Page 48 of Love You Like That

Ezra looked at me, then back at them, his posture still respectful, but more guarded now. “I’mma just head out,” he said politely, stepping into his Timbs and grabbing my keys.

“You don’t have to go,” I said quickly, but the shift was already happening. My mother’s pursed lips, my father’scold eyes. The subtle judgments that always came dressed in manners.

“Nah, it’s cool. I’ll be back in a few,” Ezra said, brushing a kiss to my temple. “Text me if you need anything.”

But when he passed my father in the doorway, there was a pause. The air thickened. Ezra looked him in the eye. My father didn’t break his stare and Ezra didn’t flinch. He just walked out, closing the door behind him as I let out a frustrated breath.

“Why are you making this harder than it has to be?” my mother asked, sitting on the edge of the couch like it might stain her.

“Harder?” I repeated, unsure of what the hell she meant by that. “What are you even talking about?”

“You have a child coming, Yavanni,” she said sharply. “You have a whole career and reputation. You don’t need someone who can barely manage how to juggle life.”

I blinked at her. “You mean the father of my child? The man who’s been here every day this week?”

“Yeah,thisweek,” my father spoke up finally, arms crossed. “You’re making decisions off love, not logic. Love fades. Parenthood is forever, Yavanni.”

“I’m not asking for permission,” I snapped. “I’m asking for peace. You can either be there to support meandmy decisions or don’t be there at all!”

“Calm down. You’re emotional,” my mother replied. “Pregnant and playing house with a poet just isn’t what we want for you.”

“No, I’m a grown ass woman building a life with someone,” I said, voice rising now. “Which is more than I can say for the people who only come around when they want to control the narrative.”

“Watch your tone,” my father said.

I stepped forward. “Watch how you speak on the man I love.” Silence. Then I said it, chest heaving, voice cracking, “If you can’t accept Ezra, then… just stay out of my life.”

My mother’s lips parted in disbelief as my father narrowed his eyes. But neither said a word as I moved toward the door to hold it open. They left a minute later and I slammed the door before waddling over to the couch. I sank into it, hands shaking, belly fluttering as if my son could feel the rage still lingering in my body.

And I cried. Not because I regretted anything I said but because it hurt. Because choosing peace over family wasn’t easy. Because sometimes love demanded boundaries and clear lines, even when they cut deep. And I just hoped, that wherever Ezra was walking, he knew that I’d always choose him loudly, publicly and unapologetically.

“N A H,f u c kt h a t,”I muttered, throwing back the shot Mekai had just lined up in front of me. “I was respectful. I ain’t raise my voice. I ain’t say nothin’ slick. And he still looked at me like I’m some stray dog sniffin’ around his precious daughter.”

Mekai winced. “Damn.” We were atThe Copper Room, the new lounge where he was the head bartender. He leaned his forearms on the bar. “So what happened? Yaya ain’t say nothin’?”

“I didn’t stick around to find out,” I grumbled. “Knowin' her though, she just sat there and let 'em talk shit.”

He blinked. “Nah. She be movin’ like that?”

“Dead ass. So, I just dipped before I said some shit I’d regret.”

Mekai exhaled, reaching for his glass. “You good now?”

I stared at the Henny in my cup. “Nah, not really. I’m tired of feelin’ like I’m not enough unless I’m on a stage or just doin’ my own thing. Like I ain’t provin’ it every fuckin’ day that I love that woman and my son.”

My phone vibrated on the counter. I peeped it was Yaya calling me on FaceTime. I stared at it for a second then flipped my phone over and took another shot.

Mekai watched me carefully. “You sure about that?”

My phone buzzed again and this time a text came through.

Just wanted to check on you. I love you.

I swallowed hard but didn’t respond her. Mekai didn’t press either. He just poured another shot for me before going to take care of other people surrounding the bar. I drank in silence after that. Music pulsing low, conversations happening in the background. I wasn’t really there, though. I was still in thatliving room. Still replaying the way Yaya's Pops looked through me like I wasn’t shit. Like I wasn’t the one laying my career across state lines just to be close to her.

Around midnight, I finally stood up. “I’m out.”

“You good to drive?”

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