Page 19 of Hooked on Loving Him

“Oh my God! These are the cutest babies I’ve seen in a while,” I say, gushing over the adorable twin girls sleeping peacefully in the pack and play next to the gray sectional where an older woman is sitting.

I’m unsure how I let Kayshon convince me to accompany him to his brother’s house to babysit his nieces. However, seeing the sweet babies has me feeling anything but inconvenienced. Not to mention the jumping of my ovaries from the instantaneous baby fever I’m experiencing.

“Speaking of cute, aren’t you darling,” the older woman says, shifting my attention from the babies to her warm smile.

“Ashari, this is Ms. Aretha, and she’s my brother’s and my surrogate mother. Ms. Aretha, this is my lady friend, Ashari.” Kayshon interjects before I have a chance to respond, causing my pulse to rise when I hear his introduction about who I am to him.

“Well, God, thank you. It looks like you’re doing it again,” Ms. Aretha says, tapping her chest as her eyes glisten with sudden unshed tears.

“Uh. It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Aretha,” I say, looking from her to Kayshon before returning my focus to her.

“Same here, baby. I’m gonna get out of here since Kayshon has some help.” Standing, Ms. Aretha heads toward me before pulling me into her robust chest while whispering in my ear.“You were built for the storm that comes with my Kayshon. Don’t let him run you off.”

God is trying to tell you something. God is trying to tell you something.

The popular song fromThe Color Purpleechoes in my mind after Ms. Aretha releases me and embraces Kayshon in a hug that doesn’t last as long as the one she gave me.

“Keep an eye on the girls for me. I’m gonna walk Ms. Aretha out,” Kayshon says as I nod wordlessly before planting my butt in the seat Ms. Aretha has vacated.

My mind is on overdrive, trying to process Ms. Aretha’s words while attempting to reconcile my psyche to what this moment could mean. Hearing the front door open and close, I sing what’s piercing my heart.

“God, I feel You now preparing me for my next move. My faith is being tested, but I know You will. You will come through. Just like You did for Abraham. God, I need You to show me a sign,” I sing, momentarily forgetting about the little people resting near me.

“I won’t stop believinggg… Jehovah Jireh,” a deep, velvet-edged voice sings, causing me to stop singing while looking toward the entrance and seeing an unknown man leaning against the wall. “You can’t hold a tune, but that’s one of my newest jams that Mama Lo introduced me to.”

“Damn. How are you gonna insult me after joining in like I asked you to back me up?”

“I didn’t want my nieces to think Barney could defeat their Goliath. Do the three of us a favor and keep your solo contained to the shower. I’m Jawaan, by the way,” he says, lifting off the wall and walking toward me with his hand extended.

My lip curls as I take him in from head to toe and determine if I want to punch him while pondering if fighting Kayshon’s brother will have adverse effects between him and me.

What’s between you and Kayshon? Clearly, I missed something.

“It’s rude to leave a nigga hanging,” Jawaan says when I don’t connect our hands after he’s in front of me.

I thought the other brother said he wasn’t calling this dude.

“Nigga, what are you doing here? Kyce said you weren’t needed,” Kayshon says, reentering the room and preventing me from replying to Jawaan.

“Ain’t nothing coming out of there, little bit. How are you still hungry after drinking all that titty milk?” Kayshon asks softly as the baby in his arms squirms. Her head moves around his chest as if searching for something he’s incapable of providing her.

Ooh, he’s gonna make a great father for our babies.

“What the hell?” I say in an elevated tone that causes Kayshon’s gaze to shift to me.

“What’s wrong?”

Other than planning our fantom children… nothing.

Words fail me as I shake my head, and Kayshon’s eyes return to the baby, patting her lovingly on the back.

“There you go. I bet you feel better now, huh?” Kayshon asks cheerily when a burp pierces the otherwise quiet room.

After kicking Jawaan out twenty minutes ago, Kiara woke up feisty and demanding until Kayshon fed her a bottle that she inhaled like it had been a day since her last feeding.

“So, how many of these do you have hiding around Ribax?” I ask after Kayshon lays Kiara next to her sister, who hasn’t budged since our arrival.

“What about me gives you the impression that I not only am a deadbeat father but that I have a string of bastard children?” Kayshon asks, frowning deeply.

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