“Well, I mean obviously you’re okay.”
“Yeah, but my ass hurts.” Ayla pouted, massaging the middle of her back. “I’m going to put this food up, run me a hot ass bath, and then come in here and prep. You’re coming back, right?”
“Yeah, after my appointment.” Coast nodded. “You know what you need to do, though? Call that fine ass Justin and tell him you’ll meet him for that dinner he offered tomorrow around six-ish,” Coast teased.
Ayla’s gaze slipped past her to Kong in the doorway. Judging from his tight jaw and glazed over eyes, she assumed he heard Coast.
Ayla cleared her throat. “Goodbye, Coast.”
Kong side-eyed her on the way through the door.
“Don’t be looking at me like that. Your fumble gives the next man a chance to score.”
“She said bye, Coast.”
She stuck her tongue out on the way past him, but Kong paid her no mind since he was too focused on the guilt-ridden expression darkening Ayla’s face. Coast was more than happy to escape that awkwardness. Mozzi had the doors put on her jeep, so she yanked the driver’s side open and hopped in. After checking her reflection in her mirror, she pouted her lips, started her engine, and turned the heat on full blast.
She had a sonogram appointment again. The last few times she went, the baby was playing games and hiding their genitals, so she was hoping and praying they would be able to find out the sex. Mozzi said he didn’t need to know that it was a girl, but Coast had to be sure before she started buying shit.
She ended up in underground parking, which she hated, but she whipped her Jeep into an empty spot about eight feet from the elevators to the hospital entrance and parked. After shutting off her car, Coast took her time climbing out, becoming slightly winded since her belly was now leading her wherever she went. She stopped at the elevator as they opened and two passengersgot off. Allowing them to pass first, Coast slid on and hit the button for the main level with her back against the wall. The doors hadn’t closed yet, so when Arwen stepped on with Sipes right behind her, Coast nearly popped a vessel.
“What are you doing here?”
“Doctor’s appointment, right?” Sipes queried, watching the doors close.
Coast looked down and found his hand intertwined with Arwen’s while she sported a smug grin.
“Are you following me?”
“I told you I got resources. By the way, got some information from the judge.” Sipes went into the inner pocket of his big bubble coat and retrieved a file folder.
Coast snatched it, a menacing glare flickering through her eyes. She yanked the folder open and briefly skimmed the contents. It was basically an order from the judge petitioning for her to have a paternity test done.
“Since we’re here today, maybe your doctor can put a rush on it.”
“Go to hell, Sipes! You will never get your hands on my baby. You don’t even want a kid. You just want to stick it to me. How does that make you feel?” She focused on Arwen, watching her satisfaction slowly dissipate.
“I don’t care. Give him what he wants. I don’t have a problem playing step mama.” Arwen shrugged.
“Bitch, you will never—” Coast stepped forward and the elevator chimed before the doors opened.
Mozzi just so happened to be standing on the other side when they did.
“What’s up? We got a muhfucking problem?” he demanded, hand going right to the burner on his hip.
Coast rushed off the elevator, relieved to see him. She felt much bigger and taller when Mozzi was around. He didn’t playone bit about her or her baby. When she thought about how she used to push back in the beginning and then witnessed where they were now, she could only be grateful for it. He showed her everyday what being a man was. When she got crazy, he let her, and then she’d turn around and apologize, knowing she was being unreasonable. He never held it against her or threw it in her face, though.
“He just gave me these.” Coast shoved the papers into Mozzi’s hands. “It’s a court order for a paternity test.”
Mozzi didn’t bother looking at anything. He shoved the folder back into Sipes’ chest and inched closer. In the middle of the hospital, he was about to check this motherfucker once and for all.
“I don’t give a fuck about no paperwork,” he growled. “I said that’s my fucking baby. DNA don’t make you no fucking father!”
Sipes simpered. “But it does give me rights.”
“You got the right to get a bullet put in you too, nigga!”
“Moses, no!” Coast stepped between them. “Don’t do that. I’ll take the test.”
