"Why you trippin, Cali?" Amaru asked the baby as she cried in his arms.
"Papa, what are you doing to my baby?" Zuri said as she sat next to him.
"She doesn't want to take the bottle." Amaru said.
Zuri sighed. "Let me see her because you're not doing it right."
"Oop—" Heather said quietly as she rocked Jonah to sleep.
"Since you got your degree and know every doggone thing." Amaru said, mimicking Monique from Precious—but doing the clean version for Zuri's innocent ears. He passed Cali to her then gave her the bottle once they were situated.
"She likes to be sat up like this so she can look around." Zuri told him as she began to feed her little sister.
Amaru sucked his teeth. "She just wants to be nosey. All she's gonna do is fall asleep."
"Papa, don't talk about her like that." Zuri scolded. "Mommy says it is important to speak life into babies, and continue to do that as they get older. Mommy speaks affirmations to me every morning."
"You're right, mamas. Papa is sorry." Amaru said as he kissed both Cali and Zuri on their cheeks.
"Mommy." Lennox said. "Can I talk to you?"
Heather nodded as she got up and followed Lennox to her room with Jonah in her arms. She sat down on the bed and continued to rock Jonah to sleep.
"What's going on, Chocolate?" Heather asked.
"I—I'm about to go see Brandon. He wants to talk." Lennox replied.
Heather nodded. "Okay, what are y'all going to talk about?"
"Us." Lennox said.
"Lennox, baby." Heather sighed. "I know that you're an adult and you make your own decisions, but as your mother I'm telling you to not go back to him no matter what he says. I get that you want your baby to have both of you in the same household. I wanted that for Micah, but some things don't work out that way. You have to know when to leave at the right time—especially when he put his hands on you."
"But what if he's not there for our baby?" Lennox asked.
"Then so be it! You have a support system. You see how we are when it comes to Zuri, Jonah, and Cali. We got you no matter what. Besides, he may not be there even when you're in the same household." Heather explained. "You can follow your heart, but you also need to take your brain with you. Be smart about this, Chocolate."
Lennox sighed as she tucked her hair behind her ears. She knew she had to make her own decisions—the right decisions.
-
"Oh my gosh! This is exciting!" Karis squealed as she and Taylor sat court side at the Grizzlies basketball game. Taylor decided that since they were kid free, they can have a little outing with just the two of them. "Do you think I'll be able to take a picture with Ja Morant?"
Taylor chuckled. "Maybe. Just don't be cheating on me with your eyes."
"So I can cheat with my hands?" Karis asked, making Taylor side eye her.
"Don't play with me Karis." Taylor scolded as he began to eat his popcorn.
Karis giggled as she kissed his cheek. "You still haven't told me how you got these seats during the playoffs."
"I told you that I have connections." Taylor told her. "You want some popcorn?" Karis declined as she rolled her eyes and sat back into her seat. Taylor smirked and leaned over to whisper in her ear. "Since you have an attitude, I guess you don't wanna slide your cooter across my face when we get home."
