“I fucking love you.” I planted kisses up her shoulder until I reached her neck.
“Mmm, I love you too.” She replied. “Now I have to go and freshen up again. Got me smelling like sex and shit.” She shookher head lazily and I smacked her ass before she bent over to pull her pants up, jumping to get all that ass inside them.
Pride filled me as I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth. She was already thick, that baby weight was stacking right on top of her curves. She was lucky she was already pregnant, because I damn sure could have just put another one in there.
“Aye, that scent ain’t always bad.” I teased.
“I will drop Ivy off and see you later.” I watched her rush out of the room while fixing my pants.
Yeah, I was marrying that girl, fuck what anybody thought. I had let opportunities slip past me before and regretted it. I wasn’t about to let that happen with me and Harbor. I watched them leave the house on the monitor, Ivy screaming goodbye throughout the walls of the home. They got into Harbor’s car and drove off, with Deviance right behind them, doing his fucking job.
Feeling content, I went to shower and get my own shit ready for the day. I hadn’t seen Celine in a few days and when I walked past her room, I swear I heard crying or some shit. I was on my way out, but I had time to stop and chop it up with her. I had a few things on my mind since overhearing her conversation with Kut, but I had let the shit go because I had to deal with Harbor and the shit with Ledge. Tapping on her door, I heard her sniffle, and then she cracked the door and stared out at me.
“Aye, what’s going on? What’s wrong with you?” I questioned.
“Nothing.” She lied, eyes falling to the ground.
I brought my hand to the door, pushing it back gently, backing her off. The room was dark thanks to her shades being drawn. She had been drinking, and her eyes were bloodshot when she gaped back at me somberly.
“What’s going on with you?” I asked, facing her with worry.
“Nothing. Just… taking a little break from life.” Celine answered, throwing her hands up.
She was drunk right now. I was only sure about that because I had never known her to come undone, ever.
“Celine, the fuck is this? This ain’t you. What’s going on?” I questioned, staring around her room, which was a mess.
On the bed she had a box with the lid off. There were pictures scattered about, and I was drawn to them. I grabbed a few, noticing that a lot of them were of us from my childhood. We were at birthday parties, holiday activities, and even a few school ceremonies and basketball games since I played. Frowning, I sifted through a lot of them, my childhood playing before my eyes as I soaked in the details. Some of these photos, especially of me when I was younger, I had never even seen before. Celine brought her glass of vodka to her lips and gulped while I took a seat on the edge of her bed.
“What is all this?” I questioned.
“Memories.” She answered simply.
“Some of these I don’t even remember.” I muttered.
“You were little, that was the point.” She countered, and I brought my eyes up to meet hers.
“What happened with you and Kut?” My question froze her mid sip.
She kept the glass up and managed to swallow before lowering it in front of her.
“I heard y’all that night of my birthday. I know something went down, and I know that you and my mother have never liked each other, but Kut still kept you around.”
“Your mother.” Celine laughed to herself and scoffed. “Some mother, right? I mean… what did she ever do for you besides enable Kutlass in everything he put all of you kids through? You all were like accessories to that woman, something she couldtake off and put back on whenever the fuck she felt like it.” Bitterness dripped from every word, and that wasn’t like Celine.
“What’s this about, Celine?” I asked, dropping the pictures at my side and studying her as she slowly paced in front of me.
“Nothing. Don’t you have somewhere to be? Your life is picking up. You have priorities, and you’re building something that your father never could or would. That’s all that matters here, my boy.”
“I’m not about to leave you up here obviously upset either. So talk to me.”
“I can’t.” She adamantly shook her head.
Another photo had slipped to the ground, just beneath my foot. When I looked at it, I was taken back. Reaching between my legs, I grabbed it and examined it. Celine was young as fuck, but I would recognize that face anywhere. She was smiling, and her hand rested on a very large bump. I didn’t know why, but my pulse went crazy. Hollowness filled my stomach, like it had dropped. Tilting my head, I wondered about the photo, including who took it since it seemed to be our house. Holding it up for her to see, tears instantly mounted in her eyes.
“What’s this?” I asked.
She stepped forward, reaching for it, but I held it away from her. Desperation lit up her troubled eyes. Furrowing my brows, I brought myself to my feet.
