Page 94 of Search My Soul (Taylor Family Saga #3)

“I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to your party, baby.

Did you like your gifts though?” Darion spoke to me on FaceTime as I got ready to head to my birthday party.

He was being featured in a magazine and had to fly out to New York.

The timing couldn’t have been worse, but I was happy for him.

This was a huge opportunity, and I wouldn’t have wanted him to miss it.

“You don’t have to keep apologizing, baby. I promise I’m fine. Besides, it’s a tea party theme. I’m sure you wouldn’t have wanted to be surrounded by a bunch of women in dresses and gloves.” I giggled when I saw the frown on his face.

“Yeah, definitely not. You still didn’t answer my question though. Did you like your gifts?” Darion had a bunch of gifts delivered to my place, including some designer bags, dresses, and glasses. They were all really nice, and I made sure to send him a picture with a thank you message this morning.

“Well, it’s your world, baby, so if you want a vacation, I can make that happen for you too.

Anything to see you smile.” That was one thing that he did often.

I can honestly say that our relationship had been smooth sailing from the very beginning.

Surprisingly, dating a professional athlete hadn’t come with the typical drama and stereotypes that I once believed.

The women were aggressive, and they constantly threw themselves at him, but Darion was always respectful.

He would always tell me if anything happened while he was away from me, and while I didn’t need all of that, I did appreciate that he kept the communication open.

“How was the interview?” A smile spread across his face the moment I asked.

“Man, this has been amazing! I’ve been featured in a couple of magazines, but to be on the front cover is something completely different.

The photos they took were dope as hell, and I really wish you were here to see them.

Who knows, maybe we can have a wedding exclusive one of these days and take couple pictures in a magazine together.

” It was a joke, but a part of me wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

It was one thing to be the girlfriend of an athlete, but a wife?

I wasn’t sure if I was built for something like that.

“Do you and your teammates have any plans for the night?” Again, I changed the subject to something more general.

“A couple of the fellas want to hit one of the popular clubs out here. I would much rather spend the night in my room, but since I didn’t pay for this trip, then I’m gonna make the most of it. I can’t wait to get back home to you.”

“I know. Between this and your football schedule I feel like I hardly ever see you. I’m excited to come see your games though. I know you’re gonna have an amazing season.”

“Thank you, baby. From your lips to God’s ears. The coach says that we’re making great progress so I’m hoping that means we can make it to the Super Bowl this year. I’m not in a hurry or anything, but I do want to win a ring before I retire.”

“Well, you have a long time before that happens, so I’m sure you’ll be able to reach your dreams. Anyways, Puma is outside waiting for me so I’m going to head out. I know you’ll probably be busy, and so text me later to let me know that you made it back to your room safely.”

“All right, babe I love you.” I cringed every time he said it because I couldn’t say it back.

It wasn’t because I didn’t care about him because I did.

I just wasn’t sure I was ready to take the next step with someone else.

Yes, we were in a relationship, so eventually my feelings would develop into more.

However, I wasn’t ready to rush into anything.

I felt like that was where I went wrong in my last relationship.

Everything with Soul happened so fast and before I knew it, I was head over heels.

The good times were great, but the bad times have left scars that I wasn’t sure would ever heal.

Either way, I was in no hurry to experience that again.

“Aww, thank you. I’ll talk to you later, boo.

” I hung up the phone, then tossed it inside of my handbag.

I gave myself another once over before walking out of my room.

My party theme was pink tea party. All of my guests were supposed to dress in Kentucky Derby type outfits and some shade of pink.

I’ve never really gotten a chance to celebrate my birthday growing up, so for some reason, I wanted to make this particular birthday special.

This year had given me a run for my money, and I needed a reason to smile.

“It’s about time you brought your ass downstairs, bitch. I was two seconds from walking my ass up those stairs and dragging you back down.” Puma fussed as I got inside her car.

“Oh hush. I’m the birthday girl so I get a pass today.”

“Pass my ass. It’s too damn hot to be sitting in the car waiting for you. You look cute though, friend.” She snickered as she pulled out of the complex.

“Thank you, boo. You look amazing as well. I’m surprised my brother-in-law let you out of the house with your titties on display. You know that man is crazy about you.”

“Oh trust me, we had a full-blown argument before I could even make it to the car. He claimed I was disrespecting him and his daughter by advertising her source of nutrients for everyone to see. I politely explained to him that I’m grown as hell and there are no men going to this party.

Him and his spoiled ass twin can leave me the hell alone. ” Puma’s face twisted into a frown.

“You leave my godbaby out of this.”

“Girl, you can go right to hell right along with her. I’m tired of her bullying me every night when it’s time to go to bed.

I’ve never been so sleep deprived in my life, and she has the nerve to be cooing and slobbing at three o’clock in the morning like shit is sweet.

I’m ready to book a hotel room by myself and turn my phone off. ”

“I don’t think that’s a bad idea. Hell if you ever need me to babysit, all you have to do is ask.

I would gladly keep her overnight so you and Murk can have some alone time,” I offered.

I have a lot of experience with children since I helped raise my siblings over the years.

It had been a while since I had to take care of a baby, but I didn’t mind trying.

“Fuck Murk. I need a break from him too.” She huffed.

“Oh, please. You wouldn’t last the weekend without that man.

Did you forget the way you acted the last time he had to go on a business trip?

We didn’t get any peace until that man landed back in the city.

You can front for whoever you want to, but I’m not buying it.

” Normandee and I both had to take turns spending the night with Puma while Murk was gone.

She could barely function without that man, so I knew good and well she wouldn’t last more than a couple of days without him.

“Whatever. I don’t think I was that bad.

All I know is that me and my coochie need a break.

I love my man, but I swear he is trying to give me a homemade hysterectomy.

I have never had this much sex in my life, and while I am enjoying it, it’s becoming too much.

At first, I was excited that he wasn’t gonna be in the streets as much but now I need him to find a hobby because every time he sees me, he thinks it’s time to fuck.

I had to make an extra appointment with my OB/GYN to make sure that this birth control was 99 percent effective.

I love my little baby to death, but I am not ready for another one, and with the way that her father is going that’s exactly what’s gonna happen.

” I laughed from seeing the concerned expression on her face.

“Is it really that bad?” I snickered watching her facial expressions change.

“Bad isn’t the word. We had sex twice before I left the house today and it was only noon. He wanted me to come home after your party, but I told him that we were having a sleepover. My poor walls can’t take anymore.”

“I should not be laughing, but this is the funniest thing I’ve heard in a long time. Why don’t you just tell him that you don’t want to do it as much?”

“I tried, and you would’ve thought I told him that I killed his puppy.

The man was walking around sad for days and refused to touch me at all.

Besides, I get a guaranteed orgasm from him every time so there’s no complaints on that end.

I just need him to find a secondary hobby.

If I can get him out of the house for a couple of hours out of the day, then we’ll be just fine. ”

“Look at you already sounding like an old married couple. I can’t wait until I have those kinds of problems,” I joked.

Truthfully, marriage was the furthest thing from my mind.

I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to try for another baby either.

Those were two very serious commitments, and I just didn’t think I was ready for either of them. At least not right now.

“What’s going on with you and DJ? I saw him posting pictures of you on his page.

I cussed out a few bitches on his post for trying to talk about my friend.

Meanwhile, they were all looking like Shrek and Fiona in the face.

” I snorted from laughing at her ridiculous self.

Puma had this way of making you laugh when she was being serious.

“I don’t even bother to look on his page.

The last time I did, there was nothing but thirsty bitches in the comments begging for him to pay them attention.

They didn’t care who he was with or whether he was married or not.

That’s one thing I don’t think I’ll ever get used to,” I admitted.

I wasn’t a fan of being in the spotlight because people watched you under a fine tooth comb.