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“I know. It’s not as simple as you making it, though.”

“Friend, what I do know is that man is getting attached, and you allowing it. Why?”

“I’m not trying to hurt nobody.” I know that’s not what she asked, but it was the only thing I knew how to answer.

“Then what are you trying to do?” When I didn’t answer, she continued. “I know what Peanut did, but bitch, did he really do that much? Because if it was me, babyyy, I would be living up in that mansion.” I wasn’t about to go deep into the jail conversation again because I had explained that every way I could.

“It’s more than him sitting in there for me. I told you the people wanted the money back or he would die. He could have given me up. Hell, he could have given you up as well. Even after I told him there was no money, he didn’t tell them where to find us. If I leave him, what kind of fucked up person would that make me? You know I’m not cut from that cloth.”

“I understand what you saying. He risked his life for you, but friend. What you doing still ain’t right. If you don’t want to leave him, cool. What do that have to do with Anton though? Why he gotta get hurt?” She was right. He’d been nothing but good to me, and the worst part was, I knew he was getting attached.

“I don’t know how it got to this point. All I know is the shit feels right when I’m with him. When we’re together, I don’t think about consequences, who it’s hurting, or Peanut.” I shrugged, being honest. “I know I can’t stay in this fairytale, but I don’t know how to stop it. If I’m being honest, I don’t think I want to.” I thought of something else that everyone seemed to be forgetting. Anton knew I was with Peanut when he pursued me. So, ain’t he doing it to himself? I wanted to ask her that, but I didn’t want to look like I was blame shifting.

“Well, bitch, choose Anton. It seems like that’s where you want to be.” How do you tell somebody you’re torn between loyalty/obligation and where your heart was leading you? I stood to walk to the next room. A sharp electronic chirp sounded off before I could respond. What the fuck was that? I looked around waiting to hear it again. I know damn well his rich ass better have changed the batteries in his smoke detectors. It sounded off again, and I noticed it came from the closet. When the drawers were empty, I assumed everything else was too. Walking over to the door, I opened it. This was not no damn closet. Monitors covered the walls, showing different parts of the property.

“Girl, what the fuck?”

“What?”

“Anton has cameras everywhere. I wonder if he has any in the rooms.” I began to panic when something on one of the screens caught my attention. A black truck was coming up the driveway. “Bitch, I gotta go. He here!” I didn’t even wait for her to respond. I hung up and took off running. Right out the guest room, across the hall into his bedroom, and dove right onto the bed. Grabbing the remote, I turned the TV on. I didn’t care what was playing, I just needed to look like this was what I was doing. Pulling the covers up to my chin, I tried to catch my breath. When I saw his body in the doorway, I glanced his way. Anton stopped and turned toward the room across the hall. Fuck! I forgot to close the door. He pulled it shut before making his way into the room.

“I see you been making yourself at home.”

“I don’t know what you talking about. My ass been here watching TV.” He looked at the screen and fell out laughing. It wasn’t until he did that I realized what I was fake watching. It was on commercial when I turned it on, but now it was showing how giraffes mate. It took everything in me not to laugh. I squinted my eyes as if I was really paying attention.

“When you’re done pretending you watching that, come downstairs. I want you to meet somebody.” Anton got up and walked out. I released a breath and fell out laughing. I couldn’t believe my dumb ass got busted. He didn’t seem mad, so it was funny. Getting out of the bed, I walked over to the mirror to make sure I looked presentable. I had no idea who he wanted me to meet. Realizing he didn’t have any family and shit, I bunched up my face. The last time he had a visitor, it was a bitch in a bad wig. No longer caring how I looked, I took off running.

“It better not be another bitch or we about to tear the paint off these mufucking walls. Play with me if you want to.” I yelled as I ran down the stairs. When I got to the bottom, my mouth dropped. Anton was standing there holding the tiniest dog I’ve ever seen. It was a pure white micro teacup Yorkie, and I couldn’t control the scream that left my lips.

“ANTONNN!!! What the fuck is that?” His ass just stood there smiling, so I grabbed her from his arms. I knew it was a girl because she had a bow in her hair. She was so tiny, I was scared I was going to break her. “Whose baby is this?”

“Ours. Meet our daughter, Lovii Larue Hodges.” I looked at him to see if he was serious. When I saw that he was, I hugged her as tight as I could without hurting her.

“You named her?” He nodded with pride. I wanted to curse him out for naming her without me, but I was too excited, so I let it slide.

“Hi, Lovii. I’m your mommy. You’re so pretty, just like me. Yes, you is!” Anton went to grab her, but I pulled away. “Don’t be jealous because she loves me.” He shook his head, smiling, and I gawked over my baby. Our daughter. That’s what he called her. This was what I was trying to explain to Taffy. Every time I thought I needed to leave this alone before it got too deep, he did something like this. How the fuck was a bitch supposed to walk away from a man like this? A man that listened, showed you your needs mattered, and delivered. That was all I ever wanted from Peanut. Effort! I wasn’t falling for Anton because he had money or did things for me. It was the reasons behind why he did it. “Thank you.”

“No problem, Stink.” He leaned in and kissed me, making me feel worse.

“I can’t wait to take you home, mommy’s baby.”

“She is home.” I looked at Anton, and he was looking at me as if I lost my mind.

“What? I’m not leaving my baby.”

“Guess you gone be staying here with her.” Anton walked off as if that was the end of the conversation.

“Why would you get her for me, and then tell me I can’t take her?”

“Bubbles, I told you I got her for us. This is her house. You think my daughter gone live in the hood? You damn sure not about to have that nigga around my baby.” I knew we were joking that day, but he was really acting as if we were about to be in court over shared custody. Knowing I wasn’t about to win that argument, at least not tonight, I left it alone for now.

“Where all her stuff at?”

“What stuff?” His ass asked, looking slow.

“Clothes, bed, bows.”

“I just picked her up, Bubbles. I thought we could do that together,” he said, annoyed. Nigga didn’t care about naming her with me, but now we gotta shop together.