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Chapter Sixteen

Mel

the next morning…

I woke up alone…again. The spot next to me was cold and untouched, like it had been all week.

It was becoming normal for Kilo to sleep in the guest room while I pretended it didn’t bother me.

But it did. It bothered the hell out of me.

I laid there for a minute, staring at the ceiling, trying to push the lump in my throat back down where it came from.

I had no more tears for this situation. I was past that stage.

Now the pain had surpassed to frustration and o top of being pregnant…

I was over it. This shit felt like a punishment.

I got up slowly and moved through the motions like I wasn’t halfway broken inside. Tied my curls up into a puff, threw on a black cropped tee, and a pair of gray leggings. This was my go-to pregnancy attire, and I didn’t see that changing.

I had a doctor’s appointment scheduled for today, and missing it was simply not an option. Regardless of Kilo’s desire to pretend everything was fine or to act as if nothing had changed, my unborn child still needed both of us to be present and actively involved.

I came down the stairs expecting the usual cold shoulder, but he was already in the kitchen, dressed.

He looked good…real good. He wore a gray graphic tee that defined his muscles perfectly.

The dark denim jeans he wore did no justice in trying to conceal my favorite part of him.

I hated how my chest still fluttered for a man that had me all twisted inside.

He turned when he heard me. His eyes met mine, and for the first time in days, they weren’t guarded. “You good?” he asked as he let his eyes scan over me.

“I’m pregnant,” I said, sliding onto a stool at the counter.

He came over, leaned down, and kissed my forehead. It was soft. It made me want to fold and swing again all at once.

“How you feeling…for real?” he asked, standing with his hands on my stomach.

“Tired. Irritated. My back’s on fire. And this baby keeps kicking like he tryna square up.”

He gave a low chuckle, barely there. “Sounds like his mama.”

“And his daddy,” I shot back.

He chuckled.

“I made you something to put on your stomach.”

He turned back to the stove, grabbed a small plate, and slid it across the counter. Toast, fruit, and half a boiled egg. Simple, but thoughtful.

“I wasn’t sure if you could keep much down,” he said.

I blinked. “You been paying attention?”

“Always.”

That hit me deep, but I didn’t let it show. I picked at the toast, chewing slow, my eyes on the plate just so I wouldn’t say something emotional.

“You ready?” he asked after I finished the food.

I nodded, grabbed my purse and Stanley before I followed him out the house.

The ride was quiet, but not awkward. Like two people existing side by side with too much unsaid sitting between them. He kept one hand on the wheel, the other caressing my thigh, lightly.

When we got to the doctor’s, he parked close like always and hopped out to open my door before I even reached for the handle. He still did shit like that. Gentleman by habit, even when his head was somewhere else. Inside, we didn’t wait long before a familiar voice pulled me from my thoughts.

“Well, damn. You look like you’re over all of this,” Eve joked as I made my way to the back, with Kilo following close behind.

Eve was damn near due herself, her round belly leading the way as she walked toward us with her usual energy.

“We look like we’re in the same boat.” I joked.

“Girl, I swear he’s overstaying his welcome.” She rolled her eyes, laughing. “Come on back.”

Kilo helped me up and followed behind like he always did, quiet but at least he was present. Eve started with the basics—weight, blood pressure, and all the routine checks before the doctor came in.

“You having any pain?”

“Mostly just tired and achy,” I said.

“That’s normal once you get closer to the end.” she nodded. “I’ll have Dr. Simms come in shortly.”

“Mostly just tired and achy,” I said.

“That’s normal,” she nodded. “I’ll have Dr. Simms come in shortly.”

She gave Kilo a smile on her way out. “Don’t let her stress too much, daddy.”

He gave a curt nod, still quiet.

Once we were alone, Kilo stepped a little closer. His voice was softer now.

“You ever wonder who he gone look like?”

I glanced at him, caught off guard. “Yeah. All the time.”

He reached out; he placed his hand on my belly.

As if on cue, the baby gave a small kick. His palm flexed against my skin, and for just a second, I saw the stress leave his face. Replaced by something raw…real.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured.

I didn’t respond. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t have anything left to give right then. Still, I didn’t pull away. That silence between us was enough.

Dr. Simms came in soon after.

“Good morning, you two,” she greeted. “How’s mommy doing today?” she asked, as she put on her gloves.

“I’m okay. Ready to get my body back.”

She smirked.

“That’s understandable. The third trimester is a roller coaster ride for most women, so your feelings are absolutely normal.”

After giving me a few pointers, she pulled over the ultrasound machine and got started.

The intense sound of my baby’s heartbeat sounded off the walls of the exam room.

Kilo stood off to the side, arms folded, eyes locked on my belly like that sound had gripped something inside him.

His jaw ticked, but he didn’t say anything.

“Baby sounds perfect,” Dr. Simms said with a warm smile. “No signs of concern.”

She gave us more notes, scheduled my next appointment, and cleared us to go.

Back in the truck, I buckled up and leaned against the window, my eyes closed.

“You hungry?” he asked as he pulled off.

“Not really.”

“You tryna ride for a bit?”

I opened my eyes. “Ride?”

He nodded. “Ain’t gotta talk. Just… ride.”

I stared at him for a second. Then nodded.

Because even though my heart was bruised, and even though we weren’t okay, I still wanted to be near him. Still needed him close. Two people in the same car, searching for what they lost in silence.

***

We’d been riding in silence for at least twenty minutes, just cruising through neighborhoods and side streets I barely paid attention to.

My mind kept looping back to the baby’s heartbeat, to the way Kilo had looked when he felt him kick.

Like, maybe for a split second, he remembered who we used to be before the distance and secrets came between us.

Eventually, he pulled over by a quiet overlook near the water.

No one around. Just water, sky, and tension still hanging between us.

“I gotta tell you something,” he said, finally breaking the silence.

My stomach dipped, but I stayed quiet.

He turned toward me, both hands on the wheel like he needed something to ground him.

“It’s about Shayna,” he said. “And Liberty.”

My throat tightened, but I didn’t interrupt.

“I got the DNA test scheduled. It’s a few days from now.”

I nodded slowly. “You still think she might be yours?”

He exhaled hard. “I don’t know. I didn’t even know she existed until Shayna popped up. Said her parents made her keep it from me. That they moved her away while I was locked up.”

I looked out the window, jaw clenched. “And you believe that?”

“I believe it’s possible,” he said honestly.

“Shit’s messy, Mel. But I ain’t lying to you no more.

I can’t have us in that place again. I only kept the shit from you because I didn’t want to stress you out while you’re pregnant with my son over some bullshit.

You gotta believe I didn’t do it maliciously. Baby, I thought I was protecting you.”

That last part made me glance back at him.

His voice was low when he added, “I ain’t been right since she showed up.

My head’s been fucked up. But not because I still got something for her, because I don’t.

That ship sunk a long time ago. If Liberty’s mine…

I’ll be there for her. But that’s it. Shayna ain’t part of nothing I want outside of what I owe as a father. You gotta believe that.”

I stared at him for a long second. Searching his eyes. Looking for the man I fell in love with… the one who used to tell me everything without me having to beg for it.

He looked tired… but honest.

“I wanted you to tell me,” I whispered. “I knew something was wrong. You ain’t been the same for weeks. I thought it was me.”

His jaw flexed. “It was me… all me.”

I leaned back. “So, what’s gone happen after you get the test?”

“If she’s mine, I step up. But you and me?” He reached over and took my hand. “That doesn’t change. I’m here. Ain’t shit gone change that.”

My eyes watered, but I blinked them back.

He rubbed his thumb over my palm. “There’s more.”

I waited, bracing myself.

He cleared his throat. “The dispensary got hit.”

“What?” I snapped. “When?”

“Last night. After our argument.”

My stomach twisted again. “And you didn’t tell me then?”

“You were already upset, Mel,” he said, voice calm. “I didn’t wanna throw more shit on ya plate.”

I sighed, biting the inside of my cheek. “You know who did it?”

He didn’t hesitate. “Yeah. Shayna’s brother.”

I froze. “You sure?”

“Caught him on camera. Him and two other dumb muthafuckas. They tried to move quickly, but I saw his face clear as day.”

“What you gone do?”

Kilo’s whole body shifted. I’ve only seen him get like this a few times. I couple of times while he was in prison, and more recently, when that fool tried to push up on me. His silence was definitely dangerous.

“That nigga moved like he wanted my attention…like he wanted to see me in person. I’m gone give him what he wants.”

My stomach tightened. “Franklin—”

“Nah,” he cut me off, eyes locked on the windshield.

“He put his hands on my shit, Mel. That ain’t just disrespect—it’s a fuckin’ violation.

And now he gone pay for that shit.” He leaned back, cracking his neck.

“I tried to keep this shit clean. Tried to be civil. But now? I’m done being nice. That nigga gone feel me.”

I swallowed hard. “You’re not gone do something crazy, are you?”

“I’m gone handle it,” he drawled. “However the fuck I need to.”

He looked at me again, and there was no softness in his face.

“I’m not letting nobody come at me or mine and walk away untouched. That’s a promise.”

I nodded slowly, heart pounding in my chest. Usually I would be okay with him seeking revenge, but this damn baby had made me soft. “Just… come home after. Please.”

His face softened just enough to reach me. “I always will.”

I pulled my hand from his and placed it on my belly. “For his sake, Franklin… don’t make me raise him alone.”

He leaned in and kissed my knuckles.

“You got it, mama.”

I held his gaze. “No more secrets.”

“No more secrets,” he repeated. “I promise.”

And for the first time in what felt like weeks, the space between us didn’t feel like it was breaking. It felt like maybe—just maybe—we were patching the cracks back together.