But damn if she wasn’t getting on my nerves lately.
“Why can’t I just live in the city with you?” She turned to face me, arms crossed over her belly. “I don’t understand why I gotta be all the way out here.”
“I told you, babe. I got too much going on right now.” I walked over to her, put my hands on her shoulders, gave herthat look that usually made her melt. “The club just opened. The casino deal is still in the works. I’m working eighteen-hour days trying to make sure we’re straight. You really wanna be stuck in some apartment waiting for me to come home at 3 AM?”
“I’d rather be stuck waiting for you than stuck out here by myself.”
“It’s not forever. Just until things settle down.” I kissed her forehead. “This is for us. For our family. You know I got you.”
She softened a little. She always did. Kacey was easy like that. She wanted to believe in me, so she did. And it made my life a whole lot simpler.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
I pulled it out and saw the Mehar’s name flash across the screen.
Kacey saw it too.
“Who the fuck is Mehar?” Her whole energy shifted, arms dropping to her sides, eyes narrowing. “And why she calling you?”
“Chill.” I silenced the call and slipped the phone back in my pocket. “That’s my cousin Prime’s future sister-in-law. She works for the casino.”
“She calling you at 7 PM on a Tuesday about casino business?”
“Yes, Kacey. That’s literally what I just said.” I kept my voice calm, unbothered. “You’re being paranoid.”
“I’m being paranoid? You got me in a house forty-five minutes outside the city, you barely come see me, and now random bitches calling your phone?—”
“She’s not a random bitch. She’s family.” I stepped closer, cupped her face in my hands. “You’re carrying my baby. You think I’d do anything to jeopardize that? Come on, now. You know me better than that.”
She searched my eyes for a long moment. Looking for the lie. But I’d been doing this too long to slip up over something this small.
Finally, she exhaled. “I’m sorry. I just… I miss you. And being pregnant got my emotions all over the place.”
“I know, babe. I know.” I pulled her into a hug, rubbing her back. “Just trust me, aight? I’m handling everything. You just focus on keeping my baby healthy.”
She nodded against my chest.
My phone buzzed again. Mehar. Again.
“I gotta take this,” I said, pulling back. “It’s about the casino. I’ll be right back.”
I stepped outside onto the porch, waiting until the door closed behind me before I answered.
“Hey, you.”
“Thad!” Mehar’s voice was bright. Eager. “I’ve been calling you. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, I’ve just been busy. Work stuff.” I leaned against the railing, looking out at the quiet suburban street. “What’s up?”
“Nothing, I just… I missed you. I haven’t seen you in a few days.”
A few days. Like that was a lifetime. This girl was getting attached fast, much faster than I’d planned. At first it was cute, the way she lit up when I walked in the room, the way she looked at me like I was the best thing that ever happened to her. But now it was starting to feel like pressure.
“I missed you too,” I lied. “I’m actually about to head your way. Give me like an hour?”
“Really?” I could hear the smile in her voice. “I thought you said you were busy.”
“I am. But I can make time for you.”
