Unsettled, Kong pushed the door open to her exam room and allowed Ayla to pass. He remained quiet but hyper-focused as his worried thoughts spiraled. She didn’t want him to think she was crazy. So, she got undressed, slipped into a hospital gown, and climbed on a table to wait for the doctor. After her exam, the doctor told Ayla to get dressed and come back so that they could talk before she checked out.
“We’ve run your labs. If anything should come up, I will reach out and have you come in for a follow up.” Dr. Travers skimmed the tablet in her hand and continued to peruse her chart. “From the initial exam, everything looks normal. You’ve healed nicely from delivery, and I don’t have any doubt that you will be able to have more children in the future. You can resume normal activity, workouts, driving, and heavy lifting. If you have any further questions or concerns, I am available at my office number listed on your paperwork. Do you have anything else for me?” she posed, looking up through her black framed glasses.
“Yeah, um… how long before my milk dries up?” Ayla queried.,
“Considering you never nursed, anywhere from two to four weeks. If you are uncomfortable, you can try a different type of bra that can suppress your breasts, ice packs, and pain reliever if you happen to become engorged. Shouldn’t be a problem, though.”
“Thank you.”
“Of course.” The doctor nodded before exiting the room.
Ayla peered down at her paperwork and studied the doctor’s additional notes in her assessment for today. She scribbled at the bottom that she suggested therapy or counseling due to thenature of her situation. She thought she might be at risk for postpartum depression.
“You think I’m crazy, don’t you?” She finally picked her head up and glanced his way.
“I think you’ve been through a lot,” Kong replied, rising from his chair and strolling over to her. “And can’t nobody fault you for that.”
“Not even a professional,” Ayla drawled, eyes rolling before she handed Kong the slip of paper to read.
He skimmed to the bottom and peeped the note the doctor left.
“Look, I don’t give a fuck about all that.” He lowered the paper to his side and inched closer.
Hand on her hip, he pulled her closer. It wasn’t rough, but it was firm. Kong was extra assertive now that she was home. He wasn’t going to miss a beat this time, making sure she came first.
“You tell me what you need. If it’s space, if it’s for me to body any and everybody connected to Mira or that fuck nigga Danilo, Ayla… the fucking moon, baby. I will do whatever to get you that shit. I mishandled you the first time, but God saw fit to bring you back to me. I’m claiming that shit.”
She blinked back tears, looking into his rich amber eyes. He meant every word and his certainty rested in her core.
“Look, Kong, right now… I need time. I don’t know what’s going to happen or how I’m going to feel one moment to the next. I want to bask in this so much, you have no idea… but I also have to learn how to live my life again. For months I was under someone else’s control, not able to even think for myself. I had a baby,” she whispered, choking on her words. “And then I lost him, and that… broke me. I’m not saying that this is over, or that we can’t be friends?—”
“Fuck outta here with that friends shit, Lala.” Kong scoffed and brushed her off before holding her paperwork up.
“What else do you want me to do?”
“I already told you what it is. Do what you gotta do for you.” He leaned in to kiss her forehead before backing up toward the door. “Prime is outside waiting to take you back to Inari’s. I’m going to pick up the kids and spend a little time with them until it’s time for me to work tonight. I’m a dial away. I love you.” He opened the door and strolled out, rattling Ayla.
Blinking in disbelief, her brows furrowed. What the fuck was that? Although Kong still looked the same, moved the same, and even managed to make her heart swoon like it did the first time she laid eyes on him… something was different. He was hands on, open, and very transparent. Now she was the guarded one.
CHAPTER TEN
GROW THROUGH IT
A couple of months later…
Iara lay on her back in her crib, screaming at the top of her lungs when Mozzi stepped into his home. He thought maybe something had happened, so he immediately bolted up the staircase to her nursery to see what was going on. Coast sat on the floor, back against the wall, staring off as if the girl wasn’t going off and raising hell.
“The fuck?” Mozzi rushed to the crib, and the minute Iara saw his face, she stopped and whimpered.
Her little chubby legs paused from the marathon she thought she was running, and she held her arms up for him. Scooping her up, the two clung to each other, and he bounced around the room with her as she got a tight baby grip on his chain. She sniffled and drooled all over his Amiri t-shirt, but he didn’t mind. Her little head fell against his shoulder as if she was relieved.
“Coast, the fuck is wrong with you? Why you sitting there just letting her cry like that?”
“Because she’s spoiled.” She looked into his eyes. “She thinks I’m supposed to sit around holding her all day like you.”
“You foul as fuck for that.” He shook his head and kissed Iara’s forehead while running his fingers through her thick curls.
She was still sniffling in his arms and side eyeing Coast the whole time.
