Page 70 of Juke
“You’re not happy?” I whispered.
His eyes softened while his chest rose with a shaky breath, and then he shook his head quickly. “Am I happy? Lovie, I’m—” his voice cracked as he pulled me into his arms, holding me likeI might disappear. “I’m happy as hell. You just caught me off guard. I’ain never been this fuckin’ happy in my life.”
Hearing him admit he was happy about this baby had me releasing the breath and the tears I was holding before I circled my arms around his neck and buried my face into his chest. He pulled back just enough to look at me, his thumb brushing away the tears sliding down my cheeks.
“We’re about to have a family,” he said low, voice thick. “You’on even know what that means to me.”
I kissed him, slow and lingering, letting the moment sink into both of us. As his lips pressed against mine, I melted into the warmth of his embrace and the unspoken vow between us. I kissed him again, deeper this time, and he rested his forehead against mine, breathing me in like he needed the moment just as much as I did. His hand stayed on my stomach, firm, protective, like he was already claiming what was ours.
For the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel fear pressing in from the outside. I felt safe. I felt wanted.
22
Juke
a few days later…
Sophi’s words kept replaying in my head, over and over, like they were my favorite track. I’d never thought about myself as the family man type. I mean, I had my family, but I never had a father. My pops’ was killed before I was even born, so it was like I couldn’t miss what I never had. The second Sophi blurted out she was pregnant, I knew I wanted it… I wanted her… I wanted this, and there was no question about it.
Even though I was happy about all of this, I knew it came with stronger obligations and responsibilities. The kind that left no room for mistakes. No space for hesitation, and no more waiting around for shit to happen. If I was gonna protect them, I had to make sure the threats circling us were gone for good.
Boom and Rio were my biggest problems, and both them niggas had to go. I thought about Sophi curled up against me the night before with her hand over her stomach like she was already guarding what we’d created. The fear that sometimes flickered in her eyes wasn’t something I was ever gonna let linger, especially not now. I’ve already made that decision before she even told me. Whatever it took… however bloody it got, I was gone make sure nothing ever touched what was mine ever again. I glanced over my shoulder and watched Sophi as she slept. She looked peaceful… finally. She’s been through too much already, and now she’s carrying my child. I couldn’t stop staring at her… at the way her chest rose and fell, or the way her hand rested close to where our future was growing.
I never pictured myself like this. Hell, I figured if I ever had kids, it would’ve been some accident with a woman I didn’t give a fuck about. Sophi was the complete opposite. She was the one I couldn’t turn away from, no matter how much I told myself to keep it casual, and now she’d given me something I didn’t even know I needed. I couldn’t wait to come home and see my family waiting for me to walk through that door. That shit gave me a distinct sense of pride that I couldn’t even explain. That’s why the love I felt came with fire behind it. Loving her, loving this child meant I had no choice but to kill for them. To clear every threat before it could even get close, and I wasn’t gone rest until it was done.
I looked at Sophi again before whispering low, “I love you, shorty. You and the baby. I got y’all… always.” I punctuated my statement with a kiss. She stirred but didn’t wake up. I sat there a little longer, my chest tight with a mix of emotions I couldn’t even grasp. Their future was mine to protect, and God help the ones who think they could take it from me.
I finally pulled myself up off the bed when I heard her shift again. She blinked up at me, hair a little messy, and her eyes still tired from sleep.
“You okay?” she asked, her voice groggy but curious.
“Yeah. Just thinking.” I nodded, leaning down to brush my lips across her forehead.
“About the baby?”
“About everything,” I admitted. I slid down beside her, pulling her against me. “But yeah… mostly the baby. You don’t even know how happy you got me, Lovie.”
“I’m happy too.” She smiled.
I rested my hand on her stomach, my thumb rubbing slow circles. “You good? You feel okay?”
She nodded. “A little tired and nervous, but I’m okay.”
“Baby, you ain’t gotta be nervous,” I said, kissing her cheek. “We’re in this together. Whatever you need, I got you.”
She let out a soft laugh. “You’re already acting like I’m gone be helpless.”
“Not helpless…but you’ll be creating a precious life, so I need you to be as comfortable as possible. So, whatever I have to do to ensure that, then it’s done.”
She tucked herself against my chest before she whispered, “You’re gone be a great dad.”
Her words caught me off guard. For a second, I just stared at the ceiling, letting it sink in. A great dad. That was more than a compliment… it was a responsibility. One I didn’t plan on fuckin’ up.
I kissed the top of her head. “I’ma be the best that I can for you… for the baby… for us.”
We stayed like that, tangled in each other. No outside noise… just me, her, and the thought of a future we were about to build.
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