Page 113 of Save Room for Us

Simple, to the point, and just enough to let unknown, aka Milan herself that she’d have to do better than typical petty shit to part me from Asif.

Locking my phone, I went to find him, and since he already had the shower running, I decided to join him, where things went pleasantly further than we planned. And that quickly, I had forgotten about Milan’s stupid ass message.

VISITATION…

“Let me help you, Mrs. Chase.”I took Sophie’s bags that she was trying to carry and opened her door for her.

After placing that shit in the back seat, I took Sophie to buckle her in the car seat.

“Thank you so much, Asif.” She beamed. “You have a child?”

“No need, Mrs. Chase, and nah, I don’t.” I shut the door now that Sophie was safely in the car seat.

“Then why do you have a car seat?” she asked as I rounded the car.

“For Sophie.”

I could tell she was surprised from her expression, before a subtle smile crossed her face, and she got in.

It took about twenty-five minutes to get to the hospital where Cedric’s bitch ass was, and the whole ride, Farrah talked to me about Anastazia’s father. Nigga sounded cool and reminded me a little bit of my own. Wished I could’ve met the man who Anastazia loved so much. Shit made me wonder what he thought of Cedric and if he was alive long enough to see how trash the muthafucka was. From the shit Farrah and baby girl told me, I didn’t see Mr. Chase approving of a nigga like him or the nigga he’d become.

As I put the whip in park, Farrah said, “I just want to thank you before we go in there. Not just for this but for everything—just coming into Anastazia’s life.

“Since Ade died, it’s just been us three, and I worried about my daughters, Stazi more so than Leeci because Jarrio was just a bum, but he was essentially harmless.”

I nodded. “Nigga had to hire somebody to get at Bashar, so that’s a fact.”

“Exactly.” She laughed. “Anyway, when Bashar came, I was thankful and happy I didn’t have to toss and turn thinking my beautiful daughter was gonna end up married to a bum, but that didn’t ease the tension I felt for Anastazia. She’s a strong girl, has been that way since she was a baby, and never liked to be helped or pitied.” She stared out the windshield at the big ass hospital building like she was reminiscing. “I was at a loss on how to help her or if there was anything she needed help with. She wouldn’t tell us anything, but I could see her suffering, because I know her and have been looking at that face since I birthed her.

“What I’m trying to say is just thank you. Not only did you come in and help her kind of relax, but you make her smile and laugh and be happy in the way she used to be before him.” She nodded at the building that held Cedric.

“No need to thank me, for real. I’m doing it because I want to, but also because she makes it easy. I hate what that nigga did, but I’m happy he messed up and lost out.”

Farrah and I exchanged smiles before I exited the car and came around to help her out. I grabbed Sophie, who started to wake up a little bit from her slumber but not all the way.

We made it inside, and I stayed back, allowing Anastazia’s mother to check in and explain everything. We were given badges and then instructed on where to go as well as a few rules for the ward Cedric was in.

The whole ride up in the elevator, I took my girl’s advice and talked to God, asking him to give me the patience and strength not to act the fuck up on that nigga in this hospital in front of Sophie and her grandmother.

We treaded down the hall after stepping off and finally got to the room he was in, guarded by a white police officer. He nodded upon seeing our badges and opened the wide wooden door for us to enter.

“Who the fuck is this?” Cedric attempted to sit up immediately, looking to Farrah for answers.

Nigga knew exactly who I was but wanted to play games. Not in the mood, I kept quiet, rubbing a half sleep Sophie’s back as I kept eye contact with him.

His girl was looking me over, lips parted in slight shock.

“Cedric—”

“No, who is this nigga, and why he got my baby?” Cedric cut his girl off.

“Thismybaby, nigga.” I couldn’t help it. “I’m the one reading bedtime stories, learning nursery rhymes, footing the bill for her needs, and taking good care of her mama. Thismyfamily, nigga.” I gestured toward Mrs. Chase as well, seeing a lingering smirk in her face. “You the muthafuckin’ outsider. Next time you open yo’ fucking mouth, it need to be to thank me.”

“You fucking my bitch?” His eyes narrowed as his baby mama to the left of him stared down at his ass in surprise.

“Nah, I took awomanyo’ bitch-made ass ain’t have no business in the same room with and moved her on up, nigga.” I adjusted Sophie as she stirred some, waking up. “Be respectful when speaking on the mother of my child ’cause it’s nothing for a nigga to take this Hermes leather off and put belt to yo’ ass like yo’ daddy should’ve.”

Cedric tried to act like he was about to jump from the bed, but it did nothing to disturb me as Farrah and his lady held him back, lowly chanting not to do anything in front of his daughter. I wanted to correct them and say he didn’t wanna get his ass handed to him in front of his daughter, but I kept shit cool. I did smirk, though, as he cut his eyes at me.

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