Page 48 of Book Bae

“Hey. What did I tell you about talking with your mouth full?” Micaiah asked. Malachi put a finger to his lips and Micaiah replied, “That’s right.”

“Sometimes she will live with you,” I replied. Micaiah’s gaze swiftly flew to mine, and I recognized my mistake when Malachi jumped on that question.

“Why not always?”

“She’ll have to stay with her mommy,” Micaiah answered.

“I wanna come stay with her too.”

I felt humbled and blessed, but I quickly responded in tandem with Micaiah. I replied, “I’ll be staying at my house,” as Micaiah declared, “She’ll be staying at her house.”

“Why?” Malachi demanded.

“Ooh! Look, Chi! There’s an ice cream truck. Micaiah, we should get some ice cream.”

He snickered and smirked at me before he shot a thankful glance my way.

“Let’s get you guys some ice cream,” Micaiah declared and jumped up from the picnic bench. He helped me up, and I slowly waddled with the two of them toward the ice cream truck.

We spent the rest of the afternoon eating ice cream and playing on the swings and other playground equipment with Malachi, before they took me home.

Malachi was knocked out by the time we pulled up to my place. Micaiah got out and helped me out of the car, like he always did, and walked me to my door.

“Hey, next weekend, my parents will be celebrating their forty-fifth anniversary, and they’ve been wanting to meet you. Would you go with me?”

“Uhm, . . . I don’t have anything to wear. Besides, my hair hasn’t been acting right since I’ve been pregnant, which is why I’ve been keeping it in ponytails.”

“Leave everything to me. I just need you to say that, yes, you’ll be there. You won’t have to worry about anything else. I’ll take care of everything.”

“Yes, I’ll go.”

I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into, but I hoped that his parents liked me and didn’t judge me too harshly.

ONE WEEK LATER

“Eris was the one my soul desired, the one who my heart was beating for. I could see me doing this with her for life —but was she ready for me?” –Love No Limit, MJ Stone

“Hey, gorgeous. I’m sorry that I didn’t stick around to see the final look, but I knew you were going to look amazing,” Brooke stated, grabbing Myraj and hugging her before they exchanged air kisses.

Malachi was tugging my hand, ready to be free to play with his cousins. One stern look from me had him settling down.

I had taken Brooke over to Myraj’s place earlier to do her hair and makeup, along with my personal stylist, Nakaria, and her team to dress and accessorize Myraj in whatever she wanted.

She looked gorgeous and fine in a black one-shoulder silk jumpsuit paired with gold, low-heeled sandals, and gold and diamond accessories. Her belly bump was on full display tonight, but it looked perfect along with her other curves. Her hair was swept back from her face on one side, and it hung on the other to partially cover her right eye. Her makeup was natural but accentuated her best features, her cheekbones and her cat eyes.

“Great? She’s stunning, breathtaking, and easily the most beautiful woman here tonight,” I declared.

“You look amazing too, Micaiah. I do love a man in a tux,” she stated with sparkling eyes as she stared at me with a stunning smile.

“Everyone in this place pales in comparison to you,” I replied.

“Micaiah,” Myraj whined.

“Oooh, somebody’s got it bad. But I can see why; she’s freaking hot and sensational!” Brooke declared.

Myraj looked between my sister and me, and her eyes welled up with tears and her bottom lip trembled.

“Oh, honey, don’t cry. You’re going to mess up your makeup,” Brooke declared, grabbing a tissue from her clutch purse and dabbing at Myraj’s eyes.