“I’ll call her back later.”
“No, don’t miss out on a conversation because of me, Mahari. I’ll mind my business.”
Mahari snorted. “Sure, you will. You’ll grasp on to every word we speak, digest it, then ask me about it. I know you very well, Bunny, so I’ll wait.”
“Mmm. She must be someone you’re seeing if you’re not answering around me.”
“She’s just a friend, one I don’t feel like conversing with because I’m with mybestfriend.” Mahari reached over and gently nudged Aspen’s chin with his fist. She swatted it away. “Don’t be like that.”
“I’m not being like anything. I’m just . . . I’m sorry. My frustration with Lance is coming off as me being upset with you.”
“Are you sure that’s what it is?”
Aspen didn’t answer right away. She stared out the window, watching the many buildings pass them by. The thought of Mahari having a girl didn’t sit right with Aspen. While she knew it was selfish of her to think that way, she couldn’t help it. Outside of Denver, Mahari was the one man in her life she knew she could depend on. He never failed to pick up where Lance dropped off, and she’d honestly grown accustomed to it.
Was it right? No.
Did she want it to change? No.
But it wouldn’t be fair to Mahari, so Aspen swallowed her pride and forced a smile before peering at him. “Yes, that’s what it is. You know how your cousin can get underneath my skin.”
“Whose skin doesn’t he get under? I let his ass have it when he called me earlier, asking if I could take you to your appointment. He swore up and down it wouldn’t always be like this.”
“Bullshit. I feel like it’s gotten worse since I’ve been pregnant. He’s only been to one appointment, Mahari. One. You’ve been to the others.”
Mahari raised one hand in mock surrender. “I can’t control his actions, but as for me, I’ll continue showing up for you and the twins.”
“And that’s why I love you.”
“I love you too, Bunny.”
Talks with Mahari always made Aspen feel better, but there was something in the back of her mind wondering who Dynasty was. Usually, Mahari would let her in on if he was seeing someone. The fact he was being secretive bothered Aspen more than she wanted to admit for more than one reason.
They pulled up to the doctor’s office ten minutes later. Excitement coursed through Aspen’s veins as she signed in and waited for them to call her back. Mahari was deep in his phone, going through emails while Aspen texted back and forth with Lavender. When they called her name to go back, Aspen wobbled so fast that Mahari and the nurse laughed.
“Someone is anxious, I see,” Nurse Janet said, leading them back to the room.
“Extremely. I’ve been waiting for this day since I found out they were twins,” Aspen expressed, panting. “I have a feeling I know what they are, but I could be wrong.”
Janet asked, “What do you think?”
“A boy and a girl,” Mahari answered for Aspen, smirking. “I think it’s two girls with how bad her attitude has been.”
“Is that the only reason why you think that?”
“I don’t know, Bunny. You tell me.”
Aspen swung at Mahari, and he jumped back just in time. He poked her side, causing her to yelp. She swung at him again, making sure it connected.
“Stop playing with me, Mahari. You know I can’t stand for anyone to poke me,” Aspen spat.
He hunched his shoulders. “You started it.”
“Okay, you two.” Janet snickered with a shake of her head as she and Mahari helped Aspen up onto the table. “I thought y’all would be good today since it’s such a joyous occasion, but I see y’all don’t know how or when to behave.”
All the nurses and doctors at the office were used to Mahari frequenting Aspen’s appointments with her, so they were fond of their dynamic. The pair always put on a show anytime they were there by either play fussing, fighting, or just being silly. It was never a dull moment when Aspen and Mahari were together.
Aspen stuck her tongue out at Mahari. “You heard him, Nurse Janet. He’s the one who started it.”
