Page 42 of The Promise

Lex pivoted my way. “I’m saying, your old ass is getting even older. If you want more kids, now’s the time to do it.”

That shit had me so vexed I couldn’t think of how to reply. Now, I didn’t kick it with Lex like I did Ezra, but anybody who really knew me, should have known being a goddamn baby daddy wasn’t my vibe. I hated the reminder of it when it was pointed out during times like this.

“I’d be down,” Ashira’s grin was timid. Then her eyes swiped over to me before falling away. “I mean… If the timing was right with my contractual work, but…” She shrugged. “Yeah.”

I blinked, fucking offended. “So, I’m just a breeder—”

“Mommy!”

Lex and Ashira’s heads whipped back to the tables at that cry.

“That’s me,” Lex murmured before taking off.

“I just got finished mapping out the clean-up plan with Corinne, Consuela, and them. Chelsea has to get back to the clinic, so she started in the kitchen. Consuela told her what to do.” Ashira pointed over her shoulder. “I’m going to head up to Chi-Chi’s room to pack a few things she acts like she can’t live without. That cool?”

It was time for the party to end. People had already begun grabbing thank-you bags to go. It was all good with me because my mood had suddenly gone south.

That fucking Lex…

“Yeah.” I grumbled, going back to my phones. “You got it.”

ChapterSeven

Part III

March | Three Years Later

Chivon would not let me put her down.

“Baby girl,” I tried to reason with her, but her crying was so loud, Chivon may not have heard me or didn’t care about shit I had to say. “Chivon,” I tried again as she wailed, wiping her wet eyes.

“C’mon now, Chi-Chi.” Ines held out her arm to Chivon.

Chivon jerked away, clinging to my shoulder tighter.

“Oh, no!” My mother found her stubbornness funny.

“Blueberry,” I called out to her again, rubbing her little back. “Why are you trippin’ on Daddy like this?” I hated seeing my baby cry, not to mention the shit I had to get done now that the party was over.

The women still here, who didn’t bail when the guests left earlier, were gathered in the kitchen, wrapping up food, packing up goods to be donated to a shelter in Paterson, and cleaning. Ashira looked on, waiting patiently.

“I no wanna go!” Chivon cried. “No, Daddy!”

“Sweet pea, we talked about this,” I tried again.

“Don’t do that, Chi-Chi!” Even Juggy tried helping out as he leaned into the wall near the fridge.

“No!” Her body tensed and knee jerked. “No!”

I dropped my face into my available hand. When she did shit like this, it felt as though my chest was being ripped in half. It tortured me.

“Chi-Chi, let’s go,” Ashira’s voice was firm.

“No, Mommy!” Chivon screamed even louder as Ashira tried removing her from me.

It was so bad I backed away to end it all.

“Hang on,” I mumbled, needing a breather, a moment to calm her little ass down. Chivon needed comfort, so my hand automatically went to stroking her back. As I began to bounce her on my arm, taking on a rhythm, her cries continued with a closed mouth, lowering slightly. “Shhhh…Shhhhh…”

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