Page 2

Chapter Two

Jameala ‘Mel’ Sanders

It was time for my five-month checkup, and I was already ready to get it over with.

I had to have blood drawn and do a glucose test. Nic and Kasha told me about that test and said the drink was sweet but horrible.

I hated taking shit I could taste if that makes sense.

If it left a nasty taste in my mouth, you didn’t have to worry about me with it.

I slipped on my shoes and headed downstairs to find Kilo in the kitchen.

He was shirtless, chain resting against his chest, inked skin flexing with every move, and head shining.

He looked like a whole damn meal, and I was mad I couldn’t enjoy it properly with this belly in the way.

When he noticed me, he smiled before pressing that nasty shit toward me.

“Here.” He pushed the drink toward me, and I frowned.

“Why are you forcing me to drink this nasty ass shit?”

“Because you need to drink it. You know you needed to drink it before now, so we’re pushing it. Here.” He forced the glass in my hand since I still hadn’t taken it out of his. Rolling my eyes, I snatched the glass from him and rolled my eyes.

“I know I hate you.”

He laughed. “You said that yesterday.”

“I meant it yesterday, too.”

He slid a plate in front of me and handed me the glass. “You gone thug it out. Just get it over with.”

I took a small sip and instantly gagged. “This shit tastes like regret and aluminum foil.”

“Stop being dramatic, man.” He laughed like some shit was funny.

“You drink it then, since you think I’m being so dramatic.” I put the glass on the counter and started to walk off.

“Jameala. Get that damn glass and drink it so we can go,” he asserted. I turned on my heels and squinted my eyes at him. He only called my name when he was trying to boss up on me or I was annoying him. Right now, it could be a little bit of both.

“Can you at least put it in my Stanley? I’ll drink it on the way.” I pouted.

Smirking, he came close to me and kissed my lips. “You got it, mama.”

Once he had my drink ready, I grabbed my purse and followed him outside to his truck.

It took about thirty minutes to get to the women’s clinic, since we stayed near the outskirts of town.

I loved the house we had in the city, but I loved being out the way too.

Stacks and Kasha stayed out here now, so we were all close together.

Our mama still stayed in the city, but Keenan used Nic’s address.

That’s why he and Jace were able to attend the same school.

When we pulled up to the office, Kilo found a park closest to the door so I wouldn’t have to park far.

He helped me out and ushered me inside, where I signed in and took a seat.

“You finished that shit, Mel?” he asked.

“Yes, sir. You wanna check?” I held my cup to him. He took it from my hand and really opened the lid and checked to see if I really drank it.

“Good girl,” he praised like that made it any better.

“Gimme my shit since you’on trust me.” He pulled me up and into his lap as laughter rumbled through his chest.

“Don’t be like that.” He continued to laugh, as my name was called. I lifted from his lap and headed toward the door where Eve was standing. I loved the fact that someone familiar was here.

“Hey girl. I see you’re still holding up.” She greeted.

“Yeah, I am. I see you are too.” I rubbed her pregnant belly.

“Girl. I don’t know what your cousin is thinking, but he swears we’re not done, but I got a trick for his ass. He must’ve forgotten I have access to too much shit to not make that happen.” I knew she was talking shit because if Saint’s crazy ass wanted ten more kids, she’d pop them right on out.

“Please don’t let him hear you say that.”

“Hey, Kilo. How you been?” Eve spoke to Kilo as she took my weight and then vitals.

“I’m straight. Your girl gave me a hard time this morning, but I survived.” I cut my eyes at him for telling my business.

Eve laughed and asked what I did. Kilo spoke up before I did and told her how I acted when I had to drink that nasty ass drink. She shook her head and continued to laugh as she prepped me to draw my blood.

“Girl, you should be ashamed. Heir doesn’t even act like that when he has to take medicine.”

“Shit, with Saint as my daddy. I wouldn’t either,” I countered.

“But you got me, and you still try it,” Kilo asserted before winking his eye at me.

“See, those looks are what got this little one here in the first place,” Eve instigated.

We all laughed as she took my blood. Four vials later, she had the samples she needed, and I went to the room to wait for the doctor.

Kilo sat next to the table, rubbing my belly while we waited. “He’s moving more today.”

“Probably mad at that damn drink, too.”

He chuckled. “He get that shit from you.”

The doctor finally came in, checked the baby’s heartbeat, and did measurements. “Baby’s growing beautifully. Already over a pound. Might be seven, maybe eight pounds by birth.”

I cut my eyes at Kilo. He grinned, but I’ain see shit funny.

“You proud of that?” I asked.

“Hell yeah.”

“You’re not the one who has to push him out.”

“I’ll be right there, though,” he affirmed.

“Mhm.”

Once we finished in the office, I went up front to get my next appointment and were on our way.

“I gotta make a quick stop by the dispensary. I’ll be quick.” He lied.

“You always say that then be in there forever.”

“You’on say that shit when I’m in you forever.” He smirked, causing me to blush and clench my thighs together.

We talked about the baby the entire ride and I was telling him how I felt about a home birth. He didn’t trust it, but I thought it would be more intimate and relaxing.

He finally pulled up to Off The Scale and parked in his designated parking spot.

“I’m coming with you,” I told him.

“You sure?”

I nodded.

We walked into the shop and instantly, I felt the shift. Frosted glass, organized displays, green LEDs lining the walls. It looked more like a boutique than a weed spot.

Daphne, the shop manager, stood behind the counter counting product. That’s what I liked about her. She moved like she didn’t owe the world anything. Solid. About her business. And never weird toward me.

“Hey, mama,” she nodded. “Glowing heavy today.”

“I’m just trying to survive this lil’ boy.”

Kilo joined her behind the counter while I browsed. That’s when the fool walked in. Light skin, fake diamonds, smelled like loud cologne and desperation. He had that goofy confidence some men get when they think nobody’s watching them take a risk. But he picked the wrong damn day to flex.

“Damn,” he drawled, eyes dragging all over me. “You fine as fuck for a pregnant chick. Yo’ baby need a daddy?”

I ignored his stupid ass hoping he got the hint before Kilo saw this dummy over here fuckin’ with me.

“Bet your baby daddy don’t even appreciate all that. You need somebody who knows what to do with a body like that. Pregnant or not.” He stepped closer, too damn close. “I give good rubdowns. Strong hands. Real strong. I could make you forget he ever existed.”

“You tryna die in here?” Kilo’s voice cut through the shop like a blade.

“Aye, chill. My bad, big homie. I didn’t know that was your—”

“You saw she was pregnant, and that big ass ring on her finger, right?”

Kilo didn’t wait for a response. He gripped the back of the dude’s neck and slammed his head into the glass display with a force that made Daphne flinch and me move out the way so fast I felt my stomach tighten.

The glass didn’t shatter, but it cracked.

Kilo’s forearm was pressed against the guy’s throat now, pinning him against the display case.

“I’m two seconds from putting you through this glass.” He growled through his teeth.

The guy wheezed, trying to get Kilo to loosen his grip, but his actions only seemed to piss Kilo off more.

“Tell me again what you was gone rub?”

“Kilo,” I said, voice low but sharp. “Baby.” He didn’t budge.

Daphne moved in slow from behind the counter, heading to the front door. The other customers inside didn’t move or say a word. They knew who Kilo was, but it was clear this fool didn’t.

Kilo’s jaw clenched. His nostrils flared.

Then he leaned in closer, eyes locked on the guy’s panicked face.

“If I ever see you anywhere near her again…matter fact, if I hear your name in a whisper near my woman…I’ma crack yo’ skull so muthafuckin’ bad ya mama will only be able to identify yo’ bitch ass through her memories.

” He released him just enough to let the man stumble, coughing hard and red in the face.

“You got half a second to get the fuck outta here ’fore I change my mind,” Kilo finished, turning just enough to block me from view.

Daphne had the door wide open now. The man ran out like his soul was chasing him.

Kilo didn’t speak at first. Just stood there breathing, hands flexing like he was still itching for contact.

Then he turned back to me and walked over slow.

Pressed both palms to my stomach like he needed to feel life after almost taking one.

“You okay?” His voice was tight.

“Yeah,” I whispered. “You?” He didn’t answer right away. Just leaned in and kissed my forehead.

Daphne crossed her arms behind the counter, calm like always. “You want me to pull the footage and delete it?”

“Already handled,” Kilo said without looking back.

After things went somewhat back to normal, he offered the people who were still inside their items for free. Once he was finished with everything he came to do, we left.

He drove in silence. One hand gripped my thigh like it was the only thing keeping him grounded.

“I’m gone black out every time when it comes to you. To y’all,” he finally said. “Ain’t no limit to how far I’ll go ’bout mine.”

“I know,” I said, stroking his wrist. “That’s why I don’t question your heart.”

“You got it, mama.”

***

We pulled up to Buck and Nic’s about twenty minutes later. Kilo helped me out the truck and escorted me up the steps with his hand nestled at the small of my back.

Benny answered the door butt ass naked with a Spiderman mask on. “RAHHHH!”

“Benny, didn’t I tell you to wait for me?” Nic fussed. “You see the shit I have to live with?” She fussed.

“He’s definitely his daddy’s son,” I laughed.

“I heard that shit, Thugga.” Buck appeared with that dumb ass smirk on his face. He dapped up his brother and playfully shoved me.

“I wasn’t whispering and keep yo’ nasty ass hands off me.” I popped him upside his head.

“Man, come on ’fore I do her lil’ ass something.”

Kilo laughed at his dumb ass brother before kissing me and following Buck. I followed Nic to the kitchen while the boys went out back. Benny ran through the house like he was being chased by demons. Nic sighed while I thought it was funny.

“I love my baby, but damn. He different.”

“He’s wild, but cute.”

“Wild first. Cute second.” We laughed.

I told her about what happened at the dispensary, and she laughed.

“I’on know why I’m surprised. I have the worst one in my house and Stacks is running neck and neck. Kilo is just cold with his shit, though,” Nic asserted.

“Coldest I’ve ever seen.”

“He loves your mean ass, though.”

“Y’all gone stop calling me mean.” I rolled my eyes. “That’s why I love his big ass, though.”

Later, the guys came back in. Buck holding Benny upside down like a sack of potatoes while Kilo stood behind me, hand wrapped around my waist. Our love wasn’t loud or over the top, but it was present. We stayed a little longer before I got tired and ready to go home.

“I’ll call you tomorrow, Nic.” I hugged my sister, then my nephew. “Bye, Auntie baby.” I kissed his cheek before he took off running again.

“So, fuck me, huh?” Buck threw his hands up like he was offended.

“Pretty much.” I shrugged before laughing.

“That’s fucked up, Thugga. Get the fuck out my house.” He playfully nudged me until Kilo knocked his hand away.

“The fuck off my woman, Lincoln.”

“Fuck you, Franklin. I hope she suffocates yo’ big bald-headed ass in yo’ sleep.” He laughed. The only thing me and Nic could do was shake our heads because this was our lil’ family, and we loved it. Dysfunction and all.