𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙽𝙴𝚇𝚃 𝙳𝙰𝚈

𝚂𝙰𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙳𝙰𝚈

𝙳𝙴𝙲𝙴𝙼𝙱𝙴𝚁 𝟷𝟾𝚃𝙷

𝟷𝟶:𝟹𝟶 𝙰𝙼

Cherish jumped up out of her sleep. She'll be glad when the nightmares stop. She also was confused on why she kept having sexual dreams with Assad being the star player. Maybe it was because they crossed that line more than once before finding out she was pregnant, or maybe it's because she hadn't had sex since the summer and was horny. Or perhaps it was simply because she missed him and knew he was avoiding her.

She didn't want to believe that Assad was the type of man to get what he wanted and go ghost, but it was feeling more and more like that. She hadn't seen or spoken to him in months. A few days after she woke up was the last time. Today, she was getting some answers. He was too grown to be playing games. Although she wasn't exactly sure he was playing, and that's what had her mind boggled. She was just sticking with what she thought for now until she could reach him.

She felt a hand protectively over her stomach, causing her to look to her side. Priest was in bed with her, but watching TV. "You're here." She spoke softly.

"Of course I'm here." He looked at her with a smile.

"Where are the girls?"

"When I last checked on them, Laysia was working on her Winter break homework packet and ignoring me because she's mad at me. And Honesti was watching Sesame Street."

"Mad at you? I doubt it. Exactly what is it that she claims she mad at you for?"

"No reason." He scratched his neck.

"Mhm. So, what are you doing here, Priest? I mean, in my bed? Just chilling all casually next to me as if this is normal?" She narrowed her eyes at him.

"You don't remember? Of course, you don't. You called me over last night because you couldn't sleep. Even though by the time I got here, you were already knocked out. My sons was being stubborn like their momma, and they ain't even here yet." Priest rubbed her stomach. The small action made her feel warm inside.

Because of the concussion Cherish had sustained while she was jumped, she sometimes forgets small things. She usually remembers once someone reminds her of the thing she had forgotten. Like now, she forgot she called Priest last night because she couldn't sleep. She never asked him to come over, though. Still, he dropped everything just to come to her. It seemed like their unborn babies wanted daddy to be close by. They are always kicking whenever Priest talks in general, whenever Priest's hand lands on her stomach, they kick wherever Priest's hand is. And when Priest talk to her stomach, their kicks be going crazy as if they're responding to what their daddy is saying.

Cherish often had nightmares that she lost her babies and so did Priest, but by the grace of God, she didn't. It was a miracle that nothing happened to the babies. Here she was, 27 weeks pregnant with her baby boys. She'll be 28 weeks and in her third trimester on December 21st.

"So you spent the night in here? Instead of the I don't know, three guest rooms in this house?" Cherish questioned.

"Next to you and my sons. Yeah, I did." Priest shrugged as she looked at him as if he'd grown two heads. He was always so nonchalant about things as if they were a couple, and it was appropriate, which it wasn't.

"Priest—"

"You had another nightmare about losing the babies, didn't you?" Priest cut her off, then looked at her with concern. "The doctor said you won't be forgetting things for long. The nightmares will ease up." Priest continued rubbing her stomach, which brought her so much comfort. She hated how much it did.

"So I didn't wake up to some top-tier head from Assad? Damn, that's too bad." She bit down on her lower lip. The dream was actually a memory, which is why it was so detailed.

"What the fuck you say?" Priest frowned.

"That felt so real." She smiled with a shake of her head.

Maybe because it actually happened, just not yesterday. She thought while clenching her thighs, which Priest noticed.

"Stop fucking playing with me, Cherish." Priest continued, frowning.

"I don't see how, what I do and who I do it with has anything to do with you. Therefore, who's playing?"

"You're pregnant with my fucking sons. That's the difference. Ain't no nigga about to fucking you or eating that pussy." Priest mugged her.

"So, you're the only one who could be out here having sex and shit?" She titled her head and looked at him.

"I'm in a relationship." Priest sighed.

"I know. How could I forget?" She rolled her eyes as he looked at her. She still couldn't grasp how Priest always moved on so quickly. Her heart was silently breaking, and she knew there was nothing she could do about it. Asia was no Crystal. Therefore, things were different this time around. Priest actually cared for her and his feelings were real.

Almost 6 months later, here she was pregnant while he's in a relationship that she wished he wasn't in. True enough, she developed feelings for Assad, but if there was a choice between the two, there was no doubt who she'd pick. This was just another child who was about to be back and forth between houses. She felt like a side chick, and the fact that this pregnancy has her every bit of insecure wasn't helping. She came so far from her past insecurities, yet here she was, once again, insecure. Only in a different way now.

Cherish would never disrespect Priest by sleeping with another man while she's pregnant by him, and he knows that. She knew that wasn't the real reason he was currently upset. The thought of any man touching her, pregnant or not, angered him. He had no right to be angry about anything, but he couldn't help himself when it came to Cherish.

"What you mean by that?" He asked.

"Nothing." She rolled her eyes while getting out of bed, but he grabbed her hand to stop her. "Stop, I gotta pee."

Walking into her bathroom, she lifted her oversized T-shirt, then pulled down her panties before sitting on the toilet and emptying her bladder. She closed her eyes, feeling relief. It felt as if she had been holding in her pee for hours. Priest stood in the doorway as if that was appropriate as well.

"I'm serious, Cherish. You shouldn't even be entertaining no motherfucking nigga while you are pregnant with my sons."

"Our sons. And damn, can I use the bathroom in peace? That's exactly where Honesti gets that from."

"Not too much on my daughter." Priest chuckled. Cherish just rolled her eyes again.

"You so damn inappropriate, bro. This isn't normal."

"I'm not your bro, and it's nothing I haven't seen before." Priest shrugged.

"You're in a relationship." She threw his words back at him as he laughed. She was so stubborn.

Wiping herself, Cherish stood up before flushing the toilet. She then washed her hands thoroughly, she figured why not brush her teeth since her appetite when it came to eating during mornings hadn't changed. Priest had already gotten himself together when Cherish was asleep.

"You can't control me just because I'm pregnant by you." She started brushing her teeth.

"That's not what I'm doing. I'm not trying to control you." Priest sighed.

She continued brushing her teeth, then continued with her rant. "I would never disrespect you by sleeping with another man while I'm pregnant with your babies. But you cannot tell me who I can and cannot entertain. You are only the father of my kids, not my man. Women be pregnant all the time by one man and getting into a relationship with another. Yes, it's tacky, but whatever. I tried to fight for you, remember? You didn't want me, so don't think for a second you can dictate what I do just because I'm pregnant, when we all know that's not even the only reason why you're mad." Cherish stated firmly, without looking at Priest, but she could feel his eyes on her.

His bushy eyebrows furrowed; a scowl gradually took over his handsome face. Finally, looking at him through the mirror, his eyes bore into hers, then his face softened as he brushed his hand down his face before speaking. "Cherish..."

"Don't, Priest. Don't try to soften your voice and sweet talk your way out of this. You fell in love with another woman, and I hate it. I hate you for it. It's just my luck to end up pregnant by you, and you won't let me forget it. I get to move on just like you did, but me being pregnant leaves no room for that." Tears clouded her eyes. Her pregnancy hormones had her crying about every little thing. Things that didn't warrant tears, but somehow had her crying a rainstorm.

"I hate you." She sniffled while looking away from him.

This was not how she envisioned her morning going. More than anything, she hated how weak she was presenting herself in front of him. She couldn't blame her hormones, although they were playing a major part in her emotional outburst. Her heart was silently crying out to him, as it did a thousand times before. Crying out and telling him to end things with Asia and be with her, but she wouldn't express that out loudly, simply because it wasn't fair to ask that of him.

Priest stood in front of Cherish as her legs were stretched out while half her butt sat on the sink. He looked at her as tears dripped down her cheeks. Feeling his heartstrings tightening, he wiped her tears while sighing. "Cherish, baby..."

"Don't. Call. Me. Baby." She cut her eyes at him.

He realized that he'd hurt her more than he imagined—more than he comprehended before this moment. They hadn't had a heart-to-heart since before he found out about Von. Being face to face with the fire inside of her was eye-opening, but he couldn't exactly change things. Priest understood he was the enemy who'd broken her heart unintentionally, still he couldn't resist snaking his arms around her waist and drawing her closer to him. Her stomach stopped them from being too close. Cherish couldn't stop herself from giving in. From weakening in his embrace.

"I hate you." She repeated. Her voice cracking with each word she spoke. He could hear the hurt in her voice and the evident emotions. She didn't really hate him. She hated how things are.

"I know you do." He rubbed her back.

Cherish always puts on a brave face when it came to Asia. She didn't have a problem with her or didn't treat her with any disrespect any time they saw each other. For what? It was getting old, beefing with women over men. Yazmine always tells Cherish that she's too mature for her own good, but Cherish wasn't about to have beef with some woman just because the woman got the man she's still in love with. Patience, of course, says there is something about Asia that attracts certain darkness. That she didn't trust Asia wouldn't get her son into some mess.

"She's been in your house. Spending nights at your house where no woman aside from your mother, Yaz, and me have been to. I see the way you look at her, which was all proof I needed that your feelings for her are real and genuine." She bit down on her bottom lip as a tear fell.

"It's always so easy for you to move on, yet it's so hard for me. You saved my life by fighting for me, and I will always be grateful for that. Saving my life also saved our sons life. You helped me when I came home from the hospital and never left my side until I healed enough to handle things on my own. You fly over here whenever I can't sleep just to sleep next to me because, in all honesty, it's hard to sleep without you. It's hard for you to sleep without me. How can I fall out of love with you when you keep doing things like that?" She sniffled.

"Now, I'm expected to spend like a week on this trip with the two of you being all lovey-dovey in my face. I can't even be mad because she's your woman." She shook her head. She tried to escape his arms, but his hold on her was firm. At this rate, she assumed he would never let her go. "Let me go, Priest."

When it comes to love language, Cherish & Priest sums up all of them. Lately, words of affirmation and physical touch have been the primary ones. It's why Priest can't control the urge to always touch Cherish in some way. Why he wanted to hold her in his arms despite her telling him to let her go?

"Don't tell me what to do." Priest spoke into her ear. She closed her eyes, letting his voice engulf her. "If you want me to tell her she can't come, I will. Just say the word."

"So I can be labeled the jealous mother of your kids? Nah, I'll pass. You asked her because you wanted to spend Christmas with her. Don't do it for me."

"I don't want you or Laysia to be uncomfortable. In so little words, she doesn't want Asia to come, but for me, she won't say anything about it."

"Do whatever you want, just let me go." Her voice was barely a whisper. He couldn't see the pout on her face and if he did, she knew he would've been smiling. Cherish is just as much spoiled these days as she was stubborn. She acted like him not wanting to let her go bothered her when in fact it didn't, though her heart raced, and butterflies swarmed in her stomach, she loved it. Lord knows he could do no wrong in her eyes. That's been proven time and time again.

"I'm in love with one woman and that'll forever be Cherish Ayanna Smith." He once again spoke into her ear. "I never loved a woman how I love you. Hell, I never loved another woman except for you. That can't be duplicated, and I don't think another woman could hold my heart the way you do either. You're always going to be my heart, and that won't change just because I'm with someone else." With her eyes closed, tears fell as she listened. "No one could ever compare to you. I do have feelings for Asia, which is why I just can't end it and hurt her. I did move on, but why we keep finding ourselves at the same crossroads?"

He pulled away before looking down at her. His hand coming up to caress her cheek. Trying, but not hard enough to swat his hand away as he thumbed away her tears. She avoided looking at him until he took full control, holding her against him as he cupped the side of her face. "Look at me, Cherish." She shook her head no. "Please."

Looking up at him, her eyes instantly found his. Their souls connecting the moment eye contact was established. How could they know their souls were connecting? They felt it. That was part of the reason she didn't want to look into his eyes. It's too hard, and it only brings about more feelings. "I love you, Cherish. You know that, right?"

"I somehow caught feelings for another man. Assad is that man. I slept with him more than once." She revealed, Priest dropped his hands from her face before stepping back. "I-I didn't know I was pregnant at the time. I found out maybe a week later." Her voice cracked. "I love you too, but if it came down to you and Assad, the choice wouldn't even be hard. What you just said lets me know who you chose. I have to continue accepting that you're with someone else."

"You finally forgave me for keeping Malaysia away from you and I finally forgave myself for it, but you can't forgive me for sleeping with Von even though I don't need your forgiveness for that. I did nothing wrong. I didn't know he was your opp or that you both were beefing on that level. You could have just told me. Still, I cut him off just for you and still a part of you don't trust me because we used to sleep together years ago. That's why you chose Asia. That's why you don't want to be with me any more, even though you're still in love with me as you claim. I didn't realize that until now. I'm not mad at you, or I don't hold your choice against you. We'll just continue co-parenting."

"Next time I call you because I can't sleep. Don't come over here." She pushed herself forward from the sink and walked over to her shower. Taking her shirt off, Priest's eyes looked over her body. "You can go now." Cherish said without looking at Priest, taking her panties off, she tossed them in the dirty clothes hamper before stepping into the shower.

Priest sighed before walking out. He felt a number of things, anger being one of them because she slept with Assad more than once. He knew that sounded selfish considering he's sleeping with another woman, but he didn't care how it sounded. It was true that it was hard for him to forgive Cherish for Von. He trusts her completely, though.

He knew she was telling the truth when she explained things once he found out about it, but he just couldn't forgive her. Of course, she didn't need his forgiveness because there was nothing to forgive, still, he couldn't. That's why he treated her like she no longer existed to him. Took his anger out on her multiple times, only difference is he said nothing hurtful like he normally would.

Priest walked back into the bathroom on a mission. He was fully dressed aside from his shoes and didn't care as he opened the glass shower door and stepped into the shower. Pulling Cherish to him before kissing her lips passionately. As much as she wanted to fight against it, she didn't.

Cherish and Priest have the type of love that's so deep and complex that both doubted they'd ever be able to fully get over each other. They doubted they'd ever love anyone else the way they love each other—an unconditional love that would always feel breathless and inescapable until they figure it out. Their history together will always be relevant and at the forefront of their minds and their hearts; soul ties were spiritual and universal, a connection that didn't concern itself with the laws of the land. Cherish and Priest was always going to be linked because of the soul ties.

He slid his tongue into her mouth as their hearts raced on one accord. Moaning as their kiss deepened, priest gently wrapped his large hand around her neck, stroking his thumb across the center of it. His free hand cuffed the bottom of her ass that had grown, and he wanted nothing more than to slide inside her. Her body was quivering from each touch, tingling chills jolting down her spine as a spellbound warmth covered her body. Priest pulled back, then kept pecking her lips multiple times. Cherish held her eyes closed because she knew the moment was ending instead of furthering.

Opening her eyes, his thumb traced her now swollen lips. He was so in love with her, but couldn't allow himself to cheat further on Asia more than he already did with their kiss. "I should go." Cherish looked at him and only nodded her head. He kissed her forehead before stepping out of the shower and walking out.

Cherish touched her lips as tears filled her eyes. There was no way he didn't feel how they were spiritually connecting at the moment. And if he still felt that type of connection, how could he choose Asia? It wasn't just her hormones that had her ready to risk sleeping with him. It was the simple fact that she love that man. She was hurt, but happy he had stopped it. She wouldn't want Priest to become a cheater, and she also didn't want to face the heartbreak that'll follow afterwards. Even though technically kissing her would be considered cheating. He was already emotionally cheating.

Cherish spent the next twenty minutes crying in the shower. That's until Honesti came running into the bathroom. Knocking on the glass door, Honesti told Cherish to open up and let her in. "Mommy! Mommy! Open up! Let me in!"

This was typical Honesti, so Cherish thought nothing of it. She opened the glass door, then turned off the water. "Mommy, Manasia (Malaysia) said daddy and that man Fighgen. (Fighting)"

"Fighting?"