Page 109 of Only for Me

I was but loving Omiri was a scary place to be because I wanted this so much…

“You’re staying, right?”

“Yep, I am. I’ve been commanded to stand post with this little lady until your man gets home later.”

“Fine, then I’m going back to bed because my head is still pounding and I’m going to take full advantage of my man taking care of me.”

“Hoe, I’m the one here, not him.”

“Yep, but he’s the one who arranged all of this. So you taking care of me is, by default, him taking care of me.” I stuck my tongue out, lifted onto my knees, and moved to Avi who I kissed on the cheeks then stood to leave the room.

“Thank you for this. Love you, mean it.”

“Love your ungrateful ass too, friend. Now get out. Avi and I have plans.”

I grinned and left them, heading back to bed, grateful for my girl and my man.

By the timeI was up and moving again, the house was quiet. I headed straight to the bathroom and looked at my reflection in the mirror, cringing. My hair was all over my head and my eyes were puffy but I felt a lot better than I had earlier. I washed my face and brushed my teeth before I opened the drawer and removed my Denman brush and detangled the matted coils I’d managed to tame into a ball on top of my head before I took a quick shower. Once I was in a hoodie and cotton shorts, I was on my way to find my baby.

I found my two favorite people in the kitchen. Omiri was at the table with Avi in front of him in her high chair. She had a rainbow of chunks of roasted vegetables and baked chicken spread across the tray, feeding herself. Currently she had sweet potatoes smashed in her little hand.

“How are you feeling?” he asked as soon as I entered the kitchen. I went straight to Avi, kissing her cheeks, and sheshoved her fist in my direction with a smile in place. I pretended to eat what she was offering and fake chewed.

“Mmm, that’s so good, muffin. Thank you.” She beamed and smashed some against her own mouth while I gave Omiri my attention.

“A lot better. I’m still a little stuffy but my headache is gone.”

“Cone here.”

I stepped between his legs and he pulled me down onto his lap and placed the back of his hand across my forehead and down to my neck.

“Your fever’s gone.”

I grinned. “See, all good.” I adjusted on his lap and leaned back against his chest while he hooked one arm around my waist and gripped my thigh with the other.

“You probably still need to chill for a minute.”

“I’m fine and thank you for calling Tiana to keep Avi today.”

He kissed my neck and dropped his chin on my shoulder. “What I tell you about that?” He squeezed my thigh and tightened his arm around my waist. “It’s all love for my baby mama.” His voice was light and I rolled my eyes.

“Please don’t.”

“You don’t wanna be my baby mama, Kari?”

“Not after the way they dragged my name next to that term over the past couple months.”

He chuckled and kissed me. “Aight, so how about your baby daddy’s woman?”

“Hell no. That’s worse.”

“Sounds like you don’t wanna be mine.”

“Sounds like you need to figure out a better way to say I’m yours.”

Omiri started a trail of kisses across the curve of my jaw. “How about my safe space, my home, my reason for existing, my daughter’s beautiful ass, fine as hell mother, and my peace.”

My teeth sank into my lip to suppress my smile and he gripped my chin, turning my face to his. “You cool with all that.”