Page 74 of Out of Bounds
“I’m on the way, Kreed.”
“Bet.”
Hanging up the phone, I tossed it to the side and threw a fit. “What’s wrong, baby? You need to go?”
“Yeah. Duty calls. My baby is sick.”
“Life of a parent.”
“Right.” Leaning over, I pecked his lips. “I’m gonna shower so I can get ready to leave. I’m sorry.”
“You’re a mom, Masai. It’s normal.”
“Thank you for being understanding.” I slid out of bed and grabbed my overnight bag from the floor. I hated to cut my time with Lamar short. I was really enjoying it and him, but like he said, the life of a parent required you to be available twenty-four seven. When duty called, I had no choice but to report.
“Thank God!”I groaned and pulled open the front door for Masai. “His lil’ ass been shitting up a storm.”
She passed me the Walgreens bag and asked, “Where is he?”
“In the room. I just changed his diaper and put him back in bed.” Shutting the door behind her, I locked it and set the alarm.
“What did y’all eat?”
“Shit… some fucking hibachi, and his ass only had vegetables and some chicken.”
“It was probably the broccoli.” Masai laughed. Kicking her shoes off by the door, she tiptoed through the house and up the stairs to my bedroom. When she pushed the door open, she hesitated before venturing further into the room. I had both Kree and KJ in the room with me, so I’m sure that was the reason for her pausing.
Grabbing Kree up from the bed, she cradled him in her arms. “My poor baby.”
“Your poor baby? Nigga, poor me. I been up and down with his ass all night.”
“I bet.” She laughed. Slipping into my bed beside KJ, Masai rested her back against my headboard and placed Kree across her lap. “Is KJ fine?” she questioned after he stirred beside her.
“I think so. Shit… he ain’t shitted yet.”
“It might be a domino effect, so just keep an eye out for him.”
I was getting ready to grab KJ out of the bed and put him in his crib when Masai leaned over and picked him up. Holding him to her chest, she veered back and peered down at him. “He looks just like Kree.”
“I know,” I mumbled timidly. This was the first time she’d held him. I wasn’t worried about her doing some shit to him, but I was worried about her. She was holding the very thing that had been responsible for our divorce. I didn’t know if she was about to start crying or what. “I can get him.”
“He’s okay.” She shook her head. She smiled down at him a few seconds before sniffing his head. “I miss that fresh baby smell.”
“You aight?”
She looked up at me. “Yeah. Why you ask that?”
Tipping my head at KJ, I added, “’Cause, uhh…”
“Boy!” She laughed. “This baby ain’t did nothing to me.”
“I hear you. What’s in that bag you brought?”
“Pedialyte and some Imodium A-D, but to be honest, we should let whatever run its course. It’s probably nothing.”
“It’s more than nothing. I done went through like eight diapers,” I said, ready to have Kree drink the whole bottle of Pedialyte. “His lil’ ass been lighting my room the fuck up.”
“You a lie.”
