Page 320 of Kentrell

“Wait!” Zoe squealed, making me pause mid-motion, irritation flashing across my face.

“What now, ma?”

“So… you really wanna raise our kids in Hinsdale?”

“Yeah. I want spoiled ass… entitled ass… ungrateful ass suburban kids.”

That took her out. She cracked up laughing, eyes squeezing shut like she couldn’t believe me.

“They willnotbe ungrateful or entitled!” she objected, rolling her eyes hard enough to make me laugh harder.

“They gon’ be bad as hell,” I said, running down the whole daddy bingo card, I now had because of her. “I can’t wait tohit ‘em with that, ‘See… y’all don’t know how good y’all got it’ speech.”

Zoe was already in tears laughing as I kept going.

“Sometimes I’ll hit ‘em with the classic… ‘Back when me and yo mama was little?—’”

Her laugh broke into full-blown tears, and that’s when I crawled back up and wiped her face, sucking my teeth at her like she was doing the most.

“Why you crying, ma?”

Her lip trembled, eyes still wet but now looking at me all soft and emotional. “You really wanna be a daddy.”

The way she said it… like it broke something open in her.

She was really crying now… boo-hoo, can’t catch her breath crying.

I kissed her wet cheek, pulled her close and let her sink into me. My hand instinctively slid to her stomach, rubbing slow, steady circles like I could already feel the baby under there.

“Stop crying, Mommy… you gon’ upset the baby.”

When I said that, she snorted through the tears, then laughed.

“That’s not how that works.”

“Yes, it is,” I grinned, wiping the rest of her tears with my thumbs.

Then my tone dropped low. Real serious.

“And you ain’t gotta worry about me leaving you… or my baby. I’m not yo daddy, Zoe. I know what you thought… but lemme set some shit straight.”

Her breathing stilled as she listened.

“I gave you my ring. You wearin’ my chain. Whenever you ready… set the date… so you can take my name.” I kissed her slow, deep, right after that. “Shit… what else I’m missing?”

I searched her eyes, waiting.

She smiled… slow… blooming like she couldn’t help it. “Your heart.”

“Shit…who name I stamped onnat bitch?”

Her smile spread wider, lighting up her whole face.

“Mine.”

“There you go.”

She twisted her lips, giving me that mischievous look that always made my jaw tick.

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