Page 4 of Only a Gemini Will Do

I nodded, knowing he was speaking real shit to me. “I know, and it won’t be.”

All I could do was pray she received the plane ticket to come out and see a nigga. But after three months, I couldn’t act like there wasn’t truth in Kadeem’s words. Sawyer could’ve had herself a whole new nigga by now, but that was the risk I was willing to take to see her again.

Chapter 3

Sawyer

It was traveling day. As grateful as I was that my morning sickness phase had started to subside and the plane ride was steady, my heart rate was anything but. My insides were like a lava lamp full of anxiety, lust, and excitement.

I sat in my window seat in first class with one hand resting gently over my stomach, hidden beneath a loose-fitting sundress.Three months.I still hadn’t told a soul—not my sister, not my girls, or my coworkers. And definitely not Kareem. But all of that was about to change the minute I landed in Brazil.

I stared out at the clouds as the memory of that night played on a loop inside my head: the howling winds and heavy rain outside, losing power all night, the way Kareem had devoured my body like he was on death row and I was his last meal. It was supposed to be a one-time thing—a moment suspended in the chaos of being trapped together during a hurricane. But the universe had other plans.

I still couldn’t believe I was flying to another fucking continent to tell a man I barely knew that he was going to be a father. Just thinking about it sounded insane. Maybe it was. But when the round-trip ticket arrived in the mail—paid in full, no questions asked—I had no choice but to put on my big girlpanties and go. It was proof that Kareem hadn’t forgotten me as much as I hadn’t forgotten about him. And there would soon come a point where I couldn’t keep the truth hidden under loose-fitting clothes anymore.

I opened my purse to check that the sonogram from my twelve-week appointment was inside. I still couldn’t believe a baby was growing inside me, but I was grateful that it was healthy and developing on schedule.Now, all I need to do is tell the man who put the bun in my oven.

The plane toucheddown on the runway with a soft thud, and my blood pressure and heartbeat instantly spiked.Time’s up.I made my way through customs and retrieved my suitcase from baggage claim, all as my mind galloped with what words I’d say to Kareem and how he’d react to the news. Would he be mad or excited? Would he cut my trip short or ask to extend it?At this point, the possibilities seemed endless, and I needed somebody to fuckin’ hamburger help me.

Outside, the South American heat enveloped me like a warm hug. It was a big difference from the cushy, air-conditioned seat in first class I’d been in for the eleven and a half hour flight. I noticed a man in a suit and a crisp white button-up holding up a sign with my name written on it in black marker. I didn’t speak any Portuguese, and he didn’t speak much English, but we both smiled warmly at each other before he placed my bag in the trunk and handed me a small envelope before helping me into the back seat. Once safely inside, I opened the envelope, fingers shaking as I unfolded the note and read it.

Sawyer,

Welcome to Rio.I wanted to make our first date memorable, so I’ve made us dinner reservations tonight. Nothing too fancy—just the two of us and the view.

—K

Fuck. Memorable is an understatement.I was sure our first date would go down in the history books after he learned the news I had to share.I tore my eyes away from his note long enough to look out the window as the beautiful city stretched out in front of my eyes—colorful and full of life. And somewhere in the mix of culture and chaos, Kareem was out there waiting for me, probably thinking our first date would be normal, when in reality our situation was anything but.

Two hours later,I stepped out of the car with my heart bucking against my ribcage. The driver had dropped me off at a rooftop restaurant in Ipanema that was decorated with colorful walls and lots of lush greenery. I stepped inside, feeling the butterflies raging in my stomach. The smell of grilled seafood and rich seasonings wafting past my nose didn’t help to soothe my already fickle digestive system.

There was a different type of flutter in my stomach the second I spotted Kareem waiting near our table with an ocean view.He was still the handsomest dark chocolate creature I’d ever laid eyes on. From what I could see, he had a fresh haircut and hadn’t lost his chiseled physique. If anything, it’d gotten better.

My heart thudded in an offbeat cadence with each step I took toward him. He leaned against the railing with the ocean at hisback, dressed in a simple linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows and the collar open to reveal his neck and collarbone tattoos, and dark, stonewashed jeans. His eyes were already fixed on mine.There it is.That annoying throb in my clit that showed up whenever he looked at me like that.

“It’s really you,” he confirmed, his tone a blend of gratitude and surprise as I stopped within a foot of him.

I flashed him a quick smile while trying to calm my nerves. “In the flesh,” I replied, trying to sound cool, calm, and collected, although I was none of those things.

He smiled back while pulling out my wooden chair so that I could sit down. “I wasn’t sure you’d come all the way out here to see a nigga.”

His smile at me somehow made the secret I was carrying inside me feel even heavier.

“Brazil has always been on my bucket list. It’s beautiful here. Plus, you paid for my ticket. I would’ve been a fool not to come.”

“Brazil is nice, but I think your beauty has it beat.”

“Thank you,” I responded, trying to steady myself as I cast my eyes down to my colorful sundress and the Goliath sandals on my feet. “You look good yourself,” I complimented, while trying to stop my pussy from throbbing every time I caught him staring at me.

We sat at our table with tealight candles flickering in the center. The low music playing in the background was the only noise between us. I didn’t mind it. The less we talked, the less chances there were for me to put my foot in my mouth or struggle to get out the news that I’d flown over 6,000 miles to tell him. It was cowardice, I know, but now that we were face to face, I couldn’t get my shit together to save my life.

I tore my attention down to the menu while occasionally glancing around the restaurant. “This view from up here isbeautiful.” I spoke up. “For someone who’s never been on a real date before, somebody’s got taste.”

Kareem belted out a soft chuckle. “I told you I’d go all out for you, didn’t I?”

“You’ve eaten here before?”

“Nah. I asked one of the locals where to take a girl I like for some good food. They told me this spot.”