7. Eris #2
“Are you going to be my daddy?” Levi asked.
Rayzor gazed at me, and we shared a look.
I felt the shock on my face as well as the tears forming in the brim of my eyes. Rayzor’s always tried not to overstep, even though he’s claimed the kids since day one. I gave him the nod to go ahead.
“Yeah, lil’ man, I’m gon’ be your dad, if that’s okay with you?”
“It is. I do!” he yelled.
“Oh yeah?” Rayzor ran his hand over Levi’s head as he laughed. My heart was so full.
“Yes. I tell everyone you’re my dad.” He smiled.
Eris shrugged, nodding as if she’d known this whole time.
“He does.” Erin laughed. “And it’s about time y’all got it together because I already tell everybody you’re going to marry her someday. Thank you for not making me look bad.”
“So, y’all cool with me joining the family?” Rayzor asked with a smirk.
“You’re already part of it. You told us that the first time you met us.” Erin laughed.
“And I meant that shit. I love all y’all. Ya hear me?”
“We love you too,” Erin and Levi said in unison.
“And you already know you have my blessing,” Suki announced.
“Wasn’t nobody talking to you, sideline,” City retorted.
“Boy, fuck you. I’m happy for my friend. You just mad you’re losing a real one.” Suki rolled her eyes.
“Nah. I ain’t losing shit. I gained a sister.”
“Watch y’all mouth in front of the kids,” Rayzor warned.
Suki sucked her teeth her at him. “I’m so happy for you.” She hugged me.
“Thank you, girl. It’s been a road.”
“A long time coming. I’m surprised it took this long.”
I laughed. “We’re right on time.”
The family embraced us with pictures as we all were mesmerized by the rock. My man did good. My fiancé. I couldn’t believe it. Rayzor loved me and showed it ultimately– making me a wife. I gave all my years and tears to the wrong men. Now was my happily ever after.
Days later
The kids were with Suki so I was home doing some cleaning since I’d spent so much of my time with Rayzor lately. My home was feeling like a secondary place instead of my primary.
While cleaning, I felt nauseous and looked at the time.
I’d been moving not even an hour and it felt like I’d built a damn house from scratch, just as I was about to lay down, there was a ring at my bell.
I glanced at the notification and almost flipped shit over when I saw Phillip with flowers in his hair.
I made the quickest walk-jog to the door, snatching it over.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked him.
He smirked. “My son lives here.”
I put my other hand on my hip while holding my door handle to shut his ass out, with the other. Phillip hadn’t been to my house in years and that’s sad, because like he said “his son lives here”. He never made an effort to mail, send a balloon, or anything for Levi in all this time.
“That’s funny.”
“No. For real, E.”
“Go to hell, Phillip.”
I tried closing the door, but he stopped it.
“Damn, we can’t even co-parent, right?”
“Co-parenting takes two. Levi doesn’t need a stepparent when he’s got me and Rayzor.”
“Rayzor?!” he shouted with his face scrunched up.
“Yes, Rayzor. He’s been more of a father to your son than you’ve been since he’s been born.”
“You think he can replace me all because he got money?
“Take the money off the table, and he’s still a better daddy, no… a better man than you.”
He wolfed up like he wanted to hit me, and I immediately dropped my hand from behind the door because if I needed to knock his ass out, I would.
“You’re lucky.”
“Get the hell away from my house, Phillip.”
He backed away, dropping the flowers on the doorstep.
“You gon’ remember that. We made Levi. That nigga can’t replace me.”
“He already did.” I slammed the door and locked it. Fuck Phillip.
* * *
Days later
Rayzor had me in the home gym training like my life depended on it.
I called myself, wanting to challenge him that I could hang with his workouts because I’ve done it before, but damn.
Something’s changed since we got back together.
Maybe he intensified his workouts as punishment and wanted to show me, but I couldn’t.
He had the music blasting; it was hot, and I couldn’t drink enough water to replace the sweat leaving my body.
I was heaving in and out of breath.
I started getting dizzy.
“You tapping out on me?” he asked.
“I can’t…” I said just as I went down and everything faded to black.
* * *
I could hear Rayzor calling for me, but I couldn’t pull myself out of the darkness.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
I opened my eyes to a bright room.
“Ugh,” I groaned.
“Baby,” Rayzor said, coming and towering over me.
“What happened?” I groaned.
“You passed out.”
“I don’t see how. The workout was intense, but damn, not to be passing out.”
“I think I have the answer to your question, Ms. Richardson.” The doctor peeped inside the room.
I tried pushing up to sit up when Rayzor helped me up instead.
“I can do it.”
“I know, but you don’t need to be trying to do too much. It’s only been a couple hours.”
“Hours?”
“Yes.”
I was too stunned to speak.
“Wow,” was all I could say.
“Doc, what’s going on with my wife?” Rayzor asked.
The doctor gave a closed-lip smile, but it was genuine. “I’m Dr. Hunter. I’ll be taking care of you today, Ms. Richardson.” He put his hand under the sanitizer dispenser and rubbed it onto his hands. “You gave your husband here quite the scare. How are you feeling?”
He logged into the rolling computer next to me and started typing.
“In a daze and tired.”
“Have you been experiencing tiredness lately?” he asked while giving me an exam.
I started thinking.
“Yeah. Extremely.”
“Any other symptoms?”
“She’s been hormonal and horny as fuck, Doc. I mean, I’m not complaining, but she don’t even wanna let a nigga keep it in my pants.”
“I told you to put it on the dresser every time you leave,” I responded with a giggle.
“Ms. Richardson, is it alright if I discuss this in front of Mr. Kirkland? If not, he can step out.”
“With all due respect, Doc, even if her ass say no, I’m staying.”
I shook my head. “Yes, I don’t mind.”
“Well, alright. When was your last menstrual cycle, Ms. Richardson?”
I couldn’t remember as I tried to push my brain to figure it out.
“I’ve been so busy that I can’t recall,” I veered off, looking at the wall.
“I’ve been telling her to keep it light. Is anything wrong, Doc?” Rayzor asked.