Chapter 30

I woke up from some much-needed rest.

Today was the first day of classes and I was so ready to jump back into normal life; life before my mother got sick, life before all the craziness ensued. I rolled out of bed and popped one of the anxiety pills before climbing to my feet. As I had my morning stretch, I caught a whiff of something delicious. At first, I was confused because I was back at my apartment.

Then I thought maybe my mom or Shar came to cook breakfast. Deciding to see which of them it was, I pulled on my robe and left the bedroom. The smell of whatever was being cooked had me practically floating to the kitchen. I hadn’t eaten since breakfast yesterday and I was starving.

When I rounded the corner, my mouth dropped.

There stood Deuce at the stove in nothing but his basketball shorts and socks. He looked back at me and smiled.

“Hey, baby. You hungry?”

“Stanley… what are you doing here?”

“I brought your stubborn ass food last night, but you were asleep, so I stayed to make you breakfast for your first day of class.”

He came over and pecked my lips before grabbing a plate from the cabinet. I stared at him in disbelief as he plated a helping of sausage, eggs, and French toast. I wanted to be mad, but it looks so good and I was starving.

He took the plate and a glass of juice to my dining room table and set it down, before pulling out a chair. Silently, he looked back at me, waiting for me to sit down. I sighed heavily as I went to cop a seat. He went to fix his plate and drink, then came back to join me. I watched as he ate like this was the most normal thing in the world.

“You ain’t hungry?” he asked, looking over at me.

“I’m trying to figure out if Ms. Stephanie dropped you on your head as a child. I said I needed space.”

“I gave you space. I slept in the other room.”

“That’s not what I meant! I broke up with you.”

“Correction, you tried to break up with me and I said no. It’s all good, though.” He took a long sip of his juice. “Eat up.”

I laughed. I had to laugh because this man was relentless and thickheaded.

“What’s so funny?” he asked.

“You, Stanley. You.”

I snatched up the fork and stabbed a sausage before placing it and a bit of eggs in my mouth. I frowned as I ate it, not wanting him to know that I liked it. We ate in silence for the remainder of our meal. When we were done, he grabbed the dishes and placed them in the dishwasher while I went back to my room to get ready and dressed for the day.

By the time I came out of the shower, he was in my room, sitting on the bed waiting for me. I’d hoped he’d been gone, but to no avail.

“Can you get out so I can get dressed?” I asked with attitude as I gripped my towel.

“I’ve seen you naked.”

He stood and brought himself toe to toe with me. Peering down at me, he brushed my braids over my shoulder. His finger trailed my jawline as he cocked his head from side to side.

“I miss you, mama. I know you going through some shit, but I can’t be away from you, Salima. I love you.”

He leaned in and pecked my lips.

“Tell me you love me.”

His kisses became harder and rougher, just the way I liked them. His hand slipped beneath the towel and in between my legs. I hated that my body betrayed me. His kisses made me weak, and my pussy always responded to him.

“Say it,” he commanded, stroking my pearl.

“I—I love you!”

I panted heavily as he backed me up against the bathroom door. He pried my hands from the towel with ease, allowing it to drop to the floor. His mouth moved from my lips to my painfully erect nipples. I gasped as he sucked them, one, then the other, all while his fingers stroke my wetness. I could feel myself making a fucking mess.

“You say it’s over, but this pussy says she’s still mine,” he said, peering down at me. “Is she mine, Salima?”

I didn’t answer.

I couldn’t answer. His fingers were buried so deep in me and stimulating my G-spot, that all I could do was gasp for air. He lifted me in the air and wrapped my naked legs around his waist. I wasn’t sure when he pulled his dick out, but the next thing I felt was his stiffness breaching my walls.

“Is. She. Mine.”

He bounced me on his dick with every word. My nails dug into his back as I clung to him.

“Yes! Yes, she’s yours! Fuck!”

It didn’t even take five strokes before my body expelled her juices. He chuckled as I collapsed against him. Pressing a kiss to my temple, he lifted me off of him and placed me back on my feet.

“What did I say? Ain’t no breaking up.”

That was two weeks ago. That day and every day since, I started my morning before class with him eating my pussy or fucking me into submission, then feeding me breakfast. When I took a break for lunch between classes, he was waiting outside the building to escort me. I didn’t even ask how he got my schedule because I was sure he had his sister pull it up.

The man cut my hours at work, so I could have time to study, but still cut me an additional check for what I would have earned if I hadn’t just been working weekends. I gave up on telling him it was over because my stupid ass loved him and the way he took care of me. He didn’t want anything in return but my love and loyalty.

I still wasn’t feeling like myself, but I was pushing through. I was tired even though I slept for hours on end. I had constant headaches, and I was still having nightmares here and there. There were moments when I couldn’t keep shit down and all I wanted to do was be in my bed.

I hated to admit that I needed anybody, but I did need Deuce. He was right there to take care of me in those moments. He’d clean me up and let me lay up with him until I finally fell asleep. Twice, I owed than man my life. He took care of my needs and wants, in addition to shit I didn’t even know I wanted or needed. How could I ever get rid of him?

Today was the same old routine. When my eleven-thirty class let out at one, I gathered my things to meet Deuce for lunch.

“Hey, Salima.”

I looked up to see, Mario, the guy who usually sat a few seats down from me every day.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“You got a second to talk?”

“Um… sure. You can walk me out.”

I reached for my bag, but he scooped it up. “I got that.”

“Oh, that’s not necessary?—”

“It’s no problem.”

He smiled as he motioned for me to follow. I sighed. This wasn’t going to end well. We made it out of the classroom and headed for the double doors that led outside.

“What did you wanna talk about?”

“I was wondering if you wanted to study sometime.”

“Oh… well, I kind of already have a study partner.”

“Oh? Who? Maybe I could join you two?”

“You wouldn’t know them.”

“Try me.”

Just as we made it through the double doors, my eyes landed on Deuce, leaning up against his Hellcat talking on the phone. When he saw me walking with Mario, he frowned. Immediately, he hung up with whoever he was talking to and made his way toward us.

“My boyfriend,” I answered.

Mario’s eyes widened. “Oh, you have a boyfriend?”

“Yes. Speaking of which, here he comes.”

I pointed at Deuce, who was about ten feet away from us. Mario swallowed hard.

“I um… I think I better go. See you in class.”

He practically shoved my bag in my hand and power walked away as Deuce came to a stop in front of me.

“Baby, you scared him,” I said as he pulled me into him.

“He better be scared. I can tell that nigga was trying to spit game to you.”

I giggled. “He only asked me to study with him.”

“Uh huh. He’s trying to study some pussy. Don’t trust these niggas. Not even them nerdy muthafuckas.”

I shook my head. “Can we go eat, please?”

“Are you gonna be able to keep it down?”

“I feel okay today. I took my anxiety meds, so my nerves aren’t all over the place.”

“Maybe you should see my cousin again.”

“Stanley, I’m fine. Can we go? I’m craving tacos with extra sour cream.”

He stared at me for a moment before nodding. “Okay.”

Hand in hand, we headed for the car. He opened my door, and I climbed in, making myself comfortable. In the back of my mind, I wondered if I really did need to see a doctor. Probably not his cousin because this man would harass us both about the results.

If and when I decided to see a doctor, it would be one of my choosing. I was sure it was just some form of PTSD or something. While I know that was serious, I didn’t want to sit on some therapist’s couch and spill my guts about being kidnapped. I didn’t want to relive that again.

Mirron was dead and gone. Eventually, my memories about the whole ordeal would fade to black too.

“ A ll right, bitch. If you get this question wrong, I’m chin checking your ass.”

I sat in my living room with Shar studying for my first test. We’d been at it for two hours now and my brain hurt. I was hungry, and I needed a nap.

“Shar, can we take a break?”

“After you answer this question.”

I sighed. “Fine.”

She cleared her throat. “The basic elements of the supply chain include what?”

“Integration. Operations. Purchasing. Distribution.”

“Yes! See, babe. You got this.”

“I appreciate your help, but I’d much rather study with Deuce. He lets me take breaks whenever I want.”

“Because I’m sure those breaks involve him getting some coochie. I ain’t your man.”

I rolled my eyes because she was right. It was nothing for us to have a little quickie in between study sessions.

“Whatever, bitch.”

“You’re cranky today. You on your period?”

“No, I’m just?—”

I paused. The mention of period made me think a little too hard about when I had my last one. I went to my phone to check my tracker. Sure enough, I was late. Six weeks late at that.

“Shit!”

Shar frowned in confusion. “What?”

“I’m late.”

“Late for what? You going somewhere?”

“No. I’m late!” I turned the phone around for her to see.

“Oooo, bitch!” She jumped to her feet and clapped her hands. “Am I gonna be an auntie? If it’s a girl, you have to name her after me. Sharina Jr. Yes! I love that!”

“Shar, please! This is serious!”

“Of course it is! My baby is having a baby!” She dropped in front of me and rubbed my stomach. “Hi, TiTi’s pud!”

“Sharina!”

She looked up and finally saw the panic in my face. Her smile slowly faded, and she grabbed my hands.

“Don’t be scared,” she said, softly. “I’ll go get you a test so we can confirm before we overreact. It could be stress.”

“I don’t think it is, Shar.”

“Whatever it is, I’m right by your side every step of the way.” She kissed my cheeks as she pulled me into a hug. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

She released me and climbed to her feet. After grabbing her keys, she slipped her feet into her slides and left the apartment. For twenty agonizing minutes, I sat on my couch, staring at the wall. Could I be pregnant? Was I ready to be a mother? Was Deuce ready to be a father? What would my mother think?

I’d asked myself a million questions and by the time Shar got back, I was in tears. She helped me up from couch and led me to the bathroom in my room.

“I’ll be right here,” she assured me.

I nodded and took the bag from her hand. Behind the locked door. I emptied the contents of the bag and opened the box. Seated on the toilet, I waited and waited until I felt the urge to pee on this life-changing stick.

After cleaning myself up and flushing the toilet, I capped the stick and washed my hands, then waited.

“You okay?” Shar asked.

“Yeah. I’m just—” I caught sight of the two very prominent lines on the test. “Pregnant,” I whispered.

I leaned against the counter, steadying my breathing. I couldn’t even say I didn’t know how this happened because Deuce and I had been fucking like rabbits since the first time he slid within my walls. There was no way at least one of his soldiers hadn’t marched.

I took a deep breath and turned to open the door with the test in my hand. When it opened, Shar was standing there with hopeful eyes. I held it up, and this bitch screamed when she saw the results. She grabbed and damn near lifted me from the ground as she hugged me.

“We’re having a baby! I’m so happy for you!” She pulled back and looked at me. “How are you feeling?”

I blew a breath. “Well, it explains the headaches, vomiting, and tiredness. I’m really pregnant. Her I was thinking it was my nerves, and it’s a whole damn baby. I’m never gonna get rid of that man now.”

Shar laughed. “Girl please. You tried that weeks ago, and look where it got you. Y’all have been locked in since you met him and now he better lock you down before I have to beat his big ass. I fight niggas.”

I rolled my eyes. “He already told me I was gonna be his wife.”

“Then I need to see a ring on your finger before my niece or nephew is born. No excuses, no exceptions.”

“Yes, Mom,” I said sarcastically.

She smiled and pulled me in for a much gentler hug.

“You’re going to be a great mommy.”

“I hope so. Now I have to find out how to tell Deuce and my mama.”

I rubbed my stomach. I couldn’t believe there was a little person growing in there. Deuce and I had created our own little bundle of love. I knew I wanted children. While I didn’t think it would happen this soon, I had to look at it as a blessing.

Life was about to get very interesting.