16. Téa #3
“Okay, so we will be testing the baby’s DNA against yours, Mr. Godfrey. And you are the brother to the alleged father, right?” she asked, and he nodded to confirm.
I didn’t like that she used the word alleged, but in this instance, what else could she say?
“And how badly could this harm the baby?” I questioned. “Like, they won’t be born with anything, right?”
“It’s unlikely it will affect the baby at all. Everything should be fine, but of course we recommend babies be tested once they are fully formed and out of the womb. Also, it’s much cheaper,” she expounded. “Any more questions?”
“How long?” Rakim inquired of course.
“It’ll take a couple weeks, but we offer rush for a fee if—”
“We want rush.” He cut her off, and I rolled my eyes on the low.
“How often do you make mistakes?” I chimed in, feeling Rakim look at my side profile pensively.
“Never, Miss Gates. I can assure you of that.” She smiled and then waited, eyes toggling looking between Rakim and me to see if we had any more inquiries.
We didn’t, and so the procedure commenced. It was pretty quick, them drawing my blood and then swabbing him. Afterwards, Rakim made sure to pay extra for rush service, and then we left.
“So if they make a mistake and it says you aren’t related to my baby, then what? You’re gonna kill me?” I asked somewhat in jest. I truly wanted to know but was hopeful no mistakes would be made, and therefore, no consequences would be faced.
Rakim was silent, driving as his hand glided across his healthy beard.
“I don’t know,” he responded, shocking me.
“Last time I talked to you, you threatened my life.” I folded my arms, astonished by his answer this go-round.
I wondered what made him change his mind because he seemed adamant about killing me when he pulled up at the beauty shop. Not to mention, he didn’t appear out of it and instead levelheaded.
“Yeah, well I can’t be sure what I’m gon’ do. You keep bringing the shit up, though, and I might just smoke you. You’d deserve it if yo’ ass is lying.”
Though he was quite brash, I agreed. Anyone who would lie about something like this and continue to, after seeing how much Rakim clearly loved and held his brother close to his heart, deserved death. It would be a cruel trick to play.
Rakim dropped me off at home, telling me he’d be in touch in a few days when we got the results.
Using my key to enter my apartment, I quickly looked to my left when I heard footsteps approaching. Seeing Mylo, I froze before focusing back on unlocking my door.
“I have work to do.” I threw out the first thing I could think of as Mylo walked into my place behind me. He was too quick for me to close the door on him.
Shutting the door behind himself, he said, “Téa, what’s the issue?”
Dropping my purse, I yelled, “The issue is that I am pregnant by one man and fucking his . . . shit, I don’t know. What the fuck are you to Zaire? I know it’s more than friends!”
“We was cool, more like associates. Rakim and I are more like friends, and Zaire is just his lil brother.”
“Okay, well still. I shouldn’t be fucking a random man while pregnant, but I especially shouldn’t be fucking a man who was so close to its father, even if indirectly.”
Mylo’s sexy face twisted up, so I prepared myself for his rebuttal.
“Zaire is deceased, so it ain’t like it really matter whether you fuck or stay celibate while pregnant with his kid. Secondly, from what I’ve gathered, Téa, you wasn’t even his girl. Y’all fucked once, and that was it. You making it sound like you was this nigga’s main bitch or some shit.”
Mylo’s words felt like a punch to the gut.
I wasn’t sure why, but him denouncing me to be some one-night stand and nothing more hurt me.
Though I did only fuck Zaire one night and we weren’t in a relationship, I’d felt something with him.
I could tell the feeling was mutual by the conversations we had after.
Had he not overdosed, I could guarantee we’d probably be together.
Mylo’s insensitive ass didn’t understand or care about that.
“Yeah, this isn’t gonna work. Mylo, I want you to leave me alone and for good.
What happened between us was a mistake, and I pray this can stay between us, but if you feel the need to tell Rakim that we had sex, then go ahead.
Doesn’t change the fact that this is Zaire’s baby, so I couldn’t give less of a fuck. ” I shrugged.
“Téa—”
“Go. Please. And do not come back. I think I gave you the impression that I liked you or wanted more, and I don’t. I’m lonely, yes, but the only person who can cure that is my child’s father.”
I knew my words would be hurtful to hear, but I didn’t care. It was partially true, but I also said it because I knew it would get Mylo out of my apartment and life.
My hormones were out of whack, and my mental wasn’t up to snuff, so engaging sexually with another man, one connected to Zaire on top of that, just wasn’t wise. Typically, I would drink or pop a pill when I felt off like this but I couldn’t do that to my child.
Mylo gazed at me with a disheartened expression before turning to leave without another word.
Oddly, I would’ve preferred he curse my ass out than nothing at all.