Page 23 of Typa
However, after telling him I loved him too, he’d been texting me every day. That was something I probably should have continued to keep to myself. It was just hard to after seeing his words of love. My heart couldn’t stay hard toward him, especially since I knew he was no longer the same man he was when he sent those people for my brother. He was so much better than he was then.
Finally looking away from him, I saw my dad staring at me. I did my best to avoid his gaze. I just wanted him to understand how hard this was for me. He knew I was soft-hearted. It would have been different if I hadn’t already established a relationship with Mythic. I didn’t hold grudges. The only people I would probably hold grudges with were already dead. My sisters were totally different. Bali and Noni hadn’t been talking to their boyfriends because of their connection to Mythic. They had nothing to do with what Mythic did, but because they wouldn’t disown him for what he did to Seven, they’d stopped fucking with them so heavy.
Noni was following Bali’s lead with this one. I tried talking some sense into them, but they refused to hear me out. For them, since it was fuck Mythic, it was fuck everybody associated with him too. I took a deep breath as Ashanni sat down. She grabbed my hand and asked, “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I replied, training my gaze on my new cowboy boots.
“Maui?”
I looked up at her, and she brought her hand to my cheek and gently stroked it with her thumb. The lump in my throat elevated, threatening to choke the hell out of me. I released a couple of tears and swallowed hard. Seeing him was even harder than texting him. After I sent the voice memo, he’d sent one back. Hearing the emotion in his voice took me over the edge and I’d started cramping. Laying in the fetal position and taking deep breaths seemed to help me get through it.
“I know you miss him.”
She rubbed my little pooch. I was almost fourteen weeks, and my belly was noticeable when I wore fitted clothing. Today, I wore a fitted shirt. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths as I felt the cramps coming on. When I felt someone grab my hand, I opened my eyes to see Bali next to me.
“You cramping?”
“Yeah.”
“You are already dilated a centimeter. We need to get you home. I should have never let you talk me into allowing you to come out here. Let’s go.”
I nodded, because I knew she was right. “I’m sorry. Y’all are going to miss everything.”
“I don’t care about everything else. I care about you,” she said, bringing tears to my eyes.
When I saw my daddy standing there, I knew he was about to pick me up. I glanced over to where Mythic was and saw him standing, watching us. My daddy scooped me up from the seat and walked up the stairs. Before he could fully turn me around, I could see Mythic making his way through the crowd of people. I buried my face in Daddy’s shirt, and said, “Thank you, Daddy Mayor.”
He kissed the top of my head. When we got to the top where all the concessions were, I saw Mythic running toward us. I didn’t know how he was managing with his arm like that, but he was making it work until someone bumped into it. He cringed, but that didn’t stop him. When he caught up to us, my daddy frowned. The twins blocked us as he said, “I just wanna make sure she’s okay. That’s it. I swear.”
They looked back at me, and I nodded. When they stepped aside, he stepped closer to us and nodded at my daddy. Daddy Mayor didn’t make the slightest movement to acknowledge him. The only reason I knew they were allowing this was because thiswas his baby I was carrying. I also knew they knew how much I still loved him.
He slid his hand over my stomach and tears fell down his cheeks. “Calm down for Mommy, baby. You giving her a hard time. We want you to be healthy and full term.”
A couple of tears escaped me as my daddy said, “You the one giving her a hard time by that shit you did.”
Mythic stared up at him, but he didn’t say a word in his defense. He stared back at me and gently swiped the tears from my cheeks. “I love you. Please let me know how you’re feeling later.”
My dad walked away, leaving him standing there watching us. My cramps had only gotten worse. While he was rubbing my belly, they seemed to ease a bit, but the minute we walked away, they intensified. When we got to Bali’s SUV, I noticed someone approaching us. When my daddy slid me on the back seat, I noticed it was Shaydon. He got inside with me, pulling my feet to his lap.
Bali and Noni got in the front seat. Just as I was about to lie flat in the seat, I saw Mythic watching us. There was a frown on his face. I could imagine he’d seen Shaydon. That was all I needed. I lay down and closed my eyes as my cramps persisted. A small moan left my lips as Bali said, “We’re going to the hospital. I’m not about to chance taking this five-hour drive until I know you can handle it.”
I couldn’t respond to her. I knew she just wanted to be sure I was okay. However, I knew the moment I opened my mouth, cries would fall from it and make this even worse. Shaydon gently pulled off my boots and began rubbing my feet, doing his best to soothe me. I opened my eyes and stared at him as he stared right back. He lifted my foot and sniffed it and turned his lip up, making me smile. Proving that he was only playing, he kissed the top of it, although I had a sock on.
My cheeks heated as he leaned over and moved my braid from my face. His gaze was intoxicating, but I refused to get caught up. When I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, I pulled it out to see a message from Mythic. Something told me not to open it, but I did.
I guess that’s your new nigga.
I took a deep breath and released it, then slid the phone back in my pocket. Placing my hands on my belly, I gently rubbed it in circles, praying that everything would be okay. My baby deserved the best version of me. I needed him or her to know I was doing my best to make sure I gave birth to a healthy baby that was as close to full-term as possible. Noni turned around and handed me some water and two Tylenol. I just felt like with as much trouble as I was having, I wouldn’t make it to thirty-six weeks, let alone forty.
Shaydon squeezed my foot, getting my attention. He extended his hand to help me sit up. I downed the Tylenol with the water she gave me, and he took it from me, screwing the cap back on. “Try to relax as much as possible, baby girl.”
I gave him a tight smile and noticed Noni staring at me with a one-cheeked smile. She could smile all she wanted. Shaydon and I were only friends. Before turning in her seat, she said, “Ashanni and Asad are going to meet us there.”
I nodded. I hoped they didn’t keep me in the hospital all the way out here in Fort Worth. Choosing to close my eyes, I thought about Mythic. Seeing the tears falling down his cheeks did nothing for my anxiety. He was hurting as much as I was, if not more. He didn’t cry in front of people. Just knowing that sank me lower. When I felt Shaydon’s hand on mine, I grabbed it, needing the consolation he was offering. I would have to deal with Mythic’s insecurities later. I had a baby to protect.
When I felt the vehicle coming to a stop, I opened my eyes. I could see the red lights from the emergency room sign. “What hospital are we at?”
“Why? So you can text that nigga?” Bali asked.
