“Can I be honest with you?” He broke the comfortable silence we were having. I nodded, encouraging him to go on. “I wantwhat PJ is having right now. With Saphir, I wasn’t there because Brooke and I had a complicated situation. Although we weren’t together, I would have loved going to the doctor’s appointments, helping her through labor, hell... even taking them cheesy-ass maternity pics so Blue could look back on them.”
I giggled lightly as my eyes gravitated to Brit and Priest’s maternity photos that were mounted up on the wall of the nursery. They were breathtaking; however, Priest’s mean ass was smiling like it hurt. I just knew Britain got on his case and forced him to smile.
“I’m saying all that to say, I hope we on the same page still. I wanna give you enough time to get back to yourself and pursue your dreams, but I don’t wanna lose sight of the picture we’re painting together. At the end of the day—for me—this the goal.” He gestured around the nursery.
I hung up the last set of baby clothes I had in my hand before wrapping my arms around his neck. “It’s the goal for me too, baby. I know I wasn’t aligning with everything we planned together in the beginning, but that was because I was running off fear. I’m not telling you I want a baby just to appease you or for your forgiveness after the abortion. I genuinely want to have your children, Ahkeem. You’re the love of my life. I wish every day that we didn’t lose our baby from the crash and kidnapping. I was ready, and things would have been perfect.”
My eyes scorched, and tears were threatening to fall. I always tried to keep it together when talking about my miscarriage, but whenever I had the conversation with Ahkeem, I just couldn’t help but feel extra vulnerable. Everything was perfect. I had finally come to terms with what I wanted. Ahkeem forgave me for the abortion I had years ago. We discussed plans for the future, and I decided to take a step back from Club Reign. Everything was falling in line. Then we got hit with a fucking curveball.
Although Giselle and now Silas were dead, the thought of them caused a level of hatred to surge within me, a level I didn’t think was even possible. I lost more than my fucking car that was totaled on the road. Ahkeem and I lost our baby, and that hurt me to my core.
“We still got time to get things right.” He wiped my tears before pecking my lips. “They sprinkled their baby dust on us. We up next, Lovey.”
He always sought an opportunity to be lighthearted whenever conversations got heavy because he knew I didn’t like getting in my feelings too much. I dapped him up with a laugh. “We up next, baby!”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
AHKEEM
The processof closing on the house in Staten Island went smooth. We decided to keep the penthouse in the city just so we would have a spot out there to lean on instead of committing to the long-ass drive to Staten Island when we didn’t want to. Shit was really on the up and up. Business was fucking booming. I had my hands on each and every block in the city after knocking Silas’ bitch ass off.
Once word got back that Silas had been popped in his fucking hospital bed, a little part of me was expecting some static out in the city, but shit was quiet. Whoever knew what the fuck went down knew my actions were warranted, and with the leverage I had, wasn’t nobody gonna test me. I was glad that I could offer my wife a sense of peace by assuring her I handled all the shit that was once being hurled at us. After everything she went through this year, she fucking deserved to live happily without having to look over her shoulder constantly.
I bit down on my bottom lip as I stepped into the room. Jazzlyn had her stylist zipping her up into the Mugler dress that she ran around all over the city for. Seeing her fitted in the dress made all the running around she did worth it. She looked likemoney with her hair styled in a beautiful up-do and her flawless makeup.
“I gotta be the luckiest man on Earth.” I smirked as I leaned against the threshold of the door.
She looked down at herself while smoothing her hands over her curves. “You like?”
“I love it. Lovey, you look so fucking good.”
“Doesn’t she?” her stylist Derek piped in with a proud smile.
“Yeah, nigga, your little fee ain’t too bad if you make sure my wife look this good all the time.” I tapped his chest. Derek played for the other team, so my little light tap had him acting like I punched his ass right in the chest.
Jazzlyn busted out laughing and apologized to him. “I appreciate it, Derek. I’ll be sure to send you lots and lots of pictures. “
“Pleasure is all mine, darling.” He kissed Jazzlyn on both of her cheeks. “Mr. Hendrix, I have this amazing Prada suit that would look great on you,” he turned to me and said, trying to get hired again.
I chuckled. “Derek, get yo ass on. It look like I need a stylist? I put that shit on every time.” I smoothed my hands over my stone-gray suit and expensive overcoat I pulled from my closet.
“I know that’s right, baby!” Jazzlyn gassed me with a clap of her hands. “My man looks so fucking good.”
“Well, excuse me. You do look sharp,” Derek gave me my props.
“‘Preciate it, Derek. Don’t worry. You still gone get my money. You do right by my baby.” I dropped a kiss on Jazzy’s lips.
She thanked Derek once more before she walked him out. Time was ticking, and we had to make that lengthy-ass drive to the city. Why we decided to stay in the new house in StatenIsland when we both knew she was gonna make us late was beyond me.
Tonight was the grand opening to Bar Remedy NYC. Kross handed my baby the impossible, and she made it fucking happen. The late nights, stress, and hard work all paid off. I got the pleasure of doing a walk-through of the spot before the grand opening, and it looked fucking amazing. They upheld the color scheme of Bar Remedy Miami with sultry hues of red, black and gold giving the perfect grown and sexy vibe.
With Bar Remedy, Jazzy was showing everybody she could step out of her element and expand her brand. Club Reign was a turn up club, while Bar Remedy was more upscale and for the grown folks. The fact that she could garner a guaranteed crowd for both just proved whatever she put her hands on turned into absolute greatness.
“Okay, we have to head out. I didn’t know I was this behind.”
“Baby, you always late. I think if you were on time, motherfuckas would be concerned,” I teased her as I rested my hands on her sides.
She smacked her lips. “Always being shady.”
