Chapter 6 Six Months Too Long #2
She sucked her teeth. “I had a doctor's appointment before coming here. I wanted to make sure I was cleared to fly. The baby is good.”
“And now that you know, I’d like to know too.”
“That’s fair.”
I scoffed and crossed my arms. “What you know bout that?”
Her soft expression tightened. “Pryce, please. I know a lot about being fair. Don’t let my one infraction overshadow your many.” Pulling the blanket off her body, she stretched, and her shirt rose up, giving me a full look at her belly.
Her skin was smooth and still blemish free.
It glistened in a way that showed she was serious about moisturizing.
I admired her for a few seconds. Her hips were wider, but the thighs still matched –– the same thighs that wrapped around my waist as I dug into her, filling her up with good dick months ago.
“I don’t know what infractions you talkin’ bout and really don’t give a fuck.”
She shook her head. “I would ask you how you’ve been, but it’s clear not much has changed.”
“Good. Don’t ask. Last thing I need you to do is pretend like you care.” Walking back over to the loveseat, I sat down.
“We both know that’s a lie. I do care.”
“You got a funny way of showing that shit, Dai. People that care don’t dip on you for six months and come back pregnant.”
Her head snapped back. “So, that’s what we doing?” She scooted to the edge of the couch and slapped her thighs. “Let’s do it, nigga. Let’s talk about why I left!”
“I know you better chill the fuck out with all that animated ass moving fore you make my baby sick.”
“Boy, shut up. The baby is fine. Back to you though. I get that me showing back up pregnant is both shocking and upsetting, but being pregnant is not the reason I left. I didn’t even find out right away.”
“It may not be the reason you left, but it’s the reason you stayed away,” I countered.
“No, it’s not.”
“What was the real reason then, Adai?!” My voice boomed. “Cause the more I sit here and listen to you talk around the shit or say something bogus, the more pissed off I get.”
When she didn’t answer fast enough, I sat forward.
“I didn’t say anything because I was scared, Pryce.”
That was an answer that I didn’t expect. “Scared of what?” I asked, confused.
She sighed. “Scared of what would happen if I told you right away.”
Her response made me pause to digest it. Running my hand over my mouth, I spoke. “What you thought, I was gonna do something to you?”
She shook her head quickly. “No. I know you wouldn’t hurt me physically.”
“I’m lost.”
“I think you would’ve taken over.”
I didn’t respond. Aware of my sense of dominance and wanting to control everything around me, it was likely that I would’ve done just that.
“Had I told you then, I wouldn’t have had the space to process a breakup and a baby on my own terms. It would’ve become something you were gonna decide how we should handle.”
“And in feeling that way, you decided it was best for you to do the exact same thing you were tryna avoid me doing? Only you made it worse, continuing with the secret for months. You know that’s my baby too, right?”
Her eyes flashed, and I could see them filling up with tears. “I know that, Pryce.”
“You ain’t move like that. You ain’t move like that at all.”
“After always doing what was best for you and the relationship, I had to do what was best for me.”
My lip curled up at her statement. “Fuck is that supposed to mean? You talkin’ in riddles right now.”
She inhaled sharply. “Nothing, Pryce.”
“Nah. Say it. Because clearly you felt leaving was the best thing for you to do. You wanted out. You got out. Why hide the pregnancy?”
“I didn’t want out, Pryce! I wanted in!”
“You should’ve stayed,” I replied simply.
“For what? To do more of this?”
“More of what?”
“Fight to be heard.”
I didn’t have a quick comeback for that one, so I let the words sit between us, maybe because I’d heard this before or maybe because I felt that her fight to be heard didn’t override the fact that she’d robbed me of some important moments.
I watched as she winced and shifted on the couch, pressing her hand on her side.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, instinctively standing up.
“Nothing. My side is just a little sore from sleeping on this couch. I’m fine.”
I remained standing, watching her body language to see if she was telling the truth, before sitting back down. Every little thing with her body meant something different now. I had to pay attention to every move, every pause, and be able to pick up on things that she ignored.
“You’re not pregnant, Adai. We’re pregnant.”
“I understand that.”
“Act like it.”
She rolled her eyes and sucked her teeth. I went to say something else, but her ringing phone cut me off. Fishing for it between the cushions, she picked it up.
“Hey, Key.” She answered on speaker, all jovial and shit.
“Hey, boo. I got your message yesterday. I’m so happy you’re back. You busy today? I have some last-minute stuff to do and could use a hand and the company.”
“Nope. Not busy. I just have to get showered and dressed.”
“No,” I said loud enough for Key to hear me.
“Ahhh, shit. Mr. Grinch got to you before I could,” Key joked. “You can’t hog her the whole time she’s here. We won’t even be out long.”
“Key, I’m grown. I said I’ma take a shower and get dressed,” Adai repeated matter-of-factly.
“You heard what I said, Kyiris.” I doubled down.
“Umm, how bout you call me back, Dai?” Key suggested.
“I will. As soon as I’m dressed,” she assured before hanging up.
“We still got shit to discuss.”
She looked at me like I had lost my mind. “Pryce, I’m not about to be held hostage in my house.”
“I ain’t holding you hostage. But this shit ain’t settled.”
“And this is why I wanted to wait to see you.”
“Why? Cause you gotta stand in your shit?” I challenged.
“No, because I have to do it on your terms.”
“You had six months to do shit your way. Now, we gotta do it mine. Welcome home. What you wanna eat for breakfast?”
Her infamous pout formed on her lips as she sat back on the couch with her arms folded on her belly like she was guarding both herself and the baby.
I shrugged because no matter how much pouting she did or debating, I wasn’t letting up on her ass.
I wasn’t letting this drift into another situation where she decided running was the answer and distance made sense.
And if she thought me making her stay home was too much, I couldn’t wait to see her reaction when I told her she wasn’t going back to Houston.