Picture Perfect

chapter thirty seven

Kai'lani I. Brown

I sat in the living room rocking Leilani to sleep while also watching Diary of a Mad Black Woman. It was nearly two in the morning and Chris still wasn't bad from Tyga's release party for his new mixtape; Livin' Lavish, Still Kingin'. He promised that he would be back at eleven thirty to watch Leilani but he hasn't returned. I looked down at Leilani to see she was finally asleep.

Slowly I got up from the couch and walked up the stairs. I walked down the hallway to her nursery. I opened the door and walked over to her crib. I laid her in it and covered her small body with a blanket I got from the baby shower. I turned on the baby monitor and walked out of the bedroom. I quietly closed the door behind myself. I heard the door downstairs being slammed. I walked to the top of the staircase to see Chris trying to grip onto the door handle.

"Seriously Chris, you come home drunk off your ass." I scoffed. I walked the stairs and over to a staggering Chris.

"You n-need to learn out to chill baby." He slurred. I sighed and rubbed his arm around my shoulder. I walked him up the stairs, step by step. I got him into the bedroom and he pushed me on the bed. He hovered over me and began kissing my neck.

"Chris no." I told him as I tried to push him off but he pinned my arms above my head.

"Baby, you know you want some." He slurred as he slid his hand under my t-shirt.

"Chris I said no." I exasperated as I pushed him off. I felt his hand come in contact with my cheek and I gasped. He really just hit me. I kicked him in his area before getting up and running out of the bedroom. I walked down to Leilani's nursery and put her in her carrier. I grabbed her bag and walked out of the room. I walked into Brielle's nursery and put her in her carrier also. I grabbed her bag before walking downstairs.

"Where do y-you think you're g-going?" Chris inquired as he staggered down the stairs.

"Away from you. You coming around our daughters drunk is not acceptable." I told him before walking out of the house. I walked down the sidewalk and up the pathway that let to Ms. Joyce's front door. I rung the doorbell and took a step back. The door opened and Aliana stood there in her robe.

"Kai? What's goin' on? What's wrong with your cheek?" She inquired. She stepped out of the house and took Brielle's carrier away from me.

"Chris came home drunk, he tried to have sex with me, and he slapped me. My first instinct was to get myself and the kids away from him." I told her.

"Come in sweetheart, we'll put the kids down then we can talk." She told me. I nodded and walked inside of the house. She lead me upstairs to a bedroom. I laid the girls' down and sat their bags on the floor. Aliana and I walked downstairs to the kitchen. She turned on the light and I sat down on a barstool.

"So he came home drunk?" She inquired as started the coffee maker.

"Yeah, he was suppose to be back by eleven thirty to watch Leilani so I could some sleep. I haven't slept in a good minute. He's always out and doing things while I'm taking care of two small children."

"Do you want some ice? Your cheek is looking pretty swollen?" She inquired.

"Yes please. How are you and Kendrick?" I inquired.

"We're doing good, I'm meeting his family next weekend."

"Ooh meeting his family. You guys must be very serious."

"We are, we made it official two weeks ago. I'm really nervous though." She admitted. She opened the freezer and grabbed a ice pack. She passed it over and I placed it on my cheek.

"There's no need to be nervous. Just be yourself." I advised.

"You're right. Thanks Kai."

"You're welcome Liana."

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9:37 AM

I opened to my eyes and looked down. Both of the girls were laying on my chest, one cradled in both of my arms. I sighed and yawned. My cheek was still hurting but a painkiller should help it. I heard loud talking coming from downstairs. I gently laid the girls down and got up from the bed. I walked out of the bedroom and downstairs to see Aliana and Chris arguing.

"One day, you're gonna mess around come home to see she's gone Chris."

"She's not gonna leave me, she needs me." Chris snickered. I came in sight with my arms crossed over my chest.

"I need you," I chuckled. Both of their heads turned in my direction.

"Nigga whoever told you I needed you? Last I checked, I'm independent. You might have money but I got my own money too. Who's paying the down payment on the house we're going to move into next week, huh? Who paid for their new BWM? It was me! If I knew you would have switched up like this, we wouldn't be married."

"Kai I-,"

I cut him off, "Save it. I hope those drinks were worth it because the girls and I won't be coming home." I told him before walking back upstairs.