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I watched this nigga scoop my daughter up, wipe something from the corner of her mouth and kiss her cheek.

Carter grabbed his chain.

“Hey, don’t snatch Daddy chain.”

Xay’s head turned.

Just slightly.

So fucking slight I probably wouldn’t have noticed if I hadn’t already been paying attention to him.

His jaw moved once.

Then he reached for his drink like he ain’t hear shit.

Nobody else noticed.

Sam was helping my mother get Serenity situated. Heather was fixing Collin’s little shirt. Uncle Tim was arguing with somebody about where he was supposed to stand. Everybody was doing their own shit.

But I saw it.

I looked at Xay.

He didn’t look back.

I almost smiled.

Oh, well.

What the fuck could he say?

Actually, that’s my daughter?

Exactly.

Keith bounced Carter in his arms.

“You gonna give Daddy his chain back?”

She pulled it harder.

“Aight, you robbing me now.”

I laughed.

But there went my stomach again.

Fuck.

I wanted this.

Not necessarily Keith specifically forever. I wasn’t planning our fucking wedding.

But this.

Normal.

A nigga I could actually bring around my family without somebody having to hide in a back room when my sister FaceTimed.