Eriq
I hop out of my car and grab the art supplies that I just bought. Today is my only day off from work and I want to get some painting done. Although I have only been painting one person whenever I sit down to paint. It’s been three months and I still can’t get her out of my head. Even though I told her the kiss and my asking her out were mistakes, I regret not seeing it through. I was just in shock when I found out she was pregnant. But I should have talked to her. I should have asked what it all means. Instead, I shut down and pushed her away.
“What are you thinking about?” I jerk my head to see my cousin Flavio standing by the door.
“Flav, I don’t have time for you today.” He grins as I head up the stairs.
“Long time no see.”
“Not long enough,” I mumble under my breath as I climb the staircase with him following me.
“I heard you’re lining your dick in a gay c
ERIQ“The apartment he bought was that one.” she trails off, leaving me stunned.“What?” I jump to my feet. “This is that apartment?” She nods.“But you’ve been here before. Didn’t you recognize it?”“I’ve never seen it. I was always too busy to come when we were together and after we broke up, I didn’t want to see my ex’s love nest.”“Oh,” I mumble. I can’t imagine how she must feel being here in the apartment he shared with another woman and, worse, after finding me here, the guy who dumped her. I glance at her, trying to read her, but she refuses to look at me.“Are you okay?” The words slip out of my mouth before I can stop myself. She lifts her gaze to meet mine. She stares at me for a momen
Amaija.I glance at him from the corner of my eyes. How weird is this, to keep meeting the man whose baby I’m carrying? I didn’t expect to see him again after that night, but here he is in the flesh, sitting right next to me. I knew this place looked familiar when Jaden pulled up, but him being here isn’t that too much of a coincidence? It’s like the universe or someone is trying to push us together, but we keep messing it up. Now I’m kicking the father of my child out on the street. I sigh, great so much for any future we may have. If he didn’t hate me before, he probably hates me now. Well, maybe I dodged a bullet. If he ran when he found out I was pregnant, imagine what he would do if he knew he was the father.“So where’s the father?” my eyes open wide. Can he read my thoughts?“Huh?”
AmaijaI sneak a peek at him as we walk up the steps, still in disbelief that this is happening. Just a few hours ago, I was trying my best not to think about him after he ditched me at the club, and now I am getting the chance to live with him and know the other half of the child I’m bearing. When I started this journey, I never expected to get this opportunity, so I plan to make the most of it. So that one day when you ask who he is, I can tell you all about this time we shared. I can tell you that daddy is a great guy. He was so concerned about a woman he had only met twice and a baby he doesn’t know is his. I wonder how he would react if he ever found out? Would he be happy? Would he want to be in the baby’s life? Who am I kidding? If he wanted a wife and a child, he would have them instead of donating his sperm.“Ami…Ami.”“Huh!” I look up at him, confused.“The door.” He says, pointing at my front door.“Oh.” I quickly open the door, enter the house and wait for him to follow.“
“So what would you like to eat?” He asks as we enter the kitchen. He releases my hand and I immediately feel like something is missing.“Ami?’“huh?”“What do you want?” He asks as he heads over the to refrigerator and opens it.“I’ve been on a pasta and pizza bender since I’ve gotten pregnant,” I say as I take a seat before the kitchen island.“Pizza and pasta?” He repeats as he pokes around the fridge.“Yeah, I think I’m addicted, or the baby is addicted. I’m craving everything with carbs recently. By the time I have the baby, I’ll be seventy pounds heavier.”“Come on, you won’t gain seventy pounds and even if you do, you’ll still be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.” He says as he closes the refrigerator. I stare at him, stunned, unaware of what to say to a compliment like that. He clears his throat after a couple of minutes of silence passed.“Most beautiful…” I whisper loud enough for him to hear.“Don’t put me on the spot. I’m sure you’ve heard that before.” He sa
Eriq“Very Single,” I whisper as I lean in a little closer. My eyes drift to her lips. Those lips I keep dreaming about and wanting to taste again. They are right there. All I have to do is just lean in a little more. Just a little more. I’ve wanted to kiss her all day. Every time she smiles, I wanted to pull her into my arms and kiss her senseless. But logic always stops me. She is pregnant with a boyfriend, someone she met after I ditched her. I have no right to want or expect more. I shouldn’t want anything, but one look at her makes me greedy because I want her, and from the way she’s looking at me, I’m thinking maybe I have a chance. Just one kiss. I inhale and lean closer, almost brushing her lips.‘Ding Dong’The doorbell rings.I jump back, startled by the sudden noise as Ami turns her head to the door.“I should get that.” She says. I want to tell her don’t go. I want to take her in my arms and kiss her, but the confidence I had moments ago was gone. Why would she want me? I a
I arrive at Vincent’s an hour and a half later. Violet is my cousin Vincent’s only child. She’s been attached to me since she was a baby and I absolutely adore her, so whenever I have any free time I spend the time with her having tea parties or dancing.“Zio.” I smile as a chubby cutie with brown hair and big brown eyes comes running toward me.“Zio, you’re okay,” she says as she latches on to my leg. She’s probably been waiting there all day since she saw the fire.“But I was worried. The fire was so big.” She says.“Of course I am. Your Zio is big and strong.” I say as I pick her up and kiss her on her cheek. She is so sweet.I hope when I have a daughter she is as sweet as this little cutie. I smile as an image of a little with green eyes and big brown blond curls pop into my head. A little girl who looks like Ami. I know I’m getting ahead of myself. Just because her brother is welcoming me to the family doesn’t mean Ami and I will end up together. Or have an adorable little girl
EriqI open my eyes slowly and glance at the unfamiliar industrial pipe above my bed. Where? I turn to my left and realize I’m in the bedroom in Ami’s apartment. It’s amazing how much has changed in one day. Yesterday began like any other day, and then I saw her again, moved in with her, cooked for her, and even kissed her. I smile as I remember our kiss last night, but my smile quickly falls when I remember her calling for the father of her child. She wants him, not me, and he’s probably better for her and her child than I will ever be. After all, I’m broke, homeless, living in her apartment with a crazy cousin who burned down his-—-Shit Flavio. That crazy asshole won’t stop until I join him. I can’t live here and put Ami and the baby at risk. I need to tell her and find somewhere else to stay, maybe with Glen or perhaps staying with my parents is best. Flavio is crazy, but he wouldn’t burn down my parent’s house. So I should just stay there until I figure something out, but first I
AmaijaI wait for the door to close and a few minutes to go by before I turn around to face Vector.“Before you say anything, I can explain.” He says as I glare at it.“Okay, explain to me why you can’t trust my choice. Explain why you think I’m a fool. Go ahead. Explain why you are telling someone I brought here to get out of my company!” I shout, seething with anger.“It’s our company. We’re partners, and of course, I don’t think you’re a fool. I don’t want you to get hurt again.”“I brought Eriq her as an employee, not a potential boyfriend you can grill and even if I was interested in him, it’s not of your business. Whether my heart breaks a million times, it’s none of your business.”“Don’t say that!” He yells. “Of course, it’s my business. I care about you.”I exhale sharply.“I know you think of me as a little sister.”“I don’t,”“What?”“I don’t think of you as my sister.” He says as he steps closer to me. I stare at him, stunned.“I have never thought of you as a little sister