Page 51 of What I Needed

“It was also the truth, although I’m pretty sure her mother is beautiful.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Per my research, you’ve never been spotted with an ugly woman, so that’s a fair assumption. The food is ready, so I’m about to shower again and put on something besides leggings or biker shorts.”

“I didn’t know you had anything else,” I teased.

“Haha. You got jokes, I see.”

Before I could respond, she was on the other side of her bedroom door. I took Riverlynn to my bedroom, propped her up on my bed with a few pillows, and gave her a rattle. She was content with that while I found something more presentable to wear. I couldn’t have my girls dressed nice and not match their fly.

“How does Daddy look?” I asked Riverlynn once I was dressed in a pale yellow polo and khaki shorts.

I picked her up and admired our coordinating outfits in the mirror, taking a selfie before heading back downstairs. Since there would be several of us having dinner, I decided we would eat on the enclosed patio. I put Riverlynn in her stroller while I went back and forth from the kitchen to the patio, bringing out the items we needed.

Just as I finished, the doorbell rang, and my security system announced that there was someone at the door. Excitement buzzed through my body as I headed toward the door with the stroller in tow. It had been too long since I’d seen the two people closest to me, and I was looking forward to their visit.

I opened the door with a smile, but it disappeared immediately when I saw Jaxon with a woman I’d never seen before. I almost closed the door in their faces, but he caught it before it closed.

“Damn, bruh. Who pissed in your Cheerios?” Jaxon asked.

“I thought y’all were my mama and sister.”

“Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m Shakira, Erissa’s best friend.”

“Oh, damn. My bad. I’m River, and I’m not usually rude. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Is my girl in the kitchen?” she asked.

“No, I think she’s upstairs getting dressed. You can go up if you want.”

Shakira peeked into Riverlynn’s stroller and tickled her stomach.

“Hey, pretty girl,” she cooed, getting the cutest reaction from my daughter.

After playing with her for less than a minute, she disappeared, and I watched Jaxon watch her until she disappeared.

“Don’t start no shit with her,” I warned.

“What? I was just admiring the view.”

“Whatever. Where your boys at?” I asked, referring to Desmond and Boris.

“They had plans.”

“Bet. Dealing with you is plenty.”

“I’m glad they couldn’t come, because it smells good as hell, and that means more food for me. What’s on the menu?”

“Wait and see. You ready to meet your niece?”

The question was rhetorical, and I wasn’t expecting him to respond. I lifted Riverlynn from her stroller and held her in front of me with her back against my stomach.

“This is Riverlynn. Baby girl, this bigheaded nigga right here is your uncle Jaxon.”

“That was the worst introduction ever, but let me hold my niece,” he requested, reaching for her.

She went willingly, giggling as he held her in the air.