Chapter 11 #2
“I swear, I was scared of your dad when I was little.”
“He was a big teddy bear to me then, a skinny one.”
I laughed and so did Shaydon. As he caressed my hand, he said, “I love you, Maui.”
“I don’t know who the fuck they take me for! I ain’t no weak ass nigga!”
I sat up slightly, distracted from responding to Shaydon. That was Seven’s voice. While his words sounded aggressive, I could hear the worry in his voice by the way it trembled. I glanced at Shaydon as he stood. “I’ll be right back.”
I nodded as I heard Seven say, “They fucking with the wrong muthafucka! I’ll blow that nigga head off!”
I closed my eyes and shook my head. Seven always had some shit going on, but I was worried this time, because of what Mythic had told me a while ago.
He said that man was after Seven for snitching and getting his drugs confiscated.
I gently rubbed circles around my belly, doing my best to stay calm.
“Shut the fuck up, nigga!” my daddy yelled.
I knew he was trying to make Seven calm down so I wouldn’t get worked up, but it was too late.
My nerves were already on edge. I wished I could put a stop to it, but it was like I couldn’t control my reactions.
My blood pressure would spike over the smallest things.
The door opened, and Shaydon slipped back inside.
He immediately came to me and went to his knees again.
He gently rubbed my belly and kissed my lips.
“It’s okay. Seven just being Seven.”
I nodded as I stared at him. Was I really doing this? Was I trying to move on? I placed my hand on top of his. “Shaydon—”
“Naw. Don’t say nothing right now. Let it be what it’s gon’ be. I know what I’m risking.”
I swallowed hard and remained quiet. I didn’t want to feel like I was using him simply for the love and affection he showed me.
If my family suddenly decided to accept Mythic into our family, I would be with him without an ounce of hesitancy.
I closed my eyes and took deep breaths again, trying to convince myself that Shaydon was grown and knew what he was doing. It wasn’t working.
“I’m in love with someone else,” I blurted.
He leaned over and kissed me again, this time a little more forcefully. My nipples were hard as hell. I moaned into his mouth, and my hand traveled to the back of his head. When he pulled away, my lips felt swollen with desire. He gently swiped his hand over my breasts, and I nearly came on myself.
“I can see those hard ass nipples through your shirt. I know what I’m getting into.
It’s not like we can have sex. If we could, I’d have you sliding down my dick right here in the bathroom.
I don’t give a fuck about Mythic. I think I told you that before.
I want you, Maui. I’m not gon’ stop trying until you tell me to fuck off.
You being in love with him ain’t my problem, but I can surely be the remedy for that situation. ”
A couple of tears left my eyes. I was doing my best to hold them in.
This was hard, but I supposed I was the one making it hard.
I couldn’t be with Mythic, although he had my heart in a chokehold.
My body obviously craved Shaydon, but that was all I felt.
It was just lust. I lowered my gaze, and he kissed my head and sat on the floor next to me and looked for something to watch on TV like nothing ever happened.
“Where the hell y’all think y’all going?” I heard my daddy say.
“Come on, Unc. Quit tripping.”
That sounded like Rylan’s voice. I slowly shook my head.
They were all trying to prepare a birthday celebration for me.
I was sitting in bed listening to all the commotion.
Bali said it would be okay for me to make my way downstairs today.
I deserved some cake and ice cream. She didn’t lie about that.
I deserved a lot more, but that would suffice for now.
After knocking, Noni peeked her head inside, then came in with Jakari, Rylan, and Christian. She left out as they came to my bed and all leaned over and kissed my head one at a time. “How you feeling, cuz?” Jakari asked.
“I’m okay. Where’s Yendi and the kids?”
“First of all, they are at home. Secondly, we tryna keep yo’ stress levels down. If the boys were here, you’d be ready to deliver in two point five seconds. Those niggas gotta be Jasper and Storm reincarnate.”
Christian and Rylan chuckled, as did I. “Are Mya and Angel here?”
“Yeah. They’re downstairs helping the twins and Ashanni,” Christian said. “Our brother, AJ, even showed up. He came to town and heard us talking about coming here and asked to roll through. He said you were really nice to him, so he wanted to be here to wish you a happy birthday.”
I smiled. “That’s so sweet.”
“We just wanted to come up here and see you before everything got busy. We’ll let you rest up for the festivities,” Rylan said.
“Okay.”
“Happy birthday,” they said in unison, then pushed each other.
I laughed. They were brothers and their mannerisms were a lot alike. They reminded me of how the twins and I used to be. We behaved like triplets when we were little. It was obvious we weren’t since they were identical.
“Thanks, y’all.”
They smiled and all left out. As I turned to my side, I could feel myself drifting back to sleep.
“So, for your birthday, I think we should go out of town somewhere and celebrate.”
“You’re already planning? That’s three months away.”
“Yeah. I wanna do it up big for you, baby. You deserve it just for putting up with me. We can do whatever you wanna do, then fuck all night. I swear, I’m gon’ end up putting a baby in you.”
I lowered my head slightly, but I could see his frown in my peripheral. He lifted my head by placing his hand under my chin. He stared into my glossy eyes. “Hol’ on. Why you looking like that, Maui? Are you saying what I think you saying?”
“What do you think I’m saying?”
“Are you pregnant, baby?”
I took a deep breath and felt a tremble come out with it. I didn’t want to tell him. He already had a kid that he was waiting for a paternity test from. He slid his hands on either side of my face, gently stroking my cheeks with his thumbs, waiting for my response.
“Yes.”
His lips crashed into mine, and his tongue slid into my mouth. He pulled away and began stripping my clothes off me. “Why were you nervous to tell me?” he asked while unfastening my bra and kissing my neck.
“I didn’t know if . . . you wanted a baby or not.”
He sat up and stared into my eyes. “When it comes to you, nothing is off limits. My wants come second to yours, lil mama. I’m happy you trust me. I promise I’m gon’ take care of y’all for the rest of my life. You have my word on that, Maui. I’ll never abandon y’all.”
“What about your other baby?”
“When I find out whether he’s mine or not, I’ll proceed from there. If he’s mine, I’m gon’ take care of him. Okay? You have nothing to worry about.”
I sat straight up and immediately grabbed my belly.
I was cramping. I hadn’t felt cramps like this in a couple of days.
Closing my eyes, I prayed that everything would be fine.
If God didn’t want me with Mythic, I wish he’d give me a sign.
Well, maybe He had already. I just wished He would take him from my heart, because being without him was going to kill me.