Page 42 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings
Emerald
The following morning…
“Em, breakfast is ready,” Sapphire tapped on my bedroom door and announced.
Groaning irritably, I lifted my head off the pillow and glanced at the alarm clock beside my bed. It was only eight thirteen in the morning. I had agreed to go to church with him and Coach Reeves, but now my body was regretting it. After going rounds with Ivo, I needed a little recovery time. Being celibate for so long, my body wasn’t used to it. Now I was sore and aching, not to mention not in a good headspace mentally. When we were in the moment, it was perfect. For so long I wondered what it would be like to have him in that way, and baby, let me say that man did not disappoint. He had the type of dick to make a bitch dizzy and delusional. Which I had to be, knowing he was also very married.
“Give me five minutes.” I dropped my head back onto the pillow.
“Coach said he would be here to get us at nine thirty,” Sapphire noted.
“Okay!” I replied, my mind instantly wandering to Ivo and Jordan.
As bad as I wanted to go back on this whole surrogacy thing, I knew I couldn’t. For one, I needed the money, like yesterday, and for two, I didn’t want Jordan getting suspicious and asking questions. If I told her I decided not to do it, she would want to know why, and I couldn’t exactly say oh, because I’m fucking your husband. She’d kill me. So the obvious solution was to stay the hell away from Ivo.
Keeping my word to my brother, I got up and went to shower and brush my teeth for this day. My thoughts immediately wandered to yesterday’s encounter while washing myself. Ivo’s lips and tongue licking all over me. The strong bergamot cologne I breathed in when he kissed me. My insides tingled. I had no intentions on going there with him when I first saw him in the clinic. When I found out years ago that they’d gotten married, the shit left a bitter taste in my mouth. Lord knows I tried to push past it, live my life, and move the hell on. It was a lot easier said than done when I didn’t have to see them in the flesh.
After shutting off the water, I stepped out to brush my teeth and go through my closet for something to wear. Deciding on a modest black jumpsuit with heels, I pinned all my faux locs up into a high bun. Doing a light beat on my face, I studied my reflection and sighed. I picked up my phone off the dresser to check for notifications and saw that Jordan had messaged me to meet her at the Hazelnut Café at twelve thirty. Part of me was still hoping that Ivo would reach out, but it was obvious he had made his choice, and I wasn’t it. I believed him when he said he would call me, but I knew when Jordan hit me last night and he was there what it was. I had to let this go.
“Maybe I can pray these feelings away,” I said to myself, typing a quick reply and letting her know I would meet her there.
Emerging from my bedroom, the sausage fragrance permeating the air left my stomach growling. When I reached the kitchen, Sapphire had made us both plates and set them atthe table. I appreciated my little brother more than he knew. It wasn’t easy trying to provide for the two of us, but he was my rider and stuck beside me. There was nothing either of us wouldn’t do for one another.
“You look handsome,” I complimented, admiring his lanky self in the black slacks, green button-up shirt, and black dress shoes.
His tapered sides and sponge top were neatly lined too as he pulled his chair out to sit down.
“Thanks. I thought you were gon’ try to back out.” He sniggered.
“I thought about it,” I replied, taking my seat across from him.
Muttering a quick prayer, I got ready for the pancakes, eggs, and sausage he’d prepared while he was already digging in.
“I think the last time I was in a church was for Pops’ funeral.” Sapphire took a bite of his sausage.
The mention of him left my chest tight as I cut into my pancake. I tried not to think about him because it usually led to depression, and I didn’t have time for that. Not only did he kill himself, but I was the one who found him, and it was an image I could never escape. Nightmares still rocked me from time to time.
“Yeah, me too,” I muttered.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up any bad memories.”
“It’s fine,” I assured him, shaking my head.
“So, what’s up with you and Ivo?” Sapphire changed the subject.
“Absolutely nothing,” I told him, reaching for the glass of orange juice he’d poured. “There is something I need to talk to you about though.” I took a sip and prepared myself for the conversation.
“What’s up?” Sapphire lifted his eyes off his plate and chewed slowly.
“Well, I’m working, as you know, but it’s not enough. I want to get us a bigger place, I need a car, and I know you need things too.”
“I told you I could get a job?—”
“I don’t want you to do that, Sap. I want you to focus on school and basketball. That is your ticket to college. So I’ve decided to do something.”
“Something like what?”
“I’m going to become a surrogate.”
