Page 101 of Save Room for Us

Sniffling, I said, “She’s probably on her way to some news station now.”

“Most likely. We just have to continue to pray, baby. Make sure you tell your brother-in-law so he can get in front of all of this.”

“Okay.” I nodded as she rubbed my shoulder before kissing my forehead.

DAYS LATER…

Bashar cut the TV off after we finished watching Jacinta’s latest video she’d uploaded to social media, showing the damage I’d done to her face.

“Is that what the fuck you was gon’ do to me when you didn’t like me?” he joked.

“Bashar.” I sucked my teeth as he laughed. “I never not liked you; I just didn’t know about you for my sister is all.” I smirked. “I’m sorry. I know I’m supposed to control my temper.”

“I been the victim of having to go upside a muthafucka’s head for saying the wrong shit, so I understand. Don’t let it happen again, but also, don’t worry about it. I got my people checking the home for her DNA now so we can back up the story she told you and how she provoked you in case they try to mention it during the trial.”

“Damn, you think quickly.”

“That’s why I’m me.” He winked.

“Okay, Cemone Jr.”

Chuckling, he said, “We all got the same parents, so it’s a lot of the same shit in us all.”

“True.” I tittered. “As far Asif, I don’t know what he’s told you, but he and I are… together.”

“You must ain’t met Asif if you think I don’t know that already.”

“I know, and I love it.” My insides got all warm and gooey. I loved how loud he was about us. “But I wanna make sure us being together doesn’t hurt my chances of getting acquitted.”

“Nothing to worry about, love. They will try to bring the shit up during the trial, but the relationship between y’all didn’t start until after this shit. Unless they can provide evidence of the contrary, them pointing out you being in a new relationship won’t help their case.”

“Okay, good.” I smiled, feeling relieved because I didn’t know what I’d planned to do if Bashar had told me this would affect my freedom.

I just had to prepare myself for what was to come if Cedric ever opened his eyes.

“Finally.” I huffed, feeling accomplished now that I’d finished cleaning up my work area, sanitizing everything as well.

“Need some help?” Asif entered the room, looking good enough to eat. How did this man always look sexy, even in the morning… even whilst he slept?

“No. You would walk your ass in here once I’m done.”

He chuckled then, eyeing the room, said, “I wanna go get some shit for baby girl to have at the crib. I ain’t have shit when she came. Had to let her play with my hundred-thousand-dollar watch, and that shit was embarrassing.”

I giggled as I shut down my laptop on the desk.

“You don’t have kids, so I didn’t expect you to,” I replied, not wanting him to feel bad when there was no reason to.

“But I’m with you, and you have one, so if I want y’all to stay over and be comfortable, I gotta make shit comfortable.” He neared me, moving a curl that had fallen out of my ponytail, behind my ear.

“What did you have in mind?” I hugged his body.

“I was thinking more like you point and I pay type shit.” He took my hand to lead me out, pausing so I could grab my purse on the way.

Leaving the warehouse, I told him Pottery Barn Kids was my preference, so that was where we went. He wasn’t playing about buying the stuff Sophie would need, from a toddler bed to bedroom decor and a few books he felt she would like, as if he knew her so well already. I couldn’t lie and say I wasn’t pleased, and mainly because I knew it wasn’t fake or a facade in order toget close to me. I’d seen him and Sophie together, and it was very much so genuine.

After Pottery Barn, we went to Target to get duplicates of some of her favorite toys as well as some of the meals she liked to eat for breakfast, which included a big ass bag of sprinkles which I had to explain were supposed to go on top of a healthy snack like yogurt and not to be eaten by themselves.

I could tell by the way Asif nodded he wouldn’t enforce it, and if Sophie asked to eat sprinkles by themselves, he’d let her.

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