AmaijaI lie on the bed waiting for the doctor with mom sitting by my side holding my hand. Iโm excited she gets to hear the babyโs heartbeat today, but my mind canโt seem to focus on this moment. Instead, it keeps replaying Eriqโs kisses. My lips tingle and a bubbly feeling fill my stomach like before. The same feeling he called butterflies. I smile. I havenโt heard that term since high school, then again I havenโt felt like this since back then. The nerves, the uncertainty of his feelings, and the excitement I get whenever I see him. He makes me feel like a high school girl with her first crush.โWhy are you smiling like that?โ Mom asks, pulling me from my thoughts.โLike what?โ I ask.โLike you have a crush on an attractive, chiseled-jaw brunette.โ I smile as Eriqโs face pops into my head.โThere goes that smile again. You like him.โ Mom says, grinning.Of course, I like him, but I donโt want to announce it to anyone. This is all new and I donโt know where itโs going. Whether itโs
AmaijaAfter getting dressed, I head back downstairs. Eriq stands and walks over to me, smiling.โHow do I look?โโStunning.โ I smile and blush under his gaze.โSo, what time will you be home?โ He asks.โThe event ends at ten, so probably around 10:30.โ He nods.โI wish you were coming.โโThatโs okay. Iโll find something to do.โ He says.โWhy donโt you go out with some friends? Go to a bar or a club. Just donโt pick up any girls.โ I grin.Ding. DongThe doorbell rings throughout the house.โThat must be Vector.โโIโll walk you out.โ He says as he takes my hand and leads me to the door.โOh, wait. I have to get something from the office.โ He releases my hand and I head over, open my door and pick up the envelope from the desk and head back into the living room.โHere you go,โ I say, handing it to him.โWhat is it?โ He furrows his brows as he takes it from my hand.โGo ahead, open it.โ He eyes me skeptically, but he opens it and reads, then his eyes go wide.โThis must be wrong.โ I shak
EriqI collapse beside her, trying to catch my breath after another round of making love. I pull her close and kiss her neck as my breathing steadies. I canโt believe whatโs happening. Half an hour ago, I was thinking how hard it will be to get over here and now Iโm in her bed after making love to her. Both my head and heart have been a mess since the moment I slip my shaft into her. I am bewitched by her. A simple touch or smile can make all of these emotions rise inside of me Iโve never felt before. Itโs a feeling so intense that it makes my head spin. Iโm in love with her. I thought I might be before today, but after everything that happened today, Iโm sure that I love her.โIf I had known it would be like this, I would have jumped your bones the first night.โ She says, pulling my attention to her.Her cheeks are flushed red and her hair is messy, but she has never looked more stunning than she does now. I can hear my heart pounding in my chest as I admire her. Yeah. I know Iโm in
EriqAfter checking a couple of Amiโs emails, I head downstairs to find them when I hear them talking.โCome on, tell me. You were having sex with that guy, your new assistant, right?โ I guess they are having girl talk. Should I go in? No, it will probably be awkward if I enter now. I stand back and wait for the conversation to turn to something neutral so I can enter.โShh, he might hear you.โโSo thatโs exactly what you were doing. How was it? Give me all the details. You know itโs been four years since Iโve gotten anyโฆ.โ Four years, wow thatโs a long time.โShhhโฆ heโs my assistant. And youโre choosing not to have sex. You can have any man you want.โ Ami says.โThe dating pool has urine in it. Girl, you know. They are all either cheaters, users, or gays.โ Ami chuckles her cute little laugh.โThere are some good ones left,โ Ami says.I smile, hoping sheโs thinking of me.โI guess he must be something special for you to have that stupid grin on your face.โโWhat grin?โโThat stupid gr
Amaija โAmi, Iโm going to take a shower!โ Eriq says.โOkay!!โ I shout from the couch, pretending Iโm reading as I watch him disappear. After five minutes pass, I drop my iPad and sneak up the stairs to his room. I tiptoe to his door and press my ears against it, listening to see if heโs still in the room. Hearing nothing, I slowly open the door and hurry across the room to his closet. Iโve been sneaking in to steal his shirts for the last couple of days. Okay, it may sound weird, but I promise itโs not what it seems. His smell makes me feel better. No, not in a weird way. I had no morning sickness at the beginning of my pregnancy and thought I would make it to the end without ever getting sick. But two weeks it arrived with vengeance. Iโve been suffering from morning sickness the last two weeks, more like all-day sickness since it doesnโt just happen in the morning. It does stop when Iโm sleeping, but otherwise, Iโm by the toilet.Before the shirts, I tried everything. Mom even r
EriqFinally, weโre going on a date. Itโs a bit late considering all the things we have done, but itโs better late than never. I just hope she likes it. She is used to the best of the best and Iโm sure this wonโt compare to some dates she has been on, but I hope itโs good enough because she deserves nothing but the best. My smart, loving, tough cookie with a heart of gold. My little weirdo. The memory of her crawling in my room on all fours makes me chuckle. I couldnโt believe she was the one nabbing my shirts, but knowing my smell makes her feel better is the best feeling in the world because it means sheโs attached to me. And maybe this thing weโre doing will be more than a fling. Well, it already is more than that for me, but I canโt read her. I know she likes me, but I donโt know how much. I want to ask, but Iโm afraid of the answer. I shake my head, Stop thinking of the future and just live in the present. Letโs just focus on tonight. I take one last look, grab my watch, and put
Amaija โShe did what? How do you know itโs broken?โ Eriq asks. โWell, Iโm in the middle of something. Iโll let you know.โ He removes the phone from his ears as his friend screams. โWhatโs wrong? Is it an emergency? We can cut our date short.โ โItโsโฆโ He pauses and presses the speaker. โAre you seriously going to leave me here?!โ Glen shouts. โYes, call your parents,โ Eriq says. โI donโt want my parents to see me like this.โ โCall the ambulance. Iโm busy. I told you to stop picking up random women.โ I furrow my brows. What does a random woman have to do with this? โShe was really hot and you know that our health insurance is shit. I canโt afford the emergency room fee. Especially after getting robbed.โ โA woman robbed him?โ I ask, stunned. โYes, and she also, according to him, broke his Ummmโฆโ He trails off. โBroke what?โ โHisโhisโuh, the thing you painted today.โ The thing I painted. I furrow my brows, confused. I painted his thing; I blush, recalling the picture. It makes
EriqMy heart almost stops. I immediately sprint out of the room, ignoring Glenโs calls as I head for the door. What if Flavio kidnaps her? I have never seen him harm someone, but he set my apartment on fire to get what he wanted. What else is he willing to do? I should have known better than bringing her here. I should have suspected he may have been watching Glen. I should have moved out to keep her safe, but I selfishly stayed because I wanted her. Now sheโs in danger and all because I couldnโt stay away from her. I swear if he touches her; I grit my teeth as I run down the last flight of steps out of the building. I run to the car. Sheโs not there. I look around. Sheโs nowhere in sight. I grab my phone and dial his number. After a second ring, he picks up.โWhere the fuck is she?โโSo, she is important to you?โโI swear if you lay a finger on her, Iโll bury you six feet deep.โ My voice trembles with anger and fear at the same time. โFinally. I like that. Who knew it would take a w
EriqI canโt keep myself from smiling as I peel the potatoes. Her mother likes me. I have one ally in my goal to win over Ami.โMom!โ Jaden runs into the kitchen, snatches the potato peeler from me, and glares at me.Whatโs wrong with him? Heโs acting like the first time I met him. โMom, why didnโt you tell me you need help? Why did you ask him?โHe says, his eyes still shooting daggers at me.โI didnโt ask him. He offered to help. You can help if you want to, but heโs already doing the potatoes. Why donโt you make the dough for the fried dumplings?โโOkay, mom.โ He throws the peeler down, walks over to her, and kisses her cheeks.I shake my head, confused, before resuming what I was doing. We all work together in mostly silence for a while.โAre you two done?โ Mrs.Klein asks after a while.โAlmost,โ I say as I look down at the potatoes and see only three left. โDo you want anything else done?โโIโm almost done, mom. You can have me do it instead.โ Jaden comes running towards us, his h
Eriq I glance back at Ami, and sure enough, she looks worried. Our eyes meet, and I smile to reassure her before her mother pulls me away. Judging by her motherโs attitude toward me, I donโt think it will be as bad as she does, but I know she is worried for my sake. Which means I have some place in her heart even if she doesnโt love me yet. It gives me hope that maybe someday soon, I can tell her I love her. I have been holding back for the last few weeks and feel Iโm suffocating without saying those three words. โI bet heโs Asian.โ someone says as we draw closer to the family room. โNo, this one is white,โ Jaden says. โWhite, thatโs new. How old is he?โ โI donโt know,โ Jaden says. โI bet two hundred and fifty thou heโs twenty-four.โ โIโll take that action,โ โNo, youโve already met him. So both you and Zara are excluded.โ I chuckle, amused by their banter. They remind me of my family. I guess all families are the same no matter how much money you have. โSo 250, whoโs inโฆโ โAh
AmiI pull my pants on, then my shirt, and grab my shoes. Weโre getting ready to leave for Jamaica soon. I frown. Two weeks with my , overbearing family is not my idea of a good time. Especially since Iโm still a little miffed, that Mom felt the need to blackmail me into going. She can be so annoying, but I canโt be too upset since Eriq is right. The entire family changed their schedules so that I could go. I mean, even if is overbearing, it is sweet.I feel the corner of my belly stretching, pulling me from my thoughts. I smile as I reach down and touch my stomach. Every time I feel them move, it makes me so happy. Our baby.โDaddy and I canโt wait to meet you.โ I sigh, my heart feeling troubled as I remember I havenโt told Eriq itโs his baby. I was going to tell him, but his father for sick, and then mom changed the date of the trip, so it didnโt feel like the right time. I canโt drop this news on him and two weeks with my family at the same time. Iโll just wait until we get back fr
Eriq I inhale, trying to calm myself as I stare at the arrogant shit smirking at me. I want to punch in Flavioโs teeth for what he pulled today. However, they outnumber me and are probably all armed. I glance at the three men in the room, one by the door I recognize from the picture and two other men behind him. โWelcome to the family business.โ โThe family business is an auto shop, Flav. What the fuck was that today?โ โThis is the new family business. Your little friend will be untouched if you comply.โ Anger burns through my body. I clench my jaw, trying to resist the urge to lunge at him. โI already told you Iโm not interested in whatever bullshit you have going on. This is not the life I want to live.โ โAre you living the life now? I see that pretty little thing youโre with. What will happen when she needs money to do her hair or her nails but her boyfriend is broke?โ I chuckle at the thought of Ami needing money from me. โYou wonโt find it funny when she leaves you for ano
EriqMy heart almost stops. I immediately sprint out of the room, ignoring Glenโs calls as I head for the door. What if Flavio kidnaps her? I have never seen him harm someone, but he set my apartment on fire to get what he wanted. What else is he willing to do? I should have known better than bringing her here. I should have suspected he may have been watching Glen. I should have moved out to keep her safe, but I selfishly stayed because I wanted her. Now sheโs in danger and all because I couldnโt stay away from her. I swear if he touches her; I grit my teeth as I run down the last flight of steps out of the building. I run to the car. Sheโs not there. I look around. Sheโs nowhere in sight. I grab my phone and dial his number. After a second ring, he picks up.โWhere the fuck is she?โโSo, she is important to you?โโI swear if you lay a finger on her, Iโll bury you six feet deep.โ My voice trembles with anger and fear at the same time. โFinally. I like that. Who knew it would take a w
Amaija โShe did what? How do you know itโs broken?โ Eriq asks. โWell, Iโm in the middle of something. Iโll let you know.โ He removes the phone from his ears as his friend screams. โWhatโs wrong? Is it an emergency? We can cut our date short.โ โItโsโฆโ He pauses and presses the speaker. โAre you seriously going to leave me here?!โ Glen shouts. โYes, call your parents,โ Eriq says. โI donโt want my parents to see me like this.โ โCall the ambulance. Iโm busy. I told you to stop picking up random women.โ I furrow my brows. What does a random woman have to do with this? โShe was really hot and you know that our health insurance is shit. I canโt afford the emergency room fee. Especially after getting robbed.โ โA woman robbed him?โ I ask, stunned. โYes, and she also, according to him, broke his Ummmโฆโ He trails off. โBroke what?โ โHisโhisโuh, the thing you painted today.โ The thing I painted. I furrow my brows, confused. I painted his thing; I blush, recalling the picture. It makes
EriqFinally, weโre going on a date. Itโs a bit late considering all the things we have done, but itโs better late than never. I just hope she likes it. She is used to the best of the best and Iโm sure this wonโt compare to some dates she has been on, but I hope itโs good enough because she deserves nothing but the best. My smart, loving, tough cookie with a heart of gold. My little weirdo. The memory of her crawling in my room on all fours makes me chuckle. I couldnโt believe she was the one nabbing my shirts, but knowing my smell makes her feel better is the best feeling in the world because it means sheโs attached to me. And maybe this thing weโre doing will be more than a fling. Well, it already is more than that for me, but I canโt read her. I know she likes me, but I donโt know how much. I want to ask, but Iโm afraid of the answer. I shake my head, Stop thinking of the future and just live in the present. Letโs just focus on tonight. I take one last look, grab my watch, and put
Amaija โAmi, Iโm going to take a shower!โ Eriq says.โOkay!!โ I shout from the couch, pretending Iโm reading as I watch him disappear. After five minutes pass, I drop my iPad and sneak up the stairs to his room. I tiptoe to his door and press my ears against it, listening to see if heโs still in the room. Hearing nothing, I slowly open the door and hurry across the room to his closet. Iโve been sneaking in to steal his shirts for the last couple of days. Okay, it may sound weird, but I promise itโs not what it seems. His smell makes me feel better. No, not in a weird way. I had no morning sickness at the beginning of my pregnancy and thought I would make it to the end without ever getting sick. But two weeks it arrived with vengeance. Iโve been suffering from morning sickness the last two weeks, more like all-day sickness since it doesnโt just happen in the morning. It does stop when Iโm sleeping, but otherwise, Iโm by the toilet.Before the shirts, I tried everything. Mom even r
EriqAfter checking a couple of Amiโs emails, I head downstairs to find them when I hear them talking.โCome on, tell me. You were having sex with that guy, your new assistant, right?โ I guess they are having girl talk. Should I go in? No, it will probably be awkward if I enter now. I stand back and wait for the conversation to turn to something neutral so I can enter.โShh, he might hear you.โโSo thatโs exactly what you were doing. How was it? Give me all the details. You know itโs been four years since Iโve gotten anyโฆ.โ Four years, wow thatโs a long time.โShhhโฆ heโs my assistant. And youโre choosing not to have sex. You can have any man you want.โ Ami says.โThe dating pool has urine in it. Girl, you know. They are all either cheaters, users, or gays.โ Ami chuckles her cute little laugh.โThere are some good ones left,โ Ami says.I smile, hoping sheโs thinking of me.โI guess he must be something special for you to have that stupid grin on your face.โโWhat grin?โโThat stupid gr