Page 143 of Save Room for Us

“Ma, we are too old for that.”

“No you’re not. And if he’s as good as his brother and nephew, I’ll let him change y’all last names too.”

We cackled further as I shook my head at her. She was too in love with my father to do anything of the damn sort.

“You’re gonna change your daughter’s last name from her married name to your new man’s? That’s crazy work.” I snickered in reference to Analicia as my mother switched out exaggeratedly.

“Bashar will understand.” She waved me off, knowing that was a damn lie.

As she shut the door, I lay back, wishing I had gotten pregnant by someone else, since I had no choice in the matter. But like my father used to always tell us: Don’t let a horrible person make you a horrible person.

HMM ABOUT A FEW DAYS LATER…

Treading down the hallway,I twisted the knob on the bedroom door of the apartment and entered, before walking up on the side of the bed.

“Get up.” I shook Milan lightly, making her stir. Snatching the covers off and letting the cold air of the apartment hit her ass, I said, “Get yo’ ass up.”

Finally, she opened her eyes and peered up at me. Once my face registered in her big ass head, she sat up abruptly, smoothing her hair back and wiping her face.

“Sif, baby, what are you doing here? Why didn’t you let me know you were coming?”

“Didn’t know I was coming. I had some free time, so I swung by. Get dressed so we can go.” I sat down on the edge of her bed.

“Go where?”

“Doctor so they can give you an official pregnancy test and all that other shit. Depending on how far along you are, we can get the DNA done too while we there.”

“I already sent you a test. Did you not get my text?” She frowned.

“I did, but I wanna double-check and take you to my people to confirm the shit. Come on. They squeezed a nigga in, so we ain’t got much time.” I patted the bed.

“No, I’m not going.” She shook her head. “This is all a part of your fucking plan so you can take me to that doctor and they tell you some shit like you’re not the father or I’m lying or something.”

Rising back to my feet, I replied, collectedly, “Get up, get dressed, and bring yo’ ass on.”

“No—” She shut up when I lifted my shirt to show off the gun on my waist.

“If you don’t want this little fluffy ass bedroom to be a crime scene in a few weeks and then eventually a cold case, get yo’ ass up and come on, Milan. Last time I’m gon’ tell you.” I kept my cool as her eyes roved over my heat.

Frowning, she tossed the covers from her lap and hopped down off the bed, stomping around while gathering her toiletries like a child while I descended back onto the edge of the bed, watching.

She started sniffling, making sure I could hear that her ass was crying, but I ignored the shit, busying myself with the emails and messages I had on my phone, responding to Anastazia first.

Usually, I would’ve just handled this shit today and gone on about my business, but I was realizing my woman liked to be privy to shit. I also realized females were messy as fuck, and the simplest shit could look like some other shit if presented by the wrong muthafucka. By saying that, it would be nothing for one ofthese bitches to peep Milan and I together, and that shit get back to Anastazia. Because of that, I let her know the agenda as soon as it hit me this afternoon that I had some open time.

I wasn’t used to checking in, but it was a part of the game if I wanted to be in a relationship. Not to mention, if I saw Anastazia riding around with another nigga, period—I don’t give a fuck what it was for—there would be a murder. I had to give the same respect I wanted regardless of my intentions, which was some new shit I’d learned.

Not long after Milan went into the bathroom, she returned butt ass naked, making sure to dress in certain angles where I could see more than I should have.

“You can look; she won’t know.” She scoffed.

“Same shit I don’ seen plenty of times. After a while of showing off the same shit, the draw ain’t the same, love. Get some new tricks.”

She stared at me like she wanted to jump across the room and maul me, so I stared back like I dared her muthafuckin’ ass to.

Finally, she was dressed, and we were leaving her building. As soon as we were in my whip and within moving traffic, she was back to sniffling.

“I don’t know why you’re doing this to me like you weren’t the only man I’ve been with.” She sniveled. I felt her glance at me, but I kept my eyes on the road. “I love you.”

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