“So what would you like to eat?” He asks as we enter the kitchen. He releases my hand and I immediately feel like something is missing.“Ami?’“huh?”“What do you want?” He asks as he heads over the to refrigerator and opens it.“I’ve been on a pasta and pizza bender since I’ve gotten pregnant,” I say as I take a seat before the kitchen island.“Pizza and pasta?” He repeats as he pokes around the fridge.“Yeah, I think I’m addicted, or the baby is addicted. I’m craving everything with carbs recently. By the time I have the baby, I’ll be seventy pounds heavier.”“Come on, you won’t gain seventy pounds and even if you do, you’ll still be the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.” He says as he closes the refrigerator. I stare at him, stunned, unaware of what to say to a compliment like that. He clears his throat after a couple of minutes of silence passed.“Most beautiful…” I whisper loud enough for him to hear.“Don’t put me on the spot. I’m sure you’ve heard that before.” He sa
Eriq“Very Single,” I whisper as I lean in a little closer. My eyes drift to her lips. Those lips I keep dreaming about and wanting to taste again. They are right there. All I have to do is just lean in a little more. Just a little more. I’ve wanted to kiss her all day. Every time she smiles, I wanted to pull her into my arms and kiss her senseless. But logic always stops me. She is pregnant with a boyfriend, someone she met after I ditched her. I have no right to want or expect more. I shouldn’t want anything, but one look at her makes me greedy because I want her, and from the way she’s looking at me, I’m thinking maybe I have a chance. Just one kiss. I inhale and lean closer, almost brushing her lips.‘Ding Dong’The doorbell rings.I jump back, startled by the sudden noise as Ami turns her head to the door.“I should get that.” She says. I want to tell her don’t go. I want to take her in my arms and kiss her, but the confidence I had moments ago was gone. Why would she want me? I a
I arrive at Vincent’s an hour and a half later. Violet is my cousin Vincent’s only child. She’s been attached to me since she was a baby and I absolutely adore her, so whenever I have any free time I spend the time with her having tea parties or dancing.“Zio.” I smile as a chubby cutie with brown hair and big brown eyes comes running toward me.“Zio, you’re okay,” she says as she latches on to my leg. She’s probably been waiting there all day since she saw the fire.“But I was worried. The fire was so big.” She says.“Of course I am. Your Zio is big and strong.” I say as I pick her up and kiss her on her cheek. She is so sweet.I hope when I have a daughter she is as sweet as this little cutie. I smile as an image of a little with green eyes and big brown blond curls pop into my head. A little girl who looks like Ami. I know I’m getting ahead of myself. Just because her brother is welcoming me to the family doesn’t mean Ami and I will end up together. Or have an adorable little girl
EriqI open my eyes slowly and glance at the unfamiliar industrial pipe above my bed. Where? I turn to my left and realize I’m in the bedroom in Ami’s apartment. It’s amazing how much has changed in one day. Yesterday began like any other day, and then I saw her again, moved in with her, cooked for her, and even kissed her. I smile as I remember our kiss last night, but my smile quickly falls when I remember her calling for the father of her child. She wants him, not me, and he’s probably better for her and her child than I will ever be. After all, I’m broke, homeless, living in her apartment with a crazy cousin who burned down his-—-Shit Flavio. That crazy asshole won’t stop until I join him. I can’t live here and put Ami and the baby at risk. I need to tell her and find somewhere else to stay, maybe with Glen or perhaps staying with my parents is best. Flavio is crazy, but he wouldn’t burn down my parent’s house. So I should just stay there until I figure something out, but first I
AmaijaI wait for the door to close and a few minutes to go by before I turn around to face Vector.“Before you say anything, I can explain.” He says as I glare at it.“Okay, explain to me why you can’t trust my choice. Explain why you think I’m a fool. Go ahead. Explain why you are telling someone I brought here to get out of my company!” I shout, seething with anger.“It’s our company. We’re partners, and of course, I don’t think you’re a fool. I don’t want you to get hurt again.”“I brought Eriq her as an employee, not a potential boyfriend you can grill and even if I was interested in him, it’s not of your business. Whether my heart breaks a million times, it’s none of your business.”“Don’t say that!” He yells. “Of course, it’s my business. I care about you.”I exhale sharply.“I know you think of me as a little sister.”“I don’t,”“What?”“I don’t think of you as my sister.” He says as he steps closer to me. I stare at him, stunned.“I have never thought of you as a little sister
Dad/ZayneI open my eyes slightly as light streams into the room. I look over at my wife and smile. I can’t believe after all these years, she still makes me feel like I’m on cloud nine whenever she’s near. I lean over to wake her up with a kiss and hopefully get some morning action.“Good morning my lo—”WHAMShe suddenly flies up, hitting me in the forehead. I grab my head and squint, but she’s looking straight ahead while panting.“My love?” She turns to me slowly.“Somebody’s pregnant,”“Huh?” I furrow my brows as I clutch my throbbing forehead. Pregnant? What is this crazy woman on?“Who’s pregnant and why did you suddenly jump up?”“I dreamt there was a fish was chasing me,” she says. A fish? My brain stops working for a second, trying to understand this dream of hers.“My love, a fish doesn’t have legs.” I chuckle at her silliness, but she isn’t amused and slaps my shoulder. ““Hey no hitting the husband,” I say as I grab her hand and kiss it. ““Who’s husband are you?” She gru
Eriq“If you don’t get up here, I’m going to start without you,” I call down to Ami as I stand at the top of the staircase. It’s been a little over a week since I’ve been here after she asked me to stay here with her and so far she has kept her promise and has gotten two bodyguards who follow us when we leave the house. But, I’m still not sure staying here is the right choice. I could never forgive myself if my presence here put her and the baby in danger, but when she asked me to stay, I could not say no. I don’t know if it was because I didn’t want to leave or it is because of the way she looked at me that day. It gave me a little hope that she might want us to be more than what we now are, which is boss and employee.The work is easier than I thought it would be. I mostly cook, set appointments, and help her answer emails. I work about four a day, and the rest I spend painting.Whenever Ami isn’t working, we spend the time playing video games or watching movies, and it usually ends
I stand frozen for a second, still shocked as she kisses me, but the warm sensation breaks the spell. I pull her close to me and deepen the kiss, tasting her sweet lips. When I break off the kiss, she's panting heavily and staring deeply into my eyes. "Ah," she says as she touches her stomach."Ami? Are you okay? Is it the baby? " I ask, immediately panicking. "I can take you to the hospital," I say as I scoop her up in my arms."Hold on, I'll take you.""Eriq, I'm fine," she says as she grabs my hand."Huh?""I'm fine. I think the baby just moved for the first time," she says excitedly as she rubs her belly again."Really?" I grin widely."Yeah, either that or it was butterflies."She says as she smiles and looks at me.Butterflies? The mention of the word gives me butterflies. Does that mean I gave her butterflies? Or it could be the baby, which is pretty cool. Either way, it's pretty cool, but I'm hoping it was butterflies for my own selfish reasons."Butterflies?" I ask as I inch