Page 40 of Out of Bounds (Atlanta Demon Series #4)

The girls trotted off while Masai worked to fix everyone a plate.

The way she was moving around my kitchen was as if she belonged here.

To me, she did. Shit, the fact that we were getting ready to sit down as a family to eat felt like old times back at the other house.

Her being here had me replaying all of the little moments we shared over the last fourteen years.

I’d fuck Masai so good some nights that she would wake up the next morning and make a big spread for breakfast. Sometimes, we would find ourselves in the breakfast nook, reminiscing about some shit that happened in the past while waiting on the kids to wake up.

Those quiet mornings were my favorite because she was just Masai, and not Masai the football wife or Masai the mom.

She used to stroke the back of my head while I drove, and I missed that shit—my drives be boring as hell now without presence.

But of all the little things, I missed the feel of her resting her body on top of mine.

Whether it was her head, her feet, or her whole body—I loved when she shed her superwoman armor and allowed me to comfort her at night.

I missed my best friend and wanted those moments back.

I’d realized quickly that all the shit I took for granted was the glue that held my sanity together.

I know she called herself having a man or whatever he was, but that nigga didn’t know Masai like I did.

I was determined to get my wife back, and I knew exactly what to do to make it happen.

Once the girls finished in the bathroom, Masai served everyone before fixing herself a small plate.

We chatted with the kids while everyone ate, and once we were done, I cleaned up the kitchen while Sai made sure the girls got dressed.

A few hours later, she and my two babies left the house.

I popped a movie in for KJ while my oldest two did their own thing.

KJ, Kree, and I stretched out on the sofa and took a nap.

“Daddy?” Maddie Claire quizzed after she opened the front door. “I didn’t know you was coming over.”

“I wasn’t. I stopped for ice cream and decided to bring some for y’all.”

“Who was at—” Masai started to ask, but stopped when she saw me standing there. Looking down at the bag, she quizzed. “What’d you do?”

I held the Spun Cow Creamery bag up. “Ice cream.”

“They haven’t had dinner yet.”

“I can wait.”

She shook her head and turned to walk off. When I trekked into the kitchen, the girls were sitting at the counter doing homework. Kree was in his highchair, snacking on berries. “What my babies doing?”

“Daddy!” the girls yelled. One by one, they hopped up and embraced me.

“You brought ice cream!” Aurora screamed while showing all of her teeth.

“I did,” I confirmed and opened the freezer so I could put the bag down. “But you gotta eat dinner first.”

“Yes, sir.”

I played with the girls for a few minutes before propping up against the counter. “What you cooking?”

“Sweet potato taco bowls.”

“Yo’ ass must be cutting carbs again.” I jested.

“I am.” Masai laughed. “I’ve gained like ten pounds.”

Tilting my head to the side, I ran my eyes up and down her body. “In all the right places. You filling out them pants.”

“I’m fat,” she complained.

“Nawl, you fine as fuck, Sai. You already know that, though.”

“You always think I’m fine.”

“’Cause you are.”

“Whatever, Kreed. Are you hungry?”

“What you tryna feed me?” I asked and licked my lips. “’Cause the last time I checked…”

“Get yo’ ass outta my house.” She laughed and pointed at the door. “Can’t even be nice because your ass trying to be freaky.”

“I told you, it’s been a minute. I thought you was offering.”

“You thought wrong. I’m sure your baby mama dying to give you some.”

“Man, I wouldn’t touch that girl if you paid me. Oh, I been meaning to tell you, she said thank you for the recommendation.”

“Um.” Masai snorted.

“Don’t be like that.” I chortled.

KJ’s first birthday was approaching fast as hell, and Ashton had been looking for a place to have his party.

I tried to tell her ass he was turning one and wasn’t going to remember all of that shit, but she was dead set on trying to have this extravagant party.

I mean, I’ve had five first birthday parties and knew for a fact none of my kids remembered that shit.

Masai was the one who told me to let her do her thing because it was all for social media.

Sai even gave me a list of places that she knew would accommodate the party.

Ashton was going all out, and I planned to throw something on the grill and let the kids swim.

I wanted to do something really simple that I knew KJ would enjoy.

Since the night Masai had slept over the crib, she’d been cool.

When we talked, she asked about KJ, and anytime I had him, she FaceTimed me so she could see him.

It was almost like she had gotten over it.

I don’t know if her new nigga had put shit into perspective for her or not, but she was a lot more welcoming of him than she was in the beginning.

I mean, it shocked me because this was the same woman who straight-up told me, “I’m not raising no other bitch kid.

” Now, she wasn’t raising him per se, but she no longer excluded him when she mentioned the kids.

I was grateful because I didn’t want a time to come when one of our kids had an event or something, and I brought him, and she felt uncomfortable.

Hell, I was trying to get her comfortable with my ass being around, so having to ease myself and KJ onto her was a task. I was happy she was coming around.

Take now, for example: I did this shit on purpose.

When I left the practice facility, I wanted to see my family, so I went and grabbed ice cream.

I knew Masai wasn’t going to have an issue with me stopping by, so shit I pulled up.

I was intentionally trying to force myself in her face so she would realize how much she missed me and take my ass back.

It had been a month of me doing this, and she was still with that nigga, so I needed to step it up a notch.

The bowl being placed in front of me pulled me out of my thoughts. “You want creamy avocado dressing or the chipotle one?”

“Shit…” I hummed and scratched at my stomach. “You can give me a lil’ of both.”

“Okay.” She drizzled both sauces over my food and slid a fork in the bowl. “I think you got a beer from the last time you were over. Want that or water?”

“I’ll take a water. Speaking of… you bringing the girls to the game Sunday?”

“I hadn’t thought about it.” She passed me a bottle of water and fixed the girl’s food while I plotted my next move.

“You should. We’re playing the Saints.”

“I was supposed to do something with Lam.”

“Bring him.” I shrugged.

“Hell nawl!” She retorted.

“Girl, I’mma be on the field. You can bring that man. You know he can’t afford to sit in no suite any other time.”

She laughed. “Stop coming for that man’s pockets. You don’t know what he can afford.”

“Bring him, Masai. KJ will be there with his nanny.”

“Oooh!” she sang while jigging her shoulders. “It is your weekend with him.”

“Yep.”

“I’ll bring the kids. I’ll ask Lamar if he wants to come. If he doesn’t, I’ll still bring them.”

“Bet.” I pointed at the bowl. “This shits good, by the way.”

“Everything I make is good.”

“You right about that. Everything…” I enunciated.

“You’re a creep.”

“You would know.”

“Eat so you and the girls can have ice cream, and you can take your ass to your house.”

“Oh, I can’t spend the night?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Damn.” I palmed my chest and feigned hurt. “I’mma remember that the next time yo’ ass call and ask if you can sleep over my shit.”

“One time, Kreed. It happened once, and you know I only stayed because the plumbing was backed up and the people couldn’t come right out. Yo’ ass wasn’t even home when we slept over.”

“You still stayed,” I tossed out while shrugging. Masai rolled her eyes and flipped my ass the bird on the sly.

“Hurry up!” she groaned like I was bothering her.

Masai could kick me out of her crib all she wanted. My ass was going to be right back over in a few days, lying on her couch like I still lived here. Mark my words.