Page 139 of Quasim III: King Inferno

“Finish your food so we can cut your cake with Gams… she made you a special cake.”

He wolfed down his food and then ran to wash his hands as I leaned back on the chair. “Gotta get you home so I can rub you down… I’m sorry.”

“No, you are not… talking about another one.” I cut my eyes at him.

He laughed. “The way you be fucking back, I can’t tell, my love.”

I held my hands out, warning him that I would ball his lips up, and I wasn’t playing with him. He kissed my hand, and the silicone band he forced me to wear since my fingers were swollen.

“You scared?”

“Nah… you?” He looked over at me.

“So scared… what if I do this wrong again?” the tears danced on my waterline. At the drop of a hat, tears always flooded down my face.

He abandoned his chair and kneeled down in front of me, kissing my stomach. “You never did anything wrong the first time, Anjo. You have a husband, and family that loves you. I get being scared, but I’m right here with you.” I watched as he kissed the back of my hand.

For some reason, the small little patch under a man’s lip was such a turn on, and the way Simmy was staring at me, I had to look away. “Stop staring at me like that, knowing I cannot even roll over without help.”

“I can help you arch that back.”

I felt small arms around my neck and Elijah kissed my cheek. “Love you, mom… you crying again?”

“Alright, not too much on me… it’s this little girl.”

“If you say so.”

Life had gotten back to normal, and I was grateful for it. Being close to my best friends again felt like everything. Capri was on bedrest because the babies could come early since it was a twin pregnancy.

Travis Scott blared on the way home at the request of the birthday boy. He was slowly turning into his own person. Becoming so confident in himself and knowing his boundaries. What he liked or disliked.

The other day, he told me he didn’t like brown rice, which was something he never had the confidence to do. Whatever I fed him, he ate in the fear of being in trouble and not getting more food.

I knew that the blue flavor Gatorade was his favorite and he hated the red. Every day, I was learning more about him, and I loved it.

When we pulled into the driveway, Elijah got out and ran toward the steps while Quasim helped me out the car and up the steps. “The stairs are the worst part.”

“Good thing our room is on the lower level.” He kissed me as he held the door open for me.

The minute I stepped over the threshold, water flew out of me and onto the floor of the house and porch. “Simmy, my water broke.”

“Baby, I’m looking at the shit on my sneakers,” he spoke, and his voice sounded different. That cool guy shit was out the window, and he sounded panicked.

I was having a home birth in water. I realized a hospital birth was triggering for me, and I wanted to bring my baby into this world at peace, not worried. Our doula was only a phone call away, as I waddled into the house.

“Mom pissed on herself.”

Gams looked at Elijah. “Let me hear you or Peach say piss again, you hear?”

“Yes, Gams.” She kissed his head, then turned her attention to me. “Moochie… breathe.”

This man stopped breathing and had to let out a long ass breath. “My pool is in the garage… fill it up and put it on the spots we marked in the living room. Call Synthia, too, and Elijah?”

“Yes, mom.”

“I’m sorry for ruining your birthday.”

He smiled and hugged me. “You’re giving me my sister today.”

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