Chapter 7
I heard his breathing when it evened out, but I didn’t stop running my fingers through his soft, curly Ceasar haircut. I actually moved down to his beard. I touched it gingerly, making sure I didn’t wake him, because it would be weird as hell for him to wake up with me playing in his beard.
My future baby’s daddy was fine, fine, fine! I knew his dad was Jamaican and his mom was black, so I really couldn’t explain why he looked Latin to me.
“Has to be the hair,” I whispered as I picked up a single curl and stretched it to see how long it actually was.
“What has to be the hair?” His voice, though quiet, scared the hell out of me. It caused me to not only jump but also remove my hand from his curls expeditiously.
“Thought you were sleep.”
“And that’s why you were staring at me like a weirdo and playing all in my beard and hair?”
I slapped him lightly on the shoulder. “Brix!”
He chuckled. “I’m playing. I’m playing. But tell me, what has to be the hair?”
“Do people ask you if you’re Hispanic?”
He sighed. “All the time.”
“I was just thinking that it has to be the hair, because you definitely have black man swag.”
He cracked up. “You’re probably right. It probably is the hair.” He stretched then sat up, and I immediately missed the warmth of his body on my legs. Mocha turned over on her dog bed and looked up at us like we were too loud for her liking.
“Go back to sleep,” I cooed to her.
“I’mma get outta here. I have PT in the morning, and if I sleep on this couch, I’mma need an extended session.”
“PT? Physical Therapy?”
He nodded.
I stood up from the sofa. “Let me walk you to the door.”
At the front door, he took me by the shoulders, bent down, and placed a quick kiss on my cheek. “You’re doing good, Ry. Just keep hanging in there. We’re gonna get to the finish line.”
I tried not to giggle because that sounded like something one of his AAU coaches said to him after a disappointment back in the day.
“If you need anything and I mean anything, call me. Now lock the door and set the alarm.”
“Secret crushes are not where it’s at,” I muttered to myself as I went to set the alarm.
Once the alarm was set, I picked up the entire doggie bed and carried it upstairs. Even though he had to go, I was glad Brixton left me something warm behind to cuddle with.
The next day my period came, reminding me once again that my round of IVF had failed.
I took Christian’s suggestion and stayed home.
I cuddled up with Mocha and felt sorry for myself.
The second day of my period was horrible.
The bloating, heavy flow, and cramps rendered me incapable of doing much of anything.
I didn’t even have the capacity to walk Mocha. I had to call my sister.
“Now, from where and when did you get a dog?” she asked using her key to enter my place. She found me on the sofa with a heating pad stretched across my stomach and Mocha on my legs.
When Mocha spotted her, she let out four little tiny yips that were probably supposed to sound ferocious, but in actuality, sounded adorable. I could tell by the way Zyah’s eyes went soft.
“Oh wow.” She came around the cocktail table and scooped Mocha off my legs and into her arms. “Hey cutie, cutie, cutie, cutie.” She nuzzled her face into the soft fur of Mocha’s body. “Ry, he’s—”
“She’s.” I corrected. “Mocha is a girl.”
“She’s so cute. I love her already. Does she have a twin? I want one.”
“She’s a foster dog. She’s not mine to keep. She has a whole family. They’re coming back to get her in a week or so.”
“You’re literally fostering her like people foster children?”
“I am.”
“Wow! That is so cool. How’d you get into that?”
“Brix brought her by the day before yesterday. Some story about him being the face of, or working with, some fostering organization.”
“I’m presuming he’s the one who turned your home into a flower shop as well.” Her eyes took in the multitude of flower arrangements.
“He’s trying to cheer me up.”
“Is it working?” She sat in one of the side chairs with Mocha still in her lap.
“It worked better before these cramps started kicking my ass. I’m not going to the game tonight. I can’t. I’m going through maxi pads like crazy. I’m basically hemorrhaging.”
Her eyes widened. “Is that normal?”
“I’m not sure, but I was taking meds that were supposed to make my uterine lining thick enough for implantation. Since there was nothing to implant, it has to break down and exit the womb stage left.”
“Have you and Brix talked? Do y’all plan to try again?”
I nodded. “We have nine embryos left. We’re gonna try again.”
“How long do you have to wait?”
“You can go again as quickly as four weeks. Like once this period ends, I can start the pills when I get my period in May.”
“Will you be ready then?”
“Uhm.” I sighed as tears sprang to my eyes. I swiped at them quickly. “Don’t mind the tears, Zy. I’m not, well I am emotional, but not about the IVF failing. I have my period and I’m still coming down from all of the hormones I was on. I’m all over the place, but I’m okay.”
She sat there rubbing Mocha, but she was staring at me.
“I’m thinking about going to Pecan Shores,” I admitted.
I thought she was going to throw Mocha onto the floor with the way she stood up so abruptly. “What? Why? What about Chris and Gensie? Do you think you’ll be able to handle all of their stuff from Pecan Shores?”
“Well, first of all, I’m not thinking about Chris and Gensie. They’re grown. They’ll figure it out.”
She sat back down and comforted a shocked Mocha.
I continued. “I don’t know. This whole process has me feeling like I need Mom. I wanna be babied.”
She gave me the pouty face. “Awww, Ry Ry. That’s actually understandable. I mean, you’ve built a whole career on taking care of Chris and his family and babying them. You do deserve to be babied during this time.”
“The Bison are going on a five game East Coast swing. A game in New York, Philly, Baltimore, D.C., and Richmond. I’m thinking it wouldn’t hurt for me to go then.
Genesis and their kids will follow Chris, you know that.
They’ll probably stay at their house in Pecan Shores. I’ll stay with mom and dad.”
“I think if that’s what you need, then that’s what you should do. Now…” She stood again, but this time much more calmly. “Let me walk little Chocolate—”
“Mocha.”
She giggled. “I knew it was something. Let me walk Miss Mocha, so I can head to the game. Where’s the leash?”
While Zyah was walking Mocha, I shot Brixton a text.
Me:
Hey. I’m not making it to the game tonight. “Lady time” is coming on strong.
He responded right away.
Solid Brix:
Damn. You okay? You need anything? Hot tea? Soup? Pain Killer?
I couldn’t help thinking about how sweet and thoughtful he was.
Solid Brix:
I can stop through after the game, if you can wait. If you need it now, I’ll have my brother fall through.
Me:
I’m good. I told Zy that I’m thinking about going to my mom’s house for a minute.
Solid Brix:
Feel like you lacking support?
I was momentarily blown by how intuitive he was, but then I remembered how close he and Genesis were. He understood women.
Me:
I just want my mom.
Solid Brix:
Spoiled ass.
Me:
Whatever. Anyway, if Mocha is still here, can I take her across state lines? Is that allowed?
Solid Brix:
I’ll look into it. When you thinking about going?
Me:
When y’all go on your East Coast swing.
Solid Brix:
I’m wit it. Take care of yourself tonight. I’ll stop through in the morning. I’ll bring breakfast.
Me:
Bring Genesis’ biscuits!
Solid Brix:
Get some rest.
Me:
Thanks Brix.
For everything.
A few weeks later, Mocha and I arrived on my parents’ doorstep.
“Ry.” My mom opened the door for me and pulled me into her arms.
I relaxed into her hug. One thing I’d noticed about myself since I’d started IVF was that I was more into hugging. It was like all I wanted to do in life was cuddle up in somebody’s arms. Typically, Brixton was the owner of the arms I wanted to relax in, but my mother was a very close second.
I let her hug me for as long as she wanted.
When she released me, she spoke. “Come on in here.”
I stepped into the foyer and set the carrying case on the floor. “Do you want to meet your foster grand-puppy?”
“Yes.” She gave me a grin. “I’ve been hearing her in the background barking for the last few weeks. Bring her out. But I thought she would’ve been with her owners by now.”
“Yeah, they’re military people. Wherever they are, they thought they could bring her, but when they got there, they realized that it’s not ideal for a puppy.
So, she’s still with me.” I bent down and unfastened the lock.
I reached into the case and Mocha sidled up to my hand.
“This is Mocha Darling. They named her Mocha; I added the Darling part.”
“She’s so cute.” My mother took her from me. “And so tiny.”
Mocha tried to lick her face. “Are you gonna be able to give her back after having her for so long?”
“Right? At this point, she’s mine. They’re gonna have to fight me for her,” I joked. “Nah. If they want her back, I’ll give her to them. But the lady from the agency, Tiffany, thinks they’re gonna end up relinquishing her.”
“She’s sweet, but she better not pee on my carpet.”
“She peed when we got off the plane. I’ll take her out in a little bit.”
“Did Chris Cross fly you and Genesis in on the private jet?”
I rolled my eyes playfully. “You know he did. You know he doesn’t let Gensie or his kids fly commercial.”
“And where is tonight’s game?”
“New York. Day after tomorrow, they’ll head to Philly. Genesis and I are meeting Zy at that game. Will you and Daddy be available to watch your grand-pup?”
She pretended to sigh. “I guess so. We’ll have Chris Cross’s kids. What’s one more?”
I chuckled.
“Well, go get settled, unpack, and all that stuff. I fixed up the room for you. And I made your favorite foods.”
“Fried chicken and macaroni and cheese?”