Page 37 of Falling for Autumn
“I’ve got to go.” I ended the call and spun around with a forced smile on my lips.
Frown lines, confusion, and concern marred October’s face.
“Hey, baby,” I muttered, walking to him.
The minute that I reached him and extended my hands for Auburn, he lifted his and stopped me. “Nah, what’s going on? Who was that?” he asked, jerking his chin toward my phone.
“No one that matters. I’m fine.”
“Don’t lie to me. The one thing you can never do is lie to me, Autumn. I can’t protect you, comfort you, or keep you strong if you’re lying to me. Now what’s going on?” He wiped underneathmy eye with his thumb, making me realize that I had shed a couple of tears.
I sighed. “That was Wilson.”
“Your ex?”
I noticed that he didn’t say, “Auburn’s daddy.”
“Yes. Her?—”
“Her sperm donor, because that’s all that nigga is. He damn sure isn’t her daddy.”
I sighed in resignation, because I didn’t want to have to argue with two men today. “Yeah, I know. Anyway, he was calling, talking crazy about wanting to be in her life, and if I tried to stop him, then he would take me to court for custody.”
“You ain’t gotta worry ’bout that shit. That nigga ain’t ’bout to do nothing. And even if he did have the balls to do that shit, he wouldn’t get it. His ass ain’t been nowhere around, ghosting you, married with another kid, and living a double life. Not to mention you said he’s an OTR trucker. No judge is about to grant him custody of this baby.”
“I don’t even want him to get visitation rights, though, Toby.”
He cupped my chin and tilted my head backward. “Look at me. You ain’t even gotta worry about that. I doubt that nigga even wants to see her. I think he’s just trying to rattle you, is all.”
“Yeah, he did start talking crazy about us belonging to him.”
“That nigga can bounce with that shit. Don’t a damn thing belong to him over this way except he gon’ get his ass whupped.”
Auburn started crying, and I knew that she could feel the tension between us. October bounced her in his arms and kissed her head. It was bad enough that her nap was broken, which was enough to make her fussy, but the tension between us didn’t help.
“Hey, you want an ice cream?” I asked.
“Yes, Mommy.”
“Here, take her. I’ll get it,” October stated, handing my fussy toddler off to me.
“It’s okay, baby. I’ve got you. Mama’s fine and so are you.”
She kept being whiny even after he opened the ice cream and handed it to her. She took it and continued to whine. October reached for her, and she willingly went into his arms.
I watched in awe as she instantly calmed down at the sound of his voice and laid her head on his shoulder. He rubbed circles on her back, and his eyes met mine with a question.
“What?”
“Are you tryna get back with that nigga, Autumn?”
“What? No! Are you kidding me? Nobody could pay me to take him back, October. He dogged me, humiliated me, and abandoned me. That’s not the life that I envision for myself or her.”
“Good,” he replied, nodding. But I saw the doubt in his eyes, and I wondered how I could reassure him that there was nothing for him to fear.
I stepped closer and wrapped my arms around his waist. “Baby, you build me up, keep me strong, and have my back whenever I’m weak. You have been here with me since I had Auburn. You bring sunshine into all of my days, and you take care of us girls physically, spiritually, and mentally. Why would I ever risk losing that?”
I sighed as he closed his eyes and kissed my forehead. Then I took a risk with my next words. “I know that it hasn’t been very long, Toby, but I love you. I truly love you with all my heart. The way that you sacrifice for me, for her, how could I not love you? You are the truth, October. You’re my truth.”
