Chapter 19
“Shouldn’t you be home recuperating? I know you’re tired after a long morning and afternoon of practicing.”
“Why are you acting like you don’t want to hang with me and shit? What’s up, Ms. Ky?” The glower on Kaeden’s face matches the hardness in his eyes as they flash with irritation.
The truth is, I’m a little nervous about being in the mall with Kaeden as he shops for Mica.
Although Kaeden made a post on social media attempting to put to bed the negativity surrounding our relationship, I’m still on edge.
This is the first time we’ve been this out in the open, and I’m not sure what’s going to happen.
My stomach has been flipping since we got out of Kaeden’s vehicle and walked through the mall’s entrance.
I have been indiscreetly watching the people passing by to see if anyone is taking our pictures.
I haven’t been this antsy about something since I had to have a discussion with my mom about needing birth control as a teenager.
“Earth to Kyelle. What’s on your mind, my baby? Talk to me.” Kaeden’s voice is softer than a minute ago as he halts our forward movement, placing us dead center of the walkway.
Subconsciously, my eyes roam the perimeter searching for anything out of place or someone with a hidden lens ready to capture this moment.
“Th-uh-this is our first time here and what if some—”
“Trust me to protect you, my baby. If a mothafucka is bold enough to breach your personal space in my presence, then I’m bold enough to make them regret it.”
“You can’t do that. You’re a public figure.”
“Shid. Let them try me. I might be a public figure, but my lady is and always will be private. I dare somebody to fuck around and find out how I give it up about the people I love.”
My eyes bulge, causing an instant strain from how fast I stretched them at hearing Kaeden’s words.
“L-l—what?”
This is the first time since our sexual escapade that Kaeden has said those three powerful words, which makes me believe sex didn’t make him do it.
“Mhm. I love you, my baby, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.”
“Be still, my heart,” I whisper as my chest beats like I’m at a rap concert with front row seats, and the bass is piercing my ears.
“Nah, that mothafucka better catch up because I’m playing for keeps. If you agree to spend the night with me, I’ll put that shit on repeat while I stroke you to sleep.”
A rush of fluid floods my panties at the thought of Kaeden pushing in and out of me while telling me that he loves me. Hearing his love on instant repeat definitely sounds like something I should agree to.
“I don’t have any clothes with me.”
“We’re standing in the middle of the mall . . . Everything you need is at your disposal. Come on, let’s do some shopping because I need your pretty ass in my bed tonight.” Taking my hand, Kaeden resumes our stroll to the first store he had in mind to purchase things for Mica.
My mind is in overdrive as I process and analyze our conversation from the last couple of minutes.
What I didn’t get a chance to tell Kaeden is my reciprocated love for him.
Since Undercover Room tried to paint a narrative of my temporary place in Kaeden’s life, I've known.
Now I just need to figure out a time to verbally communicate those three magical words back to him without the presence of our bodies joining in lovemaking.
“Aw. This is so cute. Do you remember Mica being this tiny? I bet she was such a doll baby.” Gushing, I hold up the tiny onesie showing Kaeden as he smiles with his eyes like he can picture Mica from that timeframe.
“She was so small that she wouldn’t be able to fit that little shit. My baby was a preemie, so everything swallowed her up. She fit in the palm of my hand, and I just knew I would break her.”
“Oh goodness. I would have never guessed that with how she looks now.”
“That’s because I made sure to plump her up with every turn.
I had her drinking six ounces of milk the second she came home from the NICU.
Those mothafuckas told me that babies shouldn’t eat so much, but baby girl wasn’t having none of that.
The last thing I was gonna do was let her starve.
Fuck what those doctors and nurses were talking about. ”
The sneer on Kaeden’s lips and storm clouds in his eyes have me giggling lightly before all humor dies on my lips upon seeing two men peering through a neighboring clothing rack with cameras.
“K-K-Kae.” I stutter as my body freezes in place and my hand holding the onesie shakes before Kaeden’s face hardens and his eyes begin roaming the area around us.
“Man, y’all got me fucked up!” Charging toward the rack, the hiding men nearly trip over each other trying to untangle themselves to get away.
My mouth drops when the two men drop their cameras while scurrying for the exit of the store Kaeden and I are exploring. Unbothered, Kaeden walks over, picking up the devices like they belong to him.
“Hm. I guess I don’t have to worry about anything hitting Undercover Room now. Stupid mothafuckas. I’m about to erase all their little footage and throw this shit in the river by my crib.”
Sighing, a small smile forms as the tension creeping into my shoulders immediately dissipates at the knowledge of escaping another dramatic headline on the gossip blogs.
“Thank God!”
“You ain’t have nothing to worry about, because one way or the other, those idiots weren’t leaving this store with candid shots of us. Are you hungry though? I ain’t ate since . . .” His words trail off as his head and chin tilt while his eyes fill with bafflement.
“I could eat,” I say.
“Me too. Food first, then you after Mica’s bedtime.”
Shaking my head, I provide a rebuttal as my thighs clench tightly, causing a slight ache in my nether region.
“Nope. Until I’m no longer aching, you’ll be using your hands to get off.”
“Tuh. I'd better take you to your crib then because if you're in my bed, I’m sliding between those thick ass thighs. Ain’t no way in hell you’re about to ice me with my pussy.
You tripping, my baby.” The deep frown and eyes that blaze with frustration have me giggling before returning the onesie to the rack and following a grumbling Kaeden toward the exit.
“How long do you think you’ll play football?” I ask.
“As long as my body allows me to. I don’t want to play so long that injuries force me into retirement though.”
“Hm. Have you been hurt before?”
“Only in college. I have been blessed to not have any injuries since playing in the league. However, I try to play smart and not act like I’m a mythical creature like some players,” Kaeden tells me.
Laughing, I take another bite of my loaded mashed potatoes, taking the time to swallow my food before speaking again.
“Why mythical creatures?”
Kaeden and I are having dinner at one of the popular franchise steakhouses since I have a taste for Parmesan-crusted spinach dip.
The manager sat Kaeden and me in the back of the restaurant away from prying eyes, instantly putting me at ease about avoiding the other patrons.
If my stomach wasn’t creating a loud and embarrassing soundtrack, I would have tried to talk Kaeden out of eating in public.
But hunger won, and here we are, eating dinner out and talking like we’re the only people here.
“A lot of players act like stunt devils during games and then wonder why they find themselves sprawled out on the turf shedding tears. I do my best to play it safe while still doing my job. The last thing I want or need is Mica seeing or hearing about me being carted off the field. Now that I have you, and you occasionally attend games, I keep both of you in mind during games. Not causing y’all to shed tears I can prevent is always in the back of my mind. ”
“Yeah, that would be horrible to witness.”
“For sure. How are things coming along at your bookstore? Do you have frequent traffic coming through there?”
“Things are great, and the traffic is fine, I guess.”
Kaeden stops eating, and I squirm from staring into his eyes that appear to be searching me for what my lips aren’t communicating.
“You guess?” he says as more of a question than a statement, and I swallow the lump in my throat.
“Honestly, some days are better than others. I’m owning and operating a bookstore as a black woman competing with well-established ones, which isn’t an easy feat. I love the people who patronize my business, so I don’t think it’s smart to complain, because no one could be walking through my doors.”
Kaeden nods without speaking as his eyes continue assessing me, making me wonder what he’s thinking in this moment.
I know that I need to do more in terms of marketing so more people can discover Echoes of Kyelle, but I’ve been spending time trying to stock the shelves to meet the demand that more customers could potentially demand.
“Where do you see Echoes of Kyelle in five years?”
Tilting my head, I bite my lip while pondering the question, because outside of my parents, grandmother, and Tracy, no one has asked me or seemed interested in my answer.
Kaeden’s eyes are soft like a gentle caress as he awaits my response, making me feel warm all over from his inquiry and genuine interest.
“I see myself with an entire staff that handles first and second shifts due to the influx of business. I see smiling children utilizing the area I carved out for their ultimate enjoyment. I see the lower level expanding to provide a beverage nook for the adults who come in and need someplace to read without interruption. I see the need for me to potentially relocate to a bigger space because I’m rapidly outgrowing my current location. I see growth.”
The visions in my mind while talking about where I’m hoping Echoes of Kyelle is in the future fill me with immense joy.
“Say less, my baby. Tell me something though . . . Why you ain’t include me in that outlook?” The smirk and light in his eyes give way to Kaeden’s unserious inquiry, and my lips upturn as my conscience stands up, ready to play.
“In five years, I plan to be on to the next profe—”
“You'd better stop playing with me, Ms. Ky. My vision for five years will have you pushing a double stroller with a mean waddle from the next set of Evans forthcoming.”
Giggles escape my mouth at the deadpan and cocky expression shining in Kaeden’s eyes, letting me know that I'd better stop while I’m ahead.
“Dang. Five years and four kids is diabolical and kind of reckless, don’t you think?”
“Hell nah. I have enough money to build a house that our kids can occupy with their nanny. How many do you want?”
More laughter from my mouth echoes around the restaurant when Kaeden rubs his chin, giving me a pointed look.
“How many what?”
“Shid, . . . nannies, . . . babies—I’m trying to see if I need to call my realtor now or later.”
“Wow. All these future children and no commitment.” Looking at my left hand, I turn it side to side before returning my gaze to Kaeden.
“Trust, that’s coming sooner than you think. I ain’t beat for no more baby mamas. Cupcake and her siblings need stability. This thang is forever.” Pointing back and forth between us, Kaeden winks just as the server returns to the table, temporarily halting our conversation.
“How’s everything? Do either of you need anything?” the bubbly middle-aged man asks, and my mind begins swirling causing me to tune out the conversation between him and Kaeden.
Lord, this man is talking about marrying me and giving me a boatload of children. It might be alright to have more mini-Kaedens running around. Humph, I guess time will tell how this plays out.