Page 143 of Lyric Squared

From the moment we encountered him at the mall while picking up clothes for her first date with Luca, she’d recognized the desire in both of our eyes. For so many years, we’d suppressed it, but that had all run its course. We were happily in one another’s arms for once and it felt so damn good.

Before taking off, Keanu dug into my purse and retrieved my phone. He held it up to my face so that it would unlock. When it did, he began snapping pictures one after another. After I gave him the green light, he began recording instead. As the video began rolling, I squeezed his neck a little tighter, kissing all over his handsome face, and screaming into the camera. I felt like a mad woman, but for good reason.

“I’m going to marry this man and give him chocolate babies. Girls. We’re having girls,” I yelled into the camera.

I didn’t have a care in the world at the moment. Nothing mattered. Nothing but the limitless feeling that I had and how much of a beautiful feeling it was. It was everything and the complete opposite of the pain that I’d felt in my last relationship.

Manifestation.It’s real. The two beautiful girls that I wanted to give Keanu had come to fruition. Keanu Jade was almost two years old. The little one that was still cozy in my belly had only eleven weeks before she made her debut. We were impatiently waiting for Love to enter our lives. I prayed that she was as sweet as her sister with the same sandy skin and big, beautiful orbs.

The thought of my little baby had me missing her and my boobs lactating without my permission. I’d happily jumped on the bandwagon and breastfed KJ. She wasn’t quite ready to wean, and I didn’t mind a bit. With Love on the way, it would be helpful to continue nursing so that I didn’t have the same sensitivity issues I had when I began feeding Keanu.

The wetness of my bikini top didn’t stop me from stepping out onto the deck with my seven-month pregnant belly in search of my husband. He wasn’t hard to find. I followed the smoke from the blunt that he quickly put out at the sight of me.

I stepped into the jacuzzi where he was waiting for me, lowering my body until I was seated on his lap. His hands wrapped around my lower back instantly before cupping my ass. I couldn’t resist the mouth-splitting smile that formed. Still, after well over four years, his presence still melted me like a warm stick of butter.

“Hi,” I greeted.

“Hi,” he responded.

With his right hand, he rubbed my growing belly. When his eyes closed and his head lowered, I knew exactly what time it was. It was his time with God. After losing our first child, more of his time was spent with the Man upstairs. As a family, we prayed relentlessly. And we’d been blessed abundantly.

Following suit, I, too, closed my eyes. When I felt Keanu’s lips on mine, I knew that our brief prayer had ended. Contentment covered me. This was it. This was my life. And, I loved it more and more each day. Though the journey here wasn’t ideal, it was mine and it was well worth my happy ending.

“How’d you sleep?” He questioned.

“Like a baby.”

His smile lit my entire world. He popped a piece of gum into his mouth.

“Where the heck did you get gum from?”

“Your purse.”

“Is that where you’ve been stealing it from this entire time?”

He nodded.

“I replace it, too.”

The thought hadn’t occurred to me. I’d never run low on bubble gum yet I hadn’t purchased any in years.

“You sneaky thing.”

You considerate thing.

You lovely thing.

You perfect thing.

My thing.

“What else have you been replenishing without my knowledge?”

“Your favorite fragrances. Deodorant. Body wash. I like that watermelon one you love. Hand soap. That brown night gown you love. I bought every one they had in your size. When I see it getting a little snug on you, I switch it out. During pregnancy, I go up a size, cause I bought them, too.”

“With plans to keep me pregnant.”

“I mean–”