Rider (Cali Love Sequel) (Completed) {Book 2}

Chapter 1 : Tired

Nicole

I woke up to the cries of Leighanne on the baby monitor. Elite, of course, was still fast asleep next to me, not even attempting to move.

"Nicki...Leighanne's crying," He mumbled, still with his eyes closed. I shook my head, removing his hand from my waist and going to Leighanne's room.

She stood up in her crib, bouncing up and down as large tears streamed from her big green eyes, that her daddy passed on to her. I smiled, picking her up.

"Its okay, baby, mommy's here," I whispered, rocking her slowly. She ceased her crying after I placed her pacifier in her mouth.

Then I quickly went in the kitchen and placed her in her high chair, and fixed her a bottle. Thankfully, I made it just in time to her before she started crying again.

I placed the bottle in her mouth, making my way back to her room and rocking her in the rocking chair while feeding her.

Saying that I was tired was an understatement. Tending to Leighanne 24/7 and going to classes was a struggle. Elite didn't help me out too much because of the higher position that Lucky left him in his business.

He was making good money but I barely got to see him and honestly I liked the way it was before, even though he didn't make half the money he did now.

He made enough money to move us out the apartment we'd previously lived in and into a nice, bigger house in a nicer, quieter neighborhood. He even bought me my own Chevy after I complained about needing to around everywhere by myself.

I don't know what him and Chris were doing with "business" but whatever they were doing, it was good. But regardless of the money and material things, the love me and Elite once had seemed to be gone. The romantic things he use to do or even tell me didn't happen anymore. Money can't buy my love and that was a fact.

Leighanne slowly drifted back to sleep in my arms and I couldn't even fight dosing off too. Like I said, I was exhausted.

Elite

I woke up fully, seeing that Nicole was still out of the room, checking up on Leigh. I stood up and stretched, feeling the tenseness in my back. Damn, I was tired.

Being a boss of this dope shit was draining a nigga. It was a constant struggle tryna make sure my niggas were doing their job and nobody was fucking that up.

I barely ever got to kick it with Nicki and my baby girl. Shit, the last time me and Nicole even had sex was in the hotel room we stayed in ever since she got the news that she was pregnant. And that was about a year ago. Now that Leighanne was here and I was running Lucky's business, we hadn't had time for no romantic shit. Not even a quickie.

I wanted to be there, forreal, but the business occupied all my time and in order to stay on my shit and my money, I had to make sure it stayed like that. I wanted to give Nicki and Leigh the best life I could.

I sighed, making my way to Leigh's nursery. I saw Nicki, sleeping peacefully, in the rocking chair with Leigh curled up against her chest. I chuckled softly at the beautiful sight. My wifey and my daughter sleeping.

I just stood there watching them, when I heard my phone ring in the bedroom. Not really wanting to break away from the sight, I reluctantly went to the bedroom and snatched my phone up when I saw Chris's name.

"Yo," I answered.

"Sup, E? We got an issue at the trap," He said, sounding concerned.

I sighed. "You can't handle it man?"

"Nah, I think you should do this. Its outta my league, bro."

I shook my head. "Iight, give me an hour."

"Iight."

I hung up and made my way toward the shower. I took a long shower and brushed my teeth. When I got out the bathroom, I got dressed in a plain white tee and gray sweatpants with my Cool Grey Jordans. I walked downstairs to see Nicole up, reading through her textbook.

"Good morning, baby," I kissed her lips.

"Morning," She mumbled, resting her chin on her hand.

"Whats wrong, babe?" I asked, biting into an apple. She rubbed her eyes.

"I'm just...tired." She looked up at me with red eyes and slight bags under them. "Elite, I have an exam tomorrow. How am I suppose to take it this way?"

I sighed. "Nicki, you gonna do fine, baby. All you ever do is study. You got this shit."

"Between Leigh and studying, I barely have sleep," She pouted. "I need sleep."

"Alright, babe, how about this? When I get back, imma take Leigh out for the day so you could relax, iight? Sleep, study, take a bubble bath, get ya hair done, whatever you wanna do."

She smiled, looking up at me. "Really, baby?"

"Forreal," I said, getting up and pecking her cheek. "I love you too much to see you like this."

"Aww, baby, I love you too," She got up to hug me. I gripped her waist tightly, kissing her lips. We were interrupted by Leighanne's crying upstairs. Nicole sighed, closing her eyes.

"Please hurry up and come back," She pleaded. I nodded and pecked her lips one more time before going out the front door to see what trouble was happening in the trap.