Chapter 4

What is free time? I'm a single mother. My free moments are filled with loving my little girl. -Roma Downey

We never know the love of a parent till we become parents ourselves. -Henry Ward Beecher

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_|Armani

"Aaaahhhh, mommy mommy mommy!" My eyes pop open and I pop up in the bed.

"What's wrong Kai?"

"It's your birthday!" She starts giggling in my face. I lay back down on the bed laughing and she climbs over me. "How old are you mommy?"

"I am twenty-six."

"Ooo, you're old." She starts laughing again. She is so silly.

"Oh yea?" I start tickling her and she starts kicking and screaming. When I roll over with her I see that Ebony and Naomi aren't in the room. "Where are our roommates?"

"I don't know. Can we get breakfast now?" I sigh as I get up out of the bed. Lord knows I am so tired. I put on the first pair of sweats I see, I slip on my flip flops, and I tie my hair up into a bun. Kai runs to the door holding my phone and I open the door and we leave out. We walk to the elevator and wait to go down. Once we make it to the first floor, we walk into the main hall to the breakfast area. Thank the Lord they give free breakfast.

"Aaaayyyyeeee, it's the birthday girl! X, give me a beat." Jo and Xavier are sitting at a table when I walk in and Xay starts beating on the table while Jo prepares to rap. Oh Lord. "Oh, oh, oh...here we go!

Happy birthday little sis!

Twenty six years old.

Might be getting older, but you still ain't grown.

Just know I'll whoop your ass any time of the hour.

In private, in public, or even in the shower.

You know I love you though.

You are one of my own.

So smart, so funny, and you're so beautiful.

Just know I got your back, through any situation.

Everybody better wish my favorite sis a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" When he is done he hops up out of his seat and comes to hug me. I am still laughing when I hug him, and everybody sitting around eating applauds. He kisses my forehead then lets go.

"Thanks big head!"

"Happy birthday girl! I have a lot of fun planned for tonight!" Jewel runs up and hugs me. Oh God, I am actually kind of curious at what she has planned. I could not talk her out of mixing my birthday party with her bachelorette party, so I am just letting her have her way. She is going on about decorations and activities. My vision kind of sneaks its way into the direction of where Kai is and I see her jumping up to try and pull something off of a counter.

"Hold that thought." I run over to her and catch the bowl of cereal before it spills all over the floor. I pick her up and I hand her the bowl of fruit loops. She starts to eat them dry as I carry her towards the table where Naomi and Ebony are.

"Kai, look at my new shoes!" Naomi says this as I set her in the seat.

"Look at my new bracelets!" She shows off her wrist. I took her shopping a little yesterday. My little girl loves herself some bracelets.

"Oooo, mama, I want some bracelets!" I laugh as Naomi looks over at her mom with pleading eyes. Ebony shakes her head and starts telking about how she just got new shoes. I start to walk away to go get us some food, but Kai stops me.

"Mommy!" She reaches out to me.

"You don't want to sit here while I go get you some food?" She shakes her head and stands up in her chair. I shake my head and pick her up again. She lays her head on my shoulder as we make our way back to the food. "You want your own plate?" She shakes her head, so I lay out one plate. I ask her what she does and doesn't want. Our plate soon fills up, so I have to get a second one.

I don't know how I am going to carry all this. I hand her her cup of apple juice and I pick up one plate. As I am contemplating how I am going to pick up the other one, someone picks it up for me instead.

"I can help you with that." I look up and Xavier is holding the plate, smiling. I smile at him. How considerate of him.

"Thank you." I start walking to our table with him following. I place the plate down on the table and grab the cup out of her hand, as I sit down. When I place her on the floor, she climbs into my lap. She is in one of her spoiled moods. I place her more comfortably before I take the plate from Xay. "Favor?" I look up at him.

"Wassup?"

"Be a dear and bring me some apple juice?" I try to use my best puppy dog face. He just rolls his eyes and laughs.

"Anything for the birthday girl." I smile as he walks back over to the table where the juices are.

"Mhm..." I turn to look at Ebony.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Watch out for Mr. Gorgeous smile over there." She gestures towards Xay. I laugh as I watch him waiting in a short line to get my juice. I turn back towards Ebony and shake my head as I take a bite of my bacon.

"What are you saying?"

"All I am saying is. His ass is interested in your ass, but his ass is a player."

"But I'm not interested in him, and you could just be over analyzing everything." She gives a sarcastic laugh and I roll my eyes.

"Right, because that is what I do Armani." She gives me that knowing look and I just shake my head. Yea, the last thing Ebony does is over analyze things. "Look just take my warning. If I am wrong you have nothing to worry about. If I am right, well at least you were prepared."

"Prepared for what? Nothing is going to happen. You know I don't want a relationship right now. He does not spark me as the 'daddy' type anyways."

"I know, but still. Just watch him. Guys like him are smooth." She takes another bite of her waffle and looks at her phone. I look at her and then look back over Xavier and see he is coming back with my juice. I think she is paranoid. Like he said, it is my birthday. He is just being nice.

"Thank you much!" I take the cup from him and place it on the table.

"Any time. So, what do you have planned for your birthday?" He sits in Kai's empty seat.

"I am leaving that all up to Eb and Jewel. For the day, I am just going to take Kai shopping some more."

"Here mommy." Kai turns towards me a little and shoves a grape into my mouth.

"Wow, even on your birthday she still gets all the attention."

"Isn't that how parenting works? Oh my gosh Kai, wipe your mouth." I watch her as she picks up a napkin and rubs it all over her face. She turns to Xay and he starts laughing.

"Did I get it?"

"Let me help you." He takes the napkin from her and starts wiping her face off.

"Hey X, can I talk to you for a minute?" My brother comes up and steals a grape off of our plate.

"Hey, that was mine!" Kai hits her uncle in the leg.

"Oh it was? Are you mad at me?" She frowns up at him and he laughs. She nods her head and he holds his heart like he is hurt. "I'm sorry, Munchkin." He picks her up and throws her over his shoulder. She starts giggling immediately.

"Put me down!"

"Uh uh, not until you stop being mad at me."

"Mommy!"

"Joe, put my baby down." I laugh as he starts easing away from me. I am not chasing him around this room.

"Nope, momma can't help you this time." He runs away with her and I just laugh. "Hey X, come here." Xavier gets up and walks over to where they are.

My brother is so goofy. That is the main reason he gets along so well with Kai.

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_|Xavier

"Hey X, come here." I look over at Jo and I make my way over to where he is standing with Kai still over his shoulder.

"Wassup?"

"Alright man, I need a favor." His tone gets a little serious, even though he keeps it light while he is messing with Kai. She is so funny with so much character.

"Mhm, and what favor could this be?" I fold my arms smirking, because I love when Jo asks me to do favors. That means he owes me in time. He rolls his eyes and I just laugh.

"Well, it is mainly for Jewel...not me, but you know it is Armani's birthday and Jewel has a big party planned for her and all that shit, so..." Yea, keep talking. "We need you to stall her...do whatever it takes, but she cannot come back into the reception room until seven, okay?" I look at him for a few minutes and then I just laugh.

"Ooohhh man, but...I'm not allowed around your sister, remember? Plus, why didn't you just ask that Ebony girl?"

"Jewel has her booked up with helping." I watch as he drops the still laughing Kai, and she runs back over to her mom.

"Hm, so let me get this straight...you are asking me to defy your rule of staying away from your sister, and you are asking me to spend all day with her? Sounds like a pretty cool date to me."

"Aye, it is not a date, just you stalling my sister for Jewel and Ebony while they finish setting everything up."

"Right, whatever you say man." I watch as Armani fights with Kai over a strawberry. I don't usually go for girls with kids, because it gets in the way...but hey...Kai's mom is fine as hell. I think I can make an exception this time. "Well, if you will excuse me...I have to go get ready for my date..." I sneak a glance at Joe and I see him about to cuss me out and I slide him a slick grin. "...I MEAN day. Calm down, Jo."

"Whatever, X. What I said still applies."

"I know, Jo. Trust me I am not going to defy what you've said." He rolls his eyes like he doesn't believe me, but he lets me go.

I walk back over to the table where Armani is sitting.

"So I have been given specific orders to take you out of this place for the entire day, and you may not come back until seven o' clock."

"Ugh, why? I swear if it is for my birthday, I'm not moving a muscle."

"Well, I don't know what it is for, but you really have no say in this and neither do I, according to your brother and Jewel."

"Eh, they are not the boss of me and neither are you. I'd rather sleep all day."

"Riiight..." I get up out of my chair and I grab her hand.

"What are you doi--OH MY GOSH XAVIER, put me down!" I pick her up and throw her over my shoulder as I carry her towards the elevator.

"Hey, you should have moved the first time."

"You are crazy, you know that? Joe, come get your friend!" I look over at him and he starts shaking his head. I laugh as I carry her to the elevator. I have the strongest urge to rub her butt, but I am already on thin ice for picking her up against her will. She would probably chop off my nuts if she even knew I was thinking about crossing that line. I carry her like this until we reach her room and then I set her down by the door.

When I look at her she is pouting.

"Aw, why the long face?"

"You know why." She hits me on the arm, making me laugh harder.

"Are you mad?" A smirk breaks out on her face and she rolls her eyes.

"Yes." She pushes her way into her room and closes the door in my face as I laugh to my room.