Page 41 of Ex- Factor

I used to think peace was a myth. Some shit people talked about, but I didn’t think I’d ever get to live it. But this? Right here? Watching Ekon make a mess on the living room rug while Eshe and Angel whispered like teenage girls on the couch—this was it.

We’d finally moved out of that house next door to Donte.

Should’ve done it sooner. I was this close to putting that man in a grave.

He was persistent. Every time I saw him, I remembered what Eshe told me he did to her.

It wasn’t healthy being that close to him.

Wasn’t smart. And I wasn’t gonna let that energy bleed into the life we were building.

So we moved into Eshe’s grandmother’s house. It was different now. Again. Different from what she grew up in. Different from what Donte had paid for. Renovated. Reinforced. Reborn. Like us.

The walls were ours. The future was ours.

I stood in the hallway, just out of sight, listening to her and Angel talk. I was eavesdropping on purpose.

“I don’t know how to tell him,” Eshe said. “He said he didn’t want kids. And what happened with Donte got me scared as fuck.”

My chest tightened—not from surprise, but from knowing she still questioned how deep this thing between us ran.

Angel whispered something back, but I didn’t catch it. Didn’t need to. I stepped into the room, voice even. “I already know you’re pregnant.”

Eshe damn near jumped out of her skin.

She whipped around. “What?! How—how do you know?”

I grinned, leaning against the doorframe. “I told you, I was there for Angel’s whole pregnancy. I know the signs. You’ve been throwing up every morning.”

She gave me a doubtful look. “You didn’t know…”

“I knew. Why do you think I bought you that vitamin dispenser filled with supplements? They’re all what the doctor said would be good for prenatal care.” I stepped closer. “I was just waiting on you to say something.”

Her mouth dropped open, speechless. That alone was worth it.

“I thought you didn’t want kids,” she finally whispered.

I stopped in front of her, reached out, and tucked a curl behind her ear. My voice came out softer than I expected.

“It’s true. I didn’t. But with you?” I said. “I’ll take anything. All of it. Whatever comes with loving you—I want it.”

Her eyes filled up, but she didn’t cry. Not yet. She just stared at me like I’d given her something priceless.

I crouched and scooped Ekon into my arms, holding him close. I didn’t want to make a big deal out of the pregnancy. If I just showed her I was ready—that her being pregnant changed nothing—she’d calm down and be happy too.

“You’re about to have a little sister,” “You ready for that?”

He didn’t answer—just kept play fortnight on his phone.

I leaned over, kissed Angel on the crown of her head, then kissed Eshe on the lips. Slow. Sure. Like the promise it was.

Then I pulled back, shifted Ekon on my hip, and headed for the door.

“Let’s go get something to eat,” I told him. “Let the womenfolk keep talking.”

We stepped out into the light. Me and my boy. Making space for the life that was coming next.