Atypical: Love is Strange

Chapter 19

IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME I UPDATED!!!

An apology is due for the delay I've just been trying to adjust and prioritize the changes going on in life. Just trying to adult a bit better I guess one can say. Good news is I finish my first year in university in 2 weeks!!

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Tahj POV

I woke up in my childhood bed for the umpteenth time this break. After the conversation, I just decided to stay with my parents until the next semester would start. I haven't contacted Malik since then but Amber tells me he's still asking about me and wondering how everything's going, if I'm taking care of both myself and the baby, and just random things in general. I truly don't understand why he's still concerned about me, I set him free so he should be happy and enjoy his life with someone that's not going to tie him down with major responsibilities so early in life.

I rolled out of bed as I forced my thoughts of Malik to vanish from my mental. I waddled to the bathroom to get my day started. After placing the toothbrush in my mouth my mother walked in. "Hey new mommy, I know your semester is starting in a couple days so what's the plans? Are you planning on staying here because we don't mind we just know that commute is going to be difficult since you don't have a car yet." Shit I completely forgot school was starting that soon. "Uhh I'm going back to my place, well living with Amber until I can get another place before the baby comes. Though she says it's alright to stay for as long as I need to I'm not trying to impose on her." Luckily for me we moved a majority of my things out of Malik's place when he went to work. It stung a little because that was the last step I needed to completely forget about him. My mother's words broke my train of thought.

"Well that's good but please don't push yourself or stress yourself out, you're 5 months if you need help let us know. You and our grandson are our main concern as of now." I truly wanted to tear up and I don't know if it's because of the hormones or because what my mother said shocked me. I finished brushing my  and engulfed her in a huge hug. "Ma I'll be fine. I'm about to get ready for my appointment Amber said she'll be here in about an hour." 

After getting ready I got a text from Amber saying she was outside. "Thank you so much for taking me to this appointment, I would have my parents take me but then they wouldn't able to stay with me and I wouldn't want to do this alone...well not yet anyway. 

"Girl don't worry about it as I said you won't be alone at all you have me and once you stop being stubborn you'll have Malik as well." I slit my eyes at her statement because although I did miss him I didn't want to talk about him and I really wish she would soon come to understand that. "Amber I told you he and I are no longer together, I relieved him of unnecessary responsibilities so why would he want to willingly get caught up in everything again?" She finally caught wind that I no longer wanted to continue the conversation and we drove to my appointment letting the songs of the radio fill the air. "You go sign in I'm going to park the car and I'll be right up." I nodded and proceeded to walk into the doctor's office.

I took my time walking, or better yet waddling, into the familiar building and up to the receptionist desk. "Hey Gina, how's everything going?"

"Oh hey Tahj everything's good I should be asking you that question seeing how your little bundle joy is due soon. I just realized this is my first time not seeing you and Malik walk in at the same tme." Her sentence sent a ping to my heart because it reminded me this wouldn't be the only time he doesn't how up. "Uh yeah he's not coming he was caught up in something," I lied. "Well he must have tied up ends early because he's sitting over there he actually already signed you in and everything. First time the father makes it to the appointment before the mother. He must be really eager. Anyway I'm going to finish off this work you're welcomed to have a seat." She chuckled as she left me there in astonishment. I walked over to where he was. "What are you doing here? How did you even know when my appointment was?" I didn't even wait for him to answer I pulled out my phone and immediately called Amber. Three rings later and she picked up, "Sorry the number you have reached is not accepting bullshit excuses or complaints however I can easily redirect you to the wholesome man sitting in the doctor's office."

"Amber I'm not playing with you."

"And neither am I. I'm not going to let you toss out something good because you're scared he's going to pull on you the same thing Oscar did." I kept quiet because I knew she was right but convincing myself to follow her advice was going to be damn near impossible. "Whatever Amber I am not done with this we will be talking about this later. Bye girl love you"

"Hey Tahj..." Lord give me the strength to deal with this situation because the devil is obviously testing me hard.

"Why? Why did you show up?"

"Because it's my son? What kind of a silly question is that?" I wanted to feel warm and fuzzy but to be quite frank I was feeling nothing but irritation. "Malik I'm being serious we decided on ending things, you are no longer responsible for this child."

"No Tahj, you decided to end things, you never took my feelings into consideration and you made a decision based off fear because of some whack ass little boy you dated before me. I didn't take this child on as my own because of some pity you think I felt for you. I took on this responsibility because I started forming a bond with this child and his mother and you just snatched that away from me without hearing my point of view. Then I go home to see you moved out not only all your things but my son's belongings as well. If your goal was to hurt me deep you succeeded tremendously."

 I had nothing to say because I didn't know I hurt him that badly I actually didn't know I hurt him at all. I thought I was doing him a favor, allowing him to live his life to the fullest without fear of having to settle. "I understand where your head and heart is at but please understand my point of view. Yes my decision was made with fear but I was also looking out for you. Can you honestly say that if you were scouted you would easily turn down the opportunity to raise a family that isn't yours? And if your answer to that question is yes then note that's what I'm trying to prevent. If you have nothing holding you back then you can follow through with no hesitation."

I could tell he was fixing his lips to state his rebuttal but at that moment an angel touched my shoulder and allowed the doctor to call us into the back room. "We're not done with this conversation Tahj." Dammit! Why can't we be?

***

"Okay so everything seems to be healthy your next appointment will be in a month, you can go to Gina and she can set one up for you. Have a good day future parents to be." 

After setting up my appointment Malik held the door open for me as we left the office and led me in the direction of his car. "So you gonna let me show up to the next appointment?" I let out a long sigh, "You're going to show up anyway Malik so who am I to stop you." H e let out a satisfying chuckle and drove towards Amber's house after putting the address in his phone. I was getting uneasy at the thought of having to finish the conversation but looking at how things are going maybe he forgot about everything. Well I hope he did. I enjoyed the music playing as we neared Amber's apartment complex. 

I stepped out the car when he pulled up to the front but before I could close the door he began to talk. "Oh yeah don't think I forgot about the conversation I just wanted to give you the opportunity to get ready. I'll be back in 2 hours to take you to dinner so we can finish our little talk." Before I could even object he continued. "And don't think you can flake on me because I don't think Amber is going to let that happen." I let my mouth hang ajar, so Amber really is out here working with the enemy. I simply nodded and made my way to the door. "Oh yeah Tahj," I turned around to let him know he had my attention, "I love you girl." And with that he pulled off. I felt my cheeks begin to burn and my insides go warm. This man just finessed a date out of me, I hope h doesn't think it's going to change anything though.

Short, yes I know but I figured it was better than nothing. Again my apologies but I hope you enjoy.

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