Chapter 5
Lauren
Layla gasped, leaning so far across the linen-covered brunch table that her hoop earrings nearly dipped into her mimosa. "You been letting that man play in your ass?" she whisper-yelled.
I rolled my eyes and slammed my fork down onto my plate. "This is exactly why I don't tell you shit," I muttered, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks.
Lance didn't even look up from cutting his French toast. He shrugged his shoulders casually. "Maybe if Kylo played in yours, you wouldn't be so stiff with them sausages."
Layla shot him a filthy look and immediately flipped him the bird across the table. "Kylo handles his business well, thank you very much. In fact, I actually took him out on a date last night."
A slow smirk spread across my face as I watched Lance's jaw literally drop to the floor. He froze with his fork halfway to his mouth, staring at Layla like she had just spoken in tongues. "You was actually being nice to that man? Well, I'll be damned. The world must really be coming to an end."
"I’m trying to be a better wife and a better mother these days," Layla said, smoothing down the front of her top and looking incredibly proud of herself.
"I even turned down a couple of major projects at work just so I could make sure I was at Bakari's basketball games. And honestly, it’s working. He’s stopped fighting so much at school, and things have just been a lot smoother at the house. "
"I love that for you, Lay," I said, feeling a genuine wave of warmth hit my chest. It felt good to see my sister stepping into a softer space, prioritizing her family instead of running herself into the ground for a paycheck.
We naturally transitioned into talking about my situation, discussing the reality of me finally checking in and moving back home for good.
I couldn't help the massive smile that took over my face.
I was genuinely happy about the move, ready to put the distance behind us and rebuild the foundation Bane and I had cracked.
While I was enjoying the peaceful vibe of the moment, Lance casually reached for his water glass and mumbled under his breath.
"I'm just out here trying to figure out how I'm finna go to this wedding next month, knowing damn well the groom been trying to get with me for awhile.
I might as well le him give me head so he would leave me alone. "
I paused mid-bite, my fork hovering in the air as I stared at him. Layla and I both locked our eyes onto our brother, waiting for the elaboration, but Lance just kept it moving. He took a sip of his water and adjusted his cuffs.
"Hold up," Layla cut in, leaning forward again. "You can't just drop that and keep eating your potatoes. First of all, when are you going to settle down anyway? You ain't getting any younger, Lance. It’s about time for you to start on some kids."
Lance let out a dramatic shudder, waving his hand in the air. "Ew, no. I am absolutely good on all of that. I just want a good husband in like ten years, whenever I decide to finally slow my life down. Oh, but speaking of traveling, I’ll be in Aruba next week."
Layla frowned, crossing her arms. "And you ain't invite nobody?"
"Well, I was going with my actual friends, so don't be sitting there acting like that," Lance shot back with a petty grin, making me laugh.
Layla’s expression softened as she looked back over at me as the playful bickering faded. "Anyways, it’s going to be so incredibly nice to have you back home. We missed you."
Lance nodded his head, his usual sarcastic demeanor completely melting away as he looked at me. "Yeah, she's right. It's about time you brought your ass back where you belong."
We all raised our glasses, clinking them together in a quiet toast to my return. I felt a profound sense of relief washing over me, knowing that despite all the chaos, my siblings always had my back.
Layla suddenly got up from her side of the booth and walked around the table, wrapping her arms tightly around my neck to give her a lingering hug.
Lance rolled his eyes dramatically, leaning over to pat my arm. "Y'all are so damn emotional, it's ghetto."
Layla let go of me, and immediately grabbed Lance, pulling him into a tight hug next. Lance smiled, matching her energy and hugging her back tightly for a few seconds before he playfully swatted her away from his designer shirt.
He adjusted his collar, looking Layla up and down with a sudden, sharp squint. "Wait a minute. The last time you were this emotional and hugging everybody... you were pregnant."
A heavy, suffocating silence dropped over the table. Both Lance and I froze completely, our eyes locking entirely onto Layla as she casually lifted her glass and took another slow sip of her drink. The realization hit the air like a freight train.
Layla set her glass down, her eyes darting between the two of us as her face went completely blank. "Well... I don't think I am..."
I let out a ragged breath, burying my face in my hands. "Ah, hell."
Lance shook his head. “I told you to get off that man.”
Before we knew it, Layla started crying at the table. The last time she got pregnant, all hell broke loose. At least, I was able to help her this time.
Big Bane
One Month Later
I was sitting on the couch when a weird tingling feeling started creeping up my right thigh. It was a stubborn tightness that wouldn't let up.
I groaned, rolling my shoulders as I got up to walk the stiffness out.
I took a slow stroll down the hallway, heading toward the back of the house. As I passed the laundry room, the door was cracked open, and the sight inside stopped me dead in my tracks.
Lauren was leaning all the way over the washing machine, reaching deep down into the bottom of the drum to pull out a load of clothes.
She had on some short shorts, and the view from behind was ridiculous. Absolute perfection. The stiffness in my leg vanished, replaced by a completely different kind of hardness.
I didn't make a sound when I eased into the room, stepping up light on my feet until I was right behind her.
I crowded her space, dropping my full body on her back and pinning her against the top of the washer.
"Go ’head and touch them toes," I rumbled against the soft skin of her neck, my hands immediately clamping down onto her hips to lock her in.
Lauren let out a pretty gasp, her body instantly tensing against mine before she realized it was just me. She tried to wiggle, but I pressed my weight down harder, letting her feel exactly what she was doing to me.
"Bane, stop," she laughed, her voice muffled against the machine. She tried to playfully swat at my arms behind her, but she couldn't break my grip. "Is dinner even ready? Ryan is literally on his way over here right now."
"That shit been done," I muttered.
I leaned down, biting at the sweet spot where her neck met her shoulder, making her squirm beneath me.
I wasn't thinking about Ryan or the food.
I reached around her waist, tracing the edge of her shorts, fully trying to slide my hand inside so I could get a quick session in before company touched down.
"Bane, for real, let go," she giggled, using her elbows to wedge some space between us.
She was too quick on her feet. The second I loosened my hold to adjust my angle, she twisted her hips and managed to slip right out from under my chest.
She scrambled backward out of the laundry room before I could even think about getting my hands back on her waist. Her bare feet went smacking down the hardwood hallway in a full sprint, and before I could even take two steps to chase her down, she ducked straight into the master bathroom and slammed the heavy door shut.
The lock clicked so loud it echoed.
I stalked right down the hall after her, a wide grin cutting across my face as I planted myself right in front of the frame. I leaned my shoulder against the wood and dropped my voice into a low, smooth tone, singing some old-school song. But my voice cracked, killing my chances.
I heard her crack up laughing on the other side. "Bane, stop it! You just got some this morning. Give a girl a break."
I pouted like a damn kid, pressing my face right up against the crack of the wood so she could hear me clearly. "Just the tip, baby. On god, just the head and five minutes."
"Nooo," she shouted back, though I could hear the smile in her voice. "Go get ready for your son. Ryan is going to be here any minute."
"I'm tryna make another one right now," I told her, shifting my weight against the door.
"Clearly... go somewhere, please."
I smiled to myself, unlocking my posture from the door frame.
I decided to play it slick, taking three slow, highly exaggerated steps backward on my tiptoes, making sure my heavy ass didn't make a single peep on the floorboards.
I stood completely frozen at the end of the hall, holding my breath and staying dead quiet for a whole minute so she would honestly think I gave up and walked away.
I was standing there looking crazy, just waiting, when her voice cut right back through the wood, entirely too smart for her own good.
"I know you still standing there, Bane. Go on now."
I sucked my teeth loud as hell, shaking my head as I finally turned around and walked my ass back up to the front of the house to check on the food.
About an hour later, the doorbell finally rang, followed right after by the familiar jingle of keys turning in the front lock. The door swung open and Ryan walked into the foyer, carrying a small overnight bag slung over his shoulder.
I stood up from the couch, and wrapped my boy in a hug so damn tight that I lifted his body clean off the floor.
He let out a loud, strained groan, laughing out loud as he wrapped his arms around my neck and hugged me right back. "Dad, come on, let me go," he wheezed out. "I already told you about this lifting me up shit."