Kenzo and I have been hanging out even more since he had the falling out with his mom. I ended up letting him keep the key and got Char another spare. So he could come here when he's off. He's supposed to be going house hunting soon.

I found out the team was doing a little birthday bash for him when they get back in town from their away games.

Kenzo told me about it, and he wants me to attend. I told him I had to work, which was false. I have something planned for him after. The only thing is I have to convince him to bring some of his teammates here without him suspecting anything.

I wish I could have him a big party and invite his family and friends, but that's not a good idea. It hurts me knowing he doesn't usually celebrate his birthday.

That's something he told me a few days ago when I asked him what he wanted to do. He told me the guys were planning something for him since he had been moping around.

I was seated in the waiting room for my five-month appointment. My brother stood next to me.

My mother had to work, so my brother volunteered to come with me just in case Nelson didn't show up or did. I texted him, reminding him about this appointment. So we shall see.

"I need to talk to you about something." My brother leaned on the window gazing out.

I already knew what he wanted to talk about. "Ok."

"I've been trying to get at your friend." He waited for my response.

"Hmm, ok. How's that going?" I smiled at him.

"She doesn't take me seriously. She thinks I'm playing with her." He confessed.

"That's because you're always joking. Tell her straight how you feel." I paused. "Does this have anything to do with why you don't want to go back overseas?"

"No, I get lonely over there. I love playing ball, but it's not worth it to me, constantly being away from my family. My twin is having a baby, and I could miss the whole thing. It's hard enough knowing that I wasn't around our nephew much."

"Yeah, and we need to get together and plan something. Everybody's been busy."

"Maybe we can go out to eat or catch a game or something." He suggested.

"Speaking of a game, I need to tell you something. —I'm telling you this because I don't like holding stuff from you. Out of everyone, I always come to you first. It doesn't get any closer than us. We shared a womb."

"What's on your mind?" He sat in the vacant seat beside me.

"I've been hanging with someone, and we're close, but at the same time not as close as one would assume."

"Who? Do I know him?" He questioned.

"It's Kenzo Martin."I blurted out. I'm not a fan of dragging things out.

He furrowed his brows looking me over.

"We're friends, and we hang out. —He also told me he wants to meet up with you. He wanted to catch up."

"Damn, wait what? How in the hell you two know each other? —I haven't seen him in a couple of years. Call him up real quick, he ain't doing shit right now."

I pulled my phone out, scrolling to his name, and touched the FaceTime button. He answered on the third ring.

"Hey baby, everything ok?" Kenzo loudly greeted, and my eyes were now the size of quarters.

"Baby?" Jr. dragged out, looking at me crazy. He snatched my phone from my hands. I tucked my lips, trying to hide my guilty expression. "Zo."

"Hey, what up Jr." A surprised Kenzo greeted him.

"What's going on with you?" My twin's eyes flickered between Kenzo on the phone and me next to him, which made both of us laugh.

"We're just living man, it ain't too much."

"You know my sister is pregnant, right?" He blurted out. I nudged him hard in his side. "Ouch Di damn, that shit hurts!"

"I know it did." I glared at him.

"Yes, I know the story, she told me," Kenzo spoke, nodding his head.

"You still want to just live?"

"Yes, but don't ask me to explain anything. I'm still figuring that out. —Whatever Adira says we are, is what we are."

"Friends." I quickly added. Kenzo, he laughed, nodding his head again.

"Jr, give me your number. I need to get up with you. I heard you said you wanted to come over to the states. Let me put a few bugs in your ear. I'll call you either tonight or tomorrow. —Oh, and I wanted to invite you out with the team for my birthday this weekend. They're having something for me. I wanted your sister to come, but she's trippin."

"I'm working, sir. I told you that." I lied, thinking about the after-party I'm planning for him.

"Yeah, yeah."

"Aight Zo we gotta go, they're calling us back, and the baby daddy just walked in. I'll have twin text you my number." He watched as Kenzo's mood change.

Zo nodded with an expression on his face that immediately changed after my brother Julian said, baby daddy. I grabbed my phone from my brother so that he could see my entire face on the screen. Kenzo had an irritated look. I waited for him to speak.

"You're good right?" He spoke low.

"Yes, my brother's here. I'm fine, and I shouldn't be too long."

"Call me when you get in the car. —Immediately."

"Ok, talk to you later."

"Alright." He ended the call. I sighed, knowing he's worried.

My brother and I stood and walked to the back following the nurse. Nelson walked behind us. I mumbled. "Hey."

"What's up?" He replied, glancing at me.

I said nothing. This is the first time I've seen him, since the last time we got together to create our daughter. I never really spoke in the past about him hitting me. I would just call him for our sex-scapades'. So the tension behind the incident is still fresh. As well as how he was treating me on social media and talking crap about me with his mom. All of it was floating around in my head.

I wanted to cry, but I won't. I will never let him see that vulnerable side ever again. I'm done with that anyway. I just want to focus on raising our daughter.

We got to the back, and the nurse checked my weight and blood pressure. Also took my urine sample, and asked me the usual questions. She then directed us to the examination room. To wait for further instructions from the doctor.

The room was cold and hushed. My brother stood by my side, totally ignoring Nelson. Nelson sat in the corner, scrolling through his phone.

Dr. Jansen came walking in after a brief wait.

"Hello, Ms.Thompson. How have you been?" He came in all cheery, smiling at us.

I spoke back in the same tone. "I'm great. I'm excited to check on baby girl here." I rubbed at my stomach.

"Good to see you again as well Mr. Thompson, also known as twin." Dr. Jansen remembered.

Jr lightly laughed. "Same here."

"—And I don't think we've met sir." He went over to shake Nelson's hand. I was ready for him to go on with the examination.

"Yep, I'm Nelson. The possible baby father, nice to meet you." He shook Dr. Jansen's hand after finally looking up from his phone.

I shot a look at him, sucking my teeth.

"Di, I'm tired of his shit." My brother spoke low through his gritted teeth.

"Let's just get through the appointment," I mumbled, my hands were shaking. How can he say that? These are the people I work around, and he's just blurting stuff out like I'm some girl who sleeps around.

Dr. Jansen walked back over to me and quietly began the examination. "Lift your shirt up for me. I'm going to check baby's heartbeat. Then measure the fundal height to check babies growth."

I nodded and did as told. He went to place the Doppler on my lower abdomen, moving it around a little to find a loud beating heart, one other than my own.

"There she is," I spoke now smiling down at my stomach.

"Yep, that's a powerful heartbeat. You can hear it's slightly faster than mommy's but not by much at this point."

"What is that, around eighty to eighty- five beats per minute?" I questioned.

"Around about that much, yeah." He took the Doppler off my stomach so he could do the measurements.

"Looking good, Ms. Thompson, baby's size is seemingly perfect. Only four more months to go."

"How's your appetite?" He added.

"It picked up a lot. No more nausea, I can eat pretty much anything now with no issue."

"Great, what about work? Are you overly exhausted, I know you're in your gearing toward the finish line with school. It could be stressful."

"No, I'm ok with my schedule. I'm not taking on any overtime at this point. Per my dad and a few others request. I listened, especially since I have to get going with the baby's room."

"Good, and I don't see any visible swelling. Do you have any questions?" He asked while checking my hands and feet.

"No, I think I'm ok," I replied, just wanting to get it over with. I looked down at my bag. It held my baby binder in it. I sighed.

"Well ok, that covers it for this visit. I'll see you next month, ok?.— If you have any question or concerns give us a call here at the office."

I nodded, thanking him as he left out. I quickly got up, pulling my shirt down, to hurry out the door. The three of us left out one after the other, with me following my brother and Nelson trailing behind me.

I made my next appointment at the front desk, then headed out the door. My phone vibrated I looked down at it. It was Kenzo. I decided I would check it when I got in the car.

"I guess you're pissed, —that doctor looking at me all funny like I'm some deadbeat. I told him nothing but the truth. I don't know if this baby's mine." Nelson spoke, walking behind me.

I ignored him and continued walking to the car.

"Di lets go." My brother walked over to the passenger side, pulling me toward him. I walked in front of him and got in the car. Nelson walked passed the car heading over to get in his. Jr went over and got in the driver seat. Luckily no words were exchanged between the two.

I pulled my phone out to read Kenzo message.

1:25pm

Zo15: Don't forget to call me. I'm keeping my phone near me.

I went to his name and pressed the FaceTime button. I don't know why I did that because immediately after I touched his name, I felt my eyes water.

"Hey baby, you ok?" He asked once he appeared on the phone.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I spoke low with the phone slanted not getting my whole face.

"Straighten the phone up, let me see you."

I didn't move the phone because I was really on the verge of tears.

"Let me talk to Jr."

I handed my brother the phone. I turned my body facing the window.

"Hey, —yeah that dudes no good." My brother answered.

"What happened?"

"He basically just embarrassed her. Talking about, he's possibly the father. She has to work with these people. She doesn't need this. She's stressed and tired. Ima' get her home and stay with her for a little while. I'll see if Char can stay with her too."

They were silent for a moment.

"She'll be ok. My twin is strong. She'll be over this by tomorrow. She knows he's not worth her energy. —That piece of shit."

"Ok, tell her I'll give her some time to rest, and I'll call her later today. —I don't like seeing her upset like this."

"Gotchu', I'll get up with you Zo. Go kill it out there in Toronto tonight.—We'll be watching."

"Aight." They ended the call. We drove to my condo, with the radio playing on low.

When we got up to my floor Jr. went over to knock on Char's door, she opened it. They ended up staying with me all night watching the game.

Kenzo loss, ending their streak. It was a close game. It could've gone either way. Both teams played their best basketball. Toronto was just better tonight. Which is what Kenzo said in his interview.

The three of us fell asleep on the couch. I was too exhausted to move. I didn't get a chance to talk to Zo. He did text saying he was checking on me. I didn't want him to worry. Especially since he won't be back for five days.

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