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Liked her a lot.
Mouthful of refried beans, those hazel pools landed on me. “You must be Sunnie. Nice to officially meet you. This man of yours talked about you all the time.”
Shut the freakin’ front door.
I wasn’t expecting her to say that. Damn sure didn’t think he talked about me to his… his playmates. “Um, nice to meet you too.”
“And no, I haven’t found out the sex yet. Every time I go, the baby’s legs are crossed.” Her eyes rolled. “Stubborn like it’s damn daddy.”
I really liked her.
Ezekiel found no humor in her taunting. Crystal devoured her food completely ignoring him, watching the new season of Love is Blind making it perfectly clear that we were in her space and on her time. Accepting defeat, Zeek took a seat on the sofa next to her and waited.
“Are you done pouting?” Snickering and shaking her head, Crystal closed her container and paused the show. “Ezekiel, all this.” Her fingers fluttered his way. “Don’t bring all that negative energy in here.”
“Can I?” He motioned towards her stomach.
“Go ahead.” Her container ended up back in her hands and his hands moved all over her stomach.
“Award me a little grace. I don’t know what I’m doing. Can you…”
“Don’t do that.” Mouthful, she closed her container again and glared at Zeek. “This entire situation is me giving you grace. I never wanted this and you know that.” Her teary eyes and quivering bottom lip made me feel sad. “Ugh, I hate getting so emotional.”
When she started to pace, I started to get uncomfortable. Is this chick overly emotional because of hormones or psychotic and on the verge oflosing her shit?
“In the four and a half months that I’ve been pregnant, I’ve physically seen you twice and talked to you and not your voicemail four times. I-I… I don’t like that you’re punishing me for something I didn’t intentionally do. No, I’m not asking you to be here twenty-four-seven. I’m not asking you to rub my feet or get me food when I crave certain things. What I am asking for is that you keep your end of the bargain because this ain’t it. You’ve never been to a single appointment. I had to send you a voice note so you could hear the baby’s heartbeat.” Crystal looked beyond crushed, and I truly felt for her.
Zeek had yet to pick his head up and take accountability for his actions. Regardless of the curve balls life had thrown, him intentionally ignoring her wasn’t cool. It wasn’t right at all.
“Crys, I’m…”
“And then you won’t call the HR lady back to approve the insurance verification at the company you own. These appointments aren’t cheap. These pregnancy classes aren’t cheap but not once have I hounded you for money. You don’t have an ounce of respect for me, I get it. The mother of your child is a harlot who enjoys artistically expressing herself through sex. But this baby didn’t ask to be here and I for damn sure didn’t ask to be in this situation. I hate to believe that the only reason you decided to come here today is because you’re trying to show Sunnie that you’re ready to handle your responsibility as a man so she can swoon and pin over you being the supportive father.”
Damn!
She did not have to call him out like that.
Now I was sitting here scratching my head wondering if that’s the real reason he had me here.
“Let me make it simple.” With clasped hands, she leaned down into his face. “Keep that same energy you’ve been giving. Do you and I’ll do me. When I find out the sex of the baby, I’ll let Sunnie know so she can pass the good news on to you. I’m sure you’d respect her enough to actually listen to what she has to say. My family will probably throw me a baby shower. I’ll make sure to send Sunnie a list of everything I have, so if you decide to get the same for your place, so be it. And don’t ask what it is that I need. I’ll get it myself. When I go into labor, you’ll be the first to know because I’ll group text both of you. Sounds good, right? Awesome. Now, can you please leave?” Poked out belly button leading the way, she opened the door and waved us out.
“Crystal, please let me explain.” I knew he wasn’t going to sit down for long after everything she said. “I have no excuse for not being there for you. Just please let me fix it.”
“That’s the thing, Ezekiel, I don’t want you to fix it. When I needed you to, you weren’t there for me. I know it’s been hard since your mom died. I won’t take that pain from you. But she passed away almost a month ago. I’ve been pregnant for four and a half months. Please leave.”
Why did this scenario feel like déjà vu?
Same story, different cast.
She’s Aleyah, and he’s me.
She needed help with something very important and he ignored her, refusing to come to her rescue.
Just like me and my sister.
Wow.
Waving the red flag, Zeek held his hand out for me. His eyes had yet to pull from her belly. Though her delivery was harsh, I didn’t fault Crystal for how she felt. To be honest, I would’ve flipped my shit and became the baby mama from hell, especially after finding out he’s been boo’d up with another woman. Conviction hit me too as his unofficial but official woman. Not once have I urged this man outside of today to reach out and handle his business.
