18. Omiri #3
“Nah, not if you’re mature about it.”
She cut her eyes at me and I leaned down and kissed her temple. “Don’t be putting your mouth on me trying to soften the blow.”
“If I was trying to soften your ass up by putting my mouth on you, we damn sure wouldn’t have an audience because it would be followed by me dropping dick off in you. Now stop saying shit I know you don’t want her repeating.”
Makari’s eyes darted over to Alison who clearly heard what we both said based on the way her ass was trying extra hard to act like she wasn’t listening to our conversation.
“If that becomes a headline, I’m…”
“You aren’t going to do a damn thing.” She glared at me and I angled my head to the side, making her roll her eyes.
“What did you want to tell me?”
“The season is about to start, which means that I won’t be around as much. You’re going to be traveling to games and you still have your business.”
“Oh it’s cute that you think I’m going to come see you play.”
“I don’t think shit. You and my baby are gonna be there, play with me if you want and watch how that works out.”
“You do realize you can’t make us come to the game.”
“I don’t have to make you. You’ll be there.”
“Mhm. We’ll see.”
Stubborn ass…
“But the point is, I won’t be around as much, so I want to hire somebody to help out so you’re not doing all this by yourself again.”
“Okay.”
“Damn, that easy?”
She shrugged. “I’m busiest during the seasons because that’s when players have more access, which means more cameras, hot mics, and opportunities to say dumb shit.
Avi’s older now and it won’t be as easy to keep her occupied while I’m working.
So I’m cool with hiring someone but it has to be the right person.
I also already know you’re going to run more security and background checks than the FBI, so I’m okay with having help. ”
“I literally thought I was gonna have to dick your ass down to get you to agree.”
“First of all, you’re overrating the power of your dick, and second of all, stop trying to act like I’m unreasonable.”
“Kari…”
She grinned. “Okay, I can sometimes be unreasonable.”
“And…”
“The dick is very convincing.”
“You stay playing with your life.”
I was happy she wasn’t going to fight me on this because she would definitely be at my games and there would be a lot of commitments I would be expected to attend during the season which meant she would be with me.
As much shit as I talked about her homegirl, she was the only person I trusted Avi with, but it was unrealistic to expect her to always be available.
We needed a back up plan and someone full-time.
“So you’re cool with hiring someone?”
“Yep, as long as she’s old, professional, and ugly.”
“Bruh…”
“Don’t bruh me. Do you know how many marriages are ruined because husbands sleep with their kids’ caregivers?”
“Nah, I don’t and damn sure don’t want to know but that’s not gonna be a problem for us because I don’t cheat and you refuse to be my wife. Which means there’s no marriage to ruin.”
“ Yet .” She smiled at me.
When we reached the penguins, Avi and Makari both lost their damn minds and it was cute as hell. She took Avi from me and moved to the glass barrier when several of them dove into their swimming area.
“Aww, they’re so cute,” she sang and pointed with Avi who was clapping and making grabbing motions with her hands. “Aren’t they cute, muffin?”
I took my phone out and snapped a few pictures of them before I stepped up behind Makari, gripping the railing and caging her in. “You act like this is your first time seeing shit like this.”
“It is.”
“You never been here before?”
“No, I never had a reason, have you?”
She threw her head back against my chest and looked up at me and I grinned. “Yeah but with the team. We do this with one of the charities we’re partnered with.”
She narrowed her eyes and I chuckled. “Bruh, chill. I’ve never brought anyone here before. Stop looking at me like that.”
“I also told you to lie instead of telling me things that will piss me off.”
“I’m not lying because I don’t have to.”
We spent the most time with the penguins then toured the rest of the exhibits before hitting up the gift shop where we bought more stuff than necessary but it made them both happy so I was cool with it.
The day had been perfect until we were heading back through the building to leave and a woman lifted her phone and yelled out my name.
“It’s Omiri Hayes and that woman.”
She was already recording, which pissed me off, so I turned to KP and motioned to her. “Ay, get that.”
He nodded and snatched the phone from the woman.
“Hey, that’s my phone.”
“And this is my family which you have no fucking business filming.”
“You’re out in public; I have the right. Give me my damn phone.”
“I earned it. You’re not getting it back.”
“I’m suing you. Your security just assaulted me and took my phone,” she yelled, looking around for someone to back up her story but Alison stepped up.
“Ma’am. You don’t have clearance to be back here. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
“I paid for a ticket. I can be back here.” She held up her arm, exposing a yellow band.
“That’s general admission, and again, you don’t have clearance for this area, one of our team members will escort you out.”
“He has my phone and he assaulted me. Are you not going to do anything about that?”
“Unfortunately I didn’t see him assault you and I’m sure if you ask nicely they’ll return your phone.”
Ced stepped up and took the device from KP. “You can head out with them, I’ll hand the phone back when you’re outside.”
KP nodded and we all left out of the same entrance where we’d arrived. “You good?” I asked as we walked to the car.
“Yep, crisis averted,” she joked and I was glad she was learning to roll with this. That woman would be one of many, and usually I would brush it off, but today was a private moment and I didn’t want it all over social media.
“You’re not gonna refuse to go out in public with me?”
“This wasn’t public, well, it was your version of public, but damn sure not what normal people do. And to answer your question, no. I know who you are and know this is what I signed up for.”
“So you fuck with me the long way?”
“I fuck with understanding that you’re a public figure the long way.”
“Your hating ass.”
“You love me.” She blew me a kiss while I broke down the stroller and she buckled Avi in her car seat. She was damn sure right about me loving her though because it wasn’t just Avi who had my heart now. It belonged to both of them.