Page 233 of The Ninth

“LIKE G, YOU NIGGAS IS SLOW AS HELL, PLAYING WITH MY BABY!” I yelled.

Kenzo instantly hopped up, stepping back as if I didn’t already see his giant ass. They even had K4.5 in here! Micah pushed all the money toward K4 like he bet the shit. I rolled my eyes as he stepped towards Casey and I,

“It’s just a game, Cassie.”

“DICE?! Niggas don’t be dying over dice?! Come here, Kenzo.”

Both K4 and K3 stepped forward. K4.5 ran from under the desk, pawing at my feet. They never knew exactly which one I was speaking to, so the three of them always came. I fixed the collar on my little baby’s pajama shirt. His rusty brown locs were braided back just like his fathers. I pressed my lips onto his forehead before I was rewarded a gorgeous smile.

“Go play, baby.”

“Yes ma’am!” he yelled, running away and downstairs.

Micah smiled at Casey, “CASEY! WHAT U—”

“UH-UH, UH-UH! WHERE MY FIFTY DOLLARS?!” she yelled with her arms crossed.

I crossed mine as well, “Don’t be paying my baby to be quiet, Micah!”

“That’s crazy!” Dean laughed. He quickly stopped when we both looked his way. That made both Trent and K3 chuckle.

I couldn’t stop my smile as Kenzo made his way to me. Over a decade of being together and it still felt like the first time with us every time. My arms tightened around him as his did my waist. He kissed on my cheek, moving down to my neck.

“You gave me a daughter just as gorgeous as you.”

“Yeah, well she thinks her beauty has nothing to do with me!”

He chuckled while continuing to kiss on me. Casey was popping her shit, running Micah’s pockets for being late on his end of the deal. She was only nice to the girls of the family plus her deddy and Uncle. Every other man could quiet literally talk to her hand that she’s always holding up.

“I’m sorry about the dice, Mama C....” Kenzo mumbled.

“You stop playing with my baby! You want him kicked out of that nice school?!”

“Sheeeeeittt! With how much they be charg—I’m just kidding, Crybaby. It won’t happen again.”

“Give me a kiss...”

He smiled, leaning down and giving me the sweetest kiss. Every kiss we had took me back to our first. The first once he got out of jail. The first kiss when we got married. The first kiss after I pushed our babies out. This is a man I could never get tired of kissing.

The doorbell rung loudly throughout our home. Instead of the regular ding-dong, Casey and I convinced Kenzo to get it changed to the tune of “we wish you a Merry Christmas.” Now this nigga tries to beat everyone to the door before they can press the button. Casey tugged on Kenzo’s pajamas pants excitedly,

“I bet that’s your brother! Come!”

I cackled as she turned away, marching towards the steps. Kenzo shook his head with love plastered on his face.

“All she do is be telling ME what to do! On baby, who the damn dad—”

“Are you coming?!”

“Yes ma’am.”

With that being said, I followed him as he followed her down the steps. About four steps down, he picked her up, carrying her the rest of the way. He says she’s still pretty small to go down all the way herself and he doesn’t want her to get hurt. Mind you, just yesterday I came home to K4 and K3’s big ass going down my stairs on a twin mattress. Bogus as hell.

Red bows lined the rail as we walked down. There were snowflakes, fake snow, Christmas houses and lights everywhere. We had a small tree in the foyer and a large one in the family room. Every winter in Chicago was so special for us. Especially since it was right after our anniversary.

Once I found out at my first appointment we were having twins?! Kenzo and I moved our wedding up. Glass tables, chairs, dance floors, and a bar gave my winter theme the perfect icy look. My baby worked day and night to make sure we had the wedding of our dreams. It was filled with love, laughter, foolishness, and all of our family. Even Uncle De’von, Aunt Toni, and a lucid Grandmother before she passed. Duke did end up sending an aid to help Aunt Toni.

I still remembered the vows Kenzo spoke six years ago, word by word...