Page 36 of Out of Bounds
“Let me get them to my house and settled. Tell Sai I’ll hit her up later.”
“Will do.” She smiled before sauntering away.
Cracking my knuckles, I craned my neck from side to side before pulling open the driver’s side door. It was now or never.
Four sets of eyes stared back at me in bewilderment. Aurora was confused as hell. I could easily spot that because her mouth was slightly ajar and she was just there—watching. Sophie was steadily watching me, too, but at least I could tell that she understood a little of what I’d just explained.
Maddie Claire and Charleigh Anne’s eyes were filled with tears. When I got them back to my place, I tried to soften the blow with pizza and a game of Uno. That worked for a little bit until Kreed woke up and started crying. His presence led to Sophie asking why he had my name and how was he their brother. I’d explained to them that Mommy and Daddy were separated because Daddy made a mistake, which resulted in a baby brother who didn’t come from their mom. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for somebody to ask me anything. The four of them were just there, still staring.
“Bug… You got any questions?”
Maddie Claire shook her head and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. It was Charleigh Anne who broke the awkward silence. “I want my mommy,” she finally cried out.
“Shit.” Getting up from my chair, I ambled toward the couch they sat on and pulled her to her feet. “Baby girl, tell me what you’re feeling,” I begged. “Whatever it is, I can take it.”
“I want my mommy,” she cried harder. I’m guessing the other three felt the same way because shortly thereafter, they started crying too.
Masai ’bout to curse me the fuck out.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I walked away and dialed her number.
“Hello,” she answered in a whisper.
I knew she’d gone back to work today, and I hated to do this, but I low-key needed her help. I guess I was taking too long to respond because she asked, “Kreed, is everything okay?”
“Nawl, Sai. I need you to come over to the house, please. The girls are crying and asking for you.”
She sighed. “Damnit, Kreed. I’m on the way.” Masai ended the call quickly.
I went back into the living room, where the girls were huddled up on the sofa, holding onto each other. I felt like shit. I thought for sure it was going to go better than this. I kept trying to get Maddie Claire to say something, but every time I spoke to her, the harder she cried. Eventually, I gave up trying and just sat there, waiting for their mom to show up.
It took Masai thirty minutes to get to the crib. When she walked through the door, the first thing out of her mouth was, “Where my kids at, Kreed?”
I scrubbed my hands down my face and pointed. “In the living room.”
Masai looked me up and down before sauntering away from the door. When she made it to where they were, she took one look at the girl’s face and broke down in tears. I’d gotten them to stop crying, but now that she was here, their faces were full of tears once again.
“Mommy, he cheated, and now we have a brother.”
“Yes, Bug,” she confirmed Maddie Claire’s analysis of what I’d told them.
“Is that why we don’t live together anymore?”
“Yes, Bug.”
“I don’t want to be here. I wanna go home,” Maddie Claire spoke up and began to weep again.
“You can’t leave, Bug. Your dad wants to spend time with you. He wants you to meet your baby brother.”
“I don’t want a baby brother!” Charleigh Anne fretted. “I already got one. We don’t need two!”
“Can we at least give your father a chance?” she asked and tossed her eyes over to me. “Can you girls at least do that for me?” she pleaded.
Sophie and Aurora both nodded while Maddie and Charleigh just stared at me.
Seconds later, Maddie Claire asked, “If we give him a chance, can you take us home to Nana?”
“Let’s just see what he has to say, and if you guys still want to leave, then we can.” Sliding down to the floor beside the sofa, Masai brought her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.
