Chapter 9 #2
Kaynaan motioned for the receptionist to keep his card.
“Where’s your card, Brown Eyes? Either whip out your card and pay the balance or let me cook.
You’ve spent the last few weeks anxious and stressed about the health of the baby.
You’re finally at the point where you can relax and maybe even enjoy your pregnancy, and you’re trying to tie on the stress of not knowing how you’re gonna pay these mounting medical bills?
” He gently took my arm and led me far enough away that our conversation would be private.
“I apologize for going there in front of the receptionist. But make this make sense, baby.
“You do understand that if you don’t pay the bill off, you’re either gonna have to find a different doctor or go to the free clinic? What’s your game plan here?”
Tears sprung to my eyes. I wiped at them furiously. It wasn’t the time for tears, but my hormones didn’t respect inopportune moments. “I just don’t like owing.” That was the truth. I hated owing anybody anything.
He gave a little scoff. “Are you even serious right now? Because you owe Dr. Butler’s office.
I’m trying to take that off your plate, and you’re giving me pushback.
” He sighed heavily. “Whether you believe it or not, Brown Eyes, you’re my future.
Everybody knows it but you. And I’m okay with that.
Because even little baby”—He gestured toward my middle—“is visiting me in the future. She knows who I am in this situation. It’s taking you a minute to get there, but like I said, I’m cool with that.
Because of who you are to me, I’mma always exercise the utmost patience with you.
I’mma willingly do simp shit. I’mma take my time with you.
But what won’t happen on my watch is playing a game with no winner that’s based on pride and fake independence.
I’m paying the bill. You’re letting me pay the bill.
And you’re shutting that pretty little mouth of yours.
“Now, let me go retrieve my damn card before the nurses in this office be taking a group trip to the D.R. on my dime. I’ll make your appointment for four weeks from today.”
LoLo cackled loudly, which was the only way she knew how to laugh. “He was sick of your shit,” she said after I told her what happened in Dr. Butler’s office.
“And was.” I agreed, scooping a spoonful of ice cream into my mouth while simultaneously working on a custom blinged-out design for myself. I was going to put it on the back of a jersey that had been sent over by the team more than a year ago.
Kaynaan had been asking me to come to one of his games.
I kept declining. That was mainly because I was concerned about optics.
I was concerned about somebody seeing me with him, who knew I’d been with Preston at one point.
But what Kaynaan said to me in Dr. Butler’s office resonated.
I was playing a game with no winner, based on pride and not fake independence, but fake humility.
I felt like I should feel bad about sleeping with both Preston and Kaynaan.
But the truth was that I didn’t feel bad.
I didn’t feel anything. It was what it was.
I was tired of hiding and acting like I needed to be walking around with a scarlet letter . . . a big red letter A on my chest.
“He checked your ass. I know you were the talk of the office for the rest of the day.”
I giggled. “I’ll bet I was.”
“Next time, just let him pay, friend.”
“Girl, there won’t be a next time. He left the card on file.
Anytime I see Dr. Butler, they’ve been authorized to swipe the card.
He so annoying.” I smiled when I said it, though.
“Talking about, if she or the baby has to be airlifted to a different hospital during delivery, swipe the card. Whatever comes up regarding her or the baby, . . . swipe the card.”
“Girl, I would’ve been swiping my mouth all over his dick. Did you thank him properly?”
“And did,” I muttered.
“So, he thinks it’s a girl?”
“Had the nerve to say my alleged daughter came to him in a dream.”
She eyed me. “You think it’s a girl?”
I smiled wide. “I do, but to be fair, I thought that before he said it. It just blew me that he would say that. And that he would say she was throwing him kisses, telling him to catch.”
Her mouth fell open. “Heifer! You did not tell me that. The baby was throwing kisses the same way you throw kisses to your granddaddy? Oh my gawd! Oh my gawd! Sis, this nigga done looked inside your womb and bonded with this baby. Preston who, boo? Kaynaan’s that baby pappy.
” She jabbed her finger toward my stomach.
I didn’t want to confirm that I agreed with everything she said.
“Shut up.” I waved her off. “What do you think of this?” I motioned for her to come closer to the computer monitor.
I showed her the mockup for the jersey I was doing for myself and the football shaped purse that I was blinging out for her.
“I love it. Are you gonna get them done before the game? I can’t wait to stunt with it.”
“The game is two weeks away; they’ll be done by then if I start tonight. One week for yours and one week for mine.”
The alarm from the security system alerted us that someone was at or near the front door. I quickly checked the camera. “Kaynaan.” I hit the button to release the lock.
He came through the door and walked right over to me. He pulled me into his arms giving me a good hug before speaking to LoLo. “What’s good, LoLo?”
She was all smiles. “Hey, Kaynaan. I heard you took care of business the other day, even though our friend tried to pretend that she didn’t want you to.”
“Shut up,” I said, grinning.
Kaynaan grinned, too. “Yeah. She plays tough, but underneath it all, she’s a sensitive thug.”
“And I heard that I’m getting a niece.”
That made his smile widen, and I basically swooned. He was so gorgeous—all milk chocolate skin, dimples, dark eyes, and full lips. “Yeah, and she’s perfect. She’s healthy, and she’s happy.”
“Well, if you’re taking suggestions for girl names, my vote is with Mileah.”
I pulled a face. “Mileah and Maloah?”
“Your real name is Maloah?” he asked.
“Yes. I know, it’s weird. And ever since that movie came out, people see it and call me Moana.”
“I was thinking along the lines of Arabella,” I said.
“This is politically incorrect,” LoLo began, “but that name has a, I don’t know, chubby ring to it. I envision a pretty little girl, but chubby.”
Kaynaan laughed.
I twisted my face. “How can a name sound chubby, Lo?”
“I don’t know. It just does.”
“I disagree.” I folded my arms across my chest. “I think it sounds pretty. And it means answered prayer.”
LoLo shrugged. “That’s a pretty meaning, but kids don’t care about the meanings of names. They’re gonna call her big-bellied Arabella.”
Kaynaan was practically on the floor. “You’re wild as hell, LoLo.”
“Kids are cruel. I got caught kissing Jeremy Finch behind the bleachers at the park the summer after sixth grade. All the boys started calling me Lo down dirty. They tried to ruin my reputation.”
“They did,” I remembered.
“Right. Keep that in mind when you’re picking a name.”
“I would just go with the obvious,” Kaynaan said. “Her name would be Princess.”
“Princess Castle?” I practically yelped. “Are you even serious right now? That’s worse than Wyndsor Castle. She would definitely get teased.”
“She wouldn’t, though,” he insisted.
I eyed him.
“Because her name would be Princess Israel.”
“Whew, shit!” LoLo hollered.
I pretended to go back to the rendering on my monitor, but a small smile found its way to my face.