Raya The test came out soon enough, its results gathering us in the courtroom, and I held Mr. Sterling's hand, nervous and agitated.I wasn't sure what the result was going to say, and even though there were only five people in the room—me, Mr. Sterling, William, and our lawyers—it felt as if there were multiple eyes on me, asking me who the father of my child was.I had tried thinking of it but couldn't quite place it.The bar, yes, I remembered going to a bar back when I was in college due to frustration and exhaustion from the abuse of Williams, and I had gotten drunk only to wake up blank the next day, without a memory of what happened, and my butt, stark naked under the covers.The room had also been empty, with my clothes strewn across the floor, and I had managed to convince myself that I had just taken my clothes off... because of the heat.It sounded stupid, I knew, but believable also because... I wasn't sure; I sweated a lot.Anyway, I had forgotten about it with time, esp
RayaI felt my palms turn sweaty the minute the news settled in.His parents.Dinner.In his family house."Hey, hey, look at me," Mr. Sterling said, already seeing the panic in my eyes, and he placed each of his hands on my arms."It's just dinner. Nothing attached. You don't have to go, even because I would much rather spend time with you alone.""What is wrong, mummy?" We turned to see Kyle looking at me in concern, and I shook my head."Nothing, love; I'm fine. I'll go. I just don't have what to wear..."Okay, that was a lie, as I had lots of clothes he had dumped on me during our hate-hate relationship, but my mind was too foggy to think of that."I mean, I don't know what to wear. Dinner gown, something simple...""I'd much rather you wear jeans and a shirt."I hit his arms playfully, smiling, "You must be kidding me."But that was only for a while, because the realization of what I was about to do hit me.I was meeting his parents.That sounded so formal, like I was planning to
MaxwellThe drive to the family house was spent calming Raya down as she continued to panic and overthink the whole thing.It had been unexpected for me too—the text message from my dad asking to meet Raya—but I guess he had finally accepted the fact that I wasn't going to marry Tyla.So you can imagine my surprise when the door opened about an hour later to reveal that same person, but not just her; I found out that my brother and his wife were present too.Wasn't this just lovely?I felt the panic in Raya go from one hundred to a thousand, and I squeezed her hand."Mom, really?" I said to her with gritted teeth when I finally got her alone before we all sat down."We just thought she might be nervous if it's just the four of us.""And you think it's better now?"She raised her eyebrows before realizing what I was talking about: "I thought you were over her.""No, not her.""Tyla?"I nodded, "She said she was okay with it.""And you really think she was sincere. She's obsessed with
RayaI paused in front of the sink, minutes later after using the restroom, where I had prayed that Tyla would have left by the time I came out, but she was still in there, in front of the mirror, reapplying her lipstick when I finally came out.I brought out mine to do so too after washing my hands."You do know Maxwell is not serious with all this, do you?"I turned to face her momentarily."What do you mean?""Dating? Holding hands and pretending that he's in love—of course he can do that. It's why so many women shifted their pants for him."I tried not to let that get to me."Hmm...""I'm sure he must have used that on you too, though I would agree he knows how to f*ck. The positions, the passion—I can remember him running his fingers down my body the other day."Okay, this was weird."Uhm... What is the point of all this?"She turned to face me finally, her lipstick going into her bag, which I hadn't realized she carried into the restroom, and I turned to face her too."I'm telli
Maxwell "What the f*ck!" We both burst out laughing when I turned on the lights and saw that it was our dog who had been staring at us.Like, what the f*ck!It was kind of embarrassing for both of us as I could see it on her face, but whatever, it was a dog, so...She went to the dog to pet it and turned around to face me after, "I had forgotten all about it.""Yeah, I dropped it for a while at Ryan's because of what was going on, and he only recently dropped it back here since I had told him I would be coming around.""Wow, this is ridiculous."She laughed again, and I laughed going to collect Cody from her. He was probably hungry, and since I couldn't just deny my dog his meal, I nudged down the bulge that had been growing in my pants.I wasn't sure if she noticed that.I fed Cody and kept him busy with a toy when I was done, and I went into the kitchen where Raya was having a can of beer."Want one?" She asked, and I nodded, but instead of collecting the drink that she handed to m
MaxwellI woke up the next morning to that same beauty still curled up in my bed, her hair splaying wildly across my arm, and I woke her up unintentionally when I ran a hand through her hair."You're awake?" She muttered when she opened her eyes, and I nodded, placing my head on one hand to watch her intently.She looked so beautiful even with her hair all messy, and I ran my eyes down her upper body when she stretched."F*ck!" She groaned, making me sit up, and I stared at her alarmed."What is it?""Oh nothing... I'm just sore..."My alarm turned into a smile at her response."Right."We had been going at it for the better part of the night and morning so I could understand her."Wait here," I said as I stood up, ignoring my nakedness, and I walked into my bathroom, where I started a bath.Women liked it hot, right?I made it as hot as I could without making scalding.Ahh, candles...F*ck, I didn't have them. Neither did I have a bath bomb or flowers, so I made the bath as pretty an
RayaThe shirt was big, as were the trousers that enveloped me in Mr. Sterling's warmth, and I rang on Kendall's doorbell when I got to her apartment."Raya, you're back.""Mom!""Aunt Raya!""Hey"I greeted the whole bunch of individuals that were sending their greetings my way, including Ryan, who was surprisingly still there; I thought he would have left by then, and Kendall glanced behind me after I walked in, "Where is Mr. Sterling?""He had to do something at the office.""Oh, okay.""Can I go now?" Ryan asked, standing up from where Leah had kept him busy, and he handed her to Kendall all over again."Yup. Thank you for the help.""Of course"He winked, making Kendall blush.Wait, was she really blushing?There was no way.I turned to her after he left."What the f*ck was that?" She walked back into the room, her face turning away from me, and I went around her to her front to see her properly."Are you guys sleeping together?"There was no way, right?"What no! ... Yes..." she
MaxwellThe bar was pretty quiet for a weekend night, the neon lights running in circles as slow music played in the background, and I cleared my throat when the woman I was with, said nothing."Uhm..." I started unsure of how to talk to my girlfriend's mother.Okay, it felt surreal to say that, but it was happening.*Flashback*"Mr. Sterling!"I turned to the woman that had called my name, recognizing her immediately, and I felt a burn of anger in my chest.Why was she roaming about her daughter if she didn't care about her?"Please, I need to talk to you.""I'm very busy, ma'am; probably make a schedule with my secretary."Of course, I was going to ignore that too if she did."I'm Raya's mother!" She said before I could walk away, and I wasn't sure what reaction she was expecting, but little did she know that I already knew that information."And..." I said, turning to face her again."I just... I just want to talk to her. To make amends""And what makes you think you have that righ