Page 91 of Only for Me

Makari and our daughter.

When I madeit to the house, I found Makari standing in front of the refrigerator with the door wide open. She was dressed in one of my Sharks T-shirts knotted at the side and some little ass spandex shorts. I walked up behind her, wrapped my arms around her waist, and held her against my chest before I buried my face in her neck. I clung to her tight as hell, needing to feel something other than the messed up thoughts clouding my head.

Over the past couple months her and Avi had been my anchors. Life didn’t feel as heavy and my heart didn’t hurt as much as it had in the past. I knew what that shit was. The love I had for my brother was now being poured into them. It might not have been healthy but it was what I needed.Shewas what I needed.

Holding her like this calmed the weight of what Ky had just told me and prevented me from getting lost in a bottle. I failedmy brother but I refused to fail them. Makari turned against me and smiled until her eyes scanned my face. Her expression immediately dropped.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

She shook her head. “We don’t do that. We have a deal.”

Nah, we didn’t. She just put that shit out there and ran with it. When my mood wasn’t fucked up, I would talk to her.

I grinned and kissed Makari before I lifted her around my waist and let her wrap her legs around me while I walked her to the counter and set her down. Them little ass hands were on my face and I chuckled, already knowing she was about to be on that making me feel safe shit.

It was crazy as hell but truthfully she did.

“Tell me what’s wrong.”

My eyes locked on hers but I was quiet for a minute, knowing I wouldn’t be completely honest. Wasn’t no way in hell I would admit what Ky planned on doing for me but I would give her a watered down version of what had my mood all twisted.

“I found out something about my brother today and it sent me to a bad place. I don’t really want to talk about it though.”

She brushed her fingers over my cheeks. “I really wish you would talk to someone. It helps.”

I leaned in and kissed her, pushing forward enough so she could feel my dick growing. “You help. That’s all I need.”

“Omiri…”

I chuckled, knowing she was getting annoyed. “Chill, man. I’m straight. I know you don’t believe me but I’m in a much better space than I have been in a while. I’m good, Kari. You and Avi are the reason for that. If I feel like I’m slipping, I’ll talk to you.”

“You need to talk to?—”

I cut her off. “You. You’re the only person I need to talk to. I’m gonna tell you what’s in my head and on my heart. You’re gonna listen and I’m gonna be alright. That’s good enough. When I get to the point where it’s not, I’ll let you know.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.” I kissed her again. “Where’s my baby? She sleep?”

“No, she’s with Tiana.”

I frowned. “Ol’ girl was here?”

I didn’t necessarily care that she pulled up out here, but I didn’t like the idea of Avi being out without us. I also didn’t know if I could trust ol’ girl to keep her mouth shut about where we lived. That was Makari’s girl but the most solid people switched up for the right price.

“Yes, but she would never share the details of our lives with anyone. She loves Avi and she’s my best friend.”

“You trust her like that?”

“Yes,” she said firmly and I nodded. “I knew you would be worried, so I called KP. He’s going to be around just in case but they’re staying in tonight. Tiana just wanted to spend time with Avi.”

I was about to argue with her but I understood how important Tiana was to both of them. She was around when I wasn’t and she held Makari down. I had already disrupted their lives enough as it was. I wouldn’t take the one solid relationship she had from her too. I guess my feelings were on my face because Makari smiled and kissed me. “Stop frowning. Avi is fine, and if you want to call, we can.”

“You didn’t have to tell me that shit. You already know.”

She rolled her eyes and I chuckled, pressing my body forward which spread her legs wider. “I’ma let that ride for now, but since my baby isn’t here, that means you get all my time. I hope you’re prepared to keep me occupied and entertained.”