ʜᴇʀ ᴀꜱꜱɪꜱᴛᴀɴᴛ | ᴛᴀʀᴀꜱɪᴀ

ᴛᴇɴ

ꜰᴀɴᴛᴀꜱɪᴀ ʙᴀʀʀɪɴᴏ
ᴊᴜɴᴇ 14, 2020

while laila was asleep, taraji and i were currently cuddled up in the bed, binge watching pvalley. my head and hand resting on her chest while my leg was intertwined in hers. she had her arm wrapped on me rubbing my back.
this just feels right.

"raji?"

"hm?"

"do you feel like i came into your life and ruined it?"

"you didnt ruin anything. my life was already in shambles before i met you. yeah, i lost my job and everything, but maybe that was meant to happen. im starting my new job tomorrow that pays every two weeks, and theyre providing me with something ive always prayed for...." she trailed off sighing, "sometimes you gotta lose to win again. my baby is happy, we're happy– life is great right now."

"im more than happy to be a part of yours and laila's."

she kissed my forehead, "we're more than happy to be a part of yours too."

"whoever dresses clifford needs a raise."

"yeah, i mess with his war–"

i lifted a little and looked at her crazy, "their pronouns are she and her."

"shit my bad. no disrespect, i really didn't know. the dude she mess with be calling her nigga."

"he calls everyone that, but still he addresses her using she and her."

"ok ill respect her pronouns. i didnt mean any disrespect by it. im innocent here."

"its okay, innocent face." she leaned down and kissed me, "im gonna miss having you at the company every morning."

"well, youll wake up to my face every morning."

"i know, but at some point, thats gonna stop when you guys leave."

"it doesn't have to stop, though. ill stay over here most days, and you can even come over whenever you want if you wanna cuddle, watch tv, talk, or if you just wanna see us. it doesn't matter, that door will always be open to you."

"okay." i smiled and snuggled back into her chest, wrapping one arm around her waist.

we ended up falling asleep in the middle of the show. taraji went to sleep first, of course, and i was out like a light minutes later. i havent slept this comfortably in years.

×××

after a few hours of sleeping, we got up and went to see what laila was doing. she was up learning colors and animals. this is her everyday routine. no one has to tell her. she just loves to learn, and we love that.

"laila"

"mommy! youre awake. hi tai tai"

"hey baby."

"yes, im awake. what you doing pretty?"

"learning more colors and animals. i just learned zebra!"

"thats great! what else did you learn?"

"thats it. i have to find more"

"do you want me to help you?"

"no, i can do it"

"ok, well, my bad, smart girl. how you feeling?"

"....ummm"

"lai–" she rushed to the pink bag and pulled out a glucose monitor and checked her sugar, "two fifty!" she yelled, pulling out something that looked like a pen and injected it into lailas stomach area.

"next time you tell me as soon as you feel down."

"im oka–"

"youre not! dont do that again. if youre feeling bad, tell me right away, okay?"

"okay"

"im sorry for yelling. i just dont want anything happening to my jellybean. always tell me when you dont feel good."

"youre always worrying for me."

"thats because you are my baby, and i want you to be ok at all times. i lost you once, and i wont lose you again, okay?"

"okay, im sorry."

"its fine, baby. i love you so so much."

"i love you too, mommy." my heart warmed at the interaction between them.

"ok, so, what do you wanna eat?"

"ummmm...chicken nuggets and fries." i opened the door dash app.

"what drink do you want?" i asked.

"hi c" i added that to her meal.

"t, what are you eating?"

"nothing, im good." i was gonna get her something anyway. i got myself the hot and honey wings with fries. for taraji, i got her the same, but the wings were barbecue flavored.

"and the food should be here in...thirty minutes to an hour."

"in the meantime, do you wanna watch a movie?"

"i'd love to." i said, smiling from ear to ear.

"mommy, could we watch boss baby?"

"you have to ask tai tai baby."

"can we?" she looked over at me.

"we sure can, but only if you beat me to the remote."

she screamed and jumped off the bed, running full speed down the stairs. i noticed taraji staring off into space like as if she was in deep thought about something. i snapped my fingers in her face.

"hey, what's going on? you ok?"

"y-yeah, im good." she said, standing up.

"are you sure?"

"yeah, im sure, beautiful." she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around my waist, "im okay." she kissed my lips.

"okay"

"TAI TAI! YOU TRICKED ME!" laila yelled from downstairs, causing us to laugh. we eventually joined her. soon, our food came. we ate, talked, laughed, and just enjoyed eachothers company.