Page 7 of The One He Desires

Without waiting for my response, Daddy gently removes Milan from my arms as I follow him back to the house. Vaughn Gavin will never cease to be my first love and the one who makes me dream about finding a forever love of my own. I envy Mom for getting it right and giving me the blueprint on what a real man is and looks like. While I don’t regret Milan, I definitely regret the sperm from the lame who knocked me up.

“I made breakfast and packed you some to take with you because I know you won’t stay to eat with us,” Daddy says once we’re in the house.

See. This is the flex I need from a man who desires me.

“Thanks, Daddy. I appreciate you. Where’s Mom?”

“At the table waiting for the two of us.” He motions to Milan as a warm smile falls into place on my lips.

I nod wordlessly before following him as he carries Milan to the kitchen. Either the food or knowledge of my presence causes Milan’s head to pop up once we reach the threshold.

“Nanny!” Milan says in a cheery and heightened voice.

“Good morning, sugar dumpling. Morning, Journee,” Mom greets as she extends her arms for Milan once Dad’s next to her chair.

When my parents’ attention shifts to my daughter, I grab my food container, say my goodbyes, and head back out the door. Warmth spreads through my body, when I get back in my seat and pull out of the driveway, at the knowledge of Milan being in the best hands other than mine.

“Maybe I should have come with y’all,” Zuri says.

A week after Jamarion texted to let me know he was out, Milan and I are outside the address where his welcome-home party is being held. My nerves bounce like I’m in a tennis match with one of the Williams sisters. My thoughts spiral about how today will go, since this is the first time I will see Jamarion in person outside the prison walls where we met. It’s also the first time Milan will meet the man I deemed worthy of being her godparent. Although Jamarion mentioned wanting to see us, his hectic lifestyle and schedule didn’t seem to have provided the opportunity until now.

“Look, Mommy.” The curious excitement in Milan’s voice shakes me out of my thoughts as I turn to see her pointing toward a group of guys heading toward the backyard of the house we’re parked across from.

“I see, baby.”

“What’s got her so excited?” Zuri asks.

“A bunch of men with sagging shorts and loud conversation,” I say.

“Oh. My poor baby ain’t been around so many men before. This is gonna be interesting. Call me if either of you needs me.”

“Will do.”

I disconnect the call seconds later, take a deep breath, and then exit my car. I might as well get this over with while I have the courage to do so. Thankfully for me, Milan prayed over us this morning, so I’m not worried about anything. Or at least that’s what I tell myself as I take Milan’s hand and make my way across the street and up the driveway. Loud music fills my ears the closer we get. But it’s the type of music my parents listen to that somehow settles my butterflies.

“Yo, you a fine mothafucka. Who you here for?” a random man says, once Milan and I walk through the backyard, which almost causes me to trip.

My eyes widen as I take in the man who’s in all black from head to toe. Tattoos cover nearly every square inch of his body, making me wonder what his motivation is for covering the tops of his feet with ink.

“Aye! Who shorty is this?” the man shouts, and I instantly freeze in place when all eyes land on Milan and me.

I could literally melt into the grass as the unknown people stare at my baby and me as they attempt to figure out who we are.

“Why the fuck are you so stupid?” a familiar masculine voice with the hoodest tone I’ve heard shouts from the right of me.

That seems to pop the bubble of the onlookers as everyone goes back to whatever they were doing before the man asked his question. A tap on my right arm causes me to jump as my head moves to see who’s touched me.

“I thought I was gonna have to pull up on your ass.”

“Hey, bighead,” I say.

“I’ve been waiting for today. Come give me some love, J.” Jamarion doesn’t wait for me to act as he pulls me into his body in an awkward side hug as I self-consciously grip Milan’s hand tighter.

“Ouch, Mommy,” Milan cries out, and it forces Jamarion to release me as his attention shifts to her.

“Mimi? It’s Uncle JJ. Come here.” Jamarion’s tone is softer as he bends to Milan’s level.

Milan must recognize his voice and his name as she lights up like a Christmas tree and releases my hand so she can hug Jamarion.