Page 38 of You Make Me Feel

He stood from the bed before I could respond and left the room. I was momentarily confused until he returned with a bottle of water. He had absolutely nothing to apologize for. After gulping the bottle he gave me, I dropped the towel to the floor and turned to him. “You have nothing to apologize for. Are you pleased?”

His eyebrows lifted. I assumed he was in shock with my response. “Baby, I’m beyond pleased.”

He gently caressed my cheek, and I closed my eyes. I wasn’t the least bit upset with the way he handled me. With what he was doing for me and my unborn child, I’d sacrifice my throat repeatedly if that was what he wanted. I opened my eyes, and he leaned in and kissed my lips. “That won’t happen again, baby.”

“Don’t stifle or restrain your desires, Oliver. I’m here for you just like you’re here for me. You’re falling for me, and I feel like it’s only a matter of time before I fall for you too.”

“Damn, baby. Don’t ever sacrifice your desires for me, either. Honestly, I didn’t expect us to get so serious so soon, but I’m not upset about it. Now, I know you’re hungry. We’ve worked up quite an appetite.”

“Yes. I’m starving. Then I need to rest up for work in the morning. I need to call my sister before she calls me like I intentionally left her out. Ramsey too.”

“Well, definitely clue sister-in-law in.”

I smiled hard. Oliver had won the fucking prize. This man was everything I wanted and needed, plus some. I just hoped nothing between us changed.

* * *

Life couldn’t get any better. I was packing a bag to go to Houston with Oliver for All-Star Weekend. It had been a week since we told my family about the pregnancy, and they were all accepting. Kiana had screamed so loud she had to have burst my eardrum. She was planning pregnancy massages, stomach paintings, and all kinds of bullshit for pregnant women. I told her I wasn’t even showing to be doing all that, but she wouldn’t hear it.

She even asked to talk to Oliver. He chuckled nearly the entire time he was on the phone. Ki could be so over the top when it concerned me. She got excited about the littlest things. Just her finding out that Oliver and I were a couple had produced a scream out of her. I could only roll my eyes in response to all that overacting she was doing. When I finally ended the call with her, I wanted a drink to calm my nerves.

However, after we’d eaten, Oliver made love to me again and put me to sleep. I loved it when he spent the night with me. I slept so much better in his arms than alone in the cold bed. Us moving in together was sounding better and better. Most times, he was at my place until I fell asleep anyway. Since he had a house, moving in with him would make more sense.

The people that lived next to me would probably be glad to get rid of my ass. I was extremely vocal during sex. I enjoyed it so much that I needed my man to know how much. Unfortunately for my neighbors, most times, that came out as screams.

My cell phone rang as I put my makeup in my bag with a throwback jersey dress. It was probably Ki. She’d been checking on me every day since I told her of my pregnancy. I picked it up and saw that it was Jarod. While my heart told me to ignore the call, my mind told me to answer and curse him the fuck out. I followed my mind. “Hello?”

“I don’t guess you gathered the nerve to out me like you said you would.”

“Is that why you didn’t go to church last Sunday? You was scared, nigga?”

“Kinisha, I know you’re miserable and just trying to make my life as miserable as yours.”

“Actually, I’m in a great place, muthafucka. If you haven’t noticed, I haven’t contacted you in nearly two weeks. You know why? Because I don’t have time for weak-ass boys who don’t know how to handle their responsibilities. I will raise my baby in love without you. You will be the one missing out on the reward. So don’t fucking call me again. Matter of fact, I’m blocking your pathetic ass.”

I ended the call before he could respond, then noticed Oliver standing in the doorway. He was staring at me with a deep frown, and for some reason, I got extremely nervous. Just that quickly, I was sweating under my breasts. I cleared my throat and said, “Hey.”

He gave me a head nod before asking, “Did you call him?”

“No. He called me. I’m blocking his number so he can no longer contact me.”

“I hate hearing how he disrespects you. I’m sorry if my frown made you think I was angry at you. That nigga just ignites my crazy when it concerns you.”

“He’s a waste of time, energy, and skin. I hate that I fell to my lustful desires concerning him.”

“You don’t think he’ll change his mind about wanting to be in the baby’s life?”

“He better not. Can we get him to sign something that terminates his rights? I mean, he says the baby isn’t his, so he shouldn’t have a problem signing it, right?”

“Right. I believe you can have him sign an affidavit of voluntary relinquishment of parental rights and file it with the court. I won’t have to adopt him since I’m signing the birth certificate, and he’ll have my last name. At least, I don’t think I will.”

“Maybe we need to research the issue just in case we need it,” I suggested.

“Yeah. You about ready?”

“Almost. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to cuss his ass out.”

Oliver slowly shook his head and left the room. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. I was hoping he wasn’t upset with me for answering the call. We’d been doing so well, without even a minor disagreement. His getting acquainted with my family Sunday was the icing on the cake. He and Lazarus talked quite a bit, and I was happy they seemed to hit it off.

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