“What’s going on with you and Aaliyah?”
His brows shot up, and I could instantly see the boyish smirk in his eyes,
He looked so guilty that he made me smile from ear to ear. “I saw y’all together in court,” I teased.
He let out a small laugh while rubbing the back of his neck. “We’re… together. That’s my baby.”
A smile tugged at my lips. “Woooow. I’m proud of her. She pulled a Black Chyna. That’s a hell of a chess move.”
He started cracking up. Then told me, “We’ve always had feelings for each other. We were just respecting Rah.”
Then guilt settled in his expression. I knew what he felt guilty for, for knowing about Aaliyah and not telling me. But I would have never expected him to turn on his brother like that.
“Focus on doing your time and getting back home,” he spoke over the tension. “I’m going to look out for the kids.”
“Thank you,” I said again.
He reached out, gave my hand a gentle squeeze, then nodded toward the door. “Go be with your babies. I’ll see you soon.”
I walked him out of my room, and when we stepped into the living room, I saw that my parents had joined the kids on the floor. Essence was still hunched over her pink pen, and Elijah was proudly holding up his letter for my mama to read.
Fabe greeted as we walked to the front door.
When I opened the door to let Fabe out, the night air was cold, crisp, and quiet. As Fabe walked through the doorway, movement on the stairs caught my eye.
Priest was climbing up the steps with three boxes of Beggars Pizza in his arms and that sexy, easy smile stretched across his face. My heart dropped straight to my stomach.
We’d been spending almost every night together after the kids went to bed. It had been bittersweet as hell, because deep down I knew I couldn’t expect a man like him to wait a whole year for me. Not someone like Priest, who could have any woman he wanted.
Fabe glanced back at me, then at Priest. “What’s up, bro?”
Priest balanced the pizzas in one arm and extended the other. “What’s good, fam? I’m Priest.”
“Fabe,” he said, shaking his hand. “I’m her kids’ uncle.”
Then Fabe gave me a small nod, said goodbye, and headed down the stairs.
I lingered in the doorway with my heart still thumping. “What are you doing here?” I asked Priest.
He gave me a knowing smile. “You told me you were hanging with the kids and your folks, wondering what to feed them for dinner. So…” He held up the pizza boxes. “I brought dinner. That cool?”
The night had been so emotional that I had forgotten that quickly about the conversation Priest and I had had about an hour ago.
I smiled, blushing. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Didn’t have to,” he said, stepping closer. “But I wanted to.”
I stepped aside, letting him in. The smell of pizza filled the house as he walked past me, and the kids’ faces lit up with interest when they saw him. I could tell by their wide eyes they didn’t know what to make of this tall, broad man with tattoos creeping up his neck, carrying pizza boxes.
“Y’all must be Essence and Elijah,” he spoke as he set the boxes on the table. “I’m Priest. Your mama’s friend.”
“Hi,” they both mumbled at the same time, still watching him cautiously.
Priest chuckled and crouched a little to their level. “I brought y’all Beggars Pizza. Y’all hungry?”
Elijah grinned. “Depends on what kind you got.”
“Pepperoni, sausage, and cheese,” Priest said. “I covered my bases.”
