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“What?” I giggled.

“Christmas is coming up and you must want something big. What is it? A brand new house? A building for your business? A car?” He casually listed off big things like they were small. I got chills down my spine and in my pussy.

“All of the above,” I laughed.

“Well we can just put your name on the house I just bought,” he replied seriously. I don’t think he caught that I was joking.

“We can,” I agreed. Joking or not, I wasn’t turning that down.

“But what are we going to do with your house uptown?”

“The rent is paid up until July. Maybe I can sub-lease it to someone I trust or it can just be a rest stop for us. I don’t know…but it was kind of obvious that we were bringing Louri back home to your house because her nursery is done there and all her gifts from the baby shower were left there.”

“Right, but I want all your stuff to be there, too. I want you to move in.”

My heart skipped a beat and I tried to play it cool, but I felt myself grinning. “If that’s what you want then okay.”

“But is that what you want?”

“I wanted it from the second you showed me that house,” I admitted through laughter. “I was just waiting for you to ask me.”

He smacked his teeth. “And I was going to ask you…but Aspen made me feel like that was doing too much.”

“And this isn’t doing too much?” I pointed to my belly.

“I said the same thing, but she was referring to the fact that we had just gotten back together.”

“Ohhhhh,” I nodded slowly. “That’s a valid point and it definitely crossed my mind, too. Maybe it is too much in that regard, but it doesn’t have to be permanent.”

He scowled. “What?”

“Meaning if things don’t work out I can always go back to my house uptown.”

“See, that’s why I want you to give that place up.”

“Not you tryna take away something I’d have for myself to fall back on.”

“Our house is going to be yours because your name is gon’ be on it and I’d never put you out because that’s putting my daughter out.”

“That’s sweet, but what if you fuck up? I’m not gon’ want to share a space with you.”

“Then I’ll go to the other side of the house or leave for a few hours, but we not gon’ put that negative shit in the air. Everything is going to work out because that’s within our control. We love each other so we gon get through whatever bullshit comes our way.”

“Okay, baby,” I pecked his lips, so he’d drop it. I was keeping my house uptown until the lease was up because the future wasn’t predictable. I didn’t want to hurt him and he didn’t want to hurt me, but things changed. Our biggest change was coming in January and it could make or break us.

“Alright…so about the car. That’ll be your push present.”

“Armias, I don't need a car,” I giggled.

“Everybody has a dream car. What’s yours?”

“Hmmm, okay well since you asked, it’s a black G-Wagon with pink interior.”

“Say less.”

“You’re insane.”

“I am, and I got the perfect building for your business.”