Page 108 of Only for Me

The next morningI woke up hearing my baby laughing and smiled. I slowly peeled my eyes open and cringed because my head was still throbbing but the sound of another voice I recognized had me sluggishly lifting from the bed. I still felt groggy and my head was swimming but I made it to the bathroom where I washed my face and brushed my teeth through squinted eyes.

When I was feeling a little better, I stepped into the hallway and was on my way to Avi’s room where I found Tiana sitting on the floor with my baby surrounded by stuffed animals.

“What are you doing here?”

She looked up and grinned, then turned back to Avi, moving a stuffed Ellie elephant toward my baby who smiled wide and clapped.

“Well good morning to you too. You feeling better?”

“A little but my head is still swimming and throbbing.”

“Then go back to bed. Your man called and asked if I would come hang out with Avi since he had training today.” She pulled Ellie back then put it back in Avi’s face. “Isn’t that right, Tee Tee’s baby? We’ve been chilling all morning because your daddy wanted your mommy to sleep in.”

“He called you?”

“Mmhm.” She looked at me and rolled her eyes. “And look at your in love ass blushing. Y’all are so cute. He was worried and didn’t want you here by yourself trying to deal with Avi.”

“He’s so…”

“Sweet, thoughtful, perfect….yeah I know, hoe. Don’t rub it in my single ass face.”

I grinned. “You don’t want a man.”

“I don’t want a broke, inconsiderate man. One like yours, I will take two please. He stepped up to make sure his woman was good and you know he doesn’t want me all up in y’all’s crib so that’s saying a lot.”

“Stop, he doesn’t care about you being here.”

She shot me a look and I grinned. “In his defense, he doesn’t want anyone here, it’s not just about you.”

“And he left me very detailed instructions about Avi like I don’t know how to take care of my baby but it was cute though. He even gave me the rundown on how to make your tea and what to bring you for lunch. Girl, that man is in love.”

I sat down on the floor across from her and Avi crawled right to me. I hugged her and kissed her little face. “You being good for your Tee Tee?”

“She’s being the perfect angel because she loves me. We had breakfast, we played, and she is now sharing all of her new toys.”

Avi smiled, wiggled out of my embrace, and went back to her stuffed animals.

“And I see all of Mommy’s new toys too.”

“What new toys?”

“This house, friend. It has you all over it. This doesn’t feel like a ‘we’re only here hiding from paparazzi’ house anymore. It feels like this is where we live.”

I shrugged. “We do live here. Is there something wrong with that?”

“No, I’m just waiting on you to be real with yourself about all of this.”

“All of what?”

“You’re officially a Sharks wife.”

“No ring.” I held my hand up and she rolled her eyes.

“You think that man won’t give you one? The way he was around here barking out orders about taking care of you and Avi this morning, trust friend, he will give you whatever you want, question is, what do you want?”

“I want all of this but I also don’t want to get too comfortable because a part of me feels like I shouldn’t and we don’t really talk about stuff like that. We’re just kinda existing.”

“You’re not just existing. That man is stupid in love. Both of y’all are. I wish you would sit your ass in my face and pretend like you’re not.”