Chapter 13 #2
I laughed as I heard her running up the stairs and giggling. It sounded like someone else was with her. There were too many footsteps. When she entered my room, Milana entered right behind her. My smile was wide, happy to see them both.
“Hey, Maui! If I’m ever on bedrest, I pray I get to live it up like this, girl!” Milana said.
I slightly rolled my eyes. “Girl, this gets frustrating. After a week, I was over it. The wedding is approaching fast though, right? I’m excited about it.
I mean, I may be in labor or have a newborn at that time, but I know you can’t wait to finally tie the knot with Ferris. Especially since Shani jumped the gun.”
Ashanni gave me the side-eye, then pushed my bed table over my lap. Milana laughed. “Yeah, I should have shot her ass for crossing the gunline. It was not her turn. That’s okay though. Ferris got at Asad’s ass for even popping the question.”
I chuckled as Ashanni placed my food in front of me with a bottle of water. When I opened it and saw grilled chicken and veggies, I was speechless. I looked up at Shani, ready to cry at any moment.
She lifted her hands in surrender. “It wasn’t me, boo.
Aunt Jen said no. Your blood pressure is already too high.
She said you didn’t need to add grease and Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning to it.
It’s high in MSG. She refused to even give me any to make sure I didn’t give mine to you. So I got the same thing you got.”
“Ugh! My blood pressure is rising as we speak,” I whined. “I guess I don’t have a choice but eat this if I don’t want to starve to death. You hear that Little Semien? No stuffed chicken.”
When I felt the baby move, my eyes widened. “The baby is pissed. I just felt movement!”
Shani laughed, then placed her hand on my belly waiting to see if the baby would kick again.
I blessed my food then ate the first forkful of mixed vegetables.
It was like the baby could taste it as soon as I did, because he or she moved again.
Ashanni’s eyes widened, and she giggled. “She hate that food, sis.”
“She?”
“Yeah. Has to be a girl with that much attitude.”
I giggled and continued eating as she sat at my desk in the corner and did the same. Milana said, “I can’t wait until the rodeo season wraps up so I can start trying.”
“Your mom competed in the nationals not long after she found out she was pregnant with you,” Ashanni said. “My dad told me that much when we were talking about you possibly going.”
Milana smiled. “It would be so cool for our babies to grow up together. Do you want a boy or a girl, Maui?”
“It doesn’t matter. I just want to have a healthy baby.”
“She’s having a girl. Watch!” Ashanni said.
Milana rolled her eyes. “What about you, Shani?”
“I want a princess, since we have Jayceon, but like Maui said, more than that, I want a healthy baby.”
I smiled at her while I forced my food down.
It wasn’t that it wasn’t good. It just wasn’t what I wanted.
I wanted to throw a temper tantrum, but instead, I remained calm and tried to convince myself it was stuffed chicken with yams, red beans and rice, and cornbread.
I looked up to see they were staring at me.
I frowned slightly, confused as to why they were staring at me. “What?”
“Is talking about Mythic totally off limits, even if it’s nothing bad?” Ashanni asked.
I lowered my head for a moment and took a deep breath.
“No, it’s not. I just . . . This situation with Seven should make me not want him.
I still want him even after knowing what he did.
It’s like I’ve rationalized that it happened two years ago, long before we tried to establish something. But that’s my brother.”
They both nodded. “I’m sorry, Shani. What did you want to say?”
“He misses you too. I opened the lines of communication so I could update him on you and the baby. I know why you don’t talk to him, so as your friend, I felt like I could do that for you.”
I smiled at her slightly but remained quiet. I knew her well enough to know that wasn’t all she wanted to say. Milana scooted closer to me and grabbed my hand.
“He’s doing well despite that. He decided to go ahead and re-enroll in school, for next semester, and his arm is getting better.
He’s still in a cast and will be for a few more weeks, but he can maneuver with it better.
I think he’s just getting used to it. He wanted me to tell you those things so you could know that he’s changing for himself and not just for you. ”
I nodded and swallowed hard, allowing the tears to drop down my cheeks. Shani came to the side of the bed and grabbed my other hand as she went to her knees. “Is there anything you want me to relay to him? He umm . . . thinks you have a thing with Shaydon. Do you?”
“Shaydon is coming with dinner later, because he missed my birthday gathering, but I only see him as a friend. I briefly thought about trying to establish something with him, but it wouldn’t be fair to him. I still love Mythic. You can tell him that.”
She kissed my hand and nodded. Taking a deep breath, I went back to my food, praying that something would shake loose between Mythic and Seven to where I could get my family’s blessing to be with the man I loved. However, I wouldn’t hold my breath.