Chapter 9 #2
“Ummm…” She dramatically put her finger to her chin as she looked up to the sky with a big smile on her face. “I don’t know, Mama, surprise me.” She was the silliest child and my little best friend.
“Well, I heard that you told somebody that you wanted a new phone,” I responded, referring to her telling Savior that she wanted the newest iPhone in pink.
She nodded. “That’s my gift from Save. He doesn’t know me like you do, so I had to tell him what I wanted.”
I laughed.
“Right. I’m you, and you’re me, Mama. So you know what I want already.” She smiled.
I swear that child never ceased to amaze me.
We walked the beach for a while longer before we went to eat.
She chose the restaurant, so we ended up at The Cheesecake Factory.
That was by far her favorite restaurant only because she loved cake and stuff.
I watched her order, and all I could do was study her in awe.
Kale was my everything from the moment she slid out of me weighing eight pounds even.
She was what put the color back in my life after everything that I had gone through.
No matter how hard my father tried, he just couldn’t, but the moment I held her, I breathed again.
I had gone through my entire pregnancy not breathing because I couldn’t get over what happened to me, and I couldn’t imagine having a child that I resented because of it.
I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to love her the way she needed me to.
The moment I laid eyes on her, it was the complete opposite.
Kale was my everything in one person. Hell, she and I grew up together if I really thought about it.
I didn’t know anything about being a mother, but for her, I figured it out with the support of my father.
For my girl, I became what she needed, and I never regretted it.
However, I did know the difficult conversation of her father was would be coming, and it was unavoidable.
I just hoped that I had the right words to soothe her questions.
The funny thing was, I couldn’t imagine going through the toddler days all over again, but I guess I signed up for them.
I sat at my mother’s table, looking at her as she stood over the stove making me a plate that I definitely didn’t ask for.
She claimed that I was looking thin. I disagreed totally because I was off my diet and feeling much heavier.
Never mind the fact that I found out why I was feeling a little heavier.
“Baby girl, you work so much that I never see you.”
I nodded. “I just want to make sure if I ever have to take some time away from the bar, that it’s good and nothing is lacking.”
She turned around with the bowl of cabbage and smiled at me. “You are so much like your father that it scares me. A practical thinker and workaholic. You work so much planning for tomorrow until you forget to live for the day.”
I nodded. It was the same spiels she gave me every time I came over.
“Have you thought about settling down with that Savior fella?”
“What do you mean settling down?” I asked.
“You know marriage, kids, and th—”
“I like him if that’s what you’re asking, and we work.” Plus, I’m pregnant.
“You know your bio—”
“After I had Kale, the doctor told me that I’d possibly never be able to have children again.” Once that sentence left my lips, she immediately reached for my hand.
“I’m sorry. I did—”
“Of course, you didn’t. However, I went to the doctor a few weeks ago, and I was informed that I’m pregnant.
I was waiting until I was clear and out of the first trimester to tell you or anyone for that matter.
I’m in the last week of it, so I guess I should tell you.
” When I looked up at her, she sported this toothy grin.
“I definitely wasn’t expecting that. So you have to slow down some.” She was way too happy for me.
“I guess so.” We talked for a while before I had to get to my office, so I kissed my baby bye before going and getting into the back seat of the car driven by Beck. By the time I got to the tavern, it was lunchtime, so the place was packed. I eased through the crowd and by the tables to my office.
Before I could take a seat at my desk, my phone was ringing. I already knew it was Savior. He had made it a habit of calling me every time I moved.
“Baby daddy?” I greeted. I was still getting used to this whole baby thing, but I figured it would take a minute.
Even though it was unplanned, it had caught me by surprise.
However, it happened. I had to stop putting any negative thoughts out there about my little miracle baby.
He or she was a gift from God, and somehow, He believed that I needed it, so I would no longer question it.
However, I’d in turn protect this baby at all costs, so that meant I had to cool out and take it easy.
“Did you hear me?” His voice sounded aggressively through my phone.
“No, I didn’t. What did you say?” I asked.
“I asked you what you were doing, Regancy.”
I laughed because that man had done a whole one-eighty since my doctor’s appointment that he barged into.
I mean, he’d already been attentive and caring, but he was indescribable.
In two weeks, Savior became the pappy from hell.
Though I found him cute, I still didn’t understand why I needed to have Beck wherever I went, but that nigga was on bully time.
“Sitting in my office. I thought I had an inspection today, but I guess not. Going through some paperwork to kill time, sergeant.” I poked at him.
“Fuck outta here. I was just tryna see if you was hungry or anything.”
I laughed. “I’m at my tavern, Savior. If I was hungry, don’t you think I would have—”
“You know what? I ain’t calling and checking on yo’ ungrateful ass no more. I’ll just call Beck. He can tell me what I need to know.”
I laughed because he was fake mad at me for calling him on his shit. “So I’ll see you tonight?”
“I’ma be a lil’ late, but I’ll try.”
Immediately, I screwed up my face. I knew he was a busy man, but I still got irritated because I had become used to being under him. “How late, Savior?”
“Why you rolling yo’ eyes like this is some normal shit?”
I didn’t respond, because just that fast, I’d gotten irritated.
“Regancy.”
“I gotta call you back. I just got busy.” I rolled my eyes to the ceiling. I didn’t like how he had gotten me used to a routine that he was trying to break.
“Lying ass. If you hang this phone up—”
I hung up the phone and set it on the desk in front of me.
I knew he’d be mad, but I liked it. Like the toxic person I was, I liked the fire in him because he was calm and controlled 95 percent of the time, but that 5 percent was panty wetting and crave worthy.
Standing to my feet, I walked to the front.
I was thirsty and in need of something that would make me belch.
Since I found out I was pregnant, all of my symptoms were mild, except the fact that I always found myself picking up something with fizz so I could belch.
The moment I approached the bar, I smiled pleasantly at the bartender before requesting a ginger ale and hopping up into the stool.
“Coming right up, boss.” She nodded.
I looked around at the liveness of my space as a smile filled my face. It was beautiful and all I honestly ever dreamed of when I first got the idea.
“It’s really a nice place to come after work,” a deep voice next to me said. “I know the owner. He and I are friends.”
I nodded my head. “Very nice.” I looked in his direction with a smirk.
He was trying to front with the obvious lie.
He was handsome, but I could tell he was on the cocky side.
He was giving me those eyes like he was about to buy my drink.
I looked around the crowded tavern again, and immediately, my eyes found Beck seated at the table less than three feet from where I sat.
I could feel his eyes on me, as they had been all day, except when I was in my office.
“How about your next drink is on me?” He leaned in closer so I could hear him.
Out of reflex, I leaned back because I didn’t like people in my space unless invited. Before I could respond, he was calling the bartender down.
“Put whatever the lady ordered on me.”
Becca smirked as I expected her to, but she nodded. She obviously knew who I was, and she knew his game. “Here’s your drink, boss.”
“Boss?” he questioned. “You must bet the night manager.”
I wasn’t able to speak, because the familiar tatted hand gripped my drink and took it to his lips within the same moment that he stepped into my space.
“We hang up phones now?” he asked once he set my drink down and gave me eye contact.
Immediately, I was smiling at him. I wanted to jump into his arms, but I just admired his fine ass. He wore an annoyed expression that only made him sexier. He was the only man who brought out the childish, toxic shit from me. “I thought you were busy.”
“I was but never enough not to come straighten yo’ ass out.” He firmly helped me from my seat before looking over at the bartender. “Have somebody bring her another ginger ale to her office. He ushered me to my office before opening the door, and we both stepped in.
I leaned back against my desk, just looking at him as if I hadn’t just seen him that morning.
“You’re beautiful as fuck with yo’ spoiled ass.” He walked over and took a seat at my desk, loosening his tie. “C’mere.”
I didn’t disagree with him. I probably was spoiled where he was concerned, but that was what he got for spoiling me with his time. I walked over, and he pulled me into his lap.
“This what you wanted right? For me to come in here and be all in yo’ space.”
I giggled. “Not true. I just wanted to know how late you’d be for dinner.”
“So you nut up?” He buried his nose in my neck before his lips pressed against it.
I jumped a little because it tickled a little. “No. I…”