Chapter 15 Nobody’s Perfect #2
Giselle had them Nia Long curves that would force any man to glance in her direction, with the perfect angelic face to match.
He’d missed being able to touch her and hold her.
She’d really cut him off, only allowing access to the children and making herself scarce when he was around.
Saturdays, the twins usually spent with Maisie and Crew, but he knew on Sundays, Remi demanded everyone over for dinner, so that’s where the kids typically ended up, aside from the few times she let him take them himself to Petal’s for the same ritual.
The only place they hadn’t been was to his house, and that was because he didn’t want to take the twins there; he wanted Giselle with them.
Not used to being a patient man, he knew he had to move different with her.
She wasn’t the type of woman you said things to; she had to see the effort and the action.
Otherwise, in her eyes, you were on bullshit.
“I was thirsty, and I didn’t realize you were still here.” Giselle huffed.
“Where would I go?”
When he got back from the store, he doped all three of them up, and it didn’t take long for them to pass out one by one. While they slept, he did laundry and cleaned a bit to keep himself busy after checking in with the shop and letting them know he wasn’t going to be there.
“I just got them back down. They woke up a little whiny and uncomfortable, but both fevers broke. Petal got me whipping up her chicken noodle soup, and she gave me a recipe for this tea she said works on decongestion.”
“I’m glad they’re sleeping. I talked to the pediatrician, and he said to keep them hydrated, and if any symptoms get worse to bring them to the ER.”
“I think they’ll be fine. When they wake up, they can have some soup. I grabbed some popsicles at the store, too. I wanted to make sure you have stuff to eat here while you recover.”
Smiling, Giselle lowered herself to the small circle table nearby. She’d gotten winded just that fast. Heavy could tell she wasn’t feeling the best but was trying to push through.
“You’re hardheaded, though. You should still be in bed. I can bring you whatever you need.” He strutted over to her and pressed the back of his hand against her forehead. “You’re still warm.”
“You know you’re just exposing yourself to whatever this is, right?” She craned her neck upward to look at him.
“I’m good. You the one who can barely stand.” He was so stern.
His concern was sexy, causing her to bat her big brown eyes.
“It’s fine.” She yawned. “I’ll go to the living room and stay there with them. I’m sure you have to leave soon and have things to do.”
“I told Pops to look after things for now. I’m where I need to be. If he needs anything, he’ll call me. Come on, let’s get you back upstairs.”
Kneeling, he scooped her out of her chair bridal style and carried her back to her bedroom.
He eased her onto her side of the bed where she already had the covers pulled down, and Giselle fell out against the pillows behind her.
Heavy pulled the covers around her, and she took in his serious face as he made sure she was good.
“Thank you,” Giselle whispered.
“You ain’t gotta thank me. Just let me be there for y’all.” Sighing, he dropped on the side of her bed and stared ahead.
“Is that all this is for you? Obligation? Because if it is, I don’t want that.” A frown flitted over her face.
“Now you sound like Pri.” Slowly, his gaze shifted to hers.
“She basically said the same thing. With her… it was true. It’s why I showed up, because I knew she expected me to, and I didn’t want to let her down.
When she lost Pierre, it broke something in her.
She won’t even admit it, but she never quite bounced back from that.
She struggled with her mental and raising a toddler, and I couldn’t watch her go through that, knowing Pierre wouldn’t do that if the roles were reversed. ”
Giselle didn’t know if it was the flu or all the meds, but she got choked up and blinked back tears.
“I get that. I can even empathize with Prischa. Not sure she’d ever admit the same—”
“Prischa is good people. She’s looked out for me too. She doesn’t agree with my lifestyle, which I get because she lost him the same way. I can’t be nobody but who I am, though.”
“I like who you are.” A faint trace of a smile touched her lips. “And I love who you are to our babies. I think about if I was on the receiving end and missed the first moments of their lives, how I would feel, and I don’t know how you can even look at me sometimes.”
“You’re a good mama.” Heavy responded. “I know because mine was a hot ass mess. They love you, and I can see that you’ve done everything in your power to give them the best life. It’s just time to share the load, princess.”
“Sharing the load means sharing them, and I’m selfish.” She sniffled. “But seeing you with them is like a dream come true.”
“I ain’t trying to take you from them, you know that, right?” Heavy queried.
“I know.” Her eyes fell on the covers. “And yeah… I am insecure about Prischa. She knows you, and I don’t know how to compete with history.” She shrugged.
“Pri knows me to an extent, and yeah… the history is there, but meeting you, it was almost like part of you already knew part of me. Like we were supposed to connect that night, and now we have two smart, funny, bad ass babies.”
Giselle fell over laughing, swiping the tears from her eyes.
“They are all of that and then some,” she agreed, hugging her legs against her chest.
“When we met, I was in the gray when it came to women and relationships. If I’m keeping it a buck now, Prischa was a block for me.
It didn’t keep bitches from wanting to fuck, but I didn’t have to be in a relationship with them if they thought I was in one with her,” he expressed.
“You spark something in me.” His piercing eyes connected to hers.
“Something that makes me want to go a little harder and keeps me on my toes. Only you give me that feeling.” Those words and the way they rolled off his lips mesmerized her.
Heavy had to know how handsome he was, even when he was sporting that resident scowl.
She thought it was sexy. How could she deny him wanting to be a father after all this time?
She knew it was wrong. A big part of her wished she had followed her instincts nearly four years ago when she found out she was pregnant.
“Can you let me back in? You can’t breathe life into me then take it back. You gotta stand on it, princess.”
“What is it with you and this stand on it, shit? Something else from your childhood?” she sniggered and shook her head.
“Pretty much. My parents gave us all our game early.”
“I don’t always feel like I belong anywhere. I’ve heard people refer to you as dangerous since I’ve been here. Known to make an example out of anyone, but to me… you’re this safe space. I don’t have to keep up a facade because you see right through it anyway.”
“That pretty face is only part of who you are. You’re smart, and a lot tougher than you look.
Plus, I see that heart of gold you try to hide from the rest of the world.
” He cupped her cheek and stroked it with his thumb.
“I’m going to check on this soup and those two, then bring you something to eat.
” He picked up her remote to her Roku TV off the night table and handed it to her.
“Find something to watch, and don’t fucking move. ”
Even though she was sick, her lady parts were healthy and reacting to Heavy’s orders with pleasure.
Even being married to Alonzo, she carried a lot of the weight of the household and taking care of the kids.
She had grown used to doing it all. Now, Heavy was forcing her to sit down and allow him to lighten the load.
She imagined a few times what it would be like if and when he found out about Harlee and Heir, but reality had exceeded her expectations.
He kissed her forehead before moving to the door and leaving her room. Giselle curled up to one of her pillows and flicked the TV on to the HGTV channel.
“These two decided they wanted to come to you.” Minutes later, Heavy strolled in with a twin in each arm.
He gently set them on the bed, and they crawled around until they both spread out around Giselle on the queen-sized mattress.
“Oh, come here. How are you two feeling?”
“My head is all fuzzy still,” Harlee complained, grabbing her loose ponytail.
“My nose is dripping,” Heir chimed in, pressing his hand against his nose.
“I’m going to get the soup and crackers. You need to try to eat something before I give you more meds,” Heavy announced.
Harlee snuggled closer to Giselle and rested her head against her chest. Heavy returned with a serving tray accompanied by three bowls and a pack of saltine crackers for them to share.
He set the twins up so they could eat on the opposite side of Giselle.
Surprisingly, they all finished the soup and washed it down with 7Up.
Giselle decided to give them a bath and change their pajamas.
Once the two of them were settled in her bed, Heavy gave them another dose of medicine, and they were out not much longer after that.
Giselle lay on her regular side of the bed while Heavy stretched out on the other side.
The twins were between them; Harlee sprawled at the head closer to Heavy, and Heir at the foot, turned away from his mama.
She yawned and rested her head against the pillow as Heavy took in the moment.
Reaching down, he ran his fingers through Harlee’s soft hair, and she scooted closer in her sleep.
She hadn’t realized until just now that these were the moments she’d been missing.
The comfort they took in their father was beautiful to witness.
“You need a bath too.” Heavy reached out and stroked the top of Giselle’s head.
“You trying to tell me I stink?” Her nose wrinkled cutely, and she snickered.