Page 1 of Love Me Now: Adrian & Kwamé
CHAPTER 1
KWAMÉ STONE
May…
“…Mega NBA star, Damon Brooks, has just announced that he and his wife, superstar R&B artist, Anya, are expecting their first child together. The announcement was made during a pre-game press conference this evening. Brooks’s number two ranked Jets team is heading into game 3 tonight to face the Dolphins. The Jets are a favorite for the NBA championship this year. Brooks, in the back court, has been an absolute nightmare for every team this season. Soon, we’ll know if Brooks’s on-court efforts have netted him the coveted Most Valuable Playeraward. This will be Brooks’s first child. He was quoted as saying, he wouldn’t want to build his family with anyone else…”
On that note, I cut the television off. There was no sting of any kind at him saying something so foul. For so long, I hated Damon Brooks. He altered so much of my life, and I was forced to recover in silence.
“I can’t believe you’re leaving me for good,” Ari said, bringing me out of my thoughts.
Smiling, I playfully poked her protruding belly. “I’ll be back as often as possible. And I’m not missing the baby shower for anything.” Ari was due the first week in July. She’d been on bedrest most of her pregnancy due to a previous late-term miscarriage. Her doctors were being careful with her this time around.
“Oh, alright. At least my parents and Carli are here to keep me company while Rod’s on tour.”
I wanted to wince at her bringing up her baby’s father. Rod the Lyricist was as fine as sin. He was hosting several sold-out tour stops, and although Ari wouldn’t tell me so, I knew she was ready for him to be home. Rod knew of Ari’s high-risk pregnancy and still chose to go on tour instead of pushing the dates back until after the baby came. He was selfish. That was just my opinion, though.
“Right. Your parents are hands-on grandparents. And Carli can’t wait to be an auntie. Please take advantage of that,” I encouraged her.
“Oh, I’m definitely doing that,” she said. We both giggled. “I don’t blame you for going home, though. Every time we talked, you sounded happier out there. You needed the distraction from all the bullshit Damon put you through.”
Sighing, I replied, “I’ve healed.”
Ari hugged me. “Yes, you have. Plus, you’re carrying your brother’s babies.” We both squealed at that.
I was in my second trimester and had waited to break the news to Antonias and Bianca earlier this week. The twins were growing strong, and I intended to do everything I could do to keep it that way. That meant going home. Home was where my entire support system waited for me. I’d even noticed a change in Jessie since leaving the farm. My baby missed the family I’d introduced her to. And, although I hated to admit it, that included Adrian.
My heart did what it always did when I thought about Adrian Bell. It palpitated. When I arrived at the farm this past December, I wasn’t expecting to be confronted by the only man who gave me butterflies off the strength of his smile. His intense gaze always swept me up and held me hostage. As a crisis counselor, dissecting the most complicated feelings and emotions was easy for me. Yet, I couldn’t dissect the feelings and emotions Adrian brought out of me.
“Kwamé!”
“Huh?” I blinked out of my stupor to find Ari staring at me quizzically.
“Your doorbell just rang,” she explained just as the door opened. Russ poked his head inside and waved.
“That’sanother thing I’m going to miss,” Ari mentioned. “Russ spoiled me like crazy!” she hissed.
Giggling, I headed towards the door. Shock wasn’t the word as I met Russ at the door. Stunned wasn’t even the word to describe what I felt at seeing Adrian standing on the other side of the door.
The first time I discovered what love at first sight was, it came when I first met Adrian.
“Hey, Beautiful.”
My words must’ve fallen between my thighs because I didn’t have shit to say back to the man standing in front of me. He was impossibly tall, dark-skinned, and bearing tattoos all over hisglorious skin. His dark-brown eyes were hypnotizing, and his voice was deeper than the ocean.
“Hey, Beautiful,” he repeated himself and half-smiled a little.
“Hi,” I answered.
“May I help you?”
Remembering where I was, I said, “Oh, yes, I’m here to see my brother, Antonias. He works here, right?”
I hadn’t seen my brother in too long and thought surprising him would be a good idea. Standing at the nurse’s station inside of Dr. Bell & Associates, I should’ve thought better of it. All these men wandering the building looked scary as hell. Plus, they had security and everything… For a medical center, it was just a little strange.
“Sister, huh?” the guy behind the desk questioned.
I nodded. Just then, Antonias came around a corner with a man who looked like the man whose voice and smile captivated me.
