Page 37 of Back in Blood

That made my heart full, and it made me comfortable. I would love my child unconditionally, and I wanted him to have a father that did the same. Capri and I didn’t have to be in a relationship. As long as we could coparent in a healthy way and raise a child that was supported and loved, that’s all I cared about.

“I have a confession,” I abruptly changed the subject again. “Your daughter’s mother does my lashes. I didn’t find out who she was until after and now every time I go to her, I feel guilty.”

Capri snorted. “Fuck that bitch.”

I didn’t want to be the cause of any conflict or drama, so I wasn’t going to say anything about what she told me concerning him coming around. My gut told me it was a lie, but I was staying out of it.

“If she did what you said she did, I can’t blame you for feeling some kind of way. Do you, um, do you know she has cancer?”

Once again, Capri snorted. “I doubt that lying hoe has cancer, but if she does, it’s none of my concern.”

Who the hell would lie about having cancer? I could tell Robin was a sore spot for him, so I was going to drop it. But I just wanted him to know that she did my lashes for some reason. With that out of the way, we didn’t have to talk about her anymore. I wasn’t going to tell him that I had heard her throwing up. I didn’t want to trigger him by coming across as her cheerleader.

“After my mom passed, I got in the streets heavy. Stealing cars and doing dumb shit. I actually stole a few cars before she passed. I was angry that she was sick, and I was just out there doing dumb shit. It got worse when she died. Money was the motive, but a part of me just didn’t care. I was being reckless and not giving a damn because I was hurting. The thrill of playing with fire made me feel invincible in a way. But then, Robin got pregnant with Caprice, and my entire outlook on life changed. I was determined to be a better father to her than the one I had. Getting locked up and leaving her out here without me was never an option.”

I blinked back tears. I could see the pain in Capri’s eyes, but I could also hear the love in his tone. He loved his daughter, and I was convinced that he was a wonderful father. I reached over and grabbed his hand. I couldn’t imagine his pain. Even with losing a child myself, I still couldn’t imagine his pain. Caprice brought his cup to his lips and drained the contents.

“I’m good.”

“I know we’ve been talking about the baby, but we can wait until after the paternity test results to discuss names and all that. I’ve been kind of jumping the gun a little bit.”

Caprice didn’t speak. He stood up and went to the bathroom and then he went to the kitchen and refilled his cup. I assumed he was going to drink until he passed out because at the ratehe was going, he was going to be past drunk. My phone chimed alerting me that I had a text message.

Sage: We’re having a lunch special on catfish tomorrow. Be there or be square.

I had to laugh. The only cravings I’d had so far were fish from his lounge, strawberry banana smoothies, and steak bowls from Cava. Caprice sat back down and looked over at me curiously.

“What you laughing at?”

His eyes were low, and I could tell he was lit. He looked so sexy to me when his eyes were low. It could have been my imagination, but it seemed like my sex drive was picking up. My hormones didn’t go haywire like that with my first pregnancy, but my vagina had literally been aching the entire day wanting to be stroked by Capri.

“Sage texted me and told me they’re having a lunch special on fish tomorrow. I’ve been trying to cut back on eating fried foods, but I literally think about that fish every day. I have to go by there.”

Capri stared at me with a blank look on his face. My left brow hiked as I wondered why he was studying me so hard.

“Is something wrong?”

“You respectfully asked me not to have sex with other women, and I told you that I wouldn’t. You think it’s okay to text Sage and smile up in his face and shit? I don’t care how nice he acts. The man’s objective is to get some pussy. Let me find out you’re busting it open for him while you’re pregnant, and it’s gon’ be problems. Women swear that it’s men, but y’all are the ones that are sneaky as fuck.” Capri took a large sip of his drink, and my eyes narrowed.

I knew he was drunk from the way his words were slightly slurring. Drunk or not, he wasn’t going to talk shit to me in myown home. “I’ve asked you before, and I’ll ask you again to stop projecting. You have a right to feel how you do about Robin, but I’m not her. Stop coming at me like I’m not shit. Having sex with people and being friends with them are two totally different things. If I haven’t had sex with him by now, I’m not going to. We aren’t in a relationship, so you trying to police who I can be friends with is a little much. Don’t you think?” I didn’t raise my voice, but there was most certainly ice in my tone.

“You heard what the fuck I said,” Capri glared at me with a slight scowl etched on his face. “The next person that plays with me about a child might get their ass kicked. I’m not going to keep being nice. Do I look like a fucking sucker or something?”

Yeah, he was past drunk, and I was done entertaining him. I stood up. “Okay, you can leave. You don’t even need to be driving, but call an Uber. Sit in the parking garage and sleep it off. But you have to leave. You’re not going to be disrespectful. Learn how to handle your alcohol.”

Capri chuckled angrily. He stood up, gulped down the rest of the liquid in the cup, grabbed his keys, and left. As soon as the door closed, I turned the lock with aggression. “Stupid ass nigga,” I grumbled. I wasn’t letting anyone or anything stress me out during my pregnancy. Capri could kiss my ass.

The next day, I invited my mother, Gwen, and Gemini to lunch at Sage’s lounge. We were seated in a booth, and I ordered strawberry-lemonade while Gwen and Gemini got mimosas, and my mother got water with slices of lemon. It was very normal for me to grab a bite to eat with my mother and Gwen or Gemini, but I’d never invited Gemini out with me and my sister and mother before, so everyone was eyeing me wondering what was goingon. I chose to keep them in suspense until we had our drinks and had placed our food orders. Ariyana was the only one that couldn’t make it.

“So, I brought you here today to give you some news. I’m not sure how you are going to process it, but I would like positive comments only. If you feel anything negative, please do me a favor and keep it to yourself.” My eyes darted over all their faces. My mother’s brows snapped together. Gemini’s brows hiked, and Gwen, leaned forward and propped her chin on her fist. I had everyone’ s undivided attention.

“It wasn’t planned.” I began playing with the napkin in front of me. “And I’m nervous and scared but I’m also thirteen weeks pregnant with a little boy.”

My stomach never got back completely flat after I gave birth, but my pudge was small and could be hidden with Spanx. My belly had hardened and was round enough so that if I wore anything tight, I looked bloated. My belly could still be hidden with loose fitting shirts, but my breasts were bigger, and my face was fuller. I wouldn’t have been able to hide it much longer.

My mother’s eyes widened, and Gemini squealed. “I knew it,” Gwen hit the table. “I wanted to say something so bad, but I didn’t want to be insensitive in case I was wrong. I freakin’ knew it.”

“Why would we be negative, Lisa?” my mother asked. “Like you said, you’re grown.”

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