I arrived home from my all-nighter I pulled at the hospital. I hate working that shift, but I have to do what I have to do.

On my first break, I saw Kenzo was on live. I was shocked, just like everybody else in the comments. The notification appeared on my phone. I immediately opened it. I thought he wasn't going to notice me because he had so many viewers watching already. By the time I joined in the video, it was up to eight hundred thousand views. I'm not sure how he spotted me out of everybody. I heard him say hey pretty lady, which is what he calls me sometimes. It was sweet.

I needed to shower, eat, and get some rest. I sent my family a group message checking in as I made my way to the bathroom.

After showering and throwing on some lounge clothes, my favorite oversized nightdress and some shorts you couldn't see unless I pulled up my shirt. I went into the kitchen to fix some breakfast.

I was exhausted around that last hour at work and on my way home but now alert. Which irritates me because I have class later today. Luckily I'm off tonight.

I decided to get a little meditation in, while I waited for the food to finish. Something I do to center me when my mind is all over the place.

"Nom, Nom, Nom," I repeated slowly through inhales while thinking about my future and things I want to happen in it. Kind of like a manifestation. I envisioned my goals, imagining myself already with them.

Finishing up, I felt peace. My spirit within was on a high. I went on to complete the final things with breakfast.

I texted Char letting her know it was done. I asked her if she wanted me to bring her a plate over. She said she would come and eat with me.

After turning everything off, I got a knock at the door it was Char.

"I love it." I opened the door taking in her attire.

Her long flowing braids, big hoop earrings, and bangle bracelets.

"I love those floral print pants." I turned her around and squeezed her booty. She jumped out of my grasp, laughing.

"Thank you. You know how I do." She did a little spin. I shook my head, smiling at her short self.

Both of us washed our hands, said the grace, and fixed our plates.

"So Char what's new? You said you wanted to ask me something at work but didn't get a chance to?" I remembered her saying.

"I think I have a crush."

"Hmmm, do tell more please." I leaned in, giving her all of my attention.

"I think Julian might be feeling me." She twisted her lips up to the side.

I was a little taken back. I wasn't expecting her to say this. "My twin? —What makes you say that?" I raised my brows, bringing them together, causing a line to form in my forehead.

"He told me, I think. I don't know if he's joking or not."

"What did he say exactly?" I smiled at her.

"He said if he had a chance with me, he would take it, but he said it while laughing. I think it was a joke." She debatably expressed. I knew Char was feeling my brother, ever since she met him.

"I don't know what to take from it. He always jokes like that." She added.

"Just let it ride for now. If he meant it to be serious, then you'll know." I paused thinking about the possibility of them getting together. "Imagine my tiny, big booty best friend and my loud and silly brother. With his obnoxiously tall self. Just imagine you two, both with such strong opinions. You go hard for the culture, and he goes hard for every topic ever brought up. I think you two would be perfect."

"Maybe."

"Two very passionate people, with artistic minds. —I hate to say this and especially while I'm eating but— You guys would have mind-blowing sex." We busted out laughing.

"I can't believe you said that." She continued laughing while I picked up my fork to finally eat.

"We're all grown. —Just be careful. You might have twins. It skipped me so it might pass down to you and Jr."

"Oh, no ma'am. I'm going to the fertility office and put my kids up in the freezer like the rich do it. Ima' choose what I'll have down to the features."

"Not if my brother can help it." I countered.

"Who said anything about your brother."

"Oop, I'm just saying. You've been around him, but sis' you don't know him. Like really know him. He's a passionate person, and he's very affectionate." I forked some of the home fries in my mouth.

She shook her head, smiling. We finished breakfast and cleaned up. Then we parted ways because we were tired.

"Come on a baby girl lets go take a nap. I knew both of us needed one." That's what we did until it was lunchtime.

After my much-needed nap, I freshened up, getting myself together. My phone buzzed, I had a text from Kenzo.

Hey, pretty lady. Checking on you, have a great day. Knock em' dead (not literally)

lol Thank you, handsome. Same to you.

I'll see you later. Is it ok if I have Ben come by the doctors' office and pick up your house key? I wanted to surprise you —lowkey.

That's fine, or you could knock on Charlotte's door she'll be home. She has a spare key. That way, Ben doesn't have to go through all that. I'll let her know.

That's perfect, see you when you get home hun lol.

You're real funny, hahaha.

I sent Char a text giving her a heads up about Kenzo and that I was about to leave for clinical.

****

Clinical at the doctors' office was ok today. We had this one patient who came in with a bunch of issues. He didn't have insurance until now. The doctor scolded the man a little. Saying no matter what get checked out when there is a problem. It's not worth it once you lose your life. He went on to educate him on some of the programs and things out there for people in situations like his.

The man had open wounds that didn't heal properly and was severely infected. He also had some severe internal issues that worsened over time.

Other than that my day went by ok. I was now almost near my condo. I'm a little excited about Kenzo being there. I did miss him. We need to talk. I don't want either of us getting hurt in this. I was never one to be kissing buddies, with anyone.

Getting inside my building, I was met by a few people standing around mingling. I waved them off and went on the elevator.

Whenever there's a crowd hanging around, it's usually students and working-class people. I love the environment. For the most part, everyone was out minding their business and making money. My type of neighbors.

I used my key to get in the condo, met with this delicious smell of yumminess. Kenzo made dinner. With all the flavors lingering in the air, I just knew it was going to be banging.

"Wow, Mr. Martin you're showing out. You destroyed Oklahoma yesterday, and now you're over here cooking." I went over to him after shutting the door. He was stirring up some sauce.

"Hey, pretty lady." He instinctively turned around and went in for a kiss, I accepted. We stared at each other, not knowing what to say about the act.

He turned back to the stove.

"I see you found your way around the kitchen, did you have any trouble?" I smiled, watching him.

"Got it all under control. So you can go relax and get yourself comfortable. I'll let you know when everything is ready."

I giggled a little bit. "Ok, Ima' go take a shower and lay down."

He nodded. I motioned to walk away. He placed the spoon down on the counter, then quickly pulled me back to him. We stared in each other's eyes once again. Perhaps we were trying to make sense of our feelings. Both of us know how complicated things would be, but it's like we don't want to stop.

He slowly grabbed my face cupping it into his hands, connecting our lips. Pecking them a few times more before released.

He was leaning his forehead against mine. We stayed this way for at least a minute.

"Ima' go ahead and take that shower," I mumbled breaking away from him. I turned on my heels. He watched me until I was out of sight.

The entire time in the shower, I couldn't help but think about this whatever between us. I'm happy at the moment with him. Why can't I have these moments to last forever?

I smiled to myself as I got out. Thinking about how life's so funny, the way it's unpredictable.

After getting myself together and fresh, I went on to take a nap. Today was an easy day, but I still had to make sure I carved out time to rest.

After what could've been hours of sleep, I felt a dent in the bed all of a sudden. Then some arms wrapping around me. I didn't even bother to open my eyes. I could smell his scent.

Kenzo's hand somehow, unknowingly landed on my stomach. That caused me to shift and open my eyes. He quickly retracted it.

I turned to face him. "How long was I sleeping?"

"Maybe three hours. I knocked but no response, so I came in."

"I see," I smiled. I turned back around. He snaked his arm around me once again. We silently stayed in this position until I decided I was hungry.

I went to the bathroom to freshen up. He made his way back into the kitchen to fix our plates. Shortly after we were seated, we said the grace then dug in.

"This is so good." I moaned as I devoured the cheesy seafood pasta dish he made from scratch.

"I'm glad you like it. I had to show you up. Even though it doesn't come close to what you made me. I'm still thinking about that crab soup in the bowl stuff."

I smiled at him while eating. His phone buzzed. He pulled it out of his pocket and answered it.

"Hey, momma."

I couldn't make out the other end of the conversation.

"Ok I'll go, are they there already?" He waited for her response. I chewed and chewed. This pasta was everything.

"Cool, that'll be good. Just make sure you have the times in place, and I'll interview after I do everything else."

"Ok." He paused. "I love you, momma."

After her response, she ended the call, Kenzo sighed, looking over to me.

"What's going on?" I asked him.

"I have to leave. I have a fan appreciation thing going on today. It was only supposed to be for some of the players. Now they want the starters to come out and surprise them. We're doing shootarounds and interactions. Signing autographs and taking pictures. After, we have an interview with the fans asking us questions." He pulled out his phone to send a text, I guess to his driver.

"You don't get much of a break, do you?" I asked bummed.

"You know all about that, but we love what we do." He stood up, grabbing my finished plate. "Come on so we can get ready to go."

My eyes shot up at him as if he lost his mind. I stood up and followed him to the kitchen. "I'm not going."

"Yes, you are. Now go ahead and put on some clothes." He sprayed the dishes, then placed them into the dishwasher.

"Isn't your mom and everybody going to be there? This will be televised. Nope, not going. Call me when you leave."

"Stop playing Adira, come on." He begged now, grabbing my dry hands with his wet ones. "I'm not going if you don't go. —I'll go in first and then Bo can bring you in a little after. That way, we won't look like we came together."

"What the hell am I supposed to do when I get there, is Bo going to be with me the entire time? —If not, then it's still a no."

"He won't leave and you can just hangout. A lot of people will be there so it won't be weird, I promise."

"I'm not meeting your family today am I?"

"No Adira, they'll be there, but you don't have to. Like I said it'll be a lot of people there.— Wear something comfortable so you can shoot. I want to see your skills."

"Oh, you didn't say anything about that." As I thought about it, a smile crept on my face. I wouldn't mind shooting. I haven't dribbled a ball since I found out I was pregnant. My brother and I always played together. That's our thing. "Ok, I'll go. —Don't treat me like a cripple. People can shoot and dribble a ball while they're pregnant."

He laughed. "Fine, now let's get ready." He pulled me towards my bedroom.

I got my self ready as best as I could. Wearing a white semi-fitted t-shirt displaying the teams' logo on it. Some yellow basketball shorts, I threw on my all white in season trainer Nikes. I added some clip-ins to my hair for length and pulled into a neat ponytail.

Kenzo had his gym bag with him, so he threw on his team gear.

"Trying to match me with the colors?" He joked.

"Whatever, I had this on first—" I was interrupted by a knock at the door. Kenzo went over to open it, seeing that it was his guards. I ran to get my phone, keys, and bag, hurrying out.

"Hi Bo, hey Tyson." I smiled at them both.

They smiled back. "Hey, Ms. Thompson, its good to see you," Bo added. Tyson nodded, agreeing.

"You can call me Adira, Di, Dira, or Diri anything except Ms. Thompson. You don't have to be formal with me."

They nodded then Tyson spoke. "Y'all ready?"

We nodded. We made our way quickly out of the building. People immediately recognized Kenzo.

"Bo grabbed her hand," Kenzo spoke low standing beside Tyson. I was behind him next to Bo. He grabbed my hand. We rushed quickly over to the vehicle. They were shielding me. Kenzo waited for me to get in the back first then he followed suit.

I got in and exhaled. "Hi, Benjamin."

"Hey, Di." He responded looking back at the both of us, then smirked at Kenzo. They had an unspoken language thing going on.

"Ben you're crazy as hell." Kenzo laughed. We fastened our seat belts. Tyson made his way in the Escalade in one of the middle seats.

"All clear lets ride," Tyson stated fastening his seat belt.

Kenzo pulled me close to him and whispered in my ear. "Thank you, baby." He then started kissing my cheek repeatedly, making me laugh.

There he goes with that baby thing again. Which makes my stomach flutter. What is this man doing to me?

I smiled at him then leaned my head to the side, resting it on his shoulder.

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