Page 31 of Body Language (Mind, Body, & Soul #2)

Niveah

It had been seven days since I heard his voice and seven days since he’d been blowing my phone up like I was the one who fucked up.

Missed calls. Double texts. Triple texts. And that long ass “I guess this how it is now” paragraph nobody asked for.

I laughed every time my phone lit up. Not because I didn’t miss him, but because men really be thinking they invented the game.

Yes, I left with Sincere.

Yes, I let him walk me to his car, real cozy like.

But no, I didn’t stay.

Baby, I hopped right in Ty’s car and told her to keep it cute but keep up. And when I say this man didn’t even notice someone was following him? That’s how you know he was gone. Mind cloudy, vision blurrier than that Hennessy he had in his system.

He pulled up to Arlette’s crusty ass crib like she was peace in a storm.

And when that front door closed behind him?

I sat in the car and waited. For hours. When I saw the lights go off in her house like it was bedtime? That’s when I said, “Oh. Okay.”

You wanna play? Cool. Let’s really play.

Next morning, I was on a private jet headed to Turks and Caicos, ho.

Sincere had asked me to come chill days ago and I’d said no, but I can show Kendrix better than I can tell him.

While he was laid up in that dusty ass twin-sized bed, inhaling regrets and back shots with a girl who’s shaped like every bad decision he’s ever made, I was sipping fresh fruit juice in a bikini that probably cost more than your last rent payment.

Feet in the sand.

Phone on Do Not Disturb .

And peace wrapped around my body like the sunlight itself said, “You ain’t gotta deal with that shit.”

See, that’s what men don’t get. We spin the block with a damn blueprint. We don’t just play the game because we built the board. And while they’re still fumbling the ball… We’re already three power moves ahead.

He thought I was sitting at home mad. No, baby.

I was getting rubbed down with hot oil and island breeze while he was getting lied to in polyester sheets.

I was in a private villa with ocean views, my own chef, and two security guards stationed at the front gate like I was the daughter of a diplomat.

Sincere hadn’t touched me or even tried, because he knew the program.

He knew I was the one who made the moves. The one you present options to… and wait for me to pick the one that benefits me the most.

Every morning, a new delivery came to the villa.

Day one, it was a Cartier bracelet with “MissCommunication” engraved on the inside. Cute. Day two, A black AmEx card with my name on it and a post-it that said,

For convenience. Or chaos.

Day three, a limited-edition fragrance that smelled like secrets and sex appeal.

Only ten bottles were created and in circulation. Number six was mine.

Day four, a silk box from Saks. Inside was a custom dress flown in from Milan.

And still, he didn’t lay a hand on me. He knows I’m not impressed by attention, I’m moved by intention.

We’d laughed, we ate, and we would vibe on the beach, drink tequila, and he’d tell me stories that had me forgetting what city I was even from.

But when it was time to go to bed, he went to his and I went to mine.

That’s what Kendrix didn’t understand.

A nigga could spoil me, worship me, put me in heaven on earth, but unless I decide to unlock something more, It’s just an offering.

Day five, I finally left.

Not because I wanted to, but because I needed to. Because being a bad bitch also meant being responsible. The same way I can pour champagne into a Baccarat glass and sip on a yacht in silence, I can also get back on a flight and be in mom-mode before the wheels hit the damn tarmac.

Hux and Zejah had a doctor appointments.

The first prenatal for her with a new doctor and some counseling resources I’d lined up for him. I told them I’d be there, and I don’t miss when it matters.

Ty held the club down long enough. So yeah, I packed up my lil’ designer duffel. Kissed the view goodbye. Gave Sincere a wink and a thank-you smirk… and got the hell on.

Zejah was sitting on the exam table, legs swinging nervously like a child waiting on a shot, and Hux was damn near chewing a hole through his bottom lip. His knee kept bouncing, and he kept checking the clock like it was gonna speed up time.

I sat in the corner chair with my arms crossed, pretending like I was calm and collected.

Like it wasn’t also my first time in that kind of appointment.

I didn’t know what the hell was going on, either.

I’ve been to checkups for myself. Annuals.

Pap smears. A lil’ look under the hood to make sure Ms. Kitty was still purring and premium grade.

But their appointment was about life. About watching two teens who were just learning how to drive now get handed the keys to parenthood. And somehow, I was in the passenger seat of it all.

The nurse came in and smiled at Zejah, asking her a million questions that made her voice tremble when she answered. I could see her hand inching toward Hux’s under the thin paper sheet, and he laced their fingers without blinking.

“First pregnancy?” the nurse asked, typing something into the chart.

I wanted to yell, “Hell yeah, and it better be the last!” but I kept it cute.

“Yes, ma’am,” Zejah said, barely above a whisper.

The nurse looked at me next.

“Are you mom?”

“No,” I said. “I’m the sister-slash-guardian-slash holding this whole damn house down.”

The nurse laughed politely. Zejah looked over at me with those big eyes and exhaled like she was finally safe. Like she believed I knew exactly what I was doing. Joke was on her. We were all about to learn together.

A woman stepped in wearing a maternity scrub top stretched over a perfect, round belly. She had the kind of glow people swore pregnancy gave you, even though I knew damn well sometimes it was just highlighter and good moisturizer.

“Hey, y’all,” she said with a smile. “I’m Talynn Baldwin, your nurse practitioner.” She rested a hand on her stomach. “And this little one in here is Rylan”

Zejah’s shoulders loosened just a little.

Talynn walked closer to Zejah. “If it makes you feel any better, this is my first time doing this too. I’ve assisted plenty of births back when I was an RN.

I went back to school to be your provider.

My husband’s even an ER MD, so technically, I’m surrounded by all the medical advice in the world” She laughed.

“But, I still get nervous. Because I’ve never done this before either. ”

Something about that honesty cracked Zejah open in a way my pep talks never could. She gave a little half-smile, like maybe she wasn’t so alone in it after all.

Talynn kept talking, keeping it light and steady. Asking her about school. About how she was feeling. Then she shifted her attention to Hux, who was still glued to Zejah’s side.

“And you,” she said, grinning at him. “First time for you too, huh?”

He nodded, awkward, like he wasn’t sure if he was supposed to say thank you or help .

“Let me tell you now, prepare for anything. My husband, Reggie, has more cravings than I do.” She laughed. “Last week, he wanted a burger at two in the morning, and he’s not even the one carrying the baby.”

Even I cracked a smile at that, though I was still side-eyeing my brother like he better soak up every word this woman was saying.

While she kept them talking, her hands worked. She snapped on gloves, squirting gel bottles to the side, and pulled the ultrasound machine closer.

“So,” Talynn said looking at Zejah. “You’ve had one of these before?”

Zejah nodded. “Yeah, but… it just looked like a glob. The doctor said it was really early.”

“Well,” Talynn said, her tone lifting. “Let’s take another look and see what we’ve got this time.”

Talynn squeezed a clear blob of gel onto the ultrasound probe and grinned. “Okay, we’ll start abdominal and see what we get. If baby’s playing hide-and-seek, we might switch to a transvaginal just to get a clearer look. Totally normal either way.”

Zejah’s eyes widened a little at transvaginal , but Talynn kept talking like she was telling a bedtime story. “Feet here, shirt up just a little, and this might feel cold at first.”

She placed the wand on Zejah’s belly, moving slow, eyes on the monitor. A black-and-white galaxy swirled into focus until there it was a little bean-shaped figure curled up like it was protecting its own peace.

“There’s your baby,” Talynn said, tilting the screen so they could all see. “You can see the head right here, tiny arm buds… and that little flutter? That’s the heart.”

She tapped a few buttons, taking measurements before smiling. “You’re measuring right at eleven weeks and two days.”

Then she pressed another button and the room filled with a quick, steady rhythm.

thump-thump-thump-thump .

Zejah’s hand went over her mouth. Hux leaned in closer, eyes locked on the screen like it was the most important thing he’d ever seen.

“Strong heartbeat,” Talynn added. “That’s music right there.”

I saw both of them smile. I felt it hit me low in my chest before I could stop it. Damn near teared up in that little exam room. Not because I was soft, but because life had been kicking them in the teeth lately, and for once, they looked like they had something worth holding onto.

Talynn wiped the gel from Zejah’s belly, printed a couple of pictures, and handed them over before leaving the room. Zejah held them so carefully you’d think they might crack in her hands.

“Alright,” I said, sliding my bag strap over my shoulder, “Rules still apply.” I gave them both the look, the one that said I meant it. “Separate rooms. Doors open. If I walk in and see y’all playing house, I’m gonna start charging rent and making chore charts.”

They both smirked, trying to hide it, but I caught it. “Mmhmm. Laugh now.” I pushed the door open and nodded toward the hall. “Rita’s outside waiting. She’ll take y’all to pick up lunch and home.”

Hux frowned. “You’re not coming with us?”