“Then why do you seem off?” Maybe that wasn’t the right question, considering one had to process the idea of kids.
“Because I’m tryna keep my excitement at bay until we’re sure. With the possibility of legacy, I can’t be raising my hopes until we know for sure.”
His words had me smiling immediately. “Legacy?”
“Yeah, legacy. Now go put bottoms on so we can run to one of these grocery stores down the block.”
True to his word, we ended up at a store a block from the house. It was one of those uppity grocery stores and I was so shocked they had such an in-depth pregnancy test section. At his insistence, I grabbed the box of four tests. I didn’t know who had all of that pee in them, but I guessed it was going to be me because on the way to the register he grabbed the largest bottle of water I’d seen in my life. I thought it was his until we stepped out of the store and he opened the cap before handing it to me.
“Drink up, love.”
Chapter 16
Oden
When everything happened with Ashley, I truly thought my life was over, and for years I lived in that. I existed in this dark ass cloud of despair until I got to know myself for once in my life. I took the time to be aware of the things I wanted and cared for. I took the time to care for myself all while my brother raised my child. Of course that was flawed in some eyes, but I knew while I was freshly carrying the guilt of what I had done, I wouldn’t be the best version of myself for Aja. How could I care for my daughter when I couldn’t even care for myself? Never in a million years did I intend to meet and fall in love with the woman who now owned everything about me. I was sure she hadn’t intended to do so, and shit I didn’t intend for her to, but somehow, between coming up with code words and experiencing her, she became everything I didn’t know I deserved. Maybe I didn’t deserve her, but for the rest of her life I’d work on that part.
When we returned from the store earlier, all of the tests confirmed what we both already knew. Jade was carrying what would be our first child together and I couldn’t be more ecstatic. My baby was having my baby.
Movement on my chest interrupted my thoughts and immediately I glanced down at her. She was cuddling closer to me in a deep sleep while I lay awake thinking about a future that felt limitless. Though I was lowkey overthinking, things like that were necessary. I was mentally planning a life with Jade with the intent of it being forever. The love and assurance I got from Jade was unheard of. She made me feel human and fucking seen. I told her about the darkest moment in my life and she spoke life into me. Even after knowing what I had done, she didn’t look at me any differently. If anything, it made her hold on to me even tighter, heightening the assurance she already gave.
Eventually I fell asleep, but the sound of my phone vibrating against my nightstand woke me up hours later. Where Jade could sleep through any noise, I couldn’t. Especially if it was a ringing phone. I had to know who was calling because knowing my brother it could have been anything. Probably not now, because he was a family man, but before Harlem he was a wild nigga.
I reached beside me and grabbed my phone. At first glance I peeped that it was Reminisce.The fuck was he calling so early for?Then I looked at the time. It wasn’t early at all. I had fallen asleep later than usual, now my time was off.
“Yeah,” I answered, eyes moving around the room from the empty space next to me.
“You sound like you knocked out. My bad, bro. But your boy is gonna be at the shop today, for most of the day until close. Ol’ girl just called me.” His background was noisy, but I heard him loud and clear.
“Bet.”
“I’d slide but I’m fucking stuck in Vegas. My flight had a fucking layover that went from an hour to six. I’ve been tryna get to Cresent Falls all fucking morning.”
“Damn. It’s cool I got it.”
“Bet.”
Once we hung up, I lay in bed for a minute, staring at the ceiling. Then I decided to get up and see where Jade was. Usually, she would have awakened me when she got up, but this time she didn’t. She must have been working. When I finally got up, my first stop was the washroom. After, I came back into the bedroom and grabbed my phone. I checked my phone and found the usual. Lois with updates about the restaurant and this upcoming shoot and my daughter letting me know she wanted me to pick her up from her uncle’s house tonight. She didn’t need a response to know I’d be there to get her.
When I walked into the kitchen, Jade was seated on the island in my shirt with her phone glued to the side of her face.
“No Beyah, I am not neglecting you or my nephews. I have been busy, and you know it.”
A few seconds later she laughed, holding on to her chest with her free hand. “I don’t say anything when you’re all up under my brother, so please stop getting on my case. Plus, if you wanted to see me, you very well could have come to see me.”
She then laughed more before those big, expressive eyes landed on me. “Wait, that is true. How about we plan to meet up next week in The Loop?”
While I decided to get started on breakfast to feed her pretty ass, she finished her conversation. About five minutes in, she was off the phone and I felt her staring right before she spoke.
“What are you making?”
“You something to eat.” I went into the refrigerator for chicken sausage and eggs.
“Would that happen to include pancakes?”
“If you want it to.” I peeked over at her and the expression on her face had me grinning. That grin lit up my whole world.
“You keep it up and I’m gonna be so spoiled.”
