7. Makari #2
I lifted my tea and took a sip, trying to relax.
I was fucking pissed. If this was what things were going to be like, Omiri should have left us the hell alone.
Avi and I were just fine. “He knew his schedule was crazy before he bullied his way into this, and no matter how busy he is, it only takes two seconds to send a text.”
“Have you reached out to him?”
I grilled the hell out of her. “No, why would I? He’s the one who pushed for this. At the very least he should be making the effort.”
“Maybe he’s just trying to give you space after the home makeover.” She grinned and I rolled my eyes. “You did tell him to chill.”
“With me, yeah, because this isn’t about us but I damn sure never told him to stay away from Avi. I actually told him he needed to make an effort with her instead of throwing money at my baby’s life in lieu of being a present father.”
Tiana studied me for a minute and I already felt what was coming. She knew me better than anyone. We had only been close for a short time but it felt like I had known her forever. When I found out I was pregnant with Avi, my mother pretty much pushed me out of her life.
I ran into Tiana at the hospital during my tour, which I planned and did at three months instead of waiting.
I was a little overzealous with the planning.
We clicked and had been cool ever since.
She had also been a lifeline because I couldn’t trust letting anyone get close to me or my baby knowing who her father was.
I refused to risk his identity getting out, pushing us into a media circus of scrutiny and judgement for getting pregnant by a ballplayer after a one night stand. The cliché of all cliches. Tiana had proven to be an amazing friend and godmother to Avi.
But right now, she was reading me in a way I didn’t like. Tiana was about to call me on my bullshit.
“You’re more annoyed than you should be. If he bails, you get your wish. No baby daddy and you and Avi can go on with your happy little lives.”
“I’m annoyed. Why do all this for nothing.”
“Mhm…” She turned Avi’s stroller toward her and tickled her under her chin as she babbled her praises. “Are you mad because you actually want him in your life?”
I glared and she grinned. “My bad, boo, I meant in Avi’s life.”
“This isn’t about me. So whatever you’re thinking, you can stop.”
I felt silly because for the past five days I had been checking my phone for messages that didn’t come and being partially hopeful that he would pull up on us. It didn’t happen and now I was annoyed and disappointed…
Which was the problem.
It was easy not wanting him when he wasn’t a factor.
I could pretend he didn’t exist. But in the short time since he’d bullied his way into our world, I had expectations that put me in a position to be let down.
I didn’t like the vulnerability of having Omiri control my emotions, even in such a small way.
“So you’re telling me that all this…” She circled a finger in the air as if outlining my face. “Isn’t because you’re pissed that you haven’t seen that fine ass man in almost a week.”
“Why are we discussing his looks and not the abandonment of his daughter? How fine he is isn’t relevant to the issue at hand.”
“But you are admitting he’s sexy in that mean mugging, slinging dick right kind of way.”
“I have eyes, so yes. I know he’s all those things but he’s also infuriating, irresponsible, unreliable, and…”
“ And you want to climb him and sit on his face.”
“I do not want any of that,” I whisper yelled, leaning across the table when a couple sat down next to us. “What I want is for him to be consistent so my baby doesn’t have to be disappointed by him.”
“The same way her mother is disappointed that she can’t sit on her daddy’s face.”
“Tee, what the fuck? Stop.”
She flashed me a smile. “So you want me to believe that after you spent an entire day secluded with that man throwing his big dick energy around your house, looking and smelling good, that you’re not considering the possibilities of him being your daddy too.”
“First of all, no, that shit is creepy. What I look like calling him my daddy while Avi’s calling him hers. Yeah no, not happening, and what I want is….”
“Girl, miss me with that denial. You have a whole attitude because he’s MIA. You’re the worst liar I know. You want your baby daddy.”
“I don’t.” The lie held no weight. Not one damn ounce of certainty. She just stared at me, waiting. “Okay fine, yes. I want to climb him and sit on his face, then sit on his dick, several times. That one night ruined me for what sex should feel like but it can’t happen again.”
“Why not?”
“He’s Avi’s father and it would make things with us messy and so much worse than they already are. Plus, that man comes with too much baggage. Search his name, T. The list of problematic stuff connected to him is endless. Let’s not even get started on the women…”
“What women? Is he claiming anyone?”
No. He never publicly claimed anyone. I knew this because I searched. I was curious and needed to know. But that didn’t mean he didn’t have a rotation of them in and out of his bed. There was no way he didn’t.
“Not that I know of.”
“Then stop stressing and sit on his dick to kill the tension and that attitude.”
“I don’t have an attitude.”
“Avi, doesn’t your mommy have an attitude?”
My traitor baby squealed and smiled, kicking her feet.
“See, our little muffin agrees. She said sit on daddy’s face.”
“Don’t bring my baby into your bullshit, T.” I lifted my phone, pulled up the thread from Omiri, and sent a text.
Me: Hey, just checking to see when you plan on seeing Avi.
After I was done I put my phone face down on the table. “I reached out. You happy?”
“Yep, you’re being mature about this.”
“Fuck being mature, I want to be just as childish and irresponsible as he’s being.”
“Sorry, two wrongs don’t make a right, friend, but when he texts back he can get you right. How long has it been since you had more than them tired ass toys?”
“Long enough.” I mumbled. I hadn’t had sex since Omiri.
“And now your baby daddy is front and center looking like a whole ten-course meal with all his alpha male-ish energy.”
“I’m fine.”
“Girl, that’s a drought. It’s been thirteen months. Is that pussy still in good working order?”
“Tee,” I yelled, then laughed.
“I’m just saying. That’s why you’re always so damn angry. You need a good release.”
“I’m fine. I’m focused on my daughter and my career.”
“Both of which would greatly benefit from you experiencing a few good orgasms.”
I flipped my phone over to check the screen. Nothing.
“Well that’s not happening since he doesn’t seem to care that he has a daughter. The sex was good but it’s not worth the headache attached to it.”
“I’m guessing you forgot that you gave me all the details.”
Shit, I had. I never expected to see him again other than on billboards and buses so I might have shared a little too much about that night with Tiana.
“Can we not?”
“Nope, sorry. You said nine and a half out of ten and would have been a ten if you hadn’t had so much champagne and could remember the entire thing. ‘Some parts were a blur but I remember the dick and the dick was chef’s kiss’.” She grinned smugly. “Your words, boo.”
I rolled my eyes and glanced at my phone when it vibrated with a notification, an email reminder of a client meeting in the morning.
“Still nothing. So if you’re done, we can let this go and get to the shopping part of our day. My baby is growing out of everything.”
“Fine. We can shop. I would never turn down the opportunity to run it up.”
We hit The Shops at Crescent Falls and I decided that since Omiri was so insistent about being Avi’s financier we would run up a tab.
As promised, a trust was set up for Avi which had shared access between Omiri and me.
His attorney was the administrator so I would bet everything I owned he was going to let Omiri know I’d been swiping this card all day.
I purchased an entire spring and summer wardrobe for Avi, making sure to get the latest fits and matching shoes. My baby was going to be adorably fashionable on her father’s dime.
After doing enough damage to cover Avi through the next two seasons, we were on our way back to my house. It took Tiana and me two trips to get everything unloaded in my living room. I was exhausted but felt content.
“You staying?”
“No, I need to get home and meal prep for next week so I’m not blowing my salary on takeout.” Tiana hugged me, kissed Avi, and was on her way to the door. “Call me if you need anything.”
“I will. Thanks for today. I really needed this.”
“Me too.” She grinned at Avi. “Bye, Tee Tee’s baby.”
Avi bounced in my arms, reaching for Tiana as she left, and I locked us in, heading straight to my baby’s room to get her comfy for the rest of the night.
After I had her changed into a two-piece lounge set, I did the same for myself and yanked on an oversized long sleeved tee, flannel lounge pants, and fuzzy socks.
In the living room I placed Avi in her PortaPlay then headed to the kitchen to decide if I was cooking or ordering dinner.
Before I could wrap my mind around which route I was going with dinner, a knock on my door had me moving back to the living room and lifting the tablet from the end table to check the cameras.
My heart stupidly thumped a little harder than I liked when I noticed the massive body blocking the camera. His head was covered in a Sharks ball cap and dipped low while he focused on his phone but I knew exactly who it was. He looked annoyingly sexy in gray sweats and a matching hoodie.
Instead of letting him in, I pressed the intercom button to talk to him.
“Yes?”
“Open the door, Makari.”
“What do you want?”
“For you to open the damn door so we can talk and I can see my daughter.”