**** Their apartment in the m/m. ****

AMBER P.O.V. –

A WEEK LATER

“What you talking about Munch?”

She was sitting in her high-chair talking up a storm, softly banging on it. I had just got done feeding her, and I was now cooking August’s breakfast. His academic counselor had got him a job as a dental assistant and before class he had to meet with the dentist he would be working with.

Living in this apartment was taking some getting adjusting to. I wasn’t used to a space this small, but I reminded myself it was for a temporary period of time so I could bear it. Anything I could do to support Aug I was going to do, so I refused to complain about it. Especially not to him.

The great thing was Stacy moved into our building upstairs. Trav helped her. So at least she was near us and she said she would be more than willing to help out with Sata if we needed it. So that was a plus.

“Morning.” August came in the kitchen, stretching and yawning with his towel around his waist.

“Goodmorning.” I pecked his lips.

“What you cooking?” He held my waist and looked over the stove.

“Nothing too big. Just some bacon, eggs and biscuits.”

He took a biscuit then went over to Munch, who was giggling.

“Give Pop-Pop kiss.” He picked her up out the high-chair. She wasn’t focused on kissing him, she was focused on that biscuit.

He chewed a piece until it was mashed, then put a little on her tongue.

“August don’t be giving her too much of that she can choke.”

“I chewed it. It ain’t no big chunk.”

She kept reaching for the biscuit. He took a piece and chewed it until it was a mashed substance then put it on her tongue again.

She made a funny face as she chewed on it. Sorta like she tasted something sour.

“That’s good Munch?” August asked her.

She clapped her hands excitedly.

“She like that.” He smirked at me and sat down at the kitchen table.

He kept doing that, until she grabbed the biscuit.

“Munch, you can’t take Daddy biscuit now.” He laughed and took it from her.

She started crying.

“Stop that.” He looked at her, raising his chin.

She kept crying. He put her over his shoulder and patted her back to calm her down.

I fixed his plate and put it on the table.

“You shouldn’t have got her started in the first place.” I took her from him.

“Calm down Mama’s baby.” I kissed her cheek and she slowly started to stop crying. I took her into the living room to sit on the couch.

August rolled his eyes and started eating.

“Why you rolling your eyes?”

“Because you blowing me right now.”

“Why? Because I said of course if you give her something and take it away, she’s going to cry?”

“I guess you a baby expert huh?” He shook his head and broke a piece of his bacon.

“No, I’m not. And I’m not trying to be mean baby, I’m just saying that’s common sense. That’s all. So just next time you choose to do that, know if she wants some more she’s going to cry.” I tried to further explain to deflect an argument.

“I ironed your clothes. They’re in here on the couch.”

There was a knock at the door.

“One minute.” I called out.

I handed August his boxers and pants to put on, seeing as he was only in a towel.

“What’s taking y’all so damn long?” I heard Travis on the other side. “Y’all better not be in there fucking. That’s child abuse to Sata.”

Once Augut was dressed he went to open the door. Trav and Stacy were on the other side.

“You carry women’s purses now?” August looked down at Travis who had Stacy’s huge tote bag, that she used as a book-bag on his shoulder.

“That’s what real men do. Learn from your brother.” Stacy pushed August to the side and walked in.

“Heyyyyyyyyyyyyy Munch!!!!!!!” She came straight for Sata who was sitting on my lap. She picked her up.

August closed the door.

“Where y’all coming from?” I noticed Stacy and Trav were dressed in workout clothes.

“The gym.”

“Had to get a little morning workout in.” Travis said standing over the stove eating a biscuit.

“Stacy you need to cook for your man, so he can stop coming over here eating. He been eating over here every day this week. My woman cooks for me and me only.” August said eating.

“I do cook. The nigga is just greedy. He eats at my apartment and here too.”

“Amb you should open a restaurant. You make the simplest things taste good.”

“Thank you Travis.” I gave a super huge smile.

August looked at me, my smile slowly faded. He returned to eating his food.

“Who did they set you up with?” Stacy asked August about his new job.

“I don’t know. Some lady. Dr. Tanya Maraj I think I her name was.”

“I never heard of her. Is she black?”

“I don’t know. With a name like Maraj she sound like one of them Arabs.”

“Arabs.” Stacy laughed. “You so stupid.”

“How you liking the new apartment Amb?” Stacy turned her attention to me.

“It’s fine.”

I looked over at Aug. He was eating, but I know he was listening. I didn’t want him in any way to feel I was unappreciative of what he was doing. I know he was a little insecure about it.  

“I know its smaller than what you used to.”

“How about this apartment alone is the size of one of her bathrooms.” Travis rudely interjected.

August shot him a look.

“What? It is.” Travis shrugged.

“That’s okay. It’s not going to be for that long. As long as me and Sata are here with Pop-Pop that’s all that matters. Right Munch?” She had began to reach for me and I picked her up.

“Y’all gon have to chill with the Pop-Pop shit. Y’all are not Blue Ivy and Beyonce.” Travis said smacking on a piece of bacon.

“What does that have to do with anything?” Stacy looked confused.

“That’s what Beyonce calls Jay-Z. More like Popped-Popped cause that exactly what this nigga is.” Travis said talking about August.

“Leave my baby alone. On a scale from 1 to ten. He’s a…”

“Perfect 10 right babe?” August got up and emptied his plate.

“You’re a…uh… solid 1.” I joked.

Everybody laughed, even Munch.

“You laughing at daddy Sata?” He eyed her. “You remember that.”

“He’s just joking with you baby. He can’t be mad at you if he tried.” I kissed her forehead.

“Aight. It’s time for you niggas to get out. I need to get dressed.”

“Amb what you cooking for dinner?” Travis asked.

“Get out.” August pushed him toward the door.

“See you later girl.” Stacy kissed my cheek and hugged me. “Bye Munch.”

“Say bye T-T Stacy.” I waved her hand.

“I’ll see you at class later.” Stacy told August.

“And I’ll be over for dinner later.” Travis said before Aug closed the door in his face.

Aug grabbed the rest of his clothes off the couch and went in the room and changed.

I put Sata in her playpen, and gave her some toys to occupy her. I went to the kitchen and poured two glasses of Champagne.

“Babe where my socks at?” Aug called out from the room.

“Top drawer. I washed them and put them in there yesterday.”

A couple of minutes later he came out fully dressed. I handed him a glass of Champagne.

“What’s this for?” He took it confused.

“I just wanted to share a toast with you before you started your last year of Dental School. To let you know how proud of you I am. How grateful I am to have you in my life. And how appreciative I am of everything you do for me and Sata. I don’t ever want you to feel I take you for granted, because I don’t. I love you from the bottom of my heart.”

“Aw thanks babe. I wasn’t expecting that.” He let out a shy little laugh.

“So toast to you.” We bumped our glasses then drank it.

“Aight see you later. Love you.” He kissed me then grabbed his keys.

“Bye Munch.” He kissed the top of her head.

“Lock the door babe.” He said walking out and the door closed behind him. I locked the door. Poured me another glass of Champagne and made a toast with myself to my new life.

“Cheers.” I plopped on the couch, and drank the entire glass.