She fake gasped and clutched her invisible pearls.
“Me? Gloat? I would never.”
“Whatever, heffa! I must say, though, I didn’t know there were levels to this happiness shit.”
“Sis! Me either.”
“Being with Knox has shown me why finding the right partner is clutch. My ass be walking around giddy as hell for no damn reason.”
“Oh, there’s a reason.”
“Yeah, there are several. Bestie, Knox is my person, and being with him enhances so many aspects of my life. I was happy, but sis, I was lonely.”
“Preach!”
“They aren’t mutually exclusive. I had to realize that desiring romantic companionship doesn’t mean I love myself and my life any less. I lived a peaceful, fulfilling life before Knox came along. I loved my job, I loved my family and friends, and more importantly, I loved my own damn company. Being in love with Knox hasn’t changed any of that.”
“Aww, bestie. You’re in love.”
“And am!”
“I never thought I’d ever hear you say that. Hell, I never thought either of us would.”
“Same, but I love it here.”
“How have things been with Knixon? We haven’t had time to talk about it in detail.”
With work, two kids under a year old, and spending time with her husband, Nyomi didn’t have as much free time as she once did. It was one of the reasons we loved days like this when we could hang out, uninterrupted.
“Knixon is great and as sweet as can be. Little girls are so different from little boys. It’s only been a month, and she’s stillgetting used to her new life, but I already love her and being her mother, or whatever I am.”
“Girl, you’re her mother, and based on what we know, you’re probably the first real mother she’s had. Olivia is trash for the shit she’s done.”
“Yeah, but I worry about her coming back. I’ve literally been counting down the days until she officially loses her rights.”
“If she brings her trifling ass back here for that baby after abandoning her, I will be the first in line to beat her ass,” Nyomi declared.
“You’d have to get behind me because I’m itching to get my hands on her.”
“We might have to tag team her then, sis, because I want parts in the ass whupping.”
We laughed but were serious as hell. I got angry every time I thought about Knixon being left in that hotel room. When we picked her up, she was visibly shaken and ran into Knox’s arms as soon as she saw him. It was simultaneously the sweetest and saddest thing I’d ever seen.
“I don’t think she’ll come back, but anything is possible. If she does, Knox will do everything in his power to make sure y’all don’t lose her.”
“He loves her so much, Ny. Tell me why seeing him be a father turns me on. Is that shit normal?”
“If it’s not, then we’re two abnormal ass hos. I love when Kilo is in daddy mode. Motherhood is a lot more enjoyable this time around because he takes fatherhood seriously.”
“I know that makes a world of difference.”
We sat outside on the patio and talked for hours. By the time Knox got home, we were tipsy as hell.
“How many margaritas did y’all have?” he asked when Nyomi and I couldn’t stop giggling for no reason.
“Only a couple,” I responded.
“Only a couple, my ass. Let me call my brother so he can come and pick up his drunk wife.”