Chapter 23 Heidi #2
“Yes, the hell you is.” Sitting up, he braced himself on his knees as he gave it to me as raw as possible.
“Look, if it was anybody but him, I probably would’ve had buddy knocked by now.
However, it is him, so I know how he stepping.
That nigga ain’t going for nothing else when it comes to you, and now that baby.
I did my part. I protected you, financed everything in yo’ life, catered to you, even caught bodies for you.
He gon’ always have the one up though, ‘cause I can’t love you the way he can.
This bond run deep, but it’s platonic as hell.
That shit with lil’ cuz though… he gon’ lay down his life for you, that lil’ one, and Lincoln.
He gon’ prioritize you as his number one the same way I do Klarity.
You outgrew the Springs and that’s cool.
I ain’t tripping. I promise you I ain’t.
A nigga lowkey happier than a muthafucka for you.
I see the way you look at all the Atkins couples.
This one is yours and I ain’t taking it from you…
not this time. Take lil’ Lincoln and go build a life in Florida.
I’m gon’ always be here if you need. You know that. ”
My emotional ass was in tears by the time Royce came to the end of his speech.
For years, this man has run away any guy he thought wasn’t good enough.
However, to see him give Bentley his approval had me sobbing like a damn child.
He loved me, that I knew. He showed it several times over.
Hell, I felt like a baby bird being kicked out the nest.
The Atkins had been by my side for a long ass time. They wouldn’t allow anyone to call me an outsider. Mama Rose even included me in her will. I had a home, a family in them. This was so bittersweet because I knew for a fact my heart was with Bentley.
The time I spent with him, the conversations, the laughs…
they were all moments I wanted more of. Moments I wanted as a permanent fixture in my life.
It felt good having a man love me out loud and proud for once.
I wasn’t a second choice for him. He knew what he wanted in me. I loved that about him.
Love. Damn, were we there already…
“Royce, what I fuck it up? What if he changes his mind? What if—”
He interrupted my rant with, “Ain’t no what ifs. And if it is, lil’ cuz gon’ have to see me,” he threatened. “You safe Heidi. He gon’ keep you that way.”
That brought a chuckle out of me. I reached over and grabbed a few Kleenex to clean my face. He wasn’t saying anything wrong. I was just terrified that I was going to mess up. I didn’t know if I was ready to be someone’s partner for real.
“Dammit Royce. I don’t like being pushed away like this.”
“You gon’ get the hell up out of here though. We damn near adopted yo’ ass, so you forever an Atkins. If he anything like us, he gon’ want his family under his roof and yo’ last name changed ASAP. Sage Springs ain’t for you no more so go be a fuckin’ wife dawg. That nigga love you.”
“You think so?” I asked needing more reassurance.
“I know so. Go be a family for real lil’ nigga. It’s everything it’s cracked up to be,” he jested.
Nodding, I made the decision right then and there to go after my man. Royce knew me best and saw something I didn’t think others could see. I was lonely and Bentley gave me the right kind of company. Lincoln liked him and that was all that mattered.
Florida was always a good time, now it was a permanent residency for me and mine.
I didn’t let my man know what was up, and I asked the Atkins to stay quiet as well.
This was a decision I made for me and our kids to live a life of comfortability.
With him, I knew it was a guaranteed future of happiness.
I waited at least a month before leaving Sage Springs for good. Baby boy to my side and four months pregnant with baby girl growing inside of me. I only knew that because I was impatient and had them draw my blood for the gender. Nevertheless, Lexus was going to be loved by both her parents.
“Mama, is Bentley here yet?” Lincoln asked.
The bond they built was virtual, but he’d grown to love Bentley.
Every time I was on the phone with him, Lincoln just had to speak for forty-five minutes straight.
I never made him feel like he couldn’t build with him because I was doing the same.
We were both in the same boat when it came to Bentley.
“He is. We’re going to see him as soon as we get in our rental,” I stated grabbing his hand. All of our things were getting shipped down, including my cars so me and baby boy came down with just us.
“Yay! I brought him one of my Woody’s.”
“You did? I think he’ll like that very much.”
“Ms. Mitchell, your vehicle is ready.” Turning around, the rental staff was standing with the key in tow and a smile.
“Thank you so much. I appreciate you doing this for me. I know it was very last minute, and I am so sorry for that.”
“No worries. Someone will be to retrieve it tomorrow morning from said address. Enjoy your day.” She handed over the keys and was out our hair.
“Come on baby boy, let’s go see Bentley.”
Lincoln was on my heels. He hopped in the back while I hopped in the front. Checking Bentley’s location, I saw that he was at the club. Club Sin was put into my GPS, and we were on our way from the airport.
I knew nothing about the Florida streets, but it was time I learned.
Lincoln would be starting school after the summer break, and I needed a little comfortability.
I researched the best schools, and everything for him.
My plans for us to live a good life would be fulfilled times two. I had no doubt about it.
We cruised through traffic at a steady pace.
By the time I made it through the conjunction of a crowd, we were pulling into the parking lot of Sin.
This was the first and last time Lincoln would be visiting this place.
I found a space right in front of the door.
It was mid-day so there was no nonsense going on at this hour.
Climbing out the car, I helped my baby out and headed inside. I had the staff greeting me and Lincoln at the door. Bentley had good people working for him. They were all so respectful, especially Mula.
“Heidi,” Mula screamed as soon as she laid eyes on me.
I quickly hushed her. She was going to give away the surprise. I didn’t want Bentley knowing we were here just yet. It was only so much I could hide from the man to begin with. He was just as nosy as Royce, and hot headed as Genesis. He was the perfect mixture of the two.
“Shhhh. I don’t want him to know I’m here.”
“Good luck with that. He has eyes and ears all over this place. What are you doing here and who is this little one?”
“My son. I know you ain’t think sneaking in here was yo’ best move. What the hell you doing here Mama?” Mula called it. I should’ve known I couldn’t get nothing pass him. He took the stairs, and I had to admit, he looked damned good.
“Hey Bentley!” Lincoln shouted.
“What’s good lil’ man?” he threw back.
God, I missed him.
“We’ll talk later Mula,” I whispered. Still holding onto Lincoln, we crossed the room to meet the man of the hour.
He was dressed down in a pair of cargos and a t-shirt. This was the first time I witnessed him so laid back. His ice shined against his chest, his earrings were seen a mile away, and his watch was blinding. He was a man of value, and he knew it.
Once I was in reach, he immediately bent down and wrapped me in his embrace. The smell of his cologne was so goddamn intoxicating. I melted the second his flesh meshed with mine. A soft moan escaped as he squeezed and loved on me.
“I missed you Ma,” he spoke in my ear followed by a soft kiss.
“I missed you too baby. You look good,” I complimented.
“Thank you, you do too. Tell me something though. What you got going on?’ he questioned palming my stomach.”
There I was thinking I hid my stomach from him, but he in fact noticed it. I smiled nervously not sure on how the hell he would accept us. Each decision I made so far, didn’t involve him. This was new to him all the way around the board.
Stepping back, I laid it flat like I did for Royce. “I’m pregnant, you’re the father, of course, and Lincoln and I are here to officially move in,” I said all in one breath.
Smirking, he nodded, and replied with, “Cool. Let a nigga grab his shit and we can be out. What we having?”
“A girl.”
“How far along are you?” he questioned.
“Four months. I’m impatient, so I asked Dr. Bloom to draw blood and tell me. We had a lot of conversation and a little girl as your first seed came to mind. I just wanted to show you, we can check it off our list,” I explained.
“Spoiled and beautiful like her mama. Yeah, I’m fuckin’ with that,” he said wearing a grin that couldn’t be contained. “Wait for me, aight?”
“Of course, my love.”
I didn’t know why I had it in my head that this was going to go south. He proved me wrong every single time. This man was a saint if you asked me. He did his job as a man, lover, and father. All of what I witnessed the Atkins men be for their women, he was being for me.
I had a son that he loved and a baby girl that was becoming a part of this world.
He had no objections to anything I spewed.
It was a simple agreeance followed by satisfaction.
I didn’t know what I did to deserve this kind of love, but I wasn’t neglecting any of it.
It was a long time coming and I was prepared for the long run ahead.
You’re okay, Heidi… finally.