Page 54 of Chrome

“I should’ve warned you but I lowkey forgot. Dukes is a softy, and Pops really just go with the flow. They don’t have the option to be that intimidating set of parents because I don’t bring women home. This was them having fun but also breaking the ice. I’m sorry that came off wrong.”

“It did, but I feel better knowing it was just them initiating me into the family. I don’t like mean muthafuckas.”

“I know and once again, I’m sorry. Look, if you really want me to take you home, I will.”

“Nah, I can handle it. If this is your side, I will endure it. Is your crew the same?”

“Nowhere near it. They’ve already accepted you. They just waiting on you to stop by and say hi. Shit, the dinner finna jump anyway so get ready.”

“Baby…”

“You with yo’ nigga, you ain’t got shit to worry ‘bout. I promise a muthafucka ain’t gon’ ever try you. Remember who the fuck shields you.”

Throwing his arm over my shoulder, he pulled me in and walked us back to the car. A wave of comfortability and security washed over me. If it wasn’t for him being here, I wouldn’t be as confident as I was. I knew what we had, and he did as well. Hell, so did everyone else looking in.

My marriage didn’t work, but I knew this relationship would. His protection was different and so was the love. Regardless of me being older, his dominance was what I needed. I was tired of leading and being the one responsible for everything. I was finally able to sit back and enjoy life as a woman and mother all thanks to him.

“We locked in, Fade. This shit ain’t gon’ ever end, you hear me?”

“I hear you and I understand. Remember where your loyalty lies, and I will too. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

EPILOGUE - a year later

CHROME

“You gon’ be mad at Daddy, but I’m bored, Princess. You got to wake up and keep me company.” I was in my daughter’s room for the umpteenth time of the day waking her up. I couldn’t leave her alone. I fell in love with everything about her the second Fade pushed her out.

Picking her up, I put her to my shoulder and bounced her a lil’. Yamari was just as live as I was. It only took her a minute to get right and when she did, she was up for hours. I loved how she always smiled at a nigga, too. She made any rainy day seem like it was full of sunshine. She was a nigga heart. Her and her pretty ass mama.

She took after Fade, skin tone and all. I wasn’t complaining either. This was all a nigga wanted in life. A woman that gave you all the love you could ask for and child that mirrored her mama. I was in love two times over and it wasn’t shit a muthafucka could tell me.

“Baby, put her down and put her back to sleep. Why do you always come in here and wake her up in the middle of her naps?”

“’Cause her mama ain’t got time for me.”

“Really nigga? I just let you beat my back in for an hour and you talking ‘bout I ain’t got no time for you. Stop lying.”

I smirked at her response. I did just climb out the pussy. I had a muthafuckin ball in that bitch fa sho. However, I just missed my baby. When I wasn’t loving on Fade, I wanted to love on my daughter. They had me going ‘round in circles for affection.

“Yeah, that wasn’t enough. I told you I’m a greedy nigga.”

“Then you should’ve stayed inside and got some more. Now, put her down, Chrasmere,” she ordered.

“Look, Mel supposed to be here soon. Go wash up and get dressed. I got her.”

“You and your nosy ass daughter are aggy. She just wakes right on up and start looking around like she missing something.”

“She is… me,” I said planting kisses on my baby face.

Fade walked out and let us be. Out of all the things I thought I wouldn’t be, this was the one that made it off the list. I was a proud father that loved every single moment of it. When she touched my face, I felt at home. When she was in the middle of crying, giving her mama hell, all it took was her to hear my voice for her to settle. I was her peace and she damn sure was mine.

I got her dressed and brought her to the bedroom. She was placed in her bassinet as I went and joined my baby in the shower. She was rinsing off when I stepped in. I didn’t even bother getting back in the pussy since Yamari was up and waiting on one of us to get her. I had thoughts of doing it though.

My body was washed and so was my hair. It was a hot day in May, and I needed to stay cool. Plus, I had a few surprises cooked up for my babies. Fade’s push gift was coming with the help of Mel. Her visiting home wasn’t just for her to see the baby and her mama.

I stepped out wrapping a towel around my waist. When I walked in the room, Fade was showering Yamari with kisses of her own. I felt like she was jealous when I got to her first whichwas why she was always asking me to put her down. She wanted to keep her to herself and I wasn’t mad about it because the feelings were mutual.

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