Chapter 26
Chapter
Twenty-Six
McKay
I looked around the beautiful garden filled with exotic flowers and plants everywhere as I waited for Burkeley to take his turn presenting his next option for our baby’s name.
Our baby.
I thought I was still dreaming because there was no way this was my life right now.
On a babymoon planned by my once pretend, now very real man.
When he told me he’d booked a flight, I had no expectations that he would take me to my wildest dream.
The resort was called Iris Bays Botanical Garden Resort and should have been called the secret garden because I didn’t even know it existed until two days ago when we arrived.
Currently, we were sitting in a beautiful botanical garden, in a cabana shaped like a lily, going over potential baby names with the man who claimed not only me as his, but my baby.
The moment could’ve been perfect had said man not just said some bullshit that had me snapping my eyes to the screen where the name was spelled out.
“Yeah, hell no,” I said flat out, now taking a sip of my drink, shutting down his pick so we could move on. Of course Burkeley huffed, preparing me to hear his argument of why it should make the final list.
“This is the third name on my list that you’ve said no to.
I’m not understanding what’s wrong with the name Burkeana Morgan.
She’s taking her daddy’s name.” I swallowed the sip of my strawberry virgin margarita as I rolled my eyes hard at Burkeley really sitting here sliding through his presentation of baby names he’d put together for me.
On the flight over Austin Peaks, he came up with a plan for us to pick out Peanut’s official name. I didn’t think my man would actually come to dinner prepared with a full blown presentation.
I wasn’t upset, more turned on by it since it was my type of carrying on. But some of these names had me regretting the decision to include him.
“Baby, you’re about to lose your privileges of being part of the process of picking out a name beyond your last one. Now, be serious. I appreciate you wanting to incorporate the herbal medicine but be for fucking real, nigga. Do you want our daughter to be bullied?”
He scoffed. “I wish a muthafucka would. Shit, I fight kids over mine,” Burkeley said with so much truth behind his words as he poked his chest out. The waiter who had just walked up to the table smirked before clearing his throat.
I couldn’t hold my laugh in as I shook my head.
“Ain’t no excusing that, but I apologize for my boyfriend’s behavior. This is our first baby.”
“No need to apologize, I understand. Are you two ready to order?” I sat there while I watched Burkeley rattle off our orders, with me not once ever looking at the menu.
It was weird how comfortable we’d become with each other.
He always did the simple act with ease but it showed that he paid attention to me, so much that he already knew what me and Peanut both would like, down to the virgin margarita that was supposed to be off the table.
As soon as the server left, I wasted no time going back in.
“First off, crazy man, you can’t fight kids.
We get other kids to handle it. And two, if you keep picking out names like Burkeana and Burkey, you won’t even be in the room or signing the birth certificate.
Ain’t no way I’ma look at my baby one day and be like yeah, I let your daddy name you and her being mad at me for it. ”
“M&M, now how do you plan on stopping me from picking out her name? You’re acting like she’s not mine right now and I’m not going for it.
And I’m not going to acknowledge the other wild shit you’re talking, because besides Dr. Compton and the nurses, I’ma be the only person authorized to be in there while your pussy is out and my baby is sliding down.
” His tone was laced with that sternness I loved, and like a damn cat in heat, my mouth hung slightly open while I watched his biceps flex.
I wanted to challenge him further but when Burkeley took that tone with me, my pussy had me shutting up and acting right.
“I’m telling your mama. Now go to the next name and it better make sense, BK.”
He huffed but tapped his screen until a name on my list appeared.
“No originality at all, but here is the next one.” I smiled at the name.
“Easy now. Baileigh is literally my last name.”
“For now. Even though your empty ass threats got me tempted to not even give it to you now. Shit, it might be just me and Peanut in the house that are Morgans.”
I laughed hard as hell in his face.
“Look at who’s breaking their own rule. Daddy, you want me to have your name so fucking bad. If you could, I would probably get it the same day as Peanut.”
I smirked.
“Aht, wrong answer, you would have it by now.”
He leaned over, planting his lips on mine, slipping his tongue into my mouth. The mixture of alcohol and fresh mint had me moaning, loving the taste of him.
“If you keep drinking, you gon’ have to stop kissing me. I can taste it on your tongue, baby,” I said against his lips still attached to mine.
His body tensed as he pulled away slowly, cursing lowly.
“Oh fuck. My bad, M&M, I wasn’t even thinking.”
Even if I wanted to tell him I didn’t mind, Burkeley’s ass would curse me out for saying it, so I went to my next name.
I smiled widely as I hit the button to trigger my next slide on my phone. I cleared my throat, preparing my speech about the name.
“And before you get ahead of yourself, don’t. It’s not that deep. I just love the name. Plus, Viola James Bailey called dibs on the middle name, and no matter what, we have to honor her request. But keep in mind if we give our first one your name, the son we make won’t have it.”
Yes, I talked shit and ended up putting Berkley James on the list. I had kept the secret of Viola’s middle name because I always thought it was oddly weird how it was close to Jameson.
The way excitement overtook Burkeley’s face you would’ve thought I’d told him we won a billion dollars or something. His mouth opened and shut a few times before he engulfed me in his arms.
“So you love the name or the man who carries it?”
“Ugh, there that mouth goes again. Yeah, let me go to the next name, never mind.”
“Naw, it has to be for my first born. That little nigga got to be his own man. We’ll come up with something just for him. This is perfect. Thank you, McKay. I love you.”
We had said those words before, and yes, at the time it was under the pretend game we had been playing, but I’d meant it then, just like I did now as I said the words back with ease. My heart exploded knowing Burkeley loved me too.
“I love you too, baby.”
“Tell me again why you don’t have social media?
” I asked while we went through the pictures the photographer Burkeley hired had just sent over for us.
We had been in Austin Peaks for a week now and had just finished our maternity shoot.
According to Burkeley, with a name picked and the date set for the baby shower, it was officially time for us to announce to the world that our love was growing.
And his way of doing that was me posting it all over my social media, since this old ass man of mine didn’t have one.
“Because in my line of work it works best if I’m a ghost on and offline.
Now, pick one more picture so we can post it.
You’re moving like you’re stalling. You’re trying to keep me and Peanut a secret still?
” I kissed my teeth as I swiped between my three choices one more time.
We had one of us together dressed up, the official baby bump one, and needed one more.
“For one, it’s kinda hard to keep either of y’all a secret when she has completely taken over my body and you won’t even let another man open a door for me.
Trust me, the world knows about y’all. And two, you’re questioning me, but I don’t see you sending out a mass text to let the world know about your daug—oooh.
” I jumped as I freed a hand to place it on the spot where I felt the baby move.
“McKay, baby, are you good? Is Peanut okay?” In true Burkeley fashion, he was on me faster than myself as his hand pushed mine out the way to replace it.
He dropped in front of me, spreading my legs wide to accommodate himself between them.
I winced as the movements happened again, causing me to grunt.
Long gone were the cute little flutters.
I had entered the full blown movements and Peanut was active a lot in my rib cage. It was her favorite position today.
“Yes, do you feel her?” I put my hand on his, moving it slightly lower where I could feel Peanut moving inside me.
“Say hi to your daughter, daddy.” When he called her the name we’d picked, she moved again. The gasp from Burkeley was expected, but when he looked up at me and I saw his tears, I melted even more for this fucking man.
God, you really came through with my baby’s father.
“Oh my fucking…that’s my baby. M&M, she can really hear us, huh?” I nodded as he laid his head on my stomach and began to whisper to her all the words I only dreamed her father would say.
“Hey, Peanut, it’s daddy. I love you so much.
I promise not to only give your mama the world but you too.
I can’t wait to officially meet you, namesake.
Can you move again for me?” I wasn’t sure if she was just active or actually knew what Burkeley was saying out here, but when she moved again, she made him yell, causing me to jump from the surprise.
“Oh shit, my bad, M&M. It’s just…my baby moved and I could feel her inside of you. Damn, I swear you’re magical, baby.” He sat there in a daze, with both hands on my stomach. He moved closer and kissed it.
While he sat there still in a trance, I picked the last picture and posted tagging our moms, Hollis, and Johnni.
From two we became three. Baby girl Berkley James is on the way.