Page 115 of Save Room for Us

“Man—”

“Don’t call her. Don’t text her. Don’t hit her in the DM, none of that shit, or I’m gon’ get real reckless, my nigga, and a faux gangsta like you not ready to be on that type of time with a nigga like me. Wouldn’t even be fair.” I shrugged. “But I’ll still pull thathammer out on you, fair game or not. As far as Sophie, that’s my responsibility now, nigga. I’ll let you know if yo’ services are ever needed, but don’t hold ya fucking breath. Then sooner than later, the court gon’ say she mine too. Sophie St. Thomas sounds better rolling off the tongue than whatever the fuck yo’ last name is.”

“Bitch ass nigga—” He tried to hop from the bed despite being paralyzed from the waist down, but my hand grasped his throat tightly, cutting off his words and his oxygen.

Slamming the back of his head onto the pillow, I gripped his neck tighter, making his eyes enlarge as he tried to pry my hand away.

“Watch yo’ mouth, nigga,” I growled lowly as his hands tugged on my arm weakly like the bitch ass nigga he was. “I could easily put you down right here. But if you wanna live and continue to raise ya baby with that thin-lip ass bitch you got waiting on you outside, I suggest you show some muthafuckin’ respect. You older, but I’m big dog, nigga. You a muthafuckin’ pup to me, cuz, and don’t make me remind me of you of that shit.”

He started panicking after being without air for so long, making me laugh a little bit.

A knock sounded off, causing me to release him, just before the officer peeked in. “Mrs. Chase needs to be present.”

I nodded and waved for her to come in, so she did, brows furrowed at the sight of Cedric coughing. His little doormat of a bitch rushed in, to his side, but he promptly swatted her off before cutting me a look.

“Man, y’all can go. Visit over.” Cedric huffed, clearly fuming about our conversation.

“Say bye to your daddy, baby.” Farrah pecked Sophie.

“No.” She shook her head, peeking at Cedric a bit before turning and reaching for me. “Mean to Mommy.” She pointed at Cedric once I got her, sort of telling on him.

You could hear a pin drop at Sophie’s revelation. I was surprised but not, considering how smart and observant she was, but I knew Anastazia would be horrified to know Sophie had understood her parents’ dynamic all along.

“Not no more.” I kissed her face, eyes grabbing ahold to his as I spoke.

“Okay. Well, see you… around, Cedric.” Farrah started for the door.

I gave cuz one last look to make sure he heeded my warnings, then went to open the door for my soon-to-be mother-in-law.

We hopped on the elevator and made our way down, before exiting the hospital.

As soon as we got into the car with everybody buckled in, Farrah said, “When you told him she was your baby and we were your family, man… I wanted to laugh so badly.”

“I was just trying to let that nigga know what’s up.” I pulled out of the parking space.

“What did you two speak about?”

“Just got an understanding on how shit is supposed to go now that I’m in the picture and he not.”

“Are you the reason he was coughing?” she queried.

“I don’t think so.”

“Brunch, Sif?” Sophie inquired.

“You hungry?” I asked Farrah.

“You paying?”

Laughing, I said, “Come on now. Ain’t no way you gon’ approve of me marrying ya daughter if I make you pay. And I don’t need you telling my mama, who gon’ tell my pops, who gon’ be on my ass,” I jested.

She laughed as I pulled off into the street before saying, “That’s very true. Marriage, huh?”

“Definitely.”

I took Sophie and Farrah to lunch, which Sophie was cool with. I realized she didn’t really know the difference between brunch and just going out to eat, so I passed her test with flying colors.

We headed back to Farrah’s home right after, and as soon as we walked in, Anastazia sprung up from the couch, inspecting everybody with her eyes like she expected us to have war wounds or some shit.

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