Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 60663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
“Yep. Lit that match and sat on his grass and watched that fucker burn. Taught him not to mess with me again.”
“You are my hero.” I smile at her.
“I want it noted that I like my house,” Kyson interjects.
“Well, don’t piss Kalilah off, and you should be fine.” Alaska smiles and then points to the bag. “I brought you a bunch of sex toys. You know, since you will be alone now.”
“You what?” Kyson says.
“Oh fuck!” Zuko shakes his head, realizing he gave me the bag.
“Yep. Best gift ever.” She claps her hands. “Zuko likes it rough, so I tried to not go overboard with you.”
“So does Kyson,” I say with an eye roll.
“I’ve been gentle since you’ve been hurt,” he says proudly.
“You tried to tear my hair from my head last night,” I remind him.
“Yes, but I didn’t spank you.” He winks.
“We’re leaving,” Zuko announces as he stands.
“Sit back down,” Alaska states with an eye roll.
He obeys, and I smile.
“I have to go and see the doctor. I gave him my blood the other day, and I keep forgetting. Could you drive me?” I say to Alaska.
“I’ll take you,” Kyson offers.
“No, it’s fine.”
“She asked me, not you.” Alaska grins at him like she has won some super fantastic lottery prize.
“Fuck, you annoy me,” Kyson rumbles, and Zuko punches him for talking to Alaska that way.
I’m not sure why I don’t want Kyson to come, but I need to try doing things without him again.
“Okay, let’s go. The boys can finish putting that dining set together.”
Kyson gets up, cups the back of my head, and kisses my lips. “I want to go,” he whines.
“No.” I push him away playfully, then grab my things and follow Alaska to her car.
“Any reason you don’t want him to come?” she asks.
“He needs to breathe on his own for a bit.”
“Yeah, that doesn’t really happen with these men.” She chuckles. “They breathe for you.”
And I believe her knowing it is all or nothing with them.
They have always been that way with each other, so why would it be any different when they like someone? But then I remember Lilly and wonder why he’s different with me.
“And it’s okay to tell them to stop, just so you are aware.” Alaska looks at me as she slows down.
“It’s not that I want him to stop. I like having him there… It’s comforting. It’s just… I feel free for the first time in a long time, and I don’t want to rely on a man to feel that way.”
She nods in understanding. “Okay, yeah, I like the sound of that.” As we pull up to the doctor’s house, she asks, “Want me to come in?”
“Thanks, but I won’t be long,” I tell her.
I head inside, and the doctor greets me right away. “Hello, Kalilah. This should be a quick visit.” He shuts the door behind me. “Everything looks great, but there is one thing.”
“Yeah?” I ask hesitantly.
“You’re pregnant.”
I shake my head.
I can’t be.
“Nope, we use protection.”
We always use protection.
Except when…
Oh fuck! It must register on my face.
“It only takes one time,” is all he says. “I do have options for you.”
“That’s okay. Thanks anyway. I should go.” Doc nods and opens the door.
Alaska smiles as I get in the car. “That was fast. Everything good?”
I look down at my phone as Alaska starts the car, and I bring up my messages. Both of my parents have messaged me now. I haven’t replied to either of them.
I look at my mother’s last message and write, I’m pregnant.
It’s probably not the smartest way to say, yes, it’s me, but I had to tell someone, and my mother is the first person I wanted to tell.
My phone dings in my hand, and it’s her.
Can I call?
I turn to Alaska, who’s now driving and still waiting for me to answer her.
“Sorry, it’s my mother. I haven’t spoken to her in a very long time.”
“Don’t apologize. Go ahead, of course.”
I message back, I’m in the car. I’ll call you soon.
She sends me a love emoji.
“Do you think you can drop me off at the café? I want to do some work and reply to a few emails.”
“You want me to stay and talk shit?” she jokes.
“No, but thank you.”
She doesn’t argue with me or ask any more questions.
When she drops me off, I wave goodbye and go in and sit down at the back. Inhaling a deep breath, I call my mom.
If I think about it too long, I’m not sure I will do it. My hands are shaky, and my breathing is uneven.
“Kalilah.” My mother’s voice echoes through the phone. “Is it really you?”
“Yes,” I manage to murmur out.
“Oh, thank God! And you are well?”
I think about her question. Am I well? I’m not really sure how to answer that. I haven’t been well. I have been anything but well. But I don’t know if I want to share all that with her just yet.