ʜᴇʀ ᴀꜱꜱɪꜱᴛᴀɴᴛ | ᴛᴀʀᴀꜱɪᴀ

ꜱɪxᴛʏ ᴛᴡᴏ

ꜰᴀɴᴛᴀꜱɪᴀ ʙᴀʀʀɪɴᴏ
ɴᴏᴠᴇᴍʙᴇʀ 17, 2020

i was back leaned up against the island when i heard the car pull into the driveway. laila was still upstairs singing some song she made up about candy canes, and i just shook my head. my baby was in her own world.

i peeped out the window and caught sight of tab in the passenger seat, head thrown back laughing about something. raji was smiling so hard her dimples were deep enough to fall in.

they looked so carefree i almost forgot we were mad at each other for five seconds.

when they finally came inside, arms full of bags and pine needles from that tree clinging to their coats, i crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow.

"y'all look like y'all had too much fun without me."

raji grinned, coming straight over to kiss my cheek and then my belly like she always did. "we did. but i missed you the whole time."

tab was dragging bags toward the living room, talking about, "missed her? girl, you was just saying 'this is why i love you' ten minutes ago in the car. don't play."

i squinted at them both. "uh-huh. sounds like secrets in the suv to me."

raji put on her most dramatic gasp. "not secrets, beauty. wisdom from your best friend. i needed it." she leaned closer, whispering like it was only for me. "and i'm gonna do better. no more breathing down your neck every five seconds."

the way she said it—light, bubbly, like she meant it but didn't wanna weigh me down—made me smile even though i tried to keep a straight face.

"good," i said, stealing a grape off the counter. "because i was about two seconds from sneaking out and buying the tree myself."

tab hollered from the living room, "and i woulda drove you!"

"liar," raji shot back, and the whole house filled with laughter.

raji trailed me as i moved back toward the island, her hands slipping around my waist before i could reach for another grape.

"baby," she murmured against my neck, voice lower now. "i'm sorry for earlier. for raising my voice at you like that."

i tilted my head, half-tempted to tease her, but the way her hands spread over my stomach made me soften instantly.

"raji..."

"no, listen." she turned me gently, her eyes searching mine. "i never wanted you to feel like i was trying to control you. i was scared, that's all. scared something might happen to you or the baby and i wouldn't be able to stop it. i went about it the wrong way."

her thumb was tracing circles at my hip while she talked, her forehead almost resting against mine.

i sighed, letting my hands slide up her arms. "i know you meant well, but you can't baby me to death. i still need to feel like me, even with this little one on board."

she nodded quickly, pressing a kiss to my cheek, then another to the corner of my mouth like she couldn't help herself. "i hear you. and i'll do better. i promise. i'll trust you more. just... we can't stay mad at each other too long, okay? i can't stand it."

i tried to keep my face stern, but she kissed my jaw, then my nose, then finally my lips, and i broke—laughing into her mouth.

"you're ridiculous."

"ridiculously in love with you," she shot back without missing a beat, holding me tighter.

from the living room tab groaned loud enough for the both of us. "lawd, y'all gon make me gag. save it for upstairs!"