3. Aspen Webb #2
All the nurses and doctors at the office were used to Mahari frequenting Aspen’s appointments with her, so they were fond of their dynamic.
The pair always put on a show anytime they were there by either play fussing, fighting, or just being silly.
It was never a dull moment when Aspen and Mahari were together.
Aspen stuck her tongue out at Mahari. “You heard him, Nurse Janet. He’s the one who started it.”
“I’m staying out of it.”
Janet grabbed the lube, letting Aspen know it was warm before squirting it on her round belly.
Aspen’s eyes went to the screen as her babies came into view.
No matter how many times she’d seen them, she always teared up.
When their heartbeats filled the room, one by one, Aspen allowed the tears to fall.
The moment was beautiful, and it was a shame she wasn’t sharing it with their father.
Moving the doppler around on Aspen’s belly, Janet announced, “Are you ready to find out what baby A is? Their legs are wide open for us.”
“Yes!” Aspen and Mahari stated in unison. Reaching her hand out for Mahari, she pulled him closer and squeezed it.
“Well, get ready to buy some bows. It’s a girl!”
“Oh my gosh! I knew it!” Aspen gushed, waving her free hand over her face. “Baby B is a boy. I can feel it.”
“I’m telling you, Bunny. It’s another girl,” Mahari stated.
“Let’s make a bet, Mahari.”
“You know I love a challenge. What’s the conditions?”
“If I win, you gotta take me shopping for them immediately after we get some food.”
“I planned on doing that anyway, but it’s your world. What happens if I win?”
Aspen glanced up at Mahari. “It’s up to you.”
Absentmindedly, Aspen trailed her tongue over her lips, watching Mahari bite down on his bottom one. She sensed he wanted to say something but kept it to himself. It took him some time to come up with something.
The corner of his lips curved as he peered down at Aspen and said, “If I win, you gotta come spend a day at the studio with me.”
Aspen inwardly groaned. She hated going to the studio.
It was too loud and busy for her liking, especially with all the famous people going in and out.
None of them were ever alone. They all seemed to have an entire entourage present.
Aspen was an introvert. She preferred to be in the comfort of her home, but she didn’t have any other choice but to agree.
Shaking on it, they turned their attention to Janet who had been watching them the entire time. Aspen gave her a head nod, letting her know she could continue. After snapping a few more pictures, Janet gasped.
“Ah! Thank you, little one. Baby B was being stubborn. I guess she wasn’t trying to show herself like her sister.”
A sharp gasp escaped Aspen’s lips, and her hands flew to her mouth. “She? As in, another mini me?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Janet pointed out Baby B’s gender.
Tears cascaded down Aspen’s cheeks as she tried to contain her smile, but she couldn’t stop it from spreading. Regardless of her wanting boy-girl twins, she was excited for her girls. “I just knew I was right, but I guess the girls fooled me. Aw, my girls. My sweet baby girls.”
“I told you!” Mahari all but yelled, jumping up and down while clapping his hands. He quickly kissed Aspen’s temple and said, “We’ll stop and get some snacks on the way to Creed.”
“Whatever, Mahari. You better be glad I’m just as happy about the girls, or I’d give you hell on the way to the studio.”
Janet laughed and handed Aspen the ultrasound pictures.
She studied them, in complete awe that she was carrying two mini versions of herself.
A smile graced her lips, thinking about dressing them in matching outfits, doing their hair, and having mommy-daughter dates with them when they got older.
As badly as she wanted to have boy-girl twins, she was simply grateful the girls were good and healthy.
After being seen by the doctor and ensuring everything was good, Aspen made her next appointment, and they left.
In the car, Aspen tried avoiding Mahari’s gaze, but it was intense. She wasn’t in the mood for his teasing, so she occupied herself by sending a bunch of pink hearts in her family group chat. Five seconds passed before she was receiving a video call from her mother.
Aspen laughed at how dramatic her mother was. Savannah was on the other end of the phone, screaming while doing a little dance.
“Oh, Pennie! I can’t believe we’re adding two more girls to the family. I just knew one would be a boy. I’m so excited! When do you want to go shopping? We can start preparing their nursery and all,” Savannah rambled without taking a breath, and Aspen laughed harder.
Leave it to Savannah Webb to be on it. As great of a mother as she was, Aspen was excited and grateful to see her become a grandmother. They all thought Denver and his wife would be the first to have kids, but either way, Savannah was happy to have some babies to love on.
“Calm down, Mama. I’m still processing the fact it’s two mini versions of me and not one,” Aspen admitted and glanced at Mahari. “Mahari called it too. He said the way my attitude was set up, he believed the twins were girls.”
“Well, he is your best friend and has been there for you during your pregnancy more than Lance’s no-good ass.”
“Mama, don’t start.”
“Oh, hush. I can talk shit, especially since he didn’t even have the decency to take you to the most important appointment. Hey, Mahari, baby.”
“Hey, Ma.” Mahari spoke back and briefly peered at the phone. “What you over there doing?”
“Oh, nothing. About to get dressed and go shopping for my grand girls. I’m going to call Georgia to see if she wants to go with me.”
“If only I could go with you.” Aspen grumbled with a flit of her eyes.
Mahari reached over and squeezed her thigh, sending a surge of emotions through Aspen’s body.
She played it cool by snatching it off and crossing one arm over her belly.
Biting back her smile when Mahari released a hearty chuckle, Aspen focused back on her mother who was truly getting ready to go shopping.
One thing Savannah was going to do was show up for her kids in every way possible, and Aspen appreciated it more than Savannah knew. Her father crossed her mind, bringing a little pain to her heart.
“Daddy would be so happy, Mama,” Aspen spoke in a low, shaky tone.
“Oh, Pennie . . . Don’t do that. Mahari, bring my baby to me.”
Aspen swiftly swayed her head from side to side. “I’m good, Mama. I promise. Mahari and I made a bet, and I want to get it over with.”
“Are you sure? I know this is hard on you.”
“I’m sure, Mama.”
Stopping at a light, Mahari leaned over to where his face was in the camera. “I got her, Ma. I’ll keep her mind clear today.”
“Yeah, with loud music and too many people.”
“Suck it up, buttercup,” Mahari joked, nudging her chin and pulling off.
Aspen spoke with her mother a little longer before getting off the phone as she and Mahari arrived at the store.
If it wasn’t for Aspen, Mahari wouldn’t have gone into the store.
With his fame status, they were bound to be in there for longer than either of them wanted to.
Aspen was used to people stopping him and Lance whenever they were out, for pictures and autographs, so she was thankful the interaction was minimal. They were in and out in thirty minutes.
On the ride to the studio, Mahari was on an important call, so Aspen busied herself with snacking and scrolling. As always, Lance popped up on her feed. He was doing an interview, and Aspen scrolled right past it. A few posts down, one of Mahari popped up.
Glancing over to see he was still on the phone, Aspen tapped on the post and tried to listen, but she was too distracted with how good he looked.
She remembered seeing him that day and thinking she loved how his stylist put together his look.
The only thing that covered his broad, tattooed torso was a black biker vest with silver accents and his signature diamond chain with his last name on it.
That particular day, Mahari got his manager to push back his interview to take Aspen to her appointment, which meant she had to go to glam with him beforehand. She didn’t mind. Seeing Mahari in his element was a treat when Aspen wasn’t in her introverted state.
She was so engrossed with the interview that she didn’t realize Mahari was trying to get her attention until he poked her. Aspen swatted at him, and he laughed.
“Damn, Bunny. If you wanted to stare at me, I’m right here.”
“Why the hell did you poke me, Mahari?”
He wet his lips and informed her, “I gotta take you home. My manager set up a last-minute meeting I need to get to.”
“Oh, thank God!” Aspen tossed her hands in the air and beamed. “All I want to do is go home and take a nap.”
“Don’t think you’re getting out of our bet. I’m booked the next two days, but better believe your ass is coming with me on the third day.”
“At least I’ll have time to mentally prepare.”
“I don’t know why you’re fronting like you don’t love spending time with me. It be some of the best days we have.”
Aspen had to agree with him. Their days were always an adventure, one Aspen never wanted to end.
Any time with Mahari was a good time for her.
She wouldn’t admit it out loud, but she had actually been looking forward to the day with him.
The peace she felt disintegrated the second he dropped her off at home.
The time alone left her with nothing but time for her mind to wander, and Mahari was a constant on it.