“Okay, love you and my little baby. Call me later.”
Kennedi disconnected and set her phone on the counter. Rolani had been gone for three days, and it had been a week since they’d actually seen each other. She was learning what it meant to miss someone — not the casual I wish you were here kind. This was deeper. A quiet pull she couldn’t ignore. Yearning.
The doorbell rang, pulling her from her thoughts. She moved smoothly across the floor in her house shoes. This place had become her second home since she’d agreed to help with Monroe. She’d been giving Georgie a break. More than that, she wanted to take whatever she could off Rolani’s plate. She was determined to show up for him the way he’d been showing up for her.
The door swung open, and there stood Spirit with two iced coffees in hand and the biggest grin splitting her face.
“There she is!” Spirit’s eyes dropped immediately to Kennedi’s belly, then snapped back up. “Oh my God, look at you! You’re really pregnant. Like, really, really pregnant.”
Kennedi laughed, stepping aside to let her in. “Seven months and counting.”
“And you look amazing.” Spirit handed her the decaf, eyes still roaming over her like she was cataloging every change. “Glowing and everything. I hate you.”
“Liar. I look exhausted.”
“Exhausted and glowing. Both can be true.” Spirit opened her arms wide. “Now get over here.”
Kennedi walked into them, and Spirit held on a beat longer than expected, like she needed a second to confirm that what she was seeing was real. She pulled back and looked at her, not at the belly, at her face.
“You good?” she asked.
“Yeah.” Kennedi smiled. “I’m really good.”
Spirit nodded once, like that settled something. Then her eyes dropped to the belly, and the grin came back full force. “Okay, sis.”
“Come in, come in. I got us set up in the living room. Charcuterie and everything.”
“Oh, so you fancy now? All domesticated and shit. Let me find out.” Spirit teased, following her inside.
“Shut up.” Kennedi laughed, leading her to the living room. “But yeah, maybe I am.”
“Damn, sis.” Spirit settled onto the couch like she’d been there before, one hand on her hip, eyes sparkling with mischief. “But anyway, I see I got some tea to sip on. You done gone and did it now.”
Kennedi laughed, grabbing her coffee before sinking into the cushions beside her. “I know. But I gotta leave by 1:40 to pick up Monroe from school, so we gotta make this count.”
They settled in, Spirit already reaching for the brie while Kennedi turned up the music—smooth R&B that let conversation breathe but still left room for karaoke moments if needed.
“Okay, where do we start?” Spirit leaned back, coffee cradled in both hands. “You being pregnant, or the fact that you didn’t listen to me when I said run from that man?”
“Let’s start with I’m glad I didn’t listen to you.” Kennedi’s hand moved instinctively to her belly, fingers tracing the curve. “That’s my man, and I’m sticking beside him.”
The teasing left Spirit's face. A genuine smile took its place. “I’m happy for you, friend. Seriously. Rolani is family, and he’s good to his people.” She tilted her head. “So y’all like official or what?”
“Very official.” Kennedi couldn’t stop the grin spreading across her face. “He made sure of that.”
“I bet he did.” Spirit laughed, knowing. “So what’s it been, like a month? Two?”
“Not even that long, really. But it feels...” Kennedi paused, searching for the right word. “Right. It feels right.”
“Look at you, all soft and in love.” Spirit took a slow sip of her coffee, watching her friend over the rim. “It’s beautiful to see.”
“It is.” Kennedi grabbed a grape, popping it in her mouth. “But enough about me. What about you? You said you’re done with the old life. What’s that mean?”
Spirit set her cup down, fingers drumming against her thigh. “It means I’m done with the boardrooms and contract negotiations. Coming back home is twofold, I guess.”
“Get to talking, Spirit.” Kennedi leaned forward, fully invested. “What’s going on?”
“It’s all good—great, actually. I’m moving back home and focusing on a new venture. One that just... happened overnight, you know? Like it’s been building for years, but it’s finally tangible.”
