Page 17 of Out of Bounds
“And I can do that,” she conferred. “Wanna do something that’ll take your mind off things?”
“Something like what?”
“We can fuck his shit up. Or… We can go get drunk.”
“As much as I want to spiral, I don’t want my kids to walk into a mess. I am, however, down for a few drinks.”
“Then it’s settled.” She hopped up from the couch. “Let’s go get fucked up!”
“Nooooo…” Koya drawled. “We’re not going anywhere. The last thing we need is to be photographed out.I can DoorDash some liquor, and we can hang here.”
“No fun.” I pouted, knowing everything she said was right. “I’m not even in the mood to be around a bunch of people.”
“Exactly. I’ll order a bunch of stuff for us to enjoy here.”
“Thank y’all.” I smiled. “Genuinely, thank you guys for showing up.”
Grabbing my hand, Jream gave it a light squeeze. “We’re your family, Masai. We will always show up for you.”
Koya and Jream coming over was the distraction I needed, even if it was only temporary. I needed this because the silence in the house was depressing, and at some point, I had to stop crying. I needed to pick up the pieces and figure out my next move. This interruption of my slope into depression was necessary. My girls had given me a moment to breathe in the sphere I’d created with no air since discovering what Kreed had done.
That moment of solace came to an end when it was time for me to pick up my kids. I’d promised Maddie Claire that I was coming to get them this morning, and I didn’t want to let them down. It had been four days since my husband’s infidelity was brought into the light, and I was still in my feelings. My night with Jream and Koya gave me a little reprieve, but the minute they left, the silence was back, and so was the ache and airless bubble.
I’d allowed myself to suffer long enough. It was time for me to put my ill feelings aside and bring my kids home. Using my old key, I unlocked the door to my mom’s home and pushed it opened. Charleigh Anne was coming down the hallway, and once she spotted me, she took off running in my direction.
“Mommy!” she yelled.
When she was within arm’s reach, I picked her up and spun her around. “Boo boo… I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you more. Nana said you wasn’t coming until later.”
“I know, but I missed you guys so much, I decided to cut my day short.” Placing her on the ground, I peppered kisses on her cheeks. “Where’s your sisters?”
“Outside. Nana sent me inside for Kree’s iPad.”
“Go ahead and grab it. I’m gonna go see everybody.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Smoothing out my shirt, I sighed before going out back with the rest of the gang. One by one, my girls ran up to me. The first ten minutes of my arrival were filled with them telling me how much they’d missed me. They were asking for Kreed and wondering if I was taking them home. The innocence of their longing to be with their parents tugged at my heart, but I kept a brave face and said what was needed to keep the energy high. After answering all of their questions, I grabbed my baby boy off the ground and held him in my arms. Sitting in the chair next to my mother, I watched the girls turning flips in the grass.
“What was it?” my mom asked from beside me. “You caught him cheating?”
“I didn’t catch him. She came to me.”
“Umph.” She huffed. “How bad is it?”
“A little boy named Kreed Jr. Six months old.”
“That bad, huh?” she speculated.
“That bad.” I nodded.
“How you feeling ’bout all of it?”
“I’m numb, for starters.”
“That’s to be expected. You just found out your husband cheated and produced an outside child. The bigger question is, are you staying?”
