She grinned at me like she understood my plight. “Good. Saves me having to have Antwan fuck him up.”
“P, why are you pacing?”
Corey walked into my condo and caught me mid-freakout. We both lived downtown, but my place was closer to Lyrically Sound than his. I told him where I was and that he needed to meet me here when he could. I barely remembered what this place looked like because I felt like I was only home to get clothes. It was either I was at Corey’s place or I was traveling. It was paid off and I’d had thoughts of putting it up as a rental eventually if things progressed with Corey.
I stopped pacing and stared at him incredulously. I felt the irritation flare and couldn’t help the way I snapped at him. “Because I’m stressed out.”
“What’s good?” It was just so easy for him to come in and take charge of everything without being at all stressed. Helooked so good in his gray slacks and button up despite the heat outside. He seemed even unstoppable against the weather, which further irritated me.
“I don’t even know.”
I felt the tears well up in my eyes, which immediately had him walking closer to pull me into his arms. We were standing in my white kitchen that only held some plates and silverware and the rudimentary pot set that I’d gotten just because. The cabinets were white as were the countertops but the floors were a rich wood tone. I usually ate at the island and had put three comfortable lavender velvet bar chairs there for when I did.
“You look real pissed off or something. I’m over here trying to do this CEO shit but City is always ready to come out and play.” I smiled into his chest and allowed the feeling of him squeezing my body to comfort me into saying what I needed to.
“I think I’m pregnant. Well, the tests say I am.” I braced myself for his reaction as I felt him tense up at my confession. I hadn’t bothered to change after work. Just grabbed some tests and came home to pee on them. While I waited I had thrown my hair in a bun and texted him to come over and stress with me. There had been no wait because those tests had lit up like a Christmas tree within the first thirty seconds.
Instead of yelling, Corey gave my body one last squeeze before he took a step back.
“Okay.”
His lack of a reaction only had me more on edge. “Okay?”
“I mean, shit, I’m fucking thrilled but I’m trying to keep shit even-keeled cause you look like you need to throw up.”
His observation had my stomach rolling sightly reminding me of my own reaction when I’d gotten here earlier.
“I did that already.”
“So tell me what’s on your mind.”
“Do you know how old I am?”
“Yeah, you thirty-five.” He looked me up and down like thewitcho fine asswas silent and I needed him to focus.
“Yeah, thirty-five not twenty-five.”
He nodded still looking like he wanted to fuck instead of talk about the elephant in my womb. “We established that already, Pretty P.”
“Bruh, if you don’t let me have this meltdown so I can panic and then get my mind together.”
“Is that what I need to do? Bet. Fall apart and shit then, P.” Corey held his hands out like he was giving me the floor to scream and holler and now it felt pointless.
“Well, now I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Cause you’re over here giving me permission to do it.” I was snapping at him unremorsefully because he was getting on my nerves.
Instead of checking me, he just nodded with a broad grin on his face. “Oh, your ass pregnant for real to be tripping like this.”
“Sir, you do know them cliches ain’t gone do nothing but piss me off.”
“If you need someone to be the bad guy in this I’ll happily be that. I put that baby in you and apparently I’m the one currently getting on your damn nerves. So you can cuss me out or whatever you need to do to get yourself centered. I’ll play my role and then we gone check on your uterus and shit.” He was grinning as he motioned toward my crotch, like none of this was a big deal.
I stomped my foot angrily because the way that sounded was so bad. “My uterus, Corey? That’s how you saying it?”
“I ain’t trying to get attached because with the way you acting we might be making an appointment at a clinic for a procedure instead of shopping for onesies and shit. I can mentally detach by being technical. Do I want that? Nah. But I also realize Iain’t the one that’s got to put anything on the line with this. My body doesn’t change, my career doesn’t potentially stall and my life ain’t the one on the line. Selfishly? I’m happy as fuck. Elated. Like my heart wants to jump out of my fucking chest and Bankhead bounce. But the ball is in your court as always, baby girl.”
