Page 14 of Going for Three (BLP Sports #2)

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw Kianis standing behind me in the mirror. He smirked.

“What you scared for? Must be doing something you’re not supposed to be. I need to go through that phone?”

I placed a hand over my chest then turned to look at him with a grin.

“No, you literally scared me. I’m editing the video I just recorded doing my makeup.” Picking up the phone, I tried to hand it to him. “I can give you the code if you want to look through it, though. I have nothing to hide.”

He shook his head. “Nah, I trust you. Your makeup looks good,” he complimented me, closing the distance between us. “Is it okay to kiss you?”

I nodded, feeling all giddy. He planted a kiss on my lips then handed me the hot chocolate and blueberry muffin he’d bought me from Maison du Soleil.

“Aww. Thank you, babe.”

“You’re welcome, and I’m here to take you to your doctor’s appointment, remember?”

I exited out of the editing app on my phone to check the time. Sure enough, the appointment was in half an hour. I smacked my forehead.

“Time moves so fast. I can barely keep up.”

He took a seat on my bed and rested his forearms on his thighs.

“Well, maybe if you didn’t work so hard, it’d be easier to keep up.”

Placing my phone on my vanity, I walked toward my closet to slip on a pair of sandals. I was already dressed in a yellow nearly floor length sundress.

“Being pregnant has only made me want to go twice as hard.”

He stood from the bed to cross the room.

He wrapped his arms around my waist, distracting me from the conversation momentarily.

I hadn’t noticed how sexy he looked dressed in light-wash jeans, a green distressed Amiri t-shirt, and white block walkers.

His jewelry only included his iced out Patek and Cuban chain.

He wasn’t wearing his grills today, but it didn’t mean I wouldn’t still melt when he smiled.

I absentmindedly traced his throat tattoo while looking at us through my full-length mirror.

He leaned down to rest his chin on my shoulder and palmed my growing belly.

It was becoming more noticeable by the day.

I was only four months pregnant, but it looked like I could be twice as far along as that.

“You do know I can take care of y’all?”

I nodded. “Of course, I do, but I have a part to play in providing for our family too. I want our daughter or son to never want for a thing.”

He smiled. “I can only respect that, but when you get farther along, you will have to relax a little bit more, mama.”

He began to kiss on my neck, making me laugh and become putty in his hands which was his intention.

“You don’t play fair, but yes, I will relax more when I’m farther along. For now, mamas got to put that work in.”

I folded my arms over his, keeping him anchored to my body.

“Honestly, I didn’t expect you to be so invested in this.”

He sighed while massaging my belly in small circles. He shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I’ve always wanted a family of my own. You getting pregnant just reminded me it was a desire I had.”

I hated the seed of warmth his confession sprouted in my womb.

“We’re not even a real family. We’re not married.”

Before I knew it, he’d spun me around to face him.

“We could be.”

He sounded so confident it sent a chill down my spine. I tried to laugh off the seriousness of his furrowed brows.

“Once my grandparents find out, we will have to be. They’re going to kill me if my mother doesn’t.”

He kissed my forehead. “That’s a conversation we can have when you’re ready because I’m trying to go all in.

” He shrugged. “Shit, why not? You’re the woman of my dreams and not just because of how fine you are.

You’re caring, compassionate, and kind. I’m not going to lie.

Social media makes you seem like such a shallow, gold-digging, party girl, but you’re more down to earth than they’ll ever know.

I’m the lucky one. I get to experience the real you. ”

I tapped his chin with a blush. “That you do, and you’re still not ready to run off?”

He shook his head, tucking some hair behind my ear. “Nah. Only running I’m trying to do with you is toward the altar.”

My heart rate increased in speed. I opened my mouth to respond but couldn’t formulate a word. He smirked then kissed me on the cheek.

“Like I said, when you’re ready to have that conversation, let me know. Now, let’s go. Don’t want you to be late.”

For now, I decided to shelve the conversation because I wasn’t ready for it.

I was still learning to put all my faith and trust into Kianis.

I couldn’t lie like he didn’t chip away a new chunk of my protective armor every time we were together.

He was everything I never thought I’d have with a man of his prestige, and every day, he showed me how different he was.

He picked up my goodies off the dresser then handed them to me.

I took a sip of my drink as we walked out hand in hand.

If you told me a love like this awaited me a few months ago, I’d call you a liar.

I thought I’d be invisible for the rest of my life, but here I was being seen in the most fulfilling way possible, and I was on a voyage that would end with me being the portal for a new soul to come earth side.

My life was changing quickly, and I had not one bad thing to say about it because I deserved this and more.

“That shit changed my life, Charm,” Kianis admitted once the rays of the sun began warming our skin.

We’d just finished up at my OBGYN’s office, and everything was all good. We had the baby’s gender written on a note that we were giving to Vari for a gender reveal.

“Like hearing the heartbeat made this all so much more real.”

I couldn’t keep my smile off my face. It felt so good to know he was so invested in the life we were bringing into this world.

During the entire appointment, he was asking my doctor all kinds of questions.

It was adorable, and she remained patient with him, addressing all his concerns until he was relieved.

“I know. I’m so excited,” I admitted.

“You’re having my baby!” he yelled before scooping me up and spinning me in a circle.

“Boy, put me down,” I fussed with a laugh and smack to his arm.

He shook his head, refusing to do so. I tilted my head back, enjoying the warm day as he carried me bridal style all the way to his Urus.

He placed me in the passenger seat then jogged around to join me. “Where to, baby?”

I sat back and put on my seat belt. “Well, I have some more videos to record.”

He smiled. “Always working. Aight, I’ll take you home. Can I chill over there with you until practice later?”

I nodded. “Only if we stop to get some food first. I’m starving.”

“I should’ve known. We can go wherever you want.”

I tapped my chin. “I don’t really have a taste for anything right now. You choose.”

He frowned, knowing I was going to be quick to turn down all his options until we landed on the one I wanted. His phone began vibrating, causing him to pull it from his pocket. I could feel the shift in his energy as he stared at the screen.

I placed a hand on his thigh. “What? What is it, babe?”

He shook his head and ran his hand down his face. “I always knew he probably did have other children because he fucks so much, but damn...”

He handed me his phone to allow me to see the blog post his best friend, Jah, had sent him. It was some woman exposing his father’s second family.

I sighed. “I’m sorry, baby.”

He remained silent as he gripped the steering wheel. “I just want for one fucking month to go by where I don’t have to put up with this. My talent can never be in the spotlight because it’s always overshadowed by some scandal bullshit.”

He flopped back into his seat and balled up his fists. I knew if he could punch a wall right now, his fist would’ve gone through it. I hated that he was going through this and only wanted to make it better.

“Let me take you somewhere to get your mind off things. I’ll drive.”

At first, he didn’t move, so I nudged him with my hand. I got ready to take my seat belt off, but he stopped me.

“Okay, okay, but I’m driving.”

I smiled. I was perfectly fine with that. I held his hand as he reversed out of the parking spot. I gave him directions on where to go until we arrived.

“Knock Out?” He leaned forward, reading the large sign.

“Come on. I think it’s exactly what you need right now.”

I waited patiently for him to come around and open my door. We held hands as we walked inside. I paid for his experience, which he almost wouldn’t allow me to do.

“It’s my treat,” I assured him. “It’s okay to let me spend money on you, baby. You deserve to be spoiled, too.”

He kissed me on the cheek, finally being receptive of my gift.

The worker led him toward the room I’d booked for the next hour.

If I wasn’t pregnant, I would’ve gone in with him and released a few things of my own, but today, was about him.

As I watched him circle the table full of electronics, I prayed the weight would be lifted from his shoulders by the time he came out.

Kianis was a great man with a lot of pressure on him to be better than his father.

I think a part of him was afraid that deep down he was just like him, and therefore, he would never be better.

I jumped the first time he swung the bat.

As I watched him become more comfortable with the process, I saw the stress leaving his corded muscles.

He started off slowly then increased his pace as he smashed object after object.

His swings were so forceful that it brought tears to my eyes.

The first one fell when I heard him scream from inside.

I placed a hand over my heart, feeling his pain and wanting nothing more than to help him release it all.

Once he fell to his knees, I couldn’t stay away. I ripped the door open and rushed inside. I wrapped him in my arms the moment I made it in front of him. I didn’t even say anything. I just held him so he didn’t feel alone. He clung to me like his life depended on it until he had no tears left.

“Thank you, Charm. I really needed this.”

I palmed his face as our foreheads pressed together. I kissed his cheek, trying to fight back my tears.

“I know.”

He sat on his bottom then pulled me into his lap.

“I don’t want to be like that man, Charmony.

He don’t give a fuck about nobody but himself.

He hurts people everywhere he goes. If not with his words, then with his actions.

I know I’m known for my smart mouth, but I be tired of people always trying me, always comparing me to that man.

I just want to play ball, and this shit requires so much more than that.

I don’t even know if I’m all the way built for the pressure. ”

I kept quiet until he felt like he had it all out. I played with the long hair on his chin. They looked well moisturized and cared for.

“What are you smiling at?” he randomly asked.

“You’re so handsome,” I admitted. “I believe you’re going to be a great father, Kianis. A day will come when your light finally snuffs out your father’s. You are built for it, and you can handle it. They call you king of the court for a reason. You’re really like that baby.”

His smile made my blood vessels sing and hum. “Thank you, I really needed to hear that. You really are my good luck charm, and you came into my life at the perfect time.”

I blushed, trying to hide my face in his neck. Surprisingly, he let me.

“I think I did, too. We’re going to be parents, Kianis. Can you believe that?”

He shook his head and wrapped his arms around me. “Not at all, but I’m going to use the next few months to get ready. Being like our parents is not even an option.”

I could only agree. I would treat my child as more than their talents, gifts, and strengths. I would allow them the freedom to find themselves, to explore whatever they wanted with love and support to fall back on.

“I wasn’t sure I could trust you, Charmony, but after today, I don’t have any more doubts. I want to love you with all my heart because you deserve the best.”

I inhaled his smoky scent and melted deeper into his frame. “Well, you’re off to a pretty good start. Just keep doing what you’re doing.”

“You don’t even have to worry about that then. I’m not easing up off the gas when it comes to you. Losing you is not even an option.”

It felt so good to hear him declare that. I squealed when he began to stand up with me still in his arms.

“I worked up an appetite. Let’s go get that food I owe you.”

I wasn’t opposed to the idea. My stomach had been trying to let me know she was on E for the last hour, but this pit stop was necessary. I needed Kinga to know he was going to be okay. We both would be so long as we had each other.