Chapter 10 #3
“Hold your bottle,” I say before scooping her up, flipping her once she’s over my head, then planting her on my back.
She wraps her free arm around my neck while giggling uncontrollably.
“Let’s go.” I walk to the stairs fast then take them a few at a time.
When we reach the top, I take her into her room.
“Stay in here before you get in trouble, okay?”
“I will,” she assures me through laughs after I lightly drop her on the bed.
I trek to the movie room and the yelling and cussing has stopped because something plays lowly on the large screen and Kyrah and Mireya are watching in silence. The quietness ends when I step down and kiss my baby’s forehead from behind.
“Seriously,” she utters in pure disgust.
“I’m going to check on Niya,” Mireya says.
“You don’t have to because I don’t have anything to say to him,” Kyrah says.
My eyes plead with Sis to give me a minute, so she stands. “I’ll be right back,” she says, then leaves us. I take the seat next to Kyrah.
“Baby, can we go back to my place to talk?” I ask.
“I’m sorry. Did you not hear me a few seconds ago? I have nothing to say to you, Shiro. Just give me my keys so I can take my ass home and forget about this embarrassing ass day and yo’ lying ass,” she grits.
“I can’t forget about you,” I admit and she rolls her eyes.
“I love you and I know you love me too. Tell me what I gotta do to make this shit right? What do you need? Shit, fight me, kiss me, or fuck me. Just pick one or all of them and forgive me cause forgetting and leaving ain’t an option. We belong together.”
“I can’t; I just can’t.” She closes her eyes then shakes her head. When she opens her eyes, she stares into mine. “I need time. That’s what I need. If you love me, give me that.”
Giving her any space or time is the last thing I want to do but I feel shit for Kyrah I’ve never felt before.
She is definitely mine, the one and only woman I want in my corner.
So as much as this shit has my damn chest tight as fuck, I give her what she wants.
After inching forward, I place my hand under her chin and hold her face steady.
Leaning in closer, I tell her, “I love you, so I’ll give you what you want.
Just know I’m not going nowhere though. I fucked up and I’m sorry for that.
If I have to apologize forever, I’ll do that for you.
” My lips caress hers then we kiss. She doesn’t stop me either, letting me know how she feels.
When our kiss breaks, I stand then take her keys from my pocket.
I place them on her lap then kiss her again.
“I’ll be waiting, baby,” I tell her before leaving the theater room.
She lets out a loud ass sigh. I run into Mireya in the hall.
“Is she okay?” she asks.
“Nah, but she will be.”
“Are you leaving?”
“Yeah, she wants me to go. Don’t let her go home tonight.”
“She can stay as long as she wants. But you two are going to be okay, right? I told you to fix this shit.”
“I got her, Sis. I’m just giving her what she says she wants but I ain’t letting off her. That’s my baby. I love her. She’s mad and—”
“As she should be,” Mireya interrupts.
“I know. She fasho’ should be mad. I own that, which is why I’m stepping back, not away. Take care of my baby,” I tell Sis then pull her in for a hug.
When I make it downstairs, Quintus is in his great room watching highlights from the last Sharks game. He looks up when I step in.
“Y’all good?” he asks.
“We will be. She wants me to dip, so Imma give her space, but after a few days, it’s a wrap. I can’t go too long without her.”
“I feel you on that. If my kyau tried to leave me or wanted space, I’d be sick,” he says, referring to Mireya by a Hausa term of endearment.
“Bruh, my stomach hurting already,” I say, half joking because this shit really already got me in my damn feelings.
“Just don’t let off her,” he says, then stands.
“Say less. I’m never doing that shit. I’m trying to be like you and wife her.”
“Then don’t try, do.”
“Not the lil brother telling me what the fuck to do,” I quip playfully.
“I’m guessing you need a ride from this lil brother, so chill out. Let me tell them I’m leaving then I’ll take you.”
“’Preciate it.”
We dap then hug before he walks out of the living room. There’s an unopened Bleu Mountain in the drink holder on the arm of his sectional, so I grab, open, and down it. I need something after today and this cold beer hits the spot.
As I walk the empty bottle to the garbage in the kitchen, my cell rings in my pocket. I pull it out to see it’s Tre.
“What’s up?” I answer.
“Man, why the hell is there Zongo in the office? I walked in here and the whole office smells like it. Shuga brought it up here?” he asks.
Fuck! I forgot about my stew.
“Nah. Kyrah made it. I’m on my way to get it now.”
“I’m 'bout to eat some. Shit smells good as hell and where the hell is Matika? Her ass isn’t out front.”
“I’ll tell you when I get there. It’s been a long ass day but, ay, don’t touch my stew,” I warn, then end the call.
Another brother, another I told you so.
“Let’s ride,” Quintus calls out from behind me.