Walk With Me 1

19

Nicki

A few hours earlier, that same day...

I sit on the couch grading projects with Jazmine sleeping on my chest.

She's such an easy, chill baby. She gets that from me.

After I complete the last one, I shut the computer down and set it aside.

I hold my daughter close and kiss the top of her head. I love her curls to the side and admire her. She looks so much like Rob, she's so cute.

"I love you, pooh."

She flinches a bit in her sleep.

"Oop, mama was loud, I'm sorry."

"Is she crying yet? It's almost time to feed her!" Robyn calls out from upstairs.

"Not yet!" I whisper-yell.

I rock my baby a little more. She just snuggles into the blanket and slobbers.

Ariana comes down the steps, her heels clacking and her gum making it's presence known as she smacks over exaggeratingly. I arch my brow.

"Where the hell you goin'?"

Ariana turns around and pops her hip to the side,"Out. Want me to get you something?"

"Nope, but keep the volume down."

She quietly comes over and kisses my baby's cheek and tickles her a bit. I smack Ariana's hand away.

"You're gonna wake her!"

"You're being louder than I am, sis. Love you three. I'll be back later."

"Alright."

A car honks in the distance and Ariana leaves. I wipe the left over lipgloss on my baby's face away.

"Auntie Ari is annoying sometimes huh, my love?"

Robyn comes downstairs after her shower and leans over my shoulder from behind the couch.

"I'm making us lunch today."

"Make something traditional, please. I'm tie'd of pasta."

"I wasn't planning to, Nika."

I love island food soooo much. I'm grateful to have met Robyn because she can cook really well and though we aren't in love with each other the love for each other is there. She has always taken care of me. I have always taken care of her.

Robyn gets to taking pots and pans out and I hear some oil going.

It seems that whenever I'm not occupied, Beyoncé slips into my mind. I'm just in a daze, thinking and trying to imagine what life will be like without her. Well, not necessarily without her, but without seeing her daily.

Jazmine begins to whimper and immediately, Robyn is speed walking to me to get to her. Jazmine opens her eyes and begins growling. That means she's hungry. It's funny to me because she's never cried, just growls. We can spend all the time in the world before getting to her and she's never wailed.

"Mommy's here!" Robyn sits down next to me and takes her, breastfeeding her.

I stay next to Robyn as she feeds our daughter. She's such a great mother too. She stays at home as she's a business owner and dedicated most of her time taking care of Jazmine, and she never fails to let everyone know that she loves it.

"Okay, so what the fuck is up with you?" Robyn looks to me.

"What?"

She's serious in tone, "You're thinking hard as shit. It's very loud and annoying. Nika, tell. me."

"Just stressed about work--"

"Bullshitting."

There's really no lying to Robyn, huh?

I huff, "There's this... um."

Almost instantly, Jazz unlatches and coughs. Robyn moves to pat her back and burp her.

"She from your job?"

"Yeah."

"Go for it. What's stopping you?"

"She's going away."

"Whatchu mean?"

"Um... she's switching field of work."

"Nicki, with all due respect, you are a dumb bitch. Why do lesbians wait last minute to speak up?!"

Jazz laughs hard. Robyn joins her.

"This isn't nice." I cross my arms and clear my throat. "It's not cute to make fun of me. And you ova here joinin' in on it wit cha mommy. That's not nice, Jazz."

The baby just gurgles.

"Nicki, I'm serious. It's now or never, cuz when she hits the road..." Rihanna makes a face.

I turn away from here, feeling my ears heat up in shame.

Robyn clears her throat, "Nicki, as your friend, I'm gonna invite her to your birthday dinner. Plus I can see this lady that gotchu all blushed up." She turns to Jazz. "Give mommy a high five, baby."

Can you believe this little girl done raised ha little hand up and smirked at me? She laughs then goes back to latch onto Robyn's breast. Within seconds she's falling asleep.

"Seriously, Nick. You need happiness in your life. Go get it. I implore you to do so. You have our blessing. My only condition is that we get to formally meet her outside of the dinner."

I smile.

"C'mere." Robyn brings me in with her arm wrapped around my shoulder.

I lean onto her side. We're almost face to face. She kisses my forehead.

"Go getchu a girlfriend, baby mama."

I smirk up a storm.

I'd be dumb to not listen to my best friend.