Chapter 21
Van
Hearing those words over and over in my head is like something I’ve never thought I’d hear. I hear her voice repeating it over and over. It made my heart swell with pride. It made me think a little more about what I wanted and needed. And what I need is her and that baby.
I’ve watched him sleep for the last couple of weeks, and I’m just amazed by all of it. It might have only been weeks, but it feels longer. It feels like I was made for this. Like he was made to be a part of my life.
“You ever think about life, Free?”
“Oh, Christ. Where is this goin’?”
“Just askin’, brother. I mean, if you would have asked me a year ago if I thought I’d be sittin’ here with a girl who cares about me and a baby I can’t seem to stay away from, I would have laughed in your damn face.”
“And now?”
“Now, I can’t picture my life without the two of them in it. I want this. I want them.”
“And you have them.”
“Do I?”
“Oh, hell. What are you thinkin’ now?”
“That it needs to be official. That she needs to be my old lady, and he needs to be my son,” I tell him. Free leans over and looks me dead in the eye as if I’ve totally lost my mind right now. Maybe I have. I don’t know.
“Are you … is this … I don’t know what the fuck to say here. Is that somethin’ you’re ready for?”
“Isn’t that what I’m doin’ already?” I ask him, turning my head to look at him.
“I guess so. But that’s a lifelong commitment, Van. That means there’s no turnin’ back.”
“I know what the hell it means, Free. I just can’t picture my life without them in it. I’ve tried. I’ve thought about what she said that night, and I’ve thought about endin’ it all with her, but then it becomes clear. I can see myself with her in years to come. I can see us raising that little boy,” I tell him truthfully.
“I don’t know what the fuck to say. I didn’t think I’d see the day,” he says.
“I want to get a house.”
“Are you fuckin’ kiddin’ me right now? You’re makin’ a lot of life decisions right now, Van.”
“It makes sense. They need a home, yeah?”
“They have one here.”
“Come on. You know we can’t raise the baby here. Shit is too wild around here on a good day. We might have toned it down for her right now, but it isn’t gonna stay that way,” I remind him. As nice as it’s been to have them here, I think the smart plan is to find a house. They need stability.
“Fuck, brother. I knew you cared about them, but this much?”
“Yeah, this much. In fact, there’s a few places I was gonna take her to look at today.” Free sits back in his chair, staring out into the nothingness without saying a word. He doesn’t know what to say, and I get that. It isn’t a decision I just made overnight. I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately.
“If this is what you want, then I say go for it. Go after what you want, Van.”
“Thanks, brother. I plan on it.” I shove out of my chair and walk back inside to find Nicole. She offered to babysit while I took Chy out for a little while. She has no idea what we’re going to do, either.
“Hey, Nic. You still good to watch, little man?”
“Yeah. Just waiting on Chy to finish getting ready.” Just as she says that, Chy walks down the hall with Nate in her arms. I walk over and kiss her before pressing one to his head, too.
“You ready?”
“I don’t know how I feel about this, Van. What if something happens?”
“Nothin’ is gonna happen. We’re not gonna be gone that long,” I tell her.
“Are you sure? We’ll stay close by, right?” she asks. I love her concern for her son. I love that she loves him like that. It reminds me of my family, and it makes me proud to be a part of theirs.
“It’s close by. I promise,” I assure her once more, needing her to relax a little.
“Okay.” She looks down at the baby in her arms before passing him off to Nicole.
“Aunt Nicole has got this,” she promises with a smile. I trust Nicole with him. She’s been the best friend Chy could have asked for since she’s been here and from what I heard long before that.
“I know it just makes me nervous to leave him,” Chyanne tells her. I wrap my arm around her shoulder and pull her into my side.
“You need to breathe, baby. Nate’s gonna be fine with her.” She nods her head as she takes one last look at Nate before kissing his head. Then I grab her hand and pull her along with me and out the door. Leading her over to the truck, I pull the door open and help her inside.
“Are you sure about this?”
“I’m sure. I promise it’s a five to seven minute drive, babe.”
“Okay.” I close her door and walk around, climbing in the driver’s seat. I start up the truck and pull out, heading down the road.
“You excited?” I ask her, reaching over and clamping my hand on her thigh. She lifts her own and rests it over mine.
“A little. It’s just weird leaving him,” she tells me.
“I know. We’re so used to him bein’ right with us.”
“You know I appreciate you more than you can know, Van.”
“I know you do.”
“Some days, I don’t think you know. I don’t think I tell you enough or show you enough,” she says. The next thing I know, she’s leaning over in the seat, unzipping my jeans.
“What’s this?”
“My thank you.” She pulls my cock free, and that fucker hardens in her hand. I don’t need her to do this, but I’ll be damned if I stop her at this point. She lowers her head and sucks my cock into her mouth, and I groan while I try to keep my eyes on the road and not on her. She pulls me into her throat and sucks me hard. I can barely keep myself under control right now.
“Fuck, Chy,” I groan as I pull into the driveway of the first house I wanted to show her. The realtor smiles and waves, but I just give her the hold on a minute finger. Chy keeps sucking until I feel my balls tighten up. Before I can warn her to stop, she flicks her tongue along my cock, and I lose it. I come down the back of her throat while she eagerly swallows it.
When she’s done, she pulls her mouth away from me and wipes it on the back of her hand while smiling at me.
“Fuck, girl. I didn’t know you could do that.”
“I didn’t really want to while I was pregnant, but I’ve been thinking about it.”
“You been thinkin’ about my cock in your hot little mouth?” I ask her. She nods her head before shifting and seeing where we are.
“Who is that?”
“The realtor. She just saw you pop back up,” I laugh before pressing my lips to hers.
“She didn’t!”
“I think she did. Who gives a fuck. Get out,” I tell her, nodding toward the door. Color creeps over her cheeks as she opens the door and jumps out. I watch her as she walks around the truck, and I take her hand in mine.
“Mr. Mcintosh.”
“That’s me. How are you?” I ask politely.
“I’m good. You can go ahead inside, and if you have any questions, feel free to come find me.” I nod my head and lead Chy into the house. There is no furniture or fancy showing, but I like it so far.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a house,” I tease.
“I know that. Are you looking for a house?”
“Yeah. Figured its about time I get out of the clubhouse, you know?” Chy nods her head as we walk through the house. We check every room, and I love it.
“What do you think?” I ask her.
“It’s nice. You don’t need much space. Why three bedrooms?”
“Well, I thought about havin’ a roommate.”
“Oh really? That would make sense then.”
“Yeah. So, do you like it?”
“It’s nice. I like it.”
“So, is that a yes?” I ask her. She turns to face me, confused by what I’m asking.
“What do you mean? I think the question is, do you like it.”
“I do. I think it’ll work out great. It’s close to the club and all that,” I tell her. “So, is that a yes?” I ask once more. She looks at me, brows narrowed as she tries to think about what it is I’m saying, but it doesn’t make sense to her.
“What do you mean, Van? Is what a yes?”
“Will you live with me? Will you and Nate live with me?” she gasps before shaking her head slowly, her hand covering her mouth.
I reach for her, running my hands up and down her arms as she looks at me, shocked. I can see the look in her eyes, and she’s not sure what to say.
“I know this is a lot, and I didn’t give you much warnin’, but I’ve been thinkin’, and this is what I want, Chyanne. I want you and Nate. I can’t see this goin’ any other way.”
“You want us to live with you?”
“We’ve been together in the same room for weeks now. He needs a home,” I tell her.
“You think I can’t give him a home?” she asks, sounding defensive. She’s looking at this the wrong way. That’s not what this is. I shake my head.
“No. That’s not what this is, either. I told you, I’ve been thinkin’ about this, about what I want. Since we brought Nate home, everything just seems to have fallen into place. Everything seems right, Chy, and I want it. I want more,” I tell her. It’s hard to admit that to her because I don’t want to scare her away, but I know what I want, and that’s her.
“You’re serious. You’re not joking.”
“No. I’m not.” My heart is hammering in my chest wondering what she might say.
“I don’t know, Van. It’s a lot.”
“I know it is, but you have to know I want this too. I want you.”
“And you want us here?”
“Yeah, but only if you like it. If not, there’s more we can look at,”
“It’s not that I don’t like it, Van. It’s just … this is a lot.”
“I know, but I’m not lettin’ you go.”
“I can’t believe this. I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes, Chy. Say you and Nate are gonna stay with me,” I tell her. Hell, at this point, I’ll beg. I don’t care. I want her here.
“Yes,” she says with a huge smile on her face. “Yes, Van. We’ll live with you.” That’s all I needed to hear before pulling her into my arms and kissing her senselessly.
“I’m gonna fuck you on every surface of this place when it hits six weeks,” I tell her. She laughs and rests her head on my chest as I hold her close to me.