"Where do I turn next?" Chris asked

"Uh just make a left and then just right up there" I said directing with my hands as he followed my instructions "yeah just park on the curb"

"Want me to walk you up?" He asked as he parked and stopped the car

"Sure" I said quickly as I pushed the passenger door open and got out

Hearing the door slam on his side, I turned in his direction as he walked around the front of the car.

"At least you got an apartment in a nice neighborhood" he said tight-lipped "that's one thing you did right"

"Look, I'm sorry for not telling you I moved. Okay" I said crossing my arms "Nadia and Hunter had such a good family dynamic going on, I felt like I was intruding and the doctor said I was good so I didn't think it was a big deal"

"Not a big deal? Okay Celine" he laughed dryly

"To be fair, you did tell me I wasn't your problem anymore" I said as I walked up the steps to my apartment door and he followed behind me

"Okay I-" he said before abruptly stopping what he was going to say.

"Look at you all stuck" I said laughing as I climbed the top step low key out of breath

"I-I don't recall saying that" he said stuttering shaking his head

Liar.

"Oh so we just losing memory now?" I asked as I put the key in and turned it to unlock the door "dude can learn a whole playbook though"

"Man your ass can't even climb ten steps with your outta breath ass" he said snorting "let's not make jokes"

"Oh so we clowning now?" I asked playfully as I pushed the door opening stepping in

"Hell yeah" he said as he followed me inside shutting the door behind him.

Shaking my head, I threw my keys and set my bag on to the side table by the door—my phone still in hand. Chris did the same as he set his keys beside mine.

"So this is your place?" He asked looking around

"Yep, mine and little mans" I said with a smile

My new place was the perfect size. It felt homey and less cramped like my other apartment did. I went for a off white and tan color scheme with red accented embellishments for a pop of color and I really tied everything together.

Getting an apartment on the upper east side high key cost me a boat load, but it was worth it. Living in the old apartment, people starting to figure out where I lived. More so, because of the fact Nadia use to live with me and paparazzi was on her ass.

This was a nice fresh start.

"It's nice, I'll give you that" he said as he continued to look around "you start on his room yet?"

"Yeah, I did actually, and no you can't see it" I said as I removed my flats from my feet.

"Why?" He asked scrunching his brows

"Because we are in competition remember" I laughed as I made my way to the kitchen

"Oh we still doing that?" Chris asked chuckling

"Hell yeah" I said opening the fridge to grab some orange juice I had a random craving for.

"Alright bet" he nodded sticking his hand out

"What?" I asked just staring at it.

"Shake on it Ce" he said. Looking at it once again, I grabbed it and shook it.

Staring into his eyes, he gaze at mine as my body tingled in the slightest.

Letting my hand go abruptly, he cleared his throat.

"I probably should get going" he said gesturing his hand toward the door

"Oh okay then" I said exiting the kitchen "I'll see you out"

He nodded and we both walked to the door.

Before I could pull the door open he stopped me.

"Celine listen, Imma be straight with you" he said as I looked at him expectantly "I don't like this set up. I don't like that your living alone, not while you're pregnant" he said seriously

Sighing I pulled my hand away from the door.

"I learned today that compromise was our best bet to progress before the baby comes" I started as he nodded in agreement "so I'm going to ask, what do I have to do to put you at ease about this situation?"

"I don't know" he said back

"What do you mean you don't know? I'm trying to compromise here. If you can't come up with something then you can't be mad because I offered you a chance to ease your mind" I said

"Yeah, but I don't know if you will go for it" Chris said scratching the back of his neck

"Chris just say what you gotta say" I said impatiently

"Okay, uh...how about I sleep here at nights?" He suggested

"Uh..."

"Look you said Nadia checks on you? Well maybe she could check on you during the days and then nights I'm here. I'll go home in the morning. It's the best I've got so far. I know you didn't really like us living together, but what's bad about seeing me at nights?" He laid out

"Know what? Whatever eases your mind, I'm cool with" I shrugged

"Alright then" he nodded as a smile appeared in his face

"Good" I said clasping my hand together "when does this arrangement start?"

"After the Super Bowl weekend. You're going to the game right? I need Jalen there to cheer me on" he said placing a hand on my bump

"Yeah, Nadia got me tickets. However, I do have to consult Dr. Alexander to see if it's safe to travel" I said

The game was taking place in Louisiana, which I was extremely excited about since I've never been. I really hoped I could go.

"Yeah, definitely check with her before next week" he said as he rubbed my belly in circular motions

Breathing out, I let Chris' hand movements relax me.

"If there's one thing I missed about you living with me it has to be this. Missed me some Daddy and Jalen bonding time" he said chuckling before removing his hand

"With you staying here at nights, I could def add that the Celine compromising plan" I said laughing lightly

"Why are you being so chill?" He asked scrunching his face

"What I can't be chill now?" I asked raising a brow

"Yeah, but you're being weird" he said looking at me funny before something seemed to click in him and the emotion in his face changed

"You good?" I asked laughing lightly

Shaking his head he took a step back.

"Chris-"

"Just because my mom told you some shit doesn't mean you gotta pity me. That's why you're being all nice right?" He said shaking his head scoffing "keep that same energy you had before cause I don't do that sympathetic bullshit"

"Oh so you want me to keep the same energy I had before? The same energy that had you calling me a bitch? Get outta here Chris. You don't know what you want"

"I know what I don't want. I definitely don't want your pity" he said clenching his jaw "I saw the look on your face after my mom told you what was up"

"Who the hell said I pity you? I can't be fucking cordial with you now?" I asked crossing my arms

"Get out my face with that shit" he said sucking his teeth before opening the door and shutting it as he walked out.

What the fuck just happened?

When he told me to drop the topic about his mom I genuinely did. I know when I tell someone to drop it, I'd expect the same courtesy. Me being nice had nothing to do with being nice to pity him, but me genuinely trying to compromise and make both are lives easier.

As I was looking at the door in disbelief, the door opens again much to my surprise.

"I left my keys" he said pointing at them

And I just stared at him and he at me.

"So are you going to grab them or..." I said kind of awkwardly

"Yeah" he said scooping his keys up from the table.

I just awkwardly stood there as did he.

"You know that was such a great exit the first time, so just pretend this didn't happen" he said before trying to exit again

"Wait Chris, can you please just stop for a second?" I said quickly before he could shut the door

"What Celine?" He said as he stepped back inside

"You're doing the most and- owwww" I said stopping mid sentence as I clutched my lower belly

The cramp I was experiencing caught me by surprise.

"Celine? You good?" Chris said frantically as he stood next to me soothing my back

Holding my eyes shut as I hunch over slightly, I tried to breathe through it.

The breathing in combination with Chris rubbing my back seemed to diminish the pain little by little.

Standing up straighter, I breathed in and out as it subsided.

"It's okay I'm good now" I said calmly

"Uh uh, I don't trust that shit. That looked like you were having a damn contraction" Chris said as his hand stayed on my lower back

"It felt like a cramp" I said scrunching up my face as I rubbed my belly "it's probably another braxton hick"

"Another? You had this shit before?" He asked me furrowing his brows "and what the fuck is a braxton hick?"

"Yeah, it kinda just like a false contraction that comes and goes" I said informing him

"Why are you just now telling me this shit happens?" He asked me looking upset

"Because when they first happened Nadia was here. We went to the doctor's just to confirm my suspicion on what we both suspected it was and that was that" I explained

"And you didn't call me because? Like what the fuck Celine" he says throwing he hands up in the air in frustration

"If it turned out to be serious, I was gonna call you immediately. I didn't want to disturb you cause I already knew what it was. It's not harmful or anything so I didn't want-"

"I don't care Ce" he said cutting me off "call me for that shit"

"Okay, I will. I'm sorry" I said so he'd stop giving me that look like I just kicked his puppy.

Shaking his head, he sighed "is Nadia coming later to check on you?"

"I'll have to check with her" I said

"I'm going to head out, then" he said before walking towards the door

"And Chris?"

"Yeah?" He asked looking at me warily

"I think you should maybe talk to someone. Maybe see a separate therapist?" I suggested

After his mom informed me about her condition and how excited she was for having her first grad child, she told me she was worried about Chris. He seemed to be in denial about this whole thing and according to her way too optimistic considering she had stage four breast cancer.

He nodded slowly, "Yeah, I'm good on that. Our therapy sessions are already enough for me"

I nodded expecting that response.

Cautious I brought up my next question. "Does Hunter know? Your teammates?" I asked curiously

"You are the only person outside my family who knows. Telling people makes it all that much real. I don't really trust anybody with this information. But like I said before let it go" he said before heading for the door "imma head out"

"Well uh, bye then" I said as he opened my front door once again

"Bye Ce" He said giving me a tight smile as he walked out the door shutting it behind him.

Sighing, I headed to my room to change into comfortable clothing.

As I was slipping on some sweats, I heard my phone ring that I had left in the kitchen.

Pulling up my pants fully, I quickly speed walked to the kitchen and looked at the contact name.

Nadia.

Swiping the answer button to right, I put it to my ear.

"Hello" I said out of breath

"Why you breathing so damn hard?" She asked straight away

"Because I left my phone in the kitchen and had to speed walk to grab it, so what's up?" I asked as I walked with the phone to the living.

"Wedding planning is a bitch. I'm this close to just getting married in a court house and calling it a day" she sighed

"Lemme help you" I said back "I'm your maid of honor after all"

"I know, but your pregnant and I'm not tryna stress you out. Then I just realized right now that I gotta plan your baby shower too" she groaned

"Nah that's too much for you. I'll ask someone else to do it" I said thinking about asking my close friend Fatima.

"No way, you planned mine and now I gotta plan yours. Don't worry I got this" Nadia said seemingly offended by my suggestion

"Okay suit yourself" I shrugged

"So how is therapy going with you and Chris?" She asked

"It's...going" I said hesitantly

"Oh God" Nadia said "Celine are you playing nice?"

"I actually am this time. I compromised with him on the baby boy's last name. He didn't like me living alone, so I compromised on that too. I'm really trying to keep my petty at bay from now on." I told her

"Mmhm" she hummed

"What? I really am" I laughed into the phone

"Okay Cece. I mean at least you're compromising and working things out I guess."

"You coming by today?" I asked

"Actually, I was hoping you could watch Kaiya?" she said questioningly

"Why?" I asked curiously

"Cause this is one of Hunter's last weeks before he gets back into playoff mode and he's taking me out" she said as I could just imagine her smiling on the other side of the phone

"Yeah, I'll watch her no problem" I said to her

Kaiya was a good baby and relatively well behaved, so I didn't see an issue with having her for the night.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She said happily "I'll drop her off in a hour or so"

"Alright then" I said laughing lightly "oh and Nadia?"

"Yeah?" She asked curiously

"Don't get pregnant again" I said snorting out laughing

"Girl bye" she laughed before hanging up on me

Throwing my phone to the side, I laid on the couch thinking of all the things I needed to get don't before the baby comes.

I wanted to sign up for birthing classes, but I don't know if Chris would be up for it. I'll have to ask.

A maternity shoot was something I had to plan also. I had to know if Chris wanted in on that too.

I also never got around to doing that 3D ultra sound I really wanted. Maybe next time.

Then I gotta bring someone in to paint the walls of the baby room. I attempted to do it myself, but the smell of the paint fumes made me severely nauseous.

Maybe I should take Chris' advice and just hire someone to do the room entirely. I mean I'll design it, but realistically who do I look like putting a whole ass crib together?

After an hour or so of creating my list of things to do and catching up on some TV, Nadia finally came through with my niece.

While holding Kaiya in my arms, Nadia gave me the run down.

"Yeah she should be down and out for a nap pretty soon, but if not let her watch some cartoons. She also likes to run a lot so watch out for that."

Oh she could run alright. Kaiya started walking when she was late nine months almost ten. Now at eleven months, she was real active.

"Nadia, you act like I've never watched her before. Just go, I'm sure Hunter's waiting impatiently in the car" I said laughing

I mean I watched her for an hour or two, so this should go about the same.

"Yeah, Okay. I'll just see y'all tomorrow" she said before quickly kissing Kaiya's forehead "Bye Celine"

"Bye Nadia" I said with a smile as I shut the door

Once the door shut Kaiya began wiggling in my arms wanting to be put down.

"Okay damn Kaiya chill" I said placing her down

Immediately after doing that, she was on the run. I had a feeling she would not be napping anytime soon.

Looking down at my stomach, I rubbed it gently "please be calm child, I beg of you"

Shaking my head, I looked up to find Kaiya trying to stick something in her mouth.

"No, Kaiya, no" I said wide eyed as walked over to her grabbing what was in her hand

She stared at me for a moment and before I knew it, I saw her bottom lip start to tremble.

I was in for a long night.

| A U T H O R ' S    N O T E |

I had no idea how to make this chapter longer than it is so here ya go lol. Also y'all should follow me if you don't already because I usually post updates on my message board when I'm going to post a chapter and other info. I always get like the "please update" or the "when will you update" questions when I literally answer then on my message board, so just follow me :)

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Chapter not edited. Grammatical errors.