Page 106 of Jaeda

We all laughed because he was essentially about to be a baby daddy. I was so happy for him, though. After getting his heart broken all those years ago, I was afraid he’d never have the opportunity to parent with someone he cared for. Even though he and Donna weren’t a couple, I could tell he had so much love for her for bearing his seed. Every time she was around, he catered to her, barely letting her lift a finger. She fussed about being pregnant, not handicapped, but I could tell she adored it.

We spent the majority of the day at the hospital. People were in and out to visit. My dad came with gifts and jokes, as usual, and as usual, my mother had to threaten him. All my aunts showed up to congratulate my mother. Quaid found it so interesting how friendly three of my father’s baby mamas. When them and my father got together, there was never a dull moment.

They mostly took the opportunity to gang up on him and threaten him. He took it all in good stride, though. It wasn’t like he had a choice. The lack of sleep caught up with me about three o’clock, so Quaid and I left and went back to his place since it was closer than my house. After a hot shower, we climbed into his bed and cuddled up.

I lay there, lost in my thoughts and staring at the wall while he gently ran his fingers up and down my arm with his eyes closed.

“Quaid?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m really glad you’re here.”

He peered down at me and kissed my forehead. “I’m glad you’re here too. Everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine. New life just makes me emotional. The last couple of years, I’ve watched my brothers fall in love, get married, and have families, all while wondering if that was in the cards for me. I don’t wonder about that anymore.”

He chuckled. “You saying you want to marry me and have my babies?”

I looked up at him, seriousness dwelling in my eyes. “I want it all with you, . . . everything.”

“Then that’s what you’ll have.”

Smoke shook his head as he snapped pictures of Jaeda, Korri, Jaiden, and me. Today was Comic Con, and we were about to head to the convention center. Everybody was in full costume attire. I mean, we’d gone all out for this shit.

“I can’t believe you squeezed your big ass in this suit,” Smoke said. “Over here posing and shit.”

“It’s gonna be worse when he gets to the convention,” Titan said, laughing. “I get secondhand embarrassment when I go with him. Nigga be on his big black nerd shit.”

He’d come over just to be nosy as hell. I pointed my vibranium spear at both of them.

“Watch your mouth.”

Titan slapped the spear away. “Watch me kick your ass in front of these kids.”

“Don’t touch my best friend,” Jaiden said.

He pressed the button on his costume attachment, and the falcon wings came out. I chuckled as he put his dukes up, causing Titan and Smoke to laugh loudly.

Titan touched his wings. “Lil buddy, you don’t want it with me, man.”

Jaiden closed his wings. “I can take you. My sister will help me, right, Jaeda?”

“I’ve got you, baby,” Jaeda confirmed, pushing her mask up. “We don’t like big meanies, do we?”

“No, we don’t.” He said that with finality. “We can beat him. You too, Uncle Smoke.”

Smoke feigned offense. “Me? You think my baby is gonna let you beat me up, lil man? Korri, you got daddy’s back, right?”

“Sorry, Papa Devin. Superheroes have to stick together.”

“Oooo!” He placed a hand over his heart. “That’s how you do me?”

“I still love you!”

“Nah, you hurt my heart, baby girl.”

She huffed. “Papa Devin, you’re being dramatic.”

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