Page 42 of That Fire

After helping me get the gown on, he helped me back to the table. There was a knock on the door, then Bali came inside. Before she spoke, she frowned at both of us. I was confused until she said, “Why y’all both look like you guilty of something? Were y’all fucking in here?”

My eyebrows lifted, and I laughed loudly.

“Girl, no. I can’t finish that fast. I don’t know who you take me for,” Royal said, causing me to bite my bottom lip.

“Uh-huh. I don’t put nothing past y’all nasty asses. Y’all were doing something nasty in here. I’m gonna look at the footage.”

“Don’t look, Bali,” I said. “He kissed my . . . when he was helping me undress.”

She shot daggers at Royal with her gaze as he laughed. “How are you feeling?”

“Just a lot of pressure.”

“Yeah, they are definitely in position. I’m gonna check to see if you’ve dilated any. Your body has done amazingly well all this time. I’m happy about that. Go ahead and lie back so I can check you.”

I did as she requested while she washed her hands and put on gloves. Royal came to my other side and held my hand. When Bali turned around, she said, “Look at’chu! You finally learned to be out of my way one appointment before what will probably be her last.”

She rolled her eyes as I chuckled. She came over to me and helped me get my legs in position. “Okay, a lil pressure.”

She inserted her fingers, and her eyebrows lifted slightly. “Yep. Just what I thought. You’re two centimeters. Bedrest until the baby shower. Even then, you will need to be seated the entiretime while you’re there with your feet elevated. The good thing is that you’ll be thirty-six weeks, almost thirty-seven by then.”

“We were supposed to have dinner at Mister Jasper’s house.”

“Nope. They need to come to you. Royal, if at all possible, carry her up the stairs.”

“Whenever I’m home, I do that already.”

“Bali, ever since we got back together, whenever I’m at his place, he carries me up and down the stairs.”

She smiled tightly. “That’s beautiful, Royal.” Turning her attention back to me, she said, “If he’s not home, don’t you wobble your ass on those stairs. Do you hear me?”

“Yes, ma’am. So, no sex, huh?”

She frowned. “I forgot I’m dealing with freaks. Hell no. No fucking. No orgasms. I would rather you not even get turned on, but y’all asses are always turned on. I probably didn’t even need the gel to check you. You only get up to go to the bathroom. That’s it.”

I bit my bottom lip to stifle my laughter. Royal had done the same. “Okay.”

She smiled. “We’re going to have a set of twins soon! I’m excited. What are their names?”

“Ravi and Rasha,” Royal said.

She rolled her eyes. “So their names had to start with an R like yours, I guess. I like them though.”

I giggled. “Thanks, Bali.”

“Go ahead and get dressed, and I’ll see you next week. We are so close.”

“I know! I’m ready . . . I think.”

Bali chuckled. “See y’all later.”

She left out and Royal helped me get dressed. Once I was dressed, he opened the door, then picked me up to bring me to the wheelchair Bali had placed in the hallway. When he startedpushing me, he said, “Our babies are going to be here soon. I can’t wait. Thank you.”

I frowned slightly. “What are you thanking me for?”

He stopped pushing the chair and stooped next to me. “You always have a smile on your face. I know this can’t be easy. Your body is going through so much, and yet you endure it with a smile. You constantly worry about pleasing me. Right now, I don’t give a fuck about me. This is all about you and how selfless you are, even now. I told Nikki to stay her ass at home. I’m not fucking her without you. If you can’t fuck, neither can I. We both on fucking bedrest when it comes to sex.”

He kissed my lips, then pulled away as tears fell down my cheeks.