“I know the kids are happy to have you home for a day or two,” I said to Al. Then I was hit with a thought. “Are you shooting at all?” I asked Tynisha, whose head rested on top of Alton’s on her shoulder, referring to her reality show. Their schedule was off the damn chain with cameras on them all the time.
She nodded contently. I knew I needed to move. I needed to start making my way to the car. Rob was out keeping the G63 running for me. No matter what I needed, I knew resting was not in the cards for me over the next few days before I boarded the plane for Atlanta for a Nike commercial shoot. I was excited beyond compare, nonetheless.
I exhaled. “Let me get my ass on. Besides, Al’s looking like I’m raining on his damn parade.”
“Yeah the fuck you are,” Alton shot back, stifling a yawn.
“And what are your plans for your time off?” Tynisha’s neck popped and her eyes widened at that question. Her glare was expectant.
What the fuck is that?
“You know my plans,” I returned.
She and Zoey had grown tight over the past few months. She knew I was headed to Zoey’s to spend time with Jordan. I’d been looking forward to feeling his warm milky breath yawning into my nose. It had taken no time at all for me to fall in love with that kid. Even if he had pissed and shitted on me more times than I could count because I’d been too slow putting fresh diapers on him.
“I’m going to dote on my legacy between practices.” I’d wondered what the fuck was up with her line of questioning.
“You need to be doting on more than JR. You need to be working his mother,” Tynisha spit rather harshly.
I wrinkled my forehead and angled my head.
Alton’s nostrils flared as his eyes rolled while laying on her. “Fucking women. Speak fucking English please.”
Tynisha rolled her eyes herself at that statement and then returned her scowl to me.
“What I mean is, Zoey’s in need, too. You need to handle that!”
“In need of what?” So many things ran through my mind. I felt anger mostly, wondering who couldn’t be playing their part, making sure Zoey had everything she needed.
Tynisha’s daggers zoomed into an area below my waist. My dumb ass followed her gaze to my crotch.
“She just had a baby, Stent. Her hormones and self-esteem fluctuate more than Alton’s steal stats. Mommy’s body is jacked with nurturing that baby, and needs a fine tuning,” she so cleverly articulated.
I knew shit about a woman’s hormonal makeup postpartum. However, Tynisha’s message was loud and fucking clear. It reminded me yet again that I hadn’t thought this shit through. I’d pledged to myself to always meet Zoey’s every need. This one was unique, but damn sure wasn’t one I was going to shy away from.
“Really?” I asked dumbfounded.
She sighed as she shook her head. “You men need a damn manual for everything female related,” she mumbled as she left her position, upsetting a comfortable Alton. “I’m going to bed on that note. I have an early morning tomorrow, starting with hair and makeup.”
I said my goodbyes to Alton and Tynisha and left their crib. The moment I crawled into the back of the car, headed to Alpine for the night, I pulled out my phone. After a few rings, she answered.
“Hey.” Zoey sounded subdued.
“Did I wake you?” It was still a little early, just after ten at night.
“No. I just fed, burped and put Jordan down.”
I chuckled at the sound of his name. Such a cool kid. “How long will he be out? All night?”
Zoey snorted. “I wish. Try about three hours.”
My expression turned serious as I gazed out the window, not focused on anything in particular. “Are you getting enough sleep?”
“Stenton, I’m the mother of a four-month-old baby. I don’t sleep; I survive from day to day.”
I rubbed my chest as if literally nursing the pang that ran through it.
Shit.
“About that. How are you feeling…physically?”
She sighed long and hard. It was almost like I’d opened Pandora’s Box. “I don’t think you’re prepared for that answer,” she murmured into the phone.
“Damn it, Zo, I told you I would be here for you. If you don’t talk to me how am I supposed to help?”