Page 41 of Love's Instant Replay
“Mhm. More coloring and less talking because I’m about to have the best picture, and y’all are gonna be losers.” I interject.
“Whatever,” Kyelle and Mica say simultaneously.
Looking from Kyelle to Mica, I can’t help the cheesy grin that forms because this moment feels like the family moment I didn’tthink Mica would have after Meshay left. I guess this is what people are talking about when they mention the saying: Delayed but not denied. I can totally see the three of us establishing our family unit, and it excites me more than stopping an offensive play in a game.
“Shouldn’tyou be home recuperating? I know you’re tired after a long morning and afternoon of practicing.”
“Why are you acting like you don’t want to hang with me and shit? What’s up, Ms. Ky?” The glower on Kaeden’s face matches the hardness in his eyes as they flash with irritation.
The truth is, I’m a little nervous about being in the mall with Kaeden as he shops for Mica. Although Kaeden made a post on social media attempting to put to bed the negativity surrounding our relationship, I’m still on edge. This is the first time we’ve been this out in the open, and I’m not sure what’s going to happen. My stomach has been flipping since we got out of Kaeden’s vehicle and walked through the mall’s entrance. I have been indiscreetly watching the people passing by to see if anyoneis taking our pictures. I haven’t been this antsy about something since I had to have a discussion with my mom about needing birth control as a teenager.
“Earth to Kyelle. What’s on your mind, my baby? Talk to me.” Kaeden’s voice is softer than a minute ago as he halts our forward movement, placing us dead center of the walkway.
Subconsciously, my eyes roam the perimeter searching for anything out of place or someone with a hidden lens ready to capture this moment.
“Th-uh-this is our first time here and what if some?—”
“Trust me to protect you, my baby. If a mothafucka is bold enough to breach your personal space in my presence, then I’m bold enough to make them regret it.”
“You can’t do that. You’re a public figure.”
“Shid. Let them try me. I might be a public figure, but my lady is and always will be private. I dare somebody to fuck around and find out how I give it up about the people I love.”
My eyes bulge, causing an instant strain from how fast I stretched them at hearing Kaeden’s words.
“L-l—what?”
This is the first time since our sexual escapade that Kaeden has said those three powerful words, which makes me believe sex didn’t make him do it.
“Mhm. I love you, my baby, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.”
“Be still, my heart,” I whisper as my chest beats like I’m at a rap concert with front row seats, and the bass is piercing my ears.
“Nah, that mothafucka better catch up because I’m playing for keeps. If you agree to spend the night with me, I’ll put that shit on repeat while I stroke you to sleep.”
A rush of fluid floods my panties at the thought of Kaeden pushing in and out of me while telling me that he lovesme. Hearing his love on instant repeat definitely sounds like something I should agree to.
“I don’t have any clothes with me.”
“We’re standing in the middle of the mall . . . Everything you need is at your disposal. Come on, let’s do some shopping because I need your pretty ass in my bed tonight.” Taking my hand, Kaeden resumes our stroll to the first store he had in mind to purchase things for Mica.
My mind is in overdrive as I process and analyze our conversation from the last couple of minutes. What I didn’t get a chance to tell Kaeden is my reciprocated love for him. Since Undercover Room tried to paint a narrative of my temporary place in Kaeden’s life, I've known. Now I just need to figure out a time to verbally communicate those three magical words back to him without the presence of our bodies joining in lovemaking.
“Aw. This is so cute. Do you remember Mica being this tiny? I bet she was such a doll baby.” Gushing, I hold up the tiny onesie showing Kaeden as he smiles with his eyes like he can picture Mica from that timeframe.
“She was so small that she wouldn’t be able to fit that little shit. My baby was a preemie, so everything swallowed her up. She fit in the palm of my hand, and I just knew I would break her.”
“Oh goodness. I would have never guessed that with how she looks now.”
“That’s because I made sure to plump her up with every turn. I had her drinking six ounces of milk the second she came home from the NICU. Those mothafuckas told me that babies shouldn’t eat so much, but baby girl wasn’t having none of that.The last thing I was gonna do was let her starve. Fuck what those doctors and nurses were talking about.”
The sneer on Kaeden’s lips and storm clouds in his eyes have me giggling lightly before all humor dies on my lips upon seeing two men peering through a neighboring clothing rack with cameras.
“K-K-Kae.” I stutter as my body freezes in place and my hand holding the onesie shakes before Kaeden’s face hardens and his eyes begin roaming the area around us.
“Man, y’all got me fucked up!” Charging toward the rack, the hiding men nearly trip over each other trying to untangle themselves to get away.
My mouth drops when the two men drop their cameras while scurrying for the exit of the store Kaeden and I are exploring. Unbothered, Kaeden walks over, picking up the devices like they belong to him.
