An Unconventional Love: A Novella (8 page)

rich.

I was at work but my thoughts were on anything but the financial reports piling up on my desk. I had been so busy trying to make sure Rae and Jasmine were good that I was just now getting the opportunity to digest the shit for myself.

I was getting ready to be a dad.

Not only a dad, but if left up to me, a husband too.

Two things I knew absolutely nothing about but would be willing to take on to make sure my family were good.

Richie Rich a family man?

I had no plans of trading in my BMW for a Minivan or spending every weekend doing family shit like going to the zoo or the children’s museum but I also wasn’t completely outdone by the idea of turning in my playa card.

I wasn’t old by any means - only a few months shy of my 27th birthday - but finding someone to settle down with didn’t exactly ruffle my feathers as much as it use to. Ass was easy to come by but to find somebody worth my time, somebody with some substance, somebody who had her own instead of being wrapped up in what I had; that was the real goal. And slowly it was beginning to appear that I was the one that had actually lucked out.

Though she always acted like she wasn’t thrilled about what was to come, I constantly caught Jasmine looking down at her belly and then at me and then back at her belly as if she was coming to terms with the situation. We had been spending at least a night or two out of the week together, playing get to know each other while sorting out things regarding the baby. She was so convinced that it was going to be a girl - that she had been dreaming about a girl - but I knew without a doubt it was a boy. Since God had decided to surprise me with a baby, he would surely be rewarding me with a Rich Jr.

Rich Jr.

My legacy.

I knew my parents were proud from above but I wished they would’ve had the opportunity to hold their first grandchild. My dad had passed away 3 years back after suffering a massive heart attack and my mom passed almost an exact year later from natural causes though I was convinced it was from the heartache of life without my dad. The two were inseparable from high school on according to their stories and apparently couldn’t keep their hands to themselves considering I was supposed to be an only child yet Rae showed up close to ten years after me when my parents were well into their forties.

It was a no-brainer to take her in after their passing though I had no idea what I’d be in for dealing with an already moody teenager. Rae was a good kid for the most part but every once in awhile I had to put her in her place especially as she was coming into the age of boys and dating and all the other shit she had no business doing but probably was getting introduced to. I had a feeling Jasmine would be able to deal with that part of the deal a lot better than me though I wasn’t sure how comfortable she would be doing it considering all of the other stuff that was currently coming her way. School, baby, work,
me
; it was a lot but I had no doubt in my mind she could hold her own.

With the way Jasmine kept coming up in my thoughts about everyday life, I could tell I was in deep. I knew life wouldn’t be lived without her once we had the baby, but I couldn’t help wondering what would’ve happened with us if the baby didn’t exist.

Was she interested in me beyond a sexual relationship from the jump?

Was she thinking about me after our initial encounter the same way I had been thinking about her?

Or was I just being hopeful?

It was crazy how much this woman was taking over every facet of my life.

What was even crazier was that I wasn’t complaining about it one bit.

jasmine.

I had to tell her.

There was no more hiding the little baby growing inside of me and though she had pretty much convinced herself that I was pregnant months ago, it was time for me to confirm her suspicions.

I rang the doorbell at Bailey’s house and wasn’t surprised when Chad answered the door. I
was
surprised by the extra pudge he seemed to be rockin’ and the lack of any grooming to his face. Chad had never been the cream of the crop but now he was looking more like the weeds than anything.

“What’s up, Jaz?” He pulled me into a half-hug and I couldn’t miss the hint of beer on his breath though it was only noon on a Saturday.

I guess it’s five ‘o'clock somewhere...

“Hey Chad. Where’s Bailey?”

“She’s upstairs in the room.” I brushed past him, letting him take care of the door as I headed upstairs to the master bedroom. When I didn’t see her immediately, I continued into the bathroom where I heard little sniffles coming from the walk-in closet.

“Bailey? Bailey, is that you?” I walked into the closet and found my big sister with her knees pulled to her chest, sobbing into her arms. Instantly I went into protective mode. “Bailey, I will go down there and fuck Chad up!”

She responded in a hushed tone, “Calm down, Jasmine. Chad didn’t do anything.”

“Well what is it then, sis?”

“I...I’ve been…I’ve been having an affair.” For a second, I couldn’t take a breath because that made what she said real.

I mean, Bailey?

An affair?

I wasn’t sure if I should’ve asked for the details right away or wait for her to calm down, but either way I knew my personal agenda was going on the backburner.

“Say something, Jasmine.”

“I don’t...really know what to say Bailey. I guess I just...never expected you to do something like that.” My sister had always been on the straight and narrow. So much so, that it didn’t even seem possible for her to commit such a sin. But then again, after looking at Chad, I really couldn’t blame her.

“I can’t be as perfect as everybody wants me to be. I can’t be the daughter mom wants me to be. I can’t be the wife Chad wants me to be. I can’t be the sister you want me to be. I just can’t...do that shit anymore.”

My initial, childish reaction was,
Bailey said a cuss word,
but I quickly realized what she was professing was something deep. She had been living up to everyone’s expectations for so long that she probably never had time to find her true self. And when she was given an opportunity to be her true self with whoever this dude was, she became addicted to it.

“I understand Bailey but you must know that our happiness is not more important than
your
happiness. If you don’t wanna be with Chad, get a divorce. If you don’t wanna be in the church every night, take a night off. If you don’t wanna be my sister, don’t answer the phone. In the moment, I may be mad but me being mad is not as important as your peace of mind.”

“You’re right, sis. I guess I just...don’t know how to take that first step. I mean, how does one properly say they want a divorce?”

“You must’ve forgotten that your baby sister is studying to be a lawyer. I know a million ways to do that shit; just say the word.” She gave a little laugh, nodding her head in understanding as she wiped her tears. I gave her my hand and she took it, using it to help her stand up. “Now, no offense to Chad but umm...tell me about this guy you’ve been having an affair with.” I knew he had to be the quite the dude to get Bailey to step out on her marriage.

“Not before you tell me about your baby daddy.” I gasped before she continued on, “Come on now, Jasmine. You were never fooling me. I’ve just been patiently waiting on this little visit.”

“How’d you know?”

“You’re my sister. I know everything about you whether you tell me or not.”

)~o~(

Damn, he is fine as hell.

I was supposed to be focusing on studying for the midterms that had snuck up on me but my baby daddy was stealing my attention from across the gym.

After Rich read the benefits of fitness on pregnancy, he practically dragged me to the gym with him setting me up on the treadmill while he hit the weights. I watched, and damn near drooled, as he looked at himself in the mirror, checking his form while he performed a set of bicep curls.

Watching his muscles tighten up then release their tension had
me
tightening up and releasing
my
tension so much so that I almost tripped. I caught myself but I did drop my iPod which skirted across the treadmill’s belt before hitting the floor with a loud thump. Apparently a pregnant woman in the gym already had people cautious so once they heard the ruckus, all eyes were on me, including Rich’s. He dropped his weights and rushed over to me.

“Jasmine, you alright?”

“
Ugh
, yes. I’m good. It was just my iPod. Relax.”

“Maybe if you weren’t so busy checkin’ me out, you wouldn’t have dropped it,” he said, as he flashed his smug little smirk and went back to his place in front of the mirror. I rolled my eyes at him for being so cocky and at myself for getting so caught up like I had never seen a fine ass, sweaty man before.

But Rich was a different kind of fine.

Not just like sexy fine, or athletic fine, or business-man fine, or lowkey baller fine. He was like...a hybrid of all of those.

And on top of that, he was the father of my child.

One who had already shown his commitment to not only the baby, but to me as well.

I kept trying to remind myself that our situation was something we were forced into, not something either one of us picked but that line was becoming foggier and foggier by the day.

rich.

My life had officially been turned upside down.

I wasn’t spending my Saturday morning in the gym or fighting off a hangover or even with some girls legs wrapped around my waist. I was spending it with Jasmine, walking the aisles of Babies ‘R Us. We were only shopping for general stuff like a diaper genie, baby monitors, etc. since we wouldn’t find out the sex of the baby for another week but just being there warranted a punch on the ticket of Fatherhood.

“What do you think about this, Rich?” Jasmine rubbed her belly as she pulled a baby food prep system from the shelf. I quickly peeped game that even though they plastered pictures of babies all over the box, it was no different than a regular blender.

“I think it’s a waste of money.”

“Well I’ll buy it then.” She threw it in the cart and I knew there was no arguing about it. Jasmine was gonna do what Jasmine wanted to do regardless of what I told her.

We continued down the aisle and ran into another assortment of useless items.

“This bottle warmer is a must.”

“Isn’t that what the microwave is for? Or a pot of water on the stove perhaps?”

“Rich, I swear to be so young, you are so damn old school.”

“Old and wise, baby mama. You know that.” She rolled her eyes at what I considered a term of endearment before tossing the bottle warmer into the cart.

As we made our way into the aisle of strollers, Jasmine was hit with the urge to pee so I made myself busy looking at all the luxury baby-pushers I knew there was no way in hell I was letting her even take a peek at.

$1,200 for a stroller?

I can carry the baby for free.

I was making my way to the more affordable ones when I heard someone purr, “
Papi Chulo.
”

Without turning around, I knew exactly who it was. I just wasn’t sure how she had found me in a place like this.

Better question; what was
she
doing in a place like this?

I took a deep breath, unsure of how the conversation was going to go before I gave her my attention, “Bella. What’s up?”

She stepped a little closer, giving my arm a little caress as she asked, “Why you no call me, Richie? You been too busy with your putas?”

“No, Bella. It’s not like that. I just…you know what. I’m not gonna lie to you. I’m not interested in you anymore. I’ve...kinda found someone.” To admit it to someone else out loud was a huge step for me. And even if Jasmine wasn’t ready to act like we were a thing, it was clear as day to me.

“Richie, you no seddle down with anybody.” I always let it be known upfront that I wasn’t looking for anything serious but most women accepted that as a personal challenge to change me.

Bella included.

“Exactly. Yet, here I am. In a baby store. On a Saturday morning. And kinda enjoying it.”

“Hmph, she must be somethin’.”

“
I’d like to think so.
”

Oh shit.

I hadn’t even considered that Jasmine would be making her way back from the bathroom when I engaged in this pointless ass conversation with Bella. I turned around and found her standing catty-corner from me with her arms crossed over her chest. The look on her face told me that if she wasn’t pregnant, she probably would’ve already been at Bella’s throat.

“Ohhh Richie, not the puta from de concert. You knocked her up?”

“Who the fuck are you callin’ a puta?!” Jasmine was only a few steps from Bella’s face before I stepped between the two, making Jasmine take a few steps back.

“Bella, you gotta chill. You knew we were just kickin’ it from the jump. I’ve moved on and I suggest you do the same.”

“Whatever Richie. Lose my number.”

“Already lost it, Bella.” She threw her hair over her shoulder before she sauntered off.

It wasn’t until she was out of sight that Jasmine spoke again. “I was about five seconds from beatin’ that bitch’s face in; baby be damned. I can’t believe you
ever
fucked with her.”

Giving her the exact dynamics of the relationship or lack thereof between Bella and I wasn’t going to help anything, so I nonchalantly replied, “It wasn’t really like that.”

“She sure seems to think so.” Jasmine made herself busy, spinning one of the wheels of a stroller as she waited for me to give her more information.

“Oh well. That’s the past. I’m here with you now and that’s all that matters.” The last thing I needed was Jasmine feeling uneasy over a broad like Bella.

She took a few more steps down the aisle, looking at the price tags of different car seats as she pried to get more out of me.

“But I mean like...that’s the kind of girls you’ve dealt with? The type that just walk around flinging the
puta
word like I won’t tap that ass with an arm tied behind my back?” Jasmine was an extremely classy, sophisticated woman but I had also caught glimpses of her hood side so I couldn’t help taking the opportunity to tease her about her willingness to throw blows.

“Watts Jasmine? Is that you?” She swatted me on the arm.

“Shut up! I’m serious though. Like...how am I supposed to date someone that has their exes coming at me crazy in the damn baby store?” I caught up to her, wrapping my arms around her waist from behind, eliciting a gasp.

“Oh, so now we’re dating?”

She looked down at the floor before she answered, “No,” in the most quiet tone I had ever heard her use as she worked herself out of my hold.

“You know, it’s okay to like me, Jasmine.”

She made a face as if what I said had disgusted her though I knew for a fact I wasn’t that damn bad.

“I don’t like you, Rich. I’ll
never
like you.”

Yeah right.

“Oh, so you’re just gonna skip right on to love? That’s cool too.”

I could tell my charm had relaxed her at least a little bit after the run-in with Bella when she calmly questioned, “How did I end up with a baby daddy that’s so full of himself?”

“I guess you just needed somebody to put that ass in its place.”