New Beginnings

Simpin.

We finished signing the paperwork then left with De’Andre asleep. I secured him in the backseat then sat next to him. Tariq started driving then looked at me through the rearview mirror.

“What?”

“I’m just happy. He’s healthy, you’re okay, he’s finally asleep, and we are going home.”

“I can finally sleep.”

He smiled then focused on driving. I leaned my head back and fell asleep and slept the rest of the way home. We pulled into the driveway then Tariq woke me up.

“Mamas, it’s time to go inside.”

He got out of the car then got the baby. We went inside and Apollo ran up to us. I got on my knees.

“Shhh. Don’t wake the baby.”

Tariq lowered the carrier and let Apollo smell the baby.

“Behave. Gentle.”

He started wagging his butt really hard then looked at me.

“That’s your boy. Be nice.”

We went to the babies room and put him in his crib. Camilia and Cam put everything away from the baby shower away for us so we didn’t have to worry about that. I walked to the couch and sat down. Tariq came over and pulled me onto his lap and I fell asleep on his lap immediately. De’Andre started crying so I got up.

“I can do it.”

“I’ve got it. He’s probably hungry.”

I walked into his room then picked him up.

“Hey it’s okay handsome.”

I started rocking him and he just looked into my eyes. I lifted up my shirt and adjusted my bra so he could get some milk. Tariq walked in and leaned against the door frame.

“Was he hungry?”

“Yep. He’s a lot more gentle than you are.”

“Haha, funny. Maybe we can work on baby number two tonight.”

“Absolutely not. I am sleeping.”

“I know.”

He walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. He kissed my neck softly then rested his head on my shoulder, watching me feed the baby.

“I wonder what your breast milk tastes like.”

I looked at him then chuckled. 

“Why are you asking?”

“I don’t know but I wanna.”

“No.”

“Please?”

“It’s for the baby. Not a grown man.”

“Right but I was your baby first.”

I rolled my eyes then grabbed a burping towel. I started patting his back and burped him then when we were done I checked his diaper. Once I was sure he was okay I fixed my bra and my shirt then wrapped him up. I rocked him while I hummed ‘The Sound of Silence’ by Disturbed. Once he started drifting I set him back in the crib and went into the living room. Tariq was laying there so I laid on top of him.

“Are you okay mamas?”

“Yeah, I’m just really tired.”

“I know baby. You’ve done a lot so far so I’m going to take care of the baby while you take care of you. Take a nice hot bath, do whatever girly things you wanna do, and sleep.”

“Although that sounds amazing, I don’t know.”

“I want you to take care of yourself for the day. Please baby.”

“Fine. I’ll go take a cleansing bath then sleep.”

“Thank you.”

I kissed him then he pulled me closer. I wrapped my arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. He started rubbing my butt which made me moan. He kissed my cheek then my neck and gave me a love bite. I pulled him closer then he picked me up.

He carried me to our room and gently laid me on the bed. He tugged at my shirt and went to take it off of me.

“I can’t.”

He looked at me confused.

“I’m not ready yet. I’m sorry.”

“Hey, you don’t have to apologize. If you’re not ready then you’re not ready.”

He kissed my forehead then I sat up.

“Why are you so perfect?”

He chuckled.

“I am far from perfect.”

“I disagree. You always know what to say and you never fail to make me feel better. Like right now, I rejected you and you just didn’t care.”

“Oh no, I do care. I’m a little hurt but I don’t wanna force you and make you upset. So, I will go grab whatever herbs you need for your cleansing bath.”

I smiled then I told him what I needed then he walked outside and grabbed them. I grabbed my incense and a few crystals that don’t dissolve in water. He came back with the herbs so I put them in the water. I got undressed and into the water. I laid there and closed my eyes. 

After an hour I drained the water and took the herbs out. I went to the room and put on a pair of sweats and a tee shirt then laid down on the bed. I curled up in Tariq’s spot and fell asleep. After a few hours I heard the baby crying then Tariq getting up. I walked downstairs and saw Tariq sitting there with the baby in his arms with one of his friends. 

“Hey.”

He looked up at me.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

“It’s okay. I had a good nap.”

“Well that’s good.”

I walked around the couch and took the baby out of his arms. He made me sit on his lap and rubbed my hips and thighs while the baby slept in my arms.

“This is Morgan by the way. Morgan this is Sophia.”

He smiled at me so I smiled back.

“It’s nice to meet you. He talked about you a lot while we were together.”

“Same here and I hope all good things. Do you want me to make dinner tonight?”

“Well you’re supposed to be resting and relaxing right now and not worrying about me or the baby.”

“That’s kind of not possible and you know it.”

“True. No, I’m going to make dinner. Cam and Camilia are at the store getting some more baby stuff for us so I’m making all of us dinner.”

“Okay.”

I got off of him so he could get dinner done.

“You know, he’s changed a lot since high school.”

“I can’t take full credit.”

“I know. Are you worried about him?”

“Oh all the time. I’m terrified but I know he would never leave me and De’Andre. No matter how tough life gets, I’m always going to be by his side and him at mine.”

“Yeah you definitely changed him. He was never the family type.”

“You should’ve seen his face when he found out that I was pregnant. He was so happy and excited.”

I chuckled. I looked over at Tariq and he was cooking peacefully. I looked back at Morgan.

“Have you ever held a baby?”

“My niece.”

“You wanna hold him?”

“Sure.”

I moved closer then put him in his arms slowly. He rocked him slowly then I walked over to Tariq and wrapped my arms around his waist. I leaned up and kissed his shoulder which made him chuckle.

“I think there’s something going on between Camilia and Cam. They’ve been spending a lot of time together.”

“I don’t know. She’s gay.”

“And? There are many times where girls and guys go straight or gay for someone else.”

“Who knows. But if they are dating, good for them.”

He chuckled then turned around. He kissed my forehead then Morgan walked over with the baby in his arms.

“Yeah you changed a lot. Over here simping.”

Tariq c****d his eyebrow. He walked over to him and took the baby out of his arms. He handed me De’Andre then tackled Morgan. They fake fought for a while then they saw the disapproving look I was giving them.

“Damn she’s intimidating.”

“Right? I’m about to marry that look.”

“Tough. She’s got more than that look though.”

“Aye, don’t look at my girl like that.”

“Chill bro. Not even like that.”

He threw up his hands then they started laughing.

“Shh, don’t wake up the baby.”

“Sorry mamas.”

We all sat down then Cam and Camilia walked in with some bags. She started smiling all hard then set the bags down. She rushed over to me and started doing a happy dance.

“He’s so handsome.”

“Wanna hold him?”

“Is that a question?”

I smiled then handed him to her. She started smiling really big and just stood there. Cam brought everything into the baby room then came back. He walked over to Camilia and looked at De’Andre. 

“He looks just like the both of you.”

I smiled then Camilia brought him to the baby room and laid him down. Tariq walked around the island and wrapped his arms around me.

“Do you want me to rub your back?”

My eyes lit up so I turned around and looked at him.

“Later?”

“Obviously.”

“Please? It’s bothering me.”

“I could tell from how you were sitting. After dinner we can go upstairs and I’ll rub your back.”

I smiled then he went back to cooking. Camilia came back then sat next to me.

“So, how’s your first day back home?”

“Good. He made me take a cleansing bath and sleep while he took care of the baby.”

“Well that’s good. You needed a cleanse.”

I chuckled then I saw the confusion on Morgan’s face.

“What’s wrong?”

“Cleansing bath?”

“It’s where you take herbs and crystals and take a bath with then to charge your energy and cleanse you of negative energy.”

He chuckled.

“Are you a witch or something?”

I looked at Tariq and he shrugged his shoulders. I looked back at Morgan.

“I’m a hereditary green witch. I practice Wicca which was my first religion before I converted to Catholic then Atheism. Now I’m converting back to Wicca because these are my roots and I want my son to know where he comes from.”

“So he’s going to be a little witch? And you’re okay with this?”

“She doesn’t want to force it on him. If he’s interested in it and wants to convert to Wicca, then that’s fine by me. But it’s up to him when the time comes.”

“Don’t you worship Satan?”

“No. You can have Satan, Hades, or any of the other gods of death and the underworld as a deity, which is a god or goddess that chooses you to worship them. I don’t work with deities but I could. But most witches actually don’t like the devil nor want to work with him.”

He looked at Tariq.

“I almost thought you were done with the crazy ones. Instead you get with a woman who thinks witches are real!”

“First off don’t insult her. Second you have no clue what I’ve seen her do. Her grandmother read the stars and found out that she was pregnant before we even texted her about coming over to tell her. Third I have seen her cast spells and do jars so many times and a few have not worked but the rest have. She predicted the baby's gender before the doctors could find out so before you knock it, see it for yourself.”

He scoffed.

“Whatever, I’m leaving.”

Tariq looked furious so I grabbed his hand.

“Baby it’s okay. I’m not upset about it so neither should you.”

“He insulted you in our home.”

“Because he doesn’t understand it. He’s simple minded and simple minded people aren’t accepting.”

Morgan turned around.

“The hell you call me?”

“Did I f*****g stutter? I don’t think I did so you can kick rocks.”

Camilia started laughing and Cam was amused. Tariq got tense so I pulled him closer and pulled his face closer to mine.

“Go upstairs and splash some water on your face. Once you calm down, come back downstairs and I’ll finish dinner.”

He nodded his head and I kissed him. He went upstairs then I walked up to Morgan.

“Leave and don’t come back. Do not test my rage and how fast I can kill you without batting an eye.”

“Crazy bitch.”

I smiled.

“You have no clue.”

He left then I started making side dishes with the chicken that Tariq made. De’Andre started crying.

“Camilia, can you do this for me? I have to feed him.”

“Yep.”

I walked to the baby’s room and Tariq was standing there trying to calm him down.

“He’s probably hungry.”

He looked up at me. I took him out of his arms and sat down. I pulled up my hoodie and let him start drinking. Tariq sat across from me.

“I don’t know what came over me.”

“It’s okay babe. You were upset because he was talking down on me. I’m not mad about it so you shouldn’t.”

He took a breath.

“If you want, we can work some of that anger out tonight.”

I bit my lip and he c****d his eyebrow. 

“Imma tear you up tonight.”

“I expect nothing else papi.”

“No se burlen de mí mamás.”

“¿O si no qué?”

He bit his lip then kissed me. He got up and went to the kitchen and I sat there feeding the baby. Camilia came in.

“So Tariq thinks that there’s something going on between you and my brother.”

“Why?”

“You two have been spending a lot of time together. I said that if there is, good for you two. But if not, that’s fine too. I just don’t want you two to hurt each other.”

“Right. Well I don’t know really. I mean, he’s obviously a player but there’s just something about him that’s hard to not like. And I know he’s your brother so I’m calling him off limits.”

“So you’re bi now?”

“I guess so.”

“Well whatever happens, know that I’m here for you.”

She smiled then sat down. Once he was done drinking she handed me a burping towel then I changed his diaper. I wrapped him in the blanket that Kyle got for us then went to my office and checked my email. There were emails from people congratulating me about the baby then there was one from the school saying I need to pick up my books. I closed my computer then went downstairs to eat.

They were all sitting there talking waiting for me. Tariq saw me walk in then got up. 

“So now that you’ve had the baby, we need to start planning the wedding.”

“Well first we have to wait until I turn eighteen. So let’s wait six months before talking about it.”

“I can’t wait that long.”

“Well you have to. I don’t want to wait either but I don’t want to rush this. I think we need to slow down a little bit.”

“What do you mean?”

“We started dating seven months ago, had a baby a week ago, engaged for five months, and I’m about to get a promotion. We need to slow down a little bit. Enjoy life now.”

He shook his head.

“I still wanna get married now.”

“Well too bad. We aren’t getting married for another six months and you keep testing me, I'll push it back further.”

He rolled his eyes then we sat down. Cam wanted to hold De’Andre so I handed him the baby. Tariq handed me a plate of food then made everyone else theirs. Cam handed De’Andre back to me and we all ate dinner. Tariq kept staring at me but I didn’t say anything because it didn’t bother me. 

Once dinner was over Cam and Camilia cleaned up after dinner while I put the baby in his crib. We sat on the couch and Tariq pulled me onto his lap. I rested my head in the crook of his neck and just laid there with him.

He whispered, “I want you so badly right now.”

“Later.”

He kissed my neck softly which sent chills down my spine. He ran his hands down my spine and rubbed my back for me. Cam and Camilia came over and sat on the couch.

“Sophia, we need to talk about dad.”

“I told you I want him no where near my son.”

“He just wants to meet him. Only once.”

“No means no Cam. I don’t understand why you insist that he’s changed when he’s constantly attacking Tariq. I don’t want him around my baby.”

“Fine, fine. But can you see him one last time?”

“I’m busy. I have work, school-”

Tariq cut me off.

“Babe go see him for a few minutes. What’s the worst that can happen? He’s bed bound and you can leave at any time.”

“Why are you defending him? He looked you in the eyes and said that he would never support our marriage and that we are going to hell because we are an interacial couple.”

“If anything I pity him. I feel bad for him because he’s stuck in the old fashioned way and he can’t see that he’s hurting you guys in the process. He will not change my mind about how I feel for you because he’s a racist.”

“Whatever. I’m done with this conversation.”

I got up and went to leave. Tariq grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

“No we are not. You’re going to go see him even if I have to force you there. Give him a few minutes of your time.”

“And that’s a few minutes I can’t take back. I want nothing to deal with him and entertaining him at that dinner was it. The meeting with his lawyer, the times he’d come over, or have us come over. All of it was a waste of time for a man that made my life hell.”

He sighed.

“Sophia I know you don’t want to see him but what if there’s something he needs to tell you? What if there is something that he needs you to do for him before he dies?”

“Like what? I love you guys but I am not going to see him and that’s final. You keep arguing with me, you’re sleeping on the couch for a month and you’re finding a new place.”

I ripped my arm out of his grip and went to my room. I paced back and forth then I decided that I was going to go workout. I put on my leggings and sports bra then a hoodie over it. I grabbed my equipment then went downstairs. 

“Where are you going?”

I ignored him. I grabbed my bottle then left. I got in the car and drove to the gym. I got out of the car and walked into the building. A guy greeted me.

“Hello, what can I do for you?”

“I’m here to workout.”

“Do you want a membership?”

“Sure.”

He told me about everything then I got myself a membership. I went to the locker room and set my things in a locker then walked out. I walked over to the punching bag and put my wraps on. I took my hoodie off and started hitting the bag. I hit the bag into my knuckles bled and I couldn’t hit anymore. 

I grabbed my things and walked over to the weight bar and put some weight on there. A different guy approached me.

“Hey, what’s your name?”

“None of your business.”

I smiled then started doing my squats.

“All I asked for was your name.”

“Then that turns into, ‘hey you’re really pretty too, can I have your number’ or you try to hit on me, I reject you, then you don’t give up and I have to bring up my kid and fiance’ then you have more respect for a man you have never met before than me of whom you just met. I am not here to make friends, I’m here to workout unlike you.”

“You seem to know a lot about me.”

“Not you, your type. But I promise you, I am not the type of girl you wanna get involved with so can you please just leave me alone?”

“You said you have a kid?”

“Yeah, he’s a week old.”

I rested the rack and grabbed my phone. I showed him the picture of Tariq holding him.

“And that’s your fiance’?”

“Yep.”

“Well your son is adorable. I love kids.”

“I used to hate them. Now that I have my son, my whole world changed.”

“For the better or worse?”

“Both in some cases.”

“What’s his name?”

“De’Andre.”

“Can I know yours too?”

I rolled my eyes.

“Sophia.”

“Thank you. Having a whole conversation with a woman about her kid and not even knowing her name.”

“Well you were supposed to get scared off and walked away when I started talking about him.”

“Wel kids don’t bother me. My name’s Tyson.”

“Cool, I’m still not here to make friends.”

He chuckled.

“You’re mouthy.”

“Yup.”

“Well how about this, we can be workout buddies. Spot each other, be nice to each other, and scare off other people.”

“I’ll pass. I prefer to workout alone. That’s why he’s not with me.”

I set the bar on the rack and cleaned the equipment. I walked back over to the bag and started hitting it again. He followed behind me.

“Your knuckles are bare.”

“I’m a boxer, it doesn’t bother me.”

“I don’t think he’d-”

“Look I was trying to be nice but now you’re starting to get on my nerves. Leave me alone.”

He went to say something but a girl walked over.

“Hey girl I have seen you in like forever!”

She hugged me then she looked at him.

“Ugh, fuckboys. Look she obviously doesn’t want you so go dry hump something else.”

She turned back to me then winked. He walked away and I took a breath.

“Thank you.”

“No problem. I hate seeing other girls get harassed when they try working out.”

“Right? I brought up my fiance’ and my son and he didn’t budge.”

“I don’t know. My name’s Cora, what’s yours?”

“Sophia.”

She smiled.

“Well I’m going to leave you be and I’ll see you around.”

“Thank you and see you around.”

She walked away and I hit the bag for another thirty minutes then I ran a few miles on the treadmill. When I was done I went into the locker room and grabbed my things. I left and was walking to my car.

“Hey!”

I turned around and it was Tyson. I rolled my eyes and kept walking.

“Come on. Give me a minute.”

I got to my car and opened the trunk. I threw my bag in there then got in. He grabbed my car door before I closed it.

“Dude leave me alone.”

“Just give me a minute.”

“No now-”

He pulled out a gun.

“Get out of your car and get in the backseat.”