass.

When I could slow to a stop, my breathing was loud as hell and choppy. I felt needy. Emotional as fuck. With her eyes still closed and heaving her damn self, Hayden sat up on my lap. Her arms stretched out to grab the sides of the tub. But I wasn’t done with her. Shivering, I needed her warm body to cover me like a blanket.

I was breathing hard, groin percolating with vibrations like the aftermath of a volcanic spill. My body was wrecked with fucking exertion as I tried catching my breath, saddling him while sitting upright now. But Ishaan didn’t give me much space. He leaned up and grabbed me to him with urgency. With his big arms around my back and shoulders, I remained holding the sides of the tub, fearing he’d crush my baby.

His touch wasn’t unkind, just…desperate. I could feel the humming of his big frame. His irregular shivers reverberated against my belly. He smelled so damn good and felt incredible in spite of his dick shrinking inside of me.

“Shit,” he whispered, lifting his head from my beating chest. “You feel that?”

“ Mmmmhmmm ,” I hummed, licking my lips with my eyes closed. “We woke the baby.”

The kicks were relentless. I was too tired to appreciate them. Internally, I begged for the baby to go back to sleep.

Ishaan reclined again and began rubbing my belly. When I pushed up from the sides of the tub, he asked, “Where are you going?”

I licked my dry lips again. “The water’s cold. I need to get washed up. I’m exhausted.”

His eyes circled then he reached to release the stop of the tub. “Turn around,” he instructed.

Following his hand movements, I settled between his legs, my back to his chest. Ishaan began running warm water as the cold drained. He soaped up a sponge, both products exactly what I had in Manhattan. He washed the parts of my body he could reach, and I took over for the places he couldn’t. When done, Ishaan helped me from the tub and walked me out into his bedroom for his bed. I dozed in and out as he rubbed lotion all over my body. When he lifted me to put on a maternity pajama slip, I protested. I didn’t want the tug of the material when I slept.

“You don’t want to wear pajamas?”

I shook my head then went to finger-comb my hair into a ponytail. “I’m warm already. And sleeping with you makes me hotter than usual at night. You don’t like keeping to your side of the bed.”

At first, Ishaan stared at me, appearing stuck. He wore only a towel hanging low on his waist, exposing that swollen V of his obliques. Then he moved. “What’re you going to sleep in?” he asked, removing the decorative pillows from the huge bed.

I waited for him to finish with the pillows. When Ishaan pulled back the comforter, I reached for the body pillow and positioned it in the perfect place then crawled onto the mattress. I pulled the comforter over me and the pillow. Then I snuggled into it for the perfect position. “Nothing.”

An audible sigh rushed from his lungs, “I’m going to shower. Do you need anything?”

I shook my head, eyes closed.

I don’t know how much later it was when I felt warm, soft, and moist lips push into my head. “Good night, Boo-baby,” his thick cords vibrated.

Ishaan was not in bed behind me. He was speaking from the floor ahead of me.

My eyes burst open wide. “Where are you going?”

He snorted then murmured sweetly, “Right over there to work. I’ve got a few loose ends to tie up before bed.”

With that assurance, I fell back into an even deeper slumber, realizing the baby had finally fallen asleep, too, thankfully.

The sound of raps stirred me from my sleep. I could feel myself awakening for a little while, so when I opened my tight eyes, they automatically went to the French doors of the bedroom. Ishaan was holding a tray of food, gazing my way for seconds long before traversing the spacious master suite to the bed. Along with seeing his braids pulled up into a bun at the top of his head, I could smell the food the closer he came. He lay it at the foot of the bed as he continued to silently study me. Though snuggled in between two pillows, I suddenly felt self-conscience, followed by the baby dancing on my damn bladder.

“One second. Excuse me,” I croaked sitting up to leave the bed.

It wasn’t until I made it to the bathroom that I realized I was naked. Bigger than that, I was still getting to know him. I didn’t want to look crazy in front of Ishaan. So, I made quick work of washing my face and brushing my teeth. The tasks were easy to do considering he had gone through the trouble of purchasing products and brands I used.

When I was done, and had ambled back into the bedroom, Ishaan was fluffing the rearranged pillows. I noticed the French doors were now closed.

Once again, he observed me. “You’re still bare. Good.”

Guilt washed over me. “I forgot there’s a minor in the house,” I mumbled, shamed, as I crawled back into bed.

“We all have adjustments to make. We’ll get there.” He pulled the blanket over me as I found my place of comfort against the pillows. “How did you sleep?”

“I assume well.” My face tightened as I considered it. “I don’t remember dreaming at all.”

“Oh. Okay.” He brought the food tray and lay it over my thighs. “You got up in the middle of the night.”

I scoffed, “Blame the baby. My bladder is no longer controlled by me.”

“ Ahhh !” He nodded. “I heard you go in there. Didn’t know that’s what had awakened you.” I looked over the food. “Hope you like omelets. I asked Ms. Green to whip you up something but didn’t know exactly what,” he snorted beautifully while rubbing the side of his jaw. “She told me she had me so…”

I grabbed and unraveled the utensils folded in a cloth napkin. After cutting into the omelet, I saw it was filled with just cheese. I could live with that. Before starting on it, I went to the fruit bowl. “Is this fresh?”

Staring at the tray, Ishaan answered, “I watched her peel the last of that tangerine. I even saw the pineapple crown on the side of the island.”

I grabbed a dice of pineapple. “You know what another word for the head of a pineapple is?”

“Try me.”

I tossed the fruit into my mouth and bit down to experience the burst of its sweet juice on my palate. Still chewing, I answered, “Peduncle.”

“Peduncle?”

“ Mmmhmm .” Giggling like a geek, I annoyed myself. “The stalk-like flower growing from the fruit.”

Ishaan’s eyes narrowed slightly, hinting of him being impressed or turned on. “What’re your plans for today?” He sat on the side of the bed, leaning on an outstretched palm.

I ate another pineapple then picked up a slice of tangerine and held it. “I had plans to hit the gym with my girlfriend.”

“Who?”

“Letisha. But that was canceled around three this morning. I saw her text when I got up to pee in the middle of the night.” I rolled my eyes and tossed the fruit into my mouth. “I bet she was just getting in and not alone. At least she had the decency to remember to cancel on me. Hoe shit,” I whispered as I chewed. Then I cringed, suddenly recalling her abortion earlier this year—earlier this year being the same time I’d met Ishaan under the guise of being a prostitute. The prostitute I was dressed up as, per Letisha’s suggestion. “My friend isn’t a whore. I swear. It’s just a phrase we use for each other when one of us does weird shit.”

Grinning so fucking adorably, Ishaan pushed himself toward me, snaked out his tongue in route in a manner I couldn’t resist. My lips parted just before the tip broke through them and he caressed the roof of my mouth then sucked my tongue. My nipples warmed to rocks immediately and my clit contracted unexpectedly. By the time my fogged brain was able to catch on and I began kissing him back, Ishaan sucked on my tongue twice more before pulling his mouth back, slinking from my muscle inch by inch until we were disconnected.

That was likely the most erotic thing I’d ever experienced in my life. It was the most porn’ish act, blissfully stroking my damn soul. Ishaan was nasty as fuck. I’d never questioned a man’s level of sexual training unless he was whack in bed, which most typically were. But this guy… To my body, he was a fucking savant.

Dropping my gaze, I was left stuck.

Stuck!

I thought to wipe the side of my mouth while trying to come up with conversation to not make what had just happened awkward. So, I shook my head, getting out of that lecherous head space. “I would’ve been late anyway seeing I need to get back to Harlem to retrieve my car then go to the high-rise in Manhattan to get dressed to workout.”

“You have workout clothes here, Boo-baby.” He stretched a long arm toward the entryway to his closet.

“Do I?”

“Maternity, too,” was how he answered in the affirmative. “Socks, sneakers, and sports bras.”

Scrunching my nose, I admitted, “That’s kind of creepy.”

“I’d prefer assertive, but I’mma let you have it.” A soundless chuckle contracted from his taut belly. He smiled deliciously. “Is that the only thing on your ‘to do’ list?”

That’s when I thought to reach for my phone I’d placed on the nightstand a few hours ago. It was just before nine. “I’m getting up with Sundryia today.” I sighed on two notes, “I need to get to my car. She wants to talk about a baby shower.”

Ishaan’s forehead and brows raised. “The shower. Finally. You two meeting in the City?”

I cut into the omelet. “By Garden State Mall . She needs to buy the twins clothes. We’ll have lunch near there.”

“I’ll have you driven.”

“Ishaan…” I started then decided to take another approach. A new one. I placed a piece of the cheesed eggs into my mouth and used the time it took to chew it to think. “I haven’t had the chance to say thanks for the funding hookup with your company. I’m truly grateful. You saved us from a major drought in a way I doubt I could ever repay.”

Ishaan shrugged. “No biggie at all. It’s a service we offer. I’m just happy I could help that department fulfill its duties. Why do I feel a ‘but’ coming?”

“It is and it isn’t. Ishaan, this is hard.”

“What’s hard?”

“Being told what to do. Where to live. I’ve pretty much been a ‘figure it outer’ all my adult life. I don’t want to lose my independence.”

“And I’m not trying to take it. I’m just trying to get you to see there’s an alternative to your loner preference. I think you know I’m trustworthy.”

I sucked in a breath. “What makes you think that?”

Ishaan’s thick brows lifted, and his head jerked softly. “You almost killed me last night in the tub and I let you.”

I dropped the knife and fork and slapped my palms to my face. Beneath, I mumbled, “I wasn’t going to kill you.” My body suddenly heated feverishly. I never wanted to discuss what happened. I was out of control physically and emotionally. “I’ve never done anything like that in my life.”

Ishaan pulled one of my arms down. “What? Kill anyone?” There was a glimmer in his dark irises. A fucking spark of dark eroticism.

“Stop, Ishaan!” I whined.

“What am I doing?” The humor in that simple inquisition couldn’t be missed.

“You’re so damn nasty!”

“You make me,” he growled with vulnerability.

Fucking growled. Why: when I was completely bare beneath the comforter?

I rolled my eyes while biting on my bottom lip. “Again, I’ve never done anything like that before. That’s not me.”

He squeezed my hand and softly shared, “I’m glad you’ve never done that before. But, Boo-baby, that is you.” He scoffed gently, “You enjoyed that power dominance dynamic? That’s cool with me. We can do that from time to time.”

Fighting back a stupid giggle, I rolled my eyes. “Can we go back to me preferring my autonomy?”

“Sure. Back to that: I’m not trying to invade your personal world. The baby has done that to the both of us. I’m just trying to simplify it. What’s the big deal about you staying here?”

“Maybe the fact that this isn’t my home.”

“And neither is the high-rise. Shit. Technically, not even your basement apartment. You just moved there a few months ago.”

I leaned into the tray over my lap. “Are you forgetting we don’t know each other yet?”

He smiled handsomely again. “Nah. But I think you forget that’s a forgone conclusion. We made nasty and created a baby, Boo-baby.” Ishaan’s tatted arm reached over the tray and rubbed my belly.

It caused me to recline on the pillows. Enjoying his touches—all of them—deeply disturbed me.

I closed my eyes and exhaled my adamance. “I’m not staying here, Ishaan,” I murmured weakly.

“Then you’ll be good with being driven.” Ishaan reached up and kissed me. “Oh. And we have a fully equipped gym at your disposal.”

His lengthy body left the bed then the room.

“And the final aircraft is this way.” Roshawn, one of my logistics guys at ADJ Enterprise , directed us from one stacked plane to the next.

It was noisy at Atlantic City International Airport where the company held hangar space for their aircrafts. I’d had equipment from KAHRI Resort here in Atlantic City shipped down to Sun - Bronzed Maroon on Red’s Island . The soft grand opening was right around the corner. Eighty percent of the resort was up and ready to room, entertain, and host registered guests. When all was said and done, the Caribbean resort would host seven-thousand guests at a time between five properties. Instead of overspending, I decided to use appliances and unbranded toiletries KAHRI Resort had in reserve at Sun-Bronzed Maroon . Three commercial washing machines, four stoves, hundreds of thousands of facial tissues, hand towels, and toilet tissue rolls were being prepared to be shipped down to Red’s Island .

We were on our way to the final plane shipping the goods. I had to sign off on each shipment today. Munchie and I flew down here for a few hours with this being a priority. So, when I glanced over my shoulder and saw the distance between us, I quickly became concerned.

I felt my face balling when I stopped and waited for her to catch up.

Munchie formed a cheap grin as she moved, clutching her work-issued tablet between her arm and breast. “Please don’t look at me like that. It’s taking me a little more time, but I’m getting there.”

“I know you are,” I mumbled at a volume meant just for her.

“I’m just fat is all.”

“You can hide behind that inferior mentality charm, but you know I don’t buy that. We can get you to a better place.”

Munchie’s smile didn’t falter, and she powered forward with her head up while breathing heavily. “So, you’ve said countless times, sir.”

“So, I can do if you’d be open-minded.”

“Look…” She stopped at me with her face to a waiting Roshawn. “You can make room for the big girl or try your luck at replacing her, Mr. Patterson.”

Uneasy about her snap, I glanced at Roshawn then scrubbed my face with my palm. This had been a frequent enough conversation between us.

“Professionally or personally, I don’t give a damn what your size is. Professionally, as long as you present yourself properly clothed and superiorly competent, we don’t have an issue. On a personal level, if you’re not living your healthiest life, don’t ask me to mind my business. I want you to be the best version of you to you.”

Munchie balled her lips. “I swear,” she whispered harshly. “…if I was a different kind of woman, I’d report you to HR.”

“For what?”

“Sexual harassment.”

“But you won’t.”

“Why?” she shrieked louder.

“Because I don’t want you and you know it. I have zero desire for you outside of your professional performance as my assistant.”

Her eyes swiped away, chin elevated. “Then let fat girls fat in peace, sir.”

I snapped on her ass, “I would but you’re not at peace, Munch!”

The ringing of a phone demanded her attention. She pulled one out and peered at the caller’s I.D. “It’s your phone. Ebonee.”

When engulfed in work sometimes, Munchie held my phones to minimize distraction for me. Unless it was a selected few, she’d know how to take care of the call without me. I considered the hour and whether or not I could spare the time. After a moment, I motioned for her to hand it over.

“Hello,” I answered on speaker.

“Hey!” she exhaled into the phone, giving away her anxious state already. “Is it a good time?”

I glanced around the busy airport. “Not really, but we can always create a space. Right?”

“Yeah,” she exhaled again. “I wanted to tell you. I won’t be able to make the grand opening on Red’s Island after all.”

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah. It’s just…” Eb hesitated. “You know. I’m not sure what type of headspace I’ll be in…either way. You know?”

I glanced at Roshawn, who was waiting for us at the door of the aircraft. “Yeah. I get it. Look, Eb, it’s only been… What? A week? Dr. Parrish said, ‘Just like the last embryo transfer: give it at least fifteen days.’”

“I know,” she groaned frustratedly into the phone.

Softly, I asked, “Then why are you agitated?”

“Because I’m anxious. My anxiety is on one hundred, dude!”

“What’re you feeling physically?”

“That’s the thing. After the first transfer, I felt nothing. This time, I feel a little cramping, I’m tired as fuck, and I even experienced a little nausea at dinner last night with friends. Oh, and my damn titties are so fucking tender.”

“Dr. Parrish said that can be normal?—”

“I know, Ishaan!” she snapped. “I know.”

I stood straight. “What do you need from me? What can I do to support you, Eb?”

Tears rushed to her throat, it sounded. “Nothing. I guess nothing. I would love a foot massage…back rub. Hell. Even a pat on the head like a child feels right. But…” She exhaled. “…work for the both of us makes it impossible. I know. I just cursed the showrunner out to the point of him leaving the set.”

“I would recommend you taking time off work?—”

“And I would ask you to fly out to tend to my body.” Her delivery was calm yet tight. It was filled with passion I couldn’t begin to manage. “But you know it’s impossible for either one of us because of work.”

“Ebonee—”

“I know. It’s only supposed to be for a baby. Not for us to be together. I swear,” she sounded to have broken into tears but sucked them shits in right away. “I get that. I guess…because you agreed to this wild idea, I feel like you’re the only person I want to share my lows with.” Ebonee pulled in a loud ass breath. “Okay. Sympathy moment is over. I’ve got to get back to the set.”

“Call me when you get off,” I invited her. This shit was being left unsettled.

“Okay. Bye.”

I disconnected the call and took a deep breath my damn self.

Munchie pulled the phone from my hand. “And guess who else isn’t at peace either.” She took off past me for the final plane.