CHAPTER 7
Brazil trekkedinside Block’s home without knocking and saw his brother seated on the couch with Symphony straddling him. Thank God, they were fully clothed.
“Y’all supposed to be babysitting not getting freaky.”
Symphony slid off Block’s lap with a shy smile on her face. “Hi, Brazil, and we are babysitting. Unique ate twice and Baby talked for about an hour.” She laughed. “I’ve never seen her stay awake for that long. She just closed her eyes.”
“Yeah, she’s staying awake longer during the day for sure. I pray that means she’ll be sleeping through the night soon. She didn’t give y’all any trouble, though?”
“Heck no. Unique is the sweetest baby ever. I’ll go get her things together.”
Brazil sat down and eyed his brother. It still shocked him that Block’s grumpy ass was actually in love. “You about to take her to Giavanna’s?”
“Yeah. She finally feels up to keeping her overnight. She said she wants to keep her for two days.”
“I need your help with something,” Block spoke in a low tone.
“What’s good?”
“I need you to go ring shopping with me.” Block shook his head as Brazil’s brows raised. “I’m not proposing like right now, but I want to do it soon. It’s gon’ be an extra-ass event that I’m hiring a planner for. By the time I find a ring, get the event planned, and let Symphony plan a big-ass wedding, I’m sure at least a year and some change will have passed. So, I’m not getting married any time soon, but I know if I ever get married, it will for sure be her.” Block was soon to turn thirty-three. He had wasted enough years. It was time to get on his grown man shit.
Brazil’s face lit up as he beamed like a proud father. “I’m proud of you, my G. Just tell me when and where, and I got you.”
Symphony sauntered into the room with Unique cradled in her arms and her diaper bag hanging from her shoulder. Brazil took her and placed Unique in her car seat. Every single day, he peered into his daughter’s chubby face and was in awe at the fact that he was a father. It wasn’t easy at all, especially when Unique didn’t feel well and since she couldn’t verbalize what was wrong, she screamed and cried until her face turned red. Not even that made Brazil stop thanking God for the blessing that he didn’t even know he needed.
He was a busy man, and his career was a physically strenuous one. Brazil was glad when he was able to get a break to catch up on rest, but any time anyone wanted to keep Unique overnight, he found himself missing her. He had it bad.
Grateful for the small break, Brazil was also happy that Giavanna even felt up to keeping Unique. Her situation was an unfortunate one, and Brazil hated it. If Unique couldn’t have her biological mother, to him, Giavanna was the next best thing. It would be fucked up if she wasn’t around to watch Unique grow. She was a good person and further proof that life wasn’t fair. When he arrived at her place, Giavanna opened the door for him with red eyes.
“You good?”
She nodded, but her sad eyes and tear-streaked face said otherwise. “My hair started coming out. I knew it was coming, but I didn’t expect it so soon. I’ve only had one round of chemo. Crying over hair is probably stupid, but I’m emotional about everything these days.” She smiled.
“It’s not stupid at all. You have a right to feel however you want to feel, and if you want to cry every day, you can do that.”
“I don’t necessarily need permission for that. I do it anyway.” A sad smile lifted her cheeks. “But thank you for understanding. I’m not ungrateful, and I’d rather be alive with no hair than dead with hair, but it’s still hard. Some people act as if as long as I’m alive, I shouldn’t be upset about anything I’m going through, and life doesn’t work like that.”
“You’re right, it doesn’t.”
Giavanna was tired of having heavy discussions, so she adverted her attention to the sleeping baby in the carrier, and her eyes lit up. “I can’t wait to cuddle with her. I’ve missed her real bad.”
Brazil eased into the living room and placed the carrier on the floor. “She sleeps less during the day now. She might tire you out.”
“She can’t walk, so I’m good.” Giavanna giggled. “I feel pretty good today. I’m actually tired of feeling like I’m sleeping my life away, so I’m ready for her.”
“Bet. Call me if you need me.”
“Will do.”
Brazil had known he was a father for less than three months but walking out of Giavanna’s house, knowing she would have Unique for the next two nights, almost felt odd. Since she got sick, and he had her every night, it was going to be foreign not having to get up throughout the night with her. Sometimes, he woke up even when she wasn’t crying just to look at the securitycamera on his phone and make sure she was good. Unique was a change in his life that wasn’t an easy one, but it was a blessing.
When it came to his career, Brazil for sure had discipline. With his personal life, he had it, too, when he wanted it. However, at the moment, he was having a good time not having to be tied down or responsible for anyone. That literally changed overnight for him, and he wasn’t mad at it. Practice had worn him out, so Brazil decided to go grab a bite to eat and take it in for the night. Chuckling to himself, he wondered how many times he would wake up in a panic that he hadn’t heard Unique cry.
At the restaurant, Brazil chose to sit at the bar. A good meal and a few drinks would do him right. For a good night’s rest, a hot shower, food, and a few shots were his holy trinity.
“Hi, Mr. Thornton.”
He had barely gotten a chance to look over the menu when a feminine voice uttered his name. Turning in the direction the greeting came from, Brazil’s orbs landed on a pretty dark-skinned cutie that looked familiar, but he couldn’t quite place her. His eyes narrowed as he took her in and tried to jog his memory.
