She stepped into my embrace and held on to me. I could feel the love through her hug.
“Mmm, how was class?” I questioned, looking her up and down and pinching her cheek gently.
She hated it, but I couldn’t help it because she still had that adorable baby fat in her cheeks, and I wasn’t so sure how long that was going to be there since she was growing up so fast.
“Good. You about ready to show me some new moves?” Her dark eyes playfully searching mine.
“Umm, not quite. These two got my hands full these days.” I pointed out her brother and sister. “And the only thing you should be worried about right now is this birthday party.”
Luckily, I had shoved her gifts into the big birthday bag I got, so she wasn’t able to see anything. Misa stirred in the crib, and Ivy went right over to check on her.
“I am betting she is either hungry or wet.” Ivy knelt to scoop her into her arms. “I’ll go check for a bottle.”
She fled the room, leaving thick tension between me and Free. I barely glanced at him, clearing my throat. I went for the gifts in the bag so that I could tuck them into a nearby closet. Free walked around to the couch and settled with our son on the sofa.
“What’s good, son? Yo’ mama still on that bullshit, huh?” he asked teasingly.
Maze cooed in response, and it was the most-adorable thing as he gave his father a half smile. I stood at his side, and he reached for my hand.
“I miss you.” His tone was soft, and his thumb gently caressed the top of my hand.
A surge of heat spread through me like wildfire, right through my chest. He gave my arm a gentle tug and pulled me down into the sofa beside him. Plopping into the cushions, our arms and legs touched I was sitting so close. Maze’s little face wrinkled up as he yawned.
“How are things at the house?” I queried, fidgeting with my hands.
“Terrible,” he answered. “Ivy and Celine keep an attitude with a nigga. Celine told me to fix this. That’s what I’m trying to do.”
“It’s not that simple.” I reached for Maze’s little hand, and he gripped it in his fingers tightly.
Studying his face, you couldn’t tell me that God and love weren’t real. This was as cosmic as it got.
“Have you spoken to Ivana?” I queried, locking eyes with this man that I had grown to love beyond the capacity that I thought my heart could.
He had stolen a piece of it, and even now, not being on the same page, it was still very present. Another man would never be able to claim that part of me.
“Me and Ledge been working on some shit. I haven’t had the time to really talk to her about anything. Been spending most of my time in my own head. Shit for the party started arriving. Celine thought since you planned everything you could bring the twins out to oversee shit.” Hopefully, his enchanting orbs burned into mine.
“I guess it makes sense,” I mumbled. “I’ll get the kids dressed and head over.”
“I can stick around, drive y’all over,” he suggested, turning Maze in his arms and holding him out in front of himself so that he could get a good look at his face.
Watching him in daddy mode was amazing. I didn’t know what he was like with Ivy, but he was very attentive and in tune to our children’s needs.
“I’ll go get some things together and meet you downstairs. Did you get car seats?” I questioned.
“I did, two brand-new ones already locked in my whip,” he answered, bouncing his leg with Maze.
“OK, be right back.”
Within minutes, we were off to the house. Celine welcomed me with open arms, and she and Ivy immediately took the twins off my hands. There were trucks pulling up one after the other. There was a scavenger hunt set up and a mini carnival. The rides included a Ferris wheel, bumper cars, a dunk tank, and pretty much anything you could find at a carnival to ride on. It was just in mini form. Overwhelming at first, but once the crew that was coming to set up everything knew what to do and where to put everything, it all fell into place. The caterers were in the kitchen setting everything up, and Ivy entertained her baby brother and sister while also getting ready for the party.
Julani put together a rack of designer dresses for her. She was even going to give her a light beat and style her hair. Frequency had paid enough for everything, and he stood around watching them cover his estate with rides and games and he barely flinched. Once everything was set with her black, yellow, and white color theme, I stood in the kitchen in my black shorts, and floral quarter-sleeve top tucked into them. My sandals were wedges because there was no way I was about to go around in heels all damn day.
Standing near the table where her five-tier cake was set up, I admired each layer, covered in yellow icing with black and white ornaments. At the top was a large gold embossed number thirteen. Beside it was also a tower of cupcakes to match and I smiled to myself. Everything was perfect. I checked the time on my ladies’ Rolex, and I could see that it was almost show time. The guests would start arriving at any moment now. Stepping back, I used my phone to snap a few pictures of the cake so that I could post them later to my Instagram page. I was about as excited as Ivy was about this event.
“Damn, did you rent the entire carnival?” Chevy teased, parading into the room with two large bags, one in each hand.
Ledge was right behind her, and the kids tailed him.They ran right past both of their parents so that they could go check out the yard.
