Page 28 of Book Bae

“You’ve always trusted me with your career. What’s this new attitude about?” Arabella asked before she sipped her Aperol spritz.

“I just don’t understand why you’re pushing all these changes now. I don’t have time to be touring the country when I could be at home writing my next book.”

“You need to change that attitude,” she pronounced, pointing her fork at me with a strawberry speared on the end of it.

“Name one reason why.”

“These same people that you don’t want to be around are the same ones that are buying your books and making you a household name.”

“Thought you said that was you who made me a household name.”

She rolled her eyes and speared a slice of Canadian bacon from the platter between us.

“You know what I’m saying, Micaiah. What’s the problem?”

“It’s not the readers that I’m having a problem with. I’m grateful for every last one of them. It’s the fact that while you’ve got me touring all over the country, I’m leaving my little man behind. I don’t like that shit, Bell. You know that.”

“You signed up for this before you had him.”

“And you promised that growing my brand the way that you were would never get in the way of fatherhood. I don’t mind traveling and doing events, although I wasn’t keen on that in the beginning. What I didn’t count on was traveling for six months straight, doing five to six events a month.”

“I know, but when the people heard you were getting out and about, they wanted you. They’re paying for you to make these appearances, Micaiah. Do you know how many authors would kill for the opportunity? The majority of the authors at these events are indie authors who are paying to be there in the first place. These hosts are not only paying for your travel, room, and food, but they’re also paying you for your presence.”

“I get that, and I appreciate it, Bell, I do. But you can’t put a price on the time that I’m losing with my kid. I could be as broke as shit, and I wouldn’t give a damn as long as I had my li’l homie by my side. You know this.”

She sighed loudly. “I do, but you can’t have the best of everything.”

“If you’re telling me I have to choose between my son and my career, there’s no choice to be made, Bell. I’ll do this shit without you, or I won’t do it. Either way, I’m not doing another event for at least a few weeks. I’m staying home with Chi,” I argued, calling my son by his nickname that was pronounced Kai. I pushed back from my chair and stormed off the lanai and back into my house. Arabella quickly caught up with me.

“Why are you being so damn difficult?” she asked, grabbing my arm.

I snatched away from her.

“Talk to me, Micaiah. Don’t turn your fucking back on me!”

I spun around and mugged her. “Who the fuck you think you talking to like that, Bell? Ya ass might be kicking in doors and putting the fear of God in the folks you work with, but I ain’t them!”

She pressed her hands up and down in front of herself. “You’re right. Let’s calm down and talk this through.”

“Don’t manage me, Bell. I’m not in that place right now.”

“I wish I knew the place you were in so that I could reach you. I feel like we’re on two different planets right now. Why are you giving me your ass to kiss?”

“Because you’re not hearing me.”

“I’m sorry, okay? I’m just looking out for your career. I know that you want to be home with Malachi, and I get that. I’ll work with you to make that happen, or maybe we can take him on the road.”

“He has school, and I’m not gonna keep expecting my parents to watch him while I’m away. Him going on the road has never been an option.”

“We can easily hire a tutor.”

I shook my head and gripped the edge of the island.

“What’s this really about, Micaiah? Something else is on your mind. I know you.”

I walked to the refrigerator and grabbed a bottled water before I turned back to her. I unscrewed the cap and took a long swig, and Arabella waited until I finished. As much as I had wanted to tell her since I learned about it, I knew she would blow up on me.

“I may have another child on the way, and if that is true, then I want to be here in his or her life. I plan to be with the mom throughout her pregnancy and when she delivers the baby.”