good, I’m ready to boink my honky tonk.”
“Go to my house and check on Tami, please. She’s throwing up, and Neil’s not worth shit. Go now!”
I hear him in the background saying, “Love, boom boom is on hold; we have a situation at Tami’s. I need to go.”
Then, I hear Roxy say the unthinkable, “I want to come!”
“Huh? Love, Tami needs me. You’re just gonna have to cum later.”
“Stupid idiot! I mean, I want to come with! Let’s go, just put on your boxers. On second thought, put on pants; Neil might attack you.”
What the hell? I have dumb and dumber, and an energizer bunny with ADD taking care of Tami and our baby. Dear God, I need all the help I can get.
“Cody, Now!”
“Hang tight, B. I’m on my way. Just keep the line open.”
What the hell else does he think I can do at this point?
“Oh, thank God, you guys are here; I can’t carry. . . .” Neil’s voice trails off then sounds off again. “Oh my, you’re shirtless.” Then, he says, “Roxy your nipples are standing at attention, and your ass is hanging out of that shirt. Girl, were you about to go all Marvin Gaye? You know, ‘let’s get it on . . . let’s get it on.’”
“Shut up, Neil! Move out of my way. Love, talk to Brian.”
“Brian, are you still there?”
“Yes, how is she?”
“Cody’s carrying her out of the bathroom straight to bed, as we speak. I’m gonna tell Neil to fix her something to eat.”
“I’m on my way. Tell her, please.”
Without waiting for her answer, I hang up not wanting our first conversation to be over the phone. I want us to talk face to face with my eyes boring into hers, and her body very close to mine.
I don’t even say hi to Neil or Roxy when I walk into the house, my main objective is to get to Tami, ASAP. As I swing open the door, I find her with my pillow encased in her arms, she’s curled up her butt slightly sticking out like how Jillian sleeps. Quietly, I walk over to her side, kneeling as I push aside a strand of hair that’s covering her face.
“Hey, angel.”
No movement, whatsoever, so I run my knuckles over her soft cheeks as I do when I want to wake up Jaelin. Remembering how Trish or Jake would give me a dirty look when I do that brings a smile to my face. Jaelin is my favorite by far out of the four. She just draws me to her, just like her aunt does, the force of which I can’t even deny.
“Eyes open, please. I need to see them.”
“Hmm . . .” A loud mumble is the only answer I get.
She takes in a deep breath and opens her eyes. Her grey eyes on my green ones.
“How are you feeling? Are you trying to give my heart some exercise?”
Burying her face on my pillow, she mumbles, “No. I didn’t think you’d care.”
“Alright, I guess I deserve that.”
“There’s more where that came from,” sarcastically, she answers.
I quickly answer with humor I hope she’ll find funny, “That’s what she said.”
I have a feeling this conversation is heading south before I can even say I’m sorry. Glancing her way, I can tell she didn’t find my humor as funny as I thought she would since she’s wearing a scowl on her face.
“I love you, T. You have . . .”
“I know you love me. I also know, you want me to know that. You also want to tell me you’re sorry, that you were shocked when I told you about our baby, and now you’re ready. You’re willing to take the risk of loving and losing another. You need me to understand your pain and all that emotional stuff you’re so afraid of. Am I right, so far?”
Embarrassingly, I nod my head. Thanking God she didn’t repeat the hurtful words that left my mouth last night. How can I possibly make it up to her?
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about my first child. I’m sorry I said those hurtful things. I want this baby. I.love.our.baby. Everything you said is all true, but one thing you’re forgetting is me wanting to protect you from . . .”
“Stop thinking we’re
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