Chapter 8 #3
“So if it come down to it, you choosing Harbor over me?” I demanded, not liking where this conversation was going.
“Is that what I said?” Chevy snapped on me.
“You are tripping. And you so paranoid about someone doing something to you that yo’ stupid ass won’t even let somebody close enough to you.
You know what, just drop me off at the office so I can grab some paperwork and then take me back home.
I’m not about to do this with you tonight.
” She grumbled, fixing her eyes on the streets passing us by just outside the car.
The fuck was her problem? Was she really fucking tripping with me about letting another bitch close to me? Kind of shit was that? “You for real right now?”
“I am.” She quipped, eyes darting in my direction before her brows dipped and her forehead wrinkled indignantly.
“You kept that bitch Kitana around and don’t want to give Harbor the benefit of the doubt, instead of being happy for your cold-hearted ass friend who doesn’t let people in to begin with.
Just admit that you’re jealous of her position in his life. ”
“Jealous? That sounds like some bitch shit.” I scoffed, shaking my head.
“Yeah, but it’s some real shit.” Chevy divulged.
“You were good with him not having anybody in the past. You have this odd dependency with Frequency that I don’t even think you realize.
As long as he’s single and living that life, you can too.
You started bugging when he wanted more than this life.
And you do that shit every single time. People grow up and change.
They want more out of life. Just because you don’t doesn’t mean the rest of the world should be put on hold. ”
“You know what, I’ll drop you off and keep it pushing. You seem to be more concerned about Frequency and Harbor than you are about us any fucking way.” This shit was blowing me.
The fuck was becoming of my life and the people in it?
How did this night that we were supposed to be spending together turn into more than that?
I didn’t like when Chevy was right about some shit, and I damned sure wasn’t some self-reflecting type of nigga.
The way she left me second guessing myself only agitated me as I wheeled my car in front of her office building and parked.
“You don’t have to wait. I’ll catch a Lyft.” She assured me, reaching for the door handle.
Harbor
Later that evening…
I usually wouldn’t stick around the office this late, but I had some contracts from a buyer that had come through and we were officially locking in commercial properties as well.
Snacking on Ruffles and French onion dip, with a side of chocolate covered pretzels and ginger ale, I was in heaven while I smacked away.
Taking a glance at my watch, I saw that it was pushing nine pm.
“Is it time to go yet?” Ivy was curled up on the sofa taking a nap and had been for the last hour or so.
She came here after school to hang with me, we ordered dinner and had been chilling ever since.
It was odd, the attachment she had grown to me and vice versa.
Our bond was some authentic shit though.
She had become my best little friend, outside of her father and Chevy.
I didn’t know I could be so close to a child that wasn’t mine, but I loved Ivy with my whole heart.
She was stubborn and resilient, and like her father, she didn’t back down from anything that she felt strongly about.
She was actually a pretty admirable little lady, and I was looking forward to watching her grow into a self-assured young woman.
There were so many things I wanted to teach her and let her know about life and her relationships with people.
Anything I could do to make her road easier is what would make me sleep better at night.
It was crazy, but I did start thinking of her as my child, a piece of me that I was highly protective over.
She fell asleep watching something on her tablet and now was looking at me with the pout face.
I was ready to go as well. It had been a long day.
“Mmm, just a second. Let me countersign these papers so that they can get sent off in the morning.” I crunched on a pretzel while squinting at the computer screen just as Chevy appeared in the doorway.
Showing out in the Vera Wang dress and matching shoes.
Her hair was pinned up, exposing her face and neck.
Resting her hand on the frame of the door, she leaned against it.
“Hey, what are you still doing here?” She queried.
“Just wrapping a few things up. What are you doing here?” I nodded, shoving the rest of the pretzel into my mouth. “It’s getting late. I thought you had a date… with that villain you call a man.” My sarcasm seemed to humor her, but only briefly as her somber eyes wandered to the ground.
“I needed to grab something before I headed home. Ledge’s stupid ass pissed me off.” Chevy held up a business folder.
I scooted my chair from the table and adjusted my shirt.
Officially in my second trimester, which was crazy to me because at first I wasn’t able to tell I was even pregnant, growing life was starting to really sink in for me.
My everyday routine was slowed down and I couldn’t do anything but roll with it.
I was doing my best not to let it get the best of me.
Overnight I had a small bump, and now it was turning into a full-on basketball under my attire.
It was getting harder to hide it, but I was still nervous as fuck about telling Ivy.
Frequency insisted she would be fine, but I was too paranoid.
We had built a great relationship over the last few months.
I was attending her performances at basketball games and doing all the cool mom stuff.
In a nutshell, things were perfect, and I was scared to jinx that shit.
“Ivy, go ahead and get yourself together. I’ll meet you in the lobby so I can lock up and we can go.”
“Great.” She huffed, sitting up and grabbing her backpack.
She headed for the door and Chevy watched after her for a minute. I slowly brought myself from the chair, exhausted, and my back on fire.
“Ugh, it’s getting harder and harder to hide this.” I adjusted my suit jacket around me. Chevy looked me up and down, a smile dancing around her eyes as she shook her head and met me at the desk.
“I don’t know how you do that. Is she just not paying attention? Because you definitely can’t conceal that.” Chevy reached out to caress my bulging belly.
I tossed my head back and let out a cringing sigh.
“Why don’t you just tell her? At this point if she’s mad about it, there’s nothing she can really do. She’s going to be a big sister. I think you are overthinking it. Rip the bandaid off.” Chevy encouraged.
“Easier said than done. That girl can be ruthless, and bratty. She’s had to endure so much— “
“And you haven’t?” Chevy pressed, arching one brow at me questionably.
“I get wanting to protect her feelings and everything, but she’s going to know sooner or later.
What are you going to say when you can’t hide behind big jackets and bags?
Or how about this, when you push that baby out of your vagina.
” Chevy mocked, activating the dimples in her cheeks with a grin.
“Think about that. It’s time to talk to her.
Now, I am going to go. Ledge completely blew me tonight.
” She voiced sadly. “I swear, the closer I get to forgiving and taking his ass back, the further he pushes me. At this point, I don’t know what to even do with his ass.
I am so tired of all of this shit.” She whined.
Her phone buzzed in her hand and she peered down into it.
“My Lyft is here. I will just catch up to you later.”
“I could have taken you home.” I offered.
“I didn’t even know you were still here. It’s okay. The car is here now. Go home, get some rest. I will just talk to you tomorrow.” Just like that she was out the door, and I was focused on getting myself together to go.
Gathering my laptop and everything else, I stuffed them into my leather briefcase.
My ringing cell brought a smile to my face.
It was Frequency. My heart quickened like it always did because he was life, and I loved everything about him.
We were in that honeymoon phase, without the wedding, and I didn’t want to come off that cloud.
“Hello,” I sang into the phone, placing it against my ear.
“Where you at?” He asked, sounding like he was stuffing his face.
“Um, just leaving the office.” I revealed, locking my briefcase shut.
“It’s late, Harbor. The fuck you still doing there? Is Ivy with you?” He interrogated, demanding as hell.
He was so damn overprotective these days, and on edge about everything.
Kara was shipped off to rehab and he sent Slice, one of his most trusted guards to look after her.
Celine had vanished, and he wouldn’t even tell me why.
I’d been holding down the woman of the house title, and today that shit was catching up to me because my bed was calling.
I didn’t even care about his aggressive ass attitude right now because I could easily match that if he took me there.
“She is. Deviance is right outside, Free, we are fine.” I assured him. “Are you going to be there when we arrive?”
“I’m taking care of something right now. I’ll be there after it’s done.” He sounded distracted, causing me to frown.
Something else was going on.
“Okay. I’ll wait up for you. We already had dinner, so you are on your own.” I told him.
“Just take care of my babies. I’ll see you in a few.” Even though he had an attitude, I still found his words endearing.
A small smile came to my lips. “I love you, Harbor.”
“I love you too.” I cooed, loving that big dick energy he gave me, even through the phone.