Long Time No See

Anaheim, CA

"I think they will be sleep for a while." I said closing the door to the rooms that the kids occupied. They were up long enough to take baths and be put in to pajamas by the time I got to the resort. Taylor did a great job booking the hotel and activities for the trip and I was actually excited. I took some time to pack the kids stuff up for a smooth transition to the airport when we did leave.

"Babe." I heard Amari say as I moved the bags. I yawned  as I took a look around the suite and though about what a good time we were going to have over the next few days.

"Yeah babe." I yawned as I got closer to the door. I had along night and was having trouble keeping my eyes open.

"Come here." Amari was already in bed, scrolling through her phone when I walked in.

"What are you writing?" I asked as I got in bed. I wrapped my arm around her noticing what she was looking at.

"Baby names." She looked at me before snuggling up to me.

"You like the letter A huh?" She laughed explaining Aden's name.

"I wanted to name him Amari. I should have but Aden was my second choice." I laughed at her.

"Two Amari's huh?" I asked as I glanced at the list.

"How did y'all come up with Gia?" She asked me as I kissed her forehead.

"Yani's name is Giyani. I refused to name her Erica." Her expression changed.

"I don't know that." She said.

"I like Ameera. If there was a girl." I said contributing to the process.

"I like with Eric and Elle." She put stars near the name.

"Shawna called me." I looked at my phone.

"You knew he had another family and you were still his best man at their wedding?" She asked.

"It wasn't like that." I know she thinks that I helped him hide his life but he is grown.

"She has your number? Those kids have to know you." She said still writing down names.

"They do. KJ was like my first kid. I was there for all of their births and they are Gia's cousins. In the beginning it was easy, Eva wasn't in the picture. But then she was, it was like as soon as his business took off he wanted a trophy. Shawna isn't a bad looking women, beautiful girl, yall could be sister's honestly but Evalyn's parents are loaded. He didn't marry her for love but Shawna found out that they were fucking and she was done with him. Until she wasn't. By the time she figured out they were married Aubrey was 2." I remembered the day she found out like it was yesterday.

"How did he hide that?" She folded her arms in confusion.

"Kyle used to stay with her every night in that house. Once they got married he changed everything from his name to hers so if Eva divorced him his kids would be safe. One day, Kyle called me and asked me to speak an Kj's school for career day and he would deal with Shawna. I went, talked about the firm, ate lunch with KJ and when back to work." Amari stopped me.

"So you were involved." She said before allowing me to continue.

"What I didn't know is that Shawna went to his office later that afternoon surprise him and saw the wedding photo on the desk." I finished the story.

"So you are like these kids second dad?" I said knowing she wanted to know how active I had been.

"Not so much recently because I have had my own shit happening but I talk to KJ regularly. Pick KJ and Aubrey up from school a few times a month." I admitted.