Page 38 of Too Many One Nights

“Excuse you?” I was about to curse him the fuck out until he tossed his phone on my bed. When I picked it up, I saw it was the results of the paternity test, and it showed that Buck was indeed my child’s father. I looked at him and he was staring straight at me.

“I didn’t want to get attached, and it wasn’t mine. Not only would that had fucked me up, I would’ve killed you for playing with me like that. So, to play it safe, I didn’t allow myself to feel anything or show emotion because, in my own way, I was protecting my feelings,” he explained. His reasoning had me softening my expression some.

“So, what now?” I asked. This was definitely a conversation we need to have.

“We figure this shit out…together. I’m going to always be there for my kid, and you, too. My pops told me that the two of you are my family and responsibility now, and I’ma make sure that y’all are straight. We can figure the rest out along the way, but going forward, the two of you are my main priority.” I listened to him, and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t jumping for joy on the inside. But a part of me wanted to know what all of that means.

“What does that even mean?”

“It means that we’re going to be this baby’s parents whether it was planned or not,” was his response. He laid his head back and closed his eyes. Moments later, our family came back in.

“You good, sis?” Stacks asked.

“I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”

“Good. I thought I was gone have to beat this nigga’s ass on the way over here with all that damn whining and shit.” He laughed.

“Nigga, you wish you could beat my ass,” Buck snapped back.

“I know y’all better stop cursing in front of me like I didn’t raise you right. Don’t embarrass me in front of our new family. I would hate to act like a product of my environment.”

“Ma, he started it, though.” He frowned.

“Be quiet, Lincoln. That won’t work anymore now that I got my grandbaby on the way, so you might as well stop it now,” she fussed, causing his frown to deepen.

“Yeah, Lincoln. Be quiet.” Stacks smirked. He got a kick out of annoying his brother.

“You need me to stay with you?” my mama asked. I looked over at Buck and he answered for me.

“Nah. You don’t have to. I’ll stay. I just need to go grab her something to wear home tomorrow. Y’all can stay until I get back.” Surprisingly, she didn’t put up a fight.

“I’m about to go grab that stuff. I’ll be back in a bit.” He stood with Stacks in tow and left, along with his parents. My mama left too since she left Keenan home by his self to come check on me. Mel stayed until Buck came back, and during that time, I got to talk to Kilo, per his request. He seemed more laid back than the other two, but that meant nothing. Buck rarely talked and you would think he was laid back until he opened that mouth of his.

“Let me know if you need anything. Even if it’s to get on that ignorant brother of mine.” I simpered at his choice of words. “You’re family, so that means I have to look out for you too,” he stated.

“That’s what I’m for,” Mel input.

“Correction, baby. That’s what we’re for.” He corrected her and, surprisingly, she had nothing smart to say.

“I appreciate that, and I’ll definitely tell you if I need help with your brother.” We said our goodbyes, and I handed the phone back to Mel so they could finish their conversation.

It was about two hours before Buck came back, but when he did, he had changed clothes. In one hand, he had a food bag from Linc’s and the other held my overnight bag.

“I got some wings and tator skins from the bar. Your stuff is in the bag. I think I got everything,” he explained.

“You changed clothes.”

“I took a shower.”

Silence.

“I took a shower because I’ve been out all day, and I wanted to freshen up. Stop stressing over shit that doesn’t matter, Goldie,” he said sternly.

I declined to respond because I indeed was thinking he was out fucking another bitch while I was in the hospital. I had to shake those thoughts from my head because he wasn’t my man, and he could do as he pleased. It didn’t mean I had to like it.

***

After I was released from the hospital on yesterday, Buck took me back to his penthouse at the displeasure of my mama. He was adamant that he needed to be accessible to me and the baby at all times, and he couldn’t do that if I stayed under her roof. I was surprised when she bowed out, but only after he assured her she was welcome to stop by and check on me…. as long as she called first. Today was my first night back at work and I was glad to be out of that damn house. Buck made sure I was comfortable since I got released. He even had James drive me around instead of me catching rideshares or driving my sister’s car. James let me know he was ready and waiting for me downstairs, so I grabbed my bag and headed out. Per usual, we were packed, and I got right into work mode.

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