Page 33 of Her Loyalty

Tiana Next day

Standing in the bathroom mirror, I turned my body to the side and poked my stomach out as far as I could. I was simply imagining how I would look in a few months if I were actually pregnant.

I was so nervous about all of this and I prayed that everything went well today. I wasn't sure what the outcome would be but I just hoped for the best and that both Dom and I would be prepared for what ever the results showed.

Startling me, Dom walked into the bathroom and stood behind me. We watched each other in the mirror saying absolutely nothing. But though no words were spoken, I knew he could read my terrified face.

Still watching me, he bent down and laid his head on my shoulder.

"I know you scared, T." His raspy voice filled my ears.

"But I promise you, you ain't gon' go through nun' of this shit by yourself. I'm gon' be by your side the whole time." He assured, pushing his head into the crook of my neck and leaving small kisses.

"So just relax for me." He went on as I simply enjoyed the feeling of his lips on my neck.

"Aight?"

Nodding my head slowly, his lips began to travel upward, making their way to my cheek. I couldn't help but to smile, watching him in the mirror. I was simply enjoying all of the love he was showing to me especially right now. That really eased my mind with all that was going on.

"Na' get ready."

"I still need to shower." I admitted as I turned around, looking up at him.

"You gon' let me get in witcha?" He didn't hesitate to ask with hooded eyes and I smiled small.

"I don't know.."

"Should I?" I asked seriously, raising my eyebrows.

"Why not?" He shrugged nonchalantly.

"Because we're still not together."

"And I already explained to you that I'm not just going to be having sex with you when you haven't made anything official yet, Dominic." I expressed.

"Plus with everything going on right now, I don't think we should be having sex. Especially not unprotected." I rambled on and he just stared at me blankly.

"Who said I wanted to fuck on you though, T?" He asked bluntly, looking into my eyes.

"Well, I thought-"

"I ain't gon' touch you, ma. I just want to take a shower with you. That's it."

"Can I do that?" He asked, grabbing my waist as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"You promise?" I asked and he couldn't help but to laugh, smacking his lips.

"I promise you, T."

"Unless you beg me to, I won't.." He trailed off, making me smile.

"Fine."

* At the hospital

"You good?" Dom asked me as he sat slouched in the chair while I sat up on the doctor's table.

"Yeah, I'm okay." I nodded slowly, scared out of my mind.

"Better be." He scoffed, looking away from me.

"If that nigga hurt you again or make you feel uncomfortable at anytime, just let me know."

"Cause I'a kill him."

"Dominic, stop." I couldn't help but to laugh as he did the same.

We'd been here only an hour and he's been acting up the entire time. From the male doctor to the needles to the uncomfortable seating. He just wouldn't stop.

But I knew in the back of my mind he was only doing all of this to make me laugh so I'd be less nervous. And I have to admit, it was definitely working.

"I'm serious witcha." He smirked while I laid there, looking in his eyes.

"I know."

"I'm fine, baby." I assured and he nodded understandingly.

Moments later, the doctor came back into the room with a smile on his face.

"So, Ms. Tiana, I have the results for your ultrasound and for your bloodwork.." He trailed off, flipping through his papers as Dom and I listened intently.

"And unfortunately, I'm going to have to be the one to tell you that you are not pregnant today." He blurted out and I sat there in shock.

It'd felt like a huge weight was lifted off of my shoulders in the moment. I couldn't even move, I was so happy.

"So your periods not showing up can be a lot of other things such as hormonal imbalances, stress, etc."

"So what I'll do today is let you go home and see how this month goes. If you miss your period for a third time, I'll just have you come back and we'll dig deeper to see what's going on down there."

"Alright?" He asked with a smile and I nodded, looking over to Dominic who's face was blank at the moment. I couldn't read it.

"I'm also going to give you some free condoms, an emergency pregnancy test for future scares and a booklet all about pregnancy and how the female body works."

"Thank you so much, Doc." I said to him as I slowly stood to my feet.

"No problem. Thank you both for coming in today." He said his goodbyes before he stood to his feet and walked out.

When he did, I looked over to Dom as he sat there with no expression on his face.

"Babe." I called, making him revert his eyes to me.

"Ready to go?" I asked and he nodded.

"Okay, come on."

*

Later that night Midnight

"Dominic, talk to me."

"How do you feel?" I asked softly as we laid up in bed.

Today had been a long day and after a bunch of long test and needles, I was happy to say that I wasn't pregnant but it didn't seem that way for Dominic. Though he had a good poker face, he couldn't mask his emotions. I could feel since the moment we'd left the clinic that he was upset.

"I don't know, T." He admitted, turning over and laying his head in the crook of my neck.

"I don't feel nun'." He went on with a shrug, making me slant my lips.

"Why are you hiding your feelings?"

I knew on the surface he looked fine, he always played that role well but on the inside this was obviously eating him up.

"Did you want me to be pregnant?" I ended up asking, running my hand over his waves and he didn't say anything.

"Mm, baby?" I hummed, rubbing a hand down his face and he just nodded slowly.

My heart sunk realizing I'd been gloating and walking around all day with a smile on my face while he was hurting.

"You really think we were ready?" I couldn't help but to ask him.

"Yeah, T. Why not?" He spoke up, pulling back to look in my eyes.

"Why not?" He asked again, just looking at me.

"Why couldn't we have a baby? I love you, you love me.." He trailed off.

"We been together six years, ma."

"And I thought I was finally gon' have something to live for." He looked down, making my heart ache.

"I was ready, T."

"You think you don't have anything to live for, Dominic?" I spoke softly, completely thrown off. I had no idea he'd even felt this way, this was breaking my heart.

"Baby.." He trailed off.

"My mama gone, my pops walked out.."

"Only two people I'm really living for is you and Deja but that's different from what I thought I was about to experience. You feel me?" He went on, looking me in my eyes.

"I figured I could finally have something to live for. Especially comin' from you, baby, that shit meant the world to me."

"Having a little you or a little me running around that I could love unconditionally. Somebody that look up to me and I can be their favorite person, their super hero." He admitted and I just sat there listening to his words.

"I just came to terms with it faster than I thought I would and na' that happiness and hope I had about it was snatched away."

"I understand what you mean." I nodded, looking down at my hands.

"Now I'm kind of sad that I'm not." I smiled small and he shook his head.

"Na, baby."

"Na' don't think of it like that. I'm not saying it like I'm mad at you. A nigga just in his feelings."

"No, I know." I nodded, looking up.

"But you don't have to be. I promise that we can try again one day. I wouldn't want it any other way."

"Only you." I assured him while he looked into my eyes.

"Yeah?" He leaned in, mushing his head in the crook of my neck again.

"Yes, babe. I promise." I promised him, I wouldn't want it to be with anyone else but him.

"Can I put one in you right na'?" He asked in my ear and I couldn't help but to laugh, he had to as well.

He knew he was full of it.

"Stop it." I whined playfully as he kissed my neck.

"I'm serious witcha, baby."

"I know you are, crazy." I softly slapped his chest as he leaned in to kiss me.

"I love you, T." He ended up saying.

"I love you too."