Mentally exhausted, I didn’t want to deal with Quincey and more of his false promises to handle his shit.
TWENTY
Tunk
I rubbed Johnni’s back while she lay on my chest. I didn’t sleep at all. The shit last night let me know the secret he had on her was heavy on her mind, which I hated. Lourdè didn’t need any more stress.
I leaned my face into her wild hair, inhaling deeply.
“I don’t want to go home yet, Chief,” she whined while planting soft kisses on my chest.
“You are home, baby. And good, because you’re never going back to that place,” I said lowly. I knew she could hear me but she didn’t respond so I repeated myself.
“Lou, I’m serious. How I look havingmypregnant woman in another situation like last night or worse, another shooting? It’s clear that nigga don’t give a fuck about you. Yet again he knew some shit went down and his only concern was him and this fuck ass election. I can’t send you back to him.”
I felt a tear drop on my chest before the sniffles came.
“Courtland, I know, but I have to go back.”
“No the hell you don’t. As a matter of fact, you can’t. I can put you somewhere safe if staying here is too much.”
“All my stuff is there for my pageant, Courtland.” That was her only response.
“Either I go get it or your mother-in-law brings it, but you’re not going back.”
“Okay.” I was glad she didn’t fight me on this.
“Speaking of the baby, shouldn’t we be making the first appointment?”
“About that, instead of a regular doctor, I’ve decided on a midwife and a doula. That way I can keep all this quiet for now. Privacy is a big thing. Hollis found them for me. My first meeting with them is next week.” I nodded, accepting that. She lifted, heading for the bathroom with her body completely bare. I lay there admiring her body as her ass jiggled. That was my motivation to hop up, moving behind her to join the shower party.
An hour later we were packing up to head to the Keys. Lourdè said she needed a real mental break and to get as far away as this pageant would allow her, which meant a staycation at the beach house that I had to clear with Lando of course.
“Ooh, Chief, can we please stop and get food?”
“Is it for you or the baby?” I asked jokingly as we made our way down the road.
“If I say the baby, will you stop?” I laughed, shaking my head.
“No, Lou. I’ma stop for both.” I grabbed her hand, kissing the back as she blushed.
After stopping and getting her food, we made it to the ferry where I watched her go to work on her biscuit that she covered in hot sauce and honey. I chuckled to myself because Johnni wasn’t even paying attention, her only focus was on finishing her food that she made look so damn good.
“Can I get some?” Of course she nodded, holding the biscuit out so I could get a bite.
I leaned over and stole a kiss in the process, tasting the sweet and spicy mixture on her tongue, loving the flavor.
She looked at me with wide eyes. I wasn’t worried since I knew he couldn’t see inside.
“Courtland! My mouth was full, baby.”
“Woman, so was mine. I don’t give a damn about that. You remember the rules up here. Kisses at stops and red lights.” That had her laughing as she shook her head but put her lips back on mine.
We gotto the beach house in no time, with me getting her settled in before I had to return to the mainland to get everything else we needed and doing the pickup of her pageant stuff from Mrs. Steph. She agreed with Lourdè getting away for a little while after the shit last night.
For her to be his mother, the love she had for Lourdè always made me smile. I could tell it was genuine. Then my mind wondered if she knew about her son and that was why she went so hard for her.
Shit, probably. I mean moms be knowing shit, right?
