Chapter 6
“S hy Shy, please calm down, baby. Daddy needs to clean up.”
She was damn near jumping from wall to wall doing flips, splits, and TikTok dances. I was sure my mama must’ve given her something sweet before she left. It was the only explanation, and that lady knew she was wrong for doing that. I was just getting off from a shift at the station. The last thing I wanted to do was clean, cook, and shower before bed with a hyper toddler.
I stopped picking up bottles of nail polish and lip gloss when I heard a knock at the door. I set down the basket I was placing everything into to go see who it was. My head fell backward, and I sucked my teeth when I saw who it was.
“Hey to you too,” Kianni said, smacking her lips.
I groaned. “Man, what you want?”
“I came to get my baby.”
When I realized she was serious, I couldn’t help but laugh in her face. Stepping back, I went to slam the door in her face, but she pressed up against it, forcing me from doing so.
“Shyheim, stop. She’s my daughter too. I have a right to see her.”
“You don’t have a right to do shit after you showed your ass the last time. Your access to my daughter has been revoked, so get the fuck on.”
Suddenly, Kianni stopped fighting against the door. I thought she was giving the act a rest when her words paused me.
“This bitch again?” I snatched the door open, but she started pounding on my chest. “You think you about to move on with this ho?”
Island stood behind her with her arms folded across her chest. Today, she was dressed down in a pair of black leggings, a black graphic hoodie, and crocs with the giblets. She looked unimpressed by Kianni’s tantrum. I, on the other hand, hated that she was seeing me out of character again.
“You got one more time to call me out of my name before I show you something.”
I’d never heard Island’s voice so sharp, but I understood. Kianni brought out the worst in people. You had no choice but to show your claws dealing with this ho.
“Stop disrespecting her, and find you something safe to do,” I warned Kianni while moving, so I was standing between them.
Kianni laughed. “I’m going to make your life a living hell.”
“I don’t even know why you’re here right now. We both know you don’t really want Shyla. So leave.”
“This is my family, and I refuse to let some bitc—” Kianni started, but she was silenced by a quick punch from Island.
Her mouth literally snapped shut. Kianni shrieked in shock and attempted to charge at Island, but I held her back.
“You letting hos put their hands on me now?”
“Better her than me. She told you to stop disrespecting her. Everybody not going for your slick mouth. You better learn your lesson quickly before I let her jump on your ass because you deserve it.”
Thankfully, she finally began to back away. Mumbling something about being back, but I wasn’t worried about it. Kianni was just bored. She’d find better use of her time than harassing us within the next hour. I glanced down at Island and chuckled.
“I’m not going to lie; you just caught me off guard.”
She finally looked up at me. She tried to hide her smile.
“That ho talks too much, and I owed her for the way she treated Shy Shy at my shop the last time I saw her.”
Her words had me cupping the back of her neck and pulling her lips to mine before I could stop myself.
“Thank you,” I whispered against her skin once I had enough of her soft lips.
“You’re welcome.”
I took the bag she had in her free hand and took her hand into mine. Her coming over was the reason I was in a rush to clean up the crib. I didn’t want her to think I was a dirty man who lived in a pigsty.
“Please don’t mind the mess. I just got here, and my baby is off her rockers.”
Island chuckled, trailing me inside the house. Shyla was dancing in front of her iPad like nothing else mattered. I smiled because that’s what I wanted for her.
“Hey, Shy Shy,” Island greeted her then headed over.
“Hey, Ms. Island,” she replied cheerily. She rushed over and hugged her around the waist.
“What you over here doing?” Island asked her.
I went to place the bag she was here to drop off on the counter. Shyla’s skin was healing beautifully. Island swapped out her soap with something to accommodate the body butter. Her skin was holding moisture and no longer chafing. Her hyperpigmentation was healing too. I was thankful she wasn’t in pain anymore.
I moved to the living room, smiling at the two of them dancing in front of Shy Shy’s iPad. Island had a way of relaxing both of us just by being herself and accepting us as we were. I was afraid to let her in because what if she turned out to be as bad as Kianni? Everything wasn’t always toxic with my baby mama. I never expected our relationship to evolve into what it was today, but shit was out of my hands. Could I be setting my baby up for failure by allowing another woman in her life who could possibly walk away? Why would Island stay if her own birth mother wanted nothing to do with her? If Island stayed, would she treat her well?
I didn’t realize Island was talking to me until she placed a hand on my arm. My eyes refocused, finding her watching me pensively.
“I said I can do that for you if you want to go lay down.”
I ran a hand down my face. “I have to feed Shy Shy and get her in the bed too. My mama said she already gave her a bath.”
Island stepped closer. “I said I can do that for you. You don’t have to do everything alone, Shyheim. Let me help you.”
Her words placed my heart in a vice grip. I wanted to believe her, but Kianni’s voice still rang in my ears.
I snatched away and said, “I can take care of my daughter. We’re good.”
My tone was harsher than I intended. I felt guilty when Island flinched, and a hurt expression covered her pretty features. She took a step back and cleared her throat.
“Okay, my bad. I’ll go.”
She turned to walk away, and I couldn’t help but stop her. I was pushing her away even though I really didn’t wanna do that shit.
“Don’t leave.” I grabbed her hand as she came to a stop in front of the door. “I didn’t mean to talk to you like that. I could really use your help if it won’t be a burden to you.”
Her shoulders lifted then dropped slowly. She turned around at the pace of a snail.
“Are you sure?”
I nodded and stepped closer, trapping her between the door and my body. She tried to keep up her tough girl act, but once my lips landed on the crook of her neck, she melted against me.
“Yes. Do you forgive me?”
She nodded. “I do. You’re not forcing me to do anything. I’m here because I want to be. I just want to help.”
I placed my forehead on hers. “I know but you’ve already done so much to help us.”
Before I could continue, she said, “And I’ll do more. I’ll do whatever I can.”
Her confession had me wrapping my arms around her, securing her against my chest, and burying my lips on top of hers. I was trying to fight this, but it came so naturally that it felt like war with myself to go against my very nature.
“I’m afraid that pursuing this makes me weak because all my focus should be on my daughter and making sure she feels loved right now. You see how the woman who brought her into this world treats her… The last thing I want to do is fail my daughter.”
Island placed a hand on my cheek. “You won’t fail her, and you’re not weak for being human. You’re a single father with a demanding job. Of course, you can’t keep your house in tip-top shape. Of course, you need a break sometimes. Of course, you want someone to share your admiration of your daughter with.” She clasped our hands together. “It will take time to trust me, but I would never treat Shyla like her mother did. It’s not even in my nature.”
Her understanding put my body at ease.
“I want you to know this is not easy for me either. I’ve lost two lovers, and I’m afraid if I let you in, I will lose another.”
I always knew there was a reason Island was so guarded around me, but now it made sense. She knew all about heartbreak. She knew how hard it could be to bounce back from it too.
“I’m not going anywhere, Island.”
I lifted her hand to my lips and gently kissed her knuckles. A shiver ran down her spine, but she kept still for the most part. I could feel her heart racing. It took a lot for her to share even that little glimpse of her pain with me. If she was willing to be brave, I could meet her halfway.
* * *
I was gently shaken awake from my slumber. I yawned, stretching my arms over my head. When my eyes finally cracked open, I found Island standing over the bed. Her hair was up in a bun now, and her jacket was long gone.
“I came to tell you everything was done and that I’m about to leave.”
I sat up quickly. “Huh? Leave? What? Why?”
I was still half asleep, so my mind wasn’t processing things as quickly. Eyeing the clock on my nightstand, I saw it was after midnight.
“Why do you have to leave? It’s late. Just stay the night.”
She stood there shuffling from side to side with a hand hooked around her elbow. I didn’t give her time to start questioning and overthinking everything because I snatched her into the bed by her waist. She giggled, but thankfully, she didn’t put up a fight. With a huff, she made a request.
“Can I at least get something to sleep in?”
I nodded. “Absolutely.”
Climbing out of bed, I headed to my dresser and pulled out a Rosewind Fire shirt. I tossed it to her and pointed to the bathroom so she could have some privacy. I got back under the covers and waited for her to come back. I lay on my side with my head propped on my hand as she came waltzing back into the room.
I already had the sheets pulled back for her, so she slid in right next to me. I inched closer until I was right behind her soft body. I placed my nose in the crook of her neck and inhaled. When I was exhaling, I moaned without shame.
“That’s better. You belong right here.”
My hands began an exploration of her frame. I loved the way she fit into my hands, especially those titties. I didn’t remember anything else after I started massaging them. The heat of her body paired with how good she felt knocked me right the fuck out. That’s how I lowkey knew she was the one for me. She didn’t even give me no pussy but had me drooling out the side of my mouth when I woke up the next morning.