"Honey I'm home." My front door slammed open revealing my handsome boyfriend with a smile plastered on his face.

"Cato what have I told you about just barging into my apartment. Knock first damn." I turned back around to scrub the stain out of my carpet that Justyce spilled red kool aid on earlier. I don't do good with white and by now I should know better than to have a rug in any light color, especially with a baby in the house.

"Stop allat cursing at me." His thick brows furrowed at me. He kicked the door closed with his foot while balancing the three pizza boxes. He was blacked out in a Nike sweater and sweats with some black vapormax.

"You think we gone eat three boxes of pizza?" I pointed at the beggars' pizzas. My stomach is getting big due to him trying to make me obese.

"The way Justyce eats, hell yeah. Stop for a minute and eat with me." He made himself comfortable on my couch that I just vacuumed. Woosah.

"No I'm cleaning u—."

I was cut off by being snatched up from behind and forcefully sat on his lap. I turned my head to see a smiling Cato with his big ass head sitting on my right shoulder.

"Can I help you sir?" Smiling, I tilted my head. I wonder why he's in a good mood?

"You don't miss me?" His voice was low along with his eyes. I should've known he was high. He must've showered before he came here. I can smell the Irish spring from the inside of his shirt. Hm.

"You know I miss you." Parting my lips with his tongue I gave in to his sensation building lips. We kissed slowly yet deeply creating a pulsing feeling in between my legs. I pulled away from him, finally releasing his juicy bottom lip from between my teeth.

"Mhmm." was the noise he made as he bit his lip deeply gazing at my face. I don't know why, but I was about to shy away when our heads turned towards my hallway as we heard Justyce rocking her crib. Sighing, I prepared myself to deal with her nonsense for another four hours.

"Is that my pretty baby?" He pushed me off his lap causing my mouth to fall agape. Asshole. I speed walked into her room to see her big smile on his face as an eruption of giggles surpassed her mouth.

"You had a good nappy nap? Huh baby?" I cooed while lifting her from her crib. I don't think I even had the strength to lift her because she was getting so heavy. Walking into the living room I saw that he already had two paper plates out on the table and was already grabbing his sausage pizza. Justyce gurgled, grabbing the attention of Cato.

"Hey hey now." He went to wash the pizza off his hands before running back out and pulling her from my arms. "I missed you pretty girl. Yes you missed me too." He laughed, wiggling a finger in her neck. She screamed a high pitched laugh that could make the building buckle at any time.

"She really likes you. She gets so happy around you."

"Yeah well all the baby's like me. I don't know why, but they always have. I think I got that woman's touch or something. What's that called a woman institution?" he guessed.

Chuckling, I laid my head back down onto his now bare shoulder. "It's a woman's intuition bozo."

"You like this bozo." He cleared his throat. His phone began to ding every five seconds causing me to raise a brow. We both looked at each other before laughing.

"Okay Mr. TooFamous." I snapped my fingers in a 'Z' shape.

"It ain't even like that baby." He kissed me on the cheek and laughed before typing away. I paid attention to the television, occasionally glancing at Cato who held a firm expression on his face. He typed at a fast pace and unfortunately I couldn't see what he was typing and to who because of his private screen. He startled me when he threw his phone down onto the table causing a loud clack to sound causing Justyce to flinch in her sleep.

"My bad." He breathed heavily. I just placed a hand over his stomach and began to rub it. His breathing slowed down. I rubbed around his happy trail and down to his drawstring. Undoing the string to his pants I looked up to see him already staring down at me as I stared back with innocent eyes.

"Let's put her back in her bed." I suggested. I was strongly in need of a fix. He looked like he was up to do it when his phone let off another loud ding. Who is that?

"You got somewhere you need to be or something?"

"Nah. But I been meaning to tell you that you need better security on that door Jayda." He blurted out. My eyes cut to the front door that was protected by one latch.

"I've been meaning to do that, I just never have the time." I came to my defense.

"You can go to a damn basketball game, but you can't take ten minutes out of your day to put some locks on your door?" He spat. Excuse me?

"Okay first, you need to take the bass out your voice talking to me in my house." I shut that shit down first. "What is wrong with you? Why you getting in my ass about this all of a sudden?"

"I'm just saying you in this bitch by yourself with Justyce anybody can pick that lock and stick their hand in and unlatch that chain." I got up pulling a surprisingly sleeping Justyce from his chest.

"You can see yourself out."

"Man watch out." He waved me off. I was starting to feel like he was saying I am a bad mother and I don't got my priorities straight. Truth is I don't even have enough money for a damn professional lock.

"No you can get the fuck outta my apartment." I took my baby back to her crib in my room expecting him to be gone when I returned. He was still sitting on the couch chilling with his legs sprawled out.

"Cato I'm not in the mood to be around you so can you please leave bro." He was really testing my patience. He sucked his teeth. I went into the closet and grabbed his coat and his shoes, tossing them in his lap. "I don't know who the fuck that was blowing up your phone, but whatever they said ain't got shit to do with me and you didn't just have to take it out on me." Walking away from him I entered the kitchen to wash my cup out. This was our second argument so I didn't know how to feel. He has never really yelled at me before.

"I'm sorry." He pulled me into a hug which I didn't return. I just had my arms resting on my sides. "You forgive me." Rolling my eyes I turned my back to rinse out my cup some more, but he forced me to turn around so I looked elsewhere except at him. "I was just concerned and I went about it the wrong way. Please forgive me."

"I'll forgive you once you tell me who was on the phone." Crossing my arm I waited for his answer. He let out a soft sigh.

"My brother just got out of jail. That's all."

"You still didn't answer my question."

"It was my ex-girlfriend."

"Oh."

"She's my brother's half sister and she was texting me about my brother and he was texting me through her phone too. That's all." He hugged me from behind.

"So you have a brother?" I said trying to ignore the ex-girlfriend part.

"Yeah. But we ain't as close as we used to be. He like another nigga in the streets to me now. I got my reasons."

"So what he say to you?"

"Nothing. Let's drop the subject. I'm staying the night." He walked past me and into my room which I followed behind. He stripped himself of all of his clothes before getting under my covers waiting for me. Rolling my eyes I decided not to push the subject and removed my pants and slid in next to him.

"I like you." He kissed my neck.

"I like you too baby." I grabbed his head to rub his waves that were so soft yet firmly in place. For some reason I just couldn't fall asleep. My insecurities were getting the best of me and I was questioning whether he was telling me the truth. I guess he thought I was asleep and answered his ringing phone.

"What?" His voice was raspy and deep like he'd just woke up, except it was only from him not talking for three hours straight of us just laying here.

"I'm with my shorty why?"

"You wanna do it now?"

"That's true. Aight I'm on my way, meet me halfway at the spot. Aight." he removed my arms from around him and I heard him pulling up his pants and trying not to make so much noise with the buckle of his belt.

"Cato." I slurred pretending he woke me up. "Where are you going? What's wrong?"

"Nowhere important. Nothing you need to worry about it and go back to sleep." He leaned down kissing me on the forehead instantly bringing ease and comfort to my anxious body.

"Just be safe." I knew he sold drugs, but it started to feel like he's into deeper shit than that. Drug dealers don't just drop 20k into bitches purses when they feel like it. But then again what if he was meeting up with his ex girlfriend at booty call hours?

Contemplating with myself, I just decided not to let it go for my sanity and not question him further. He hasn't given me a reason not to trust him these past months.

The next day I still hadn't heard back from Cato. Then the next day appeared and I was getting worried, scratch that—I was sick, and Justyce could sense it. She's been a little grumpy today too so I decided to light some sage because I don't know what bad energy came in here, but I rebuked it as soon as I felt it.

"Cato it's me again. Erm. I-I'm a little worried about you. You haven't returned any of my calls. Call me back." I left him a tenth voicemail adding on to the hundred phone calls I've already left. Groaning to myself I rubbed my hands over my face trying to rid the tired look on my face. A knock sounded on the door and I jumped up from my seat on the couch and opened the door.

"Baby I was so worried ab-"

Fuck.

"I'm here to get my daughter. And hey to you too baby." Ugh.

"I thought you were my nigga. What are you doing here?"

"The arrangement goes into effect today or did you forget." He handed me the paper that we both received from the courtroom. Snatching the paper I skimmed it. It did indeed say that. I had no choice, my hands were tied.

"I'll get her things ready. Stand out here."

"So you gone make me stand out in the hallway?"

"You're lucky you're standing up in the hallway and not laying on the fucking floor. From now on we meet up at Wendy's like we were doing the first three months she was born. Hopefully you won't ghost her like before you deadbeat." He chuckled. "Yeah I said it deadbeat."

"I ain't trying to hear yo mouth Jayda gone get her."

"And I ain't tryna look at your stupid face, but hey here we are." I flashed a fake sarcastic smile. "I'll bring her down." I crossed my arms waiting for him to go.

He stared at me like he wanted to say something. Nodding and chuckling he stepped back out of my doorway. "I'm in the grey sedan."

Slamming my door I locked it. I stuffed enough clothes for her into her duffel bag along with the essential items for her including the white air ones and high top pink Nike ones Cato bought her recently. Slipping her UGG boots on her feet I gave her a kiss on the cheek. She flashes me a gummy smile showcasing her teeth coming in.

"Justyce baby. Mama really doesn't want you to go, but I'll see in two days okay." Tears streamed down my face. I was scared he was going to run off with her or something like Saca said. Something gleamed in the corner of my eye. It was a thirteen carat gold bracelet Cato had made for her last month. It had her name engraved with her birthday.

Where the hell is he?

Slipping on our coats I made my way downstairs with her in my arms assuming he had a car seat for her already. Walking up to the grey sedan I could tell there was another person in the passenger's seat.

"Who is that?"

"My girl. You jealous?" He smirked. He thinks I'm playing with him, but really I want to shoot him in his face a thousand times. I do not like him and I'm only tolerating him because of the judge and for my baby's sake.

"No. I'd just like to know who my child is around like a real parent would be concerned. I hope you know that just because I couldn't prove to the judge that you put my daughter in harm's way doesn't mean you're going to get away with it."

"Our daughter. And what you gone do send that lame ass nigga my way. Don't be stupid." He looked me up and down. "You need to remember where I'm from."

"Nigga please. You keep thinking this a empty threat. Move let me put my baby in the car it's cold out here." He opened the passenger door to the backseats and there was a black and blue car seat that sat behind the driver's seat. Must be his sons. I switched to the other side of the car and began to buckle her into the car seat.

"Uhn uhn what is she doing? That's my son's car seat." A female voice sounded from the front passenger seat. So this the bitch.

"Bitch you got a problem with my daughter sitting in a car seat just say that." I turned my head trying to get a better look at the bitch with her nose scrunched up at my daughter.

"Girl hurry up. My man and I didn't even wanna come this way anyway." She waved her hand.

"Tayvon control yo bitch before I snap her dirty long ass neck." I laughed to myself because she talked like she had some hostility towards my daughter.

"Tayvon can we go?" She shouted. Ugly ass hoe. I'm sick of this duo already.

"You know what Tayvon. I think Ima keep her this weekend. We can do this next week because she's been feeling a little sick anyway due to the weather change." I grabbed her out of the car and started walking towards the apartment entrance. Truth is I didn't trust him nor that bitch around my daughter and I'm going to let him know that.

"Aight." he turned around and hopped in his beat up car. Look how low it is to the ground. I rolled my eyes shaking my head. Didn't even want Justyce in the first place. How did I get pregnant by this bum?

Pulling up behind his car was Cato's truck. He hopped out smiling. I scoffed before turning around and walking back in. He thought shit sweet after not returning my calls for almost two whole days then he got another thing coming. Everybody's on my shit list today.

"Jayda baby listen." he started as he caught up to me on the first flight of stairs.

"I don't want to hear it Cato."

"Where you coming from?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that? You don't get to question me after this little stunt you pulled."

"I understand how you feeling right now, but baby I just went to make some money."

"At two o'clock in the morning? For two days? Okay."

"C'mon Jayda you know what I do."

"I don't want to hear this." And with that I turned on my heel and made my way into my apartment. After putting Justyce down surrounding her with stuffed bears and pillows I went back out to see him smoking on the back porch.

"Catora." I called him by his government name instantly catching his attention.

"Man stop calling me that."

"I need to know if it's gone always be money over me."

"Stop coming up with dumb shit you know how I feel about you."

"No I'm serious. The other night you got up and left me to go make money like you claim, but you never returned. I know it'll happen again, but I'd like to know how long you'll be gone next time."

"I'm a street nigga and I been about the money and you gotta understand that." I was a bit taken back. I honestly didn't know what other answer to get from him. I guess it's time for me to cut things short. "But for my family, I can make some changes."

"Really?"

"Yeah man."

"And you're not just saying this to get me out of your face?"

"No ma'am." He smiled. Ugh. How can I resist? He started to pull me in for a kiss, but I turned my face causing his lips to hit my cheek instead.

"Oh you thought shit was sweet? Where the fuck was you at for two days?"

"Business run." he shrugged. I squinted at him.

"And you couldn't call me and tell me that. I'm not one to ask a lot of questions and if I do start it's because you made me." I mindlessly played with his shirt collar.

"Look. There's some things I'm not ready to share with you yet and when that day comes around you'll understand."

"Well right now I do not understand so you have to make it up to me."

"How can I do that?"

"Do I gotta spell it out for you?" I cheesed widely when his hand firmly wrapped around my throat pulling me close to his face.

"Who you getting smart with? Get smacked." Before I knew it we were tonguing each other down on the fire escape.

A smile stretched across Jaydas face and she threw her arms around his neck to give her boyfriend a bigger kiss. Little did they know, someone was taking pictures of them and their moment.

💕