Chapter 26 #2
When he found out she gave birth to twins all those years ago, he was crushed.
Unbeknownst to the rest of us, Keynauri knew Ari was pregnant, but he thought she’d gotten an abortion.
When he broke everything down to us, I couldn’t find fault in Ari, simply because my boy knew she was pregnant.
Yes, the two of them could have communicated better, but it didn’t happen that way.
Lyric wanted to hold on to her own grudge and hurt feelings; meanwhile, her brother was ready to make an appointment with the jeweler.
I had never witnessed Keynauri so deeply in love.
Bro’s nose was wide open, and no one could tell him anything.
Truthfully, I was happy for him. The two of them went through a lot back then, and now they had been given the opportunity to start over and do things right this time around. I could never be upset about that.
“How many times have you fucked up, Lyric?” She hated when I used her real name, but I needed her to understand I meant business.
“W-what are you trying to say?”
“I’m saying, you’re out here looking real hypocritical. No one is perfect, and we’ve all made mistakes. How can you want forgiveness for the mistakes you’ve made in life, but refuse to extend the same grace to someone else?” I questioned.
“Are you trying to say my feelings don’t matter since Keynauri decided to forgive and let go?” Lyric challenged. Her cheeks were red, which let me know she was getting upset.
“Honestly, this has nothing to do with your brother at all. He said it out of his own mouth that he was at fault for not knowing about the twins sooner, so there’s no way you can still be holding that over her head.
The issues you have with Ari are deeper than what you’re willing to admit, but until you’re ready to be honest with yourself, you can’t heal. ”
Lyric gulped, and tears welled in her pretty blue eyes.
My girl and I were connected on another level, and I knew that Ari’s presence triggered her, but it wasn’t for the reasons she claimed.
My baby was hurt, but she wasn’t ready to acknowledge the root of her pain.
Therefore, misplaced anger fueled her and would eventually cause a rift in the one relationship she valued most: her relationship with her brother.
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I came here to have a good time, and no one is going to ruin it.” She put her walls up, but I saw right through the act.
“You’re going to have a good time regardless, but you could have an even better one if you made amends or at least tried to be cordial with the ladies.
Logic, Keyz, and I plan to hit up a smoke shop and a few other places, so there are gonna be times when you’re alone with them.
Why not try to make the most of it?” I pressed.
Lyric pouted, reminding me of our daughter when she didn’t get her way. The two of them loved to use their puppy dog eyes and pouty lips to get over on me, and sadly, it worked more often than not.
“I don’t like when you start making sense. Where is the coldhearted, aggressive East when I need him?”
I hugged her tightly in my arms, inhaling her addictive scent as we rocked back and forth.
“A pretty girl with a stank-ass attitude barged into my life and changed a nigga’s heart for the better.
I’m still a coldhearted savage when I need to be, but for her, I’m soft as cotton.
” I chuckled, thinking about how much she and Symphonee changed me.
I was living a wild and reckless life before they came along.
Those two infiltrated my heart and gave me a purpose and something to live for. I was forever indebted to them.
“Well, she sounds like a keeper.” Lyric giggled as I kissed all over her face.
“She is. She’s gonna be my wife one day and give me a bunch of babies.
We’re gonna travel the world together, fucking in every country and racking up stamps on our passports.
That’s my mothafuckin’ soulmate. She just stubborn and hardheaded as fuck.
” I added the last part knowing it would get a reaction out of her.
“See. I was with you until you got to the end. I mean, you aren’t wrong, but you don’t have to call me out. I’m working on it.” She simpered.
“Well, how about you get some practice in now. I’m about to get dressed and then head out with the fellas.
The last time I checked, the ladies were in the kitchen.
Why don’t you go out there and see what they’re up to?
You can’t drink, but I’m sure you could make a moxtail or whatever those little fake-ass drinks are,” I suggested.
Lyric giggled. “It’s called mocktail, baby. You’re starting to sound like Granny Nessa, messing up words left and right.”
“Naw, I’ll never be that bad. Granny makes words up on the spot.”
Thinking about my granny reminded me I needed to stop by and see her once we got back home. I hadn’t laid eyes on her in a while, and I needed to make it right.
“Alright, I guess I’ll try. When you come back, you owe me. I think I deserve to get my kitty licked for being the bigger person.” She smirked.
“You wildin’, shorty. I was gonna eat that mothafucka anyway, but if you succeed, I got you. I love you, Lola B.”
“I love you, too, Essie.”
“Man, gon’ ahead with all of that. It’s Essex or daddy to you.”
“Well, I’ll stick to Essex, because thanks to you, there will be enough people calling you daddy soon enough.”
I smiled as she rubbed her flat stomach. My life kept getting better and better, and we were only getting started.