Baller's Baby - A Bad Boy Romance (19 page)

Chapter
Forty-One

Kiptyn

Yesterday,
I married the love of my life. If you had told me a year ago that I would be
here in my life right now, I would have laughed in your face while I ushered
two blondes out of the club ahead of me, but everything changed, and I couldn't
be happier. Skila is still asleep next to me. She’s snoring with each exhale of
air. I want to grab my phone and record her, but I can't remember where I left
it and I don't really want to leave her side. There will be plenty of other
opportunities in the future for me to record her—like any day for the rest of
my life, because now, she is mine.

MINE.

Forever.

I’ll
never let her go. Every single moment for the rest of my life will be dedicated
to adoring this amazing woman and our little boy. Camryn’s parental rights had
been terminated the morning after we dropped him off at the mental hospital per
his request. It cost me a shit ton of money to make it happen so quickly, but
if it eased his and Skila’s mind then it was worth it. As of last night, I
legally became little man's daddy. I can’t wait to meet him and sign my name on
his birth certificate. Our family will be complete.

I hear a
door shut downstairs, and the tiny shuffle of feet bouncing around. Easing out
of the bed, I tuck the comforter up around Sky’s shoulder and creep out the
door to see who our guests are. Hopefully, my sleeping beauty can get a few
more hours of rest before the world and all its demands come rushing back in.
God, I can't wait until the baby is born and I can take her on a real honeymoon
trip. I would have done it now, but she refused.

I guess
I understand. It probably wouldn't be that much fun in the Bahamas or the Keys
being eight months pregnant, plus there’s the extra risk of something happening
while we’re away. Neither of us want to take that chance. She had just been
released from bed rest two days before we drove to Atlanta. I'd have to chain
her to the bed if the doctor even so much as mentioned putting her back on
bedrest. I chuckle, imagining her tied to my bed.

Now that
I think about it . . .

The
sound of squealing laughter makes my decision for me. I ease from the bed and
out of the room, leaving my sleeping bride fast asleep.

Chapter
Forty-Two

Skila

I wake
up and look at the clock. Eight A.M. Last night comes back to me in flashes. A
smug smile crosses my face as I reach over to greet my husband and realize Kip
is gone. His cold side of the bed bothers me, and I wonder what he's up to. Why
he didn't wake me this morning? Slipping from the bed, I ease my way to the
adjoining bathroom and release my full bladder.

The baby
seems to have decided his favorite place to sit is right on top of it, and when
he isn't sitting there, he’s using it as a kickball. When I finish, I wash my
hands and slip on some comfy pajama pants. My entire body is sore and aching in
the best possible way this morning. The only thing that could have made it
better this morning is waking next to Kip and having a repeat performance, but
that didn't happen.

The
faint sound of laughter coming from downstairs piques my curiosity. I carefully
creep down the stairs, being careful not to alert anyone to the fact that I'm
awake and sneaking about. I freeze in my tracks at what I see. Kip is sitting
Indian style in the center of the room with a glowing faced little girl sitting
across from him. She’s studying him so seriously that she doesn't me at first.
Her lips are pinched tight, and her eyes are clenched as she concentrates on
what she’s doing.

Poor Kip
sits as still as a statue. His face is completely covered in make-up, his nails
are a striking purple, and his hair is in two mini pigtails resembling
pom-poms. I cover my mouth to keep from laughing and just watch.

"Uncle
Kip, you look so silly and pretty all at the same time."

"You
think Auntie Sky will like it?"

"I
don't know. Can we ask her?"

"Ok,
baby. We will as soon as she gets up." She looks up toward the stairs and
smiles.

"I
think she already knows. She's behind you."

He turns
and smiles at me with a sheepish grin. I can't help but return it. My
loneliness earlier this morning is now forgotten as I stare at my husband and
his blue glitter eyeshadow and bright pink cheeks. He could easily pass for a
clown at a child's birthday party. Standing, he makes his way to me at the
bottom of the stairs.

“Good
morning, wife,” he says in his sexy as sin voice that makes the skin melt off
my bones on a bad morning . . . but today, all I can do is laugh.

“Wife,
have you seen my husband? I can't seem to find him anywhere.” I reply, sarcasm
seeping into my every word.

"Ha-ha,
brat. I didn't want to wake you, and Maria came by to help Granny with her
garden early this morning, so I figured I could keep this little stinker busy.
Then she broke out the makeup,” he says, explaining how the tragic accident
happened to his face. The ‘little stinker,’ as he calls her, is standing now,
hands on her hips, and glaring at Kip’s back. I’m guessing she doesn't agree
with his retelling of the events one bit.

“I’m
sorry I wasn’t there when you woke up, baby—”

"Stop,
I love you now more than ever.” He smiles and comes over to kiss me.

"Hold
up . . .wipe your mouth first," I say, pulling back from him. I don't care
how much I love him. I draw the line at maroon lipstick and blue glitter
eyeshadow.

He
doesn’t give two damns that I don't want to get all nasty. Pulling me to his
chest, he plants his lips against mine, rubbing against them instead of kissing
me, smearing the lipstick across my face. I squirm, trying to get out of his
reach, but he won't let me go. I hear a little girl’s contagious giggling
behind us and peek over Kip’s shoulder to see the famous makeup artist rolling
on the floor, laughing at us. I tap Kip on the arm and nod my head toward her.
On the silent count of three, we take off after her. Kip scoops her in his arms,
holding her close while I tickle her ribs and stomach.

“I give.
I give,” she squeals.

“Who’s
the master?” I ask, grabbing her foot and running my finger down the base of
it.

“You,
Auntie Sky, you are.” Kip lowers her to the ground with ease. The moment her
feet hit the ground, she takes off racing around the corner.

“Tricked
ya,” she calls back toward us, causing me and Kip to both break out laughing
again. I can't think of the last time I’ve felt so light and free. I can't wait
until I'm able to play with my own child this same way every day. It's one of
the things I used to regret not ever being able to have, and now I will. Laying
my hand across my giant stomach, I thank God once again for the blessing He has
given me.

Chapter
Forty-Three

Kiptyn

We have
to head back to LA soon. I don't want to. This last week in Atlanta has been a
welcomed vacation, but the league’s award ceremony is Friday, and as a guest speaker,
it wouldn't look good if I wasn't there. I got my call from my agent Monday. The
Bolts want to resign me with a pretty significant increase in contract.

Of
course, I have to talk it over with the missus before I agree, but she’s on the
same page as me. The Bolts had given me my start, and if it weren’t for them,
then the chance of my ever meeting Skila was slim to none, so really, I owe
them my life, and of course, the six figures they’re paying me is nice too. It sucks
that we didn't win Nationals this year, but I’m more than willing to take the
blame for that one.

For so
long, I had a piss-poor attitude with the team, and I think it rubbed off on
them. They didn't think they were worth anything without me. It was total
bullshit. I was at that game. They could have won it, but they let their
insecurities get the best of them. This year, we will work on it. I'll be
damned if we let it slip through our fingers again.

More
than anything, though, I’m ready to get home and get our house ready for the
baby. Granny and Nana surprised us with a baby shower yesterday, so now we have
more than enough bottles and diapers to last a lifetime . . . at least I hope
we do. Lisa’s mom just laughed when I said that, so I don't know if I should be
worried, because surely the little guy won't piss that much.

We
finish packing everything we can fit into the Suburban. Luckily, they didn't
buy any large furniture, just essentials like bibs, blankets, diapers and
wipes. I had no idea a baby used so much shit, but Skila just opened presents
and smiled like she knew what everything was and how to use it. I hope she
does. One of us needs to.

Nana and
Granny are coming back to LA so they can attend the award ceremony, and then
they're going to stay in town for a while until Skila goes into labor. They
plan to stay at Lisa’s house.

It's
kind of weird to watch their budding friendship. My granny is such a
goodie-goodie and Skila’s nana is not. The two of them together are hilarious.
I think Nana actually had my granny drinking alcohol the other day. I'm not
sure if she knew it before or after she felt the effects, though. I don't think
I want to know.

I feel
like I'm watching a seventies version of
The
Hangover
.

“Everyone
ready?” I ask, making one more round through the house to be sure we have
everything.

“Yep,
you sure you have room? We can catch a cab to the airport,” Granny says.

“It's
fine. We have plenty of room, Granny,” Skila says.

“Okay. Let's go. Can't
keep the plane waiting.”

Chapter
Forty-Four

Skila

We make it
back to LA with six hours to spare before the awards ceremony. I’m exhausted.
My back hurts from riding in the Suburban for the last two days. Normally, it
wouldn't have taken so long, but Kip stopped often so we could stretch our legs
and relax for a while. Nana and Granny made it six hours after take-off and had
been having a jolly old time at Lisa’s.

Every
way I turn makes me just as uncomfortable as the last. I’m so ready for the
evening to be over so I can just go home and sleep in our bed.

“You can
stay home, baby. I understand if you don't want to go,” Kip offers sweetly. I
wish I could stay home, but I won't.

“No. I
want to be there for you. I’m fine, just tired and ready to
sleep
.” I drag out the last word because,
to be honest, nothing sounds as good as that right now. Not even the expensive
delicacies they're serving tonight could make me want to leave the comforting
confines of my silky sheets.

“Well,
if you're ready . . .” he trails off, lending me his hand to help me back into
the Audi. The soft leather seats are much more comfortable than the Suburban,
but even these aren't enough to help me relax. I buckle my seatbelt and place
my hands across my stomach, caressing my sweet little boy inside.

When we
pull up at the hotel where the ceremony is being held, Lisa meets me outside
with Nana.

“Granny
is inside, holding down the seats. Come on, preggo. Let's get you off your
feet.”

Lisa
drags me away from Kip and into the crowded room. I spot Granny as soon as we
enter, and for once, I'm thankful to sit down away from everyone else. Kip is
being ushered off by his fellow teammates, but before he goes, he glances back
at me and smiles. Lifting his hand, he blows me two kisses, one for me and one
for the baby. I catch them both and tuck them away before shooing him away with
my hand in the air.

Truthfully,
I just want a minute alone to catch my breath and to think. I remember reading
somewhere about back pain being the first sign of labor for some women, and I'm
starting to wonder if the pain I keep feeling isn’t more than just tension from
the long ride. Could I be in labor?

“Are you
all right?” Lisa asks, concern radiating from her. She's rubbing circles on my
back, and the feel of her hands on me is only irritating me more. I want to ask
her to stop, but I can't. She’s trying to help and comfort me the only way she
knows how.

“I’m
fine. Can you grab me a glass of water or juice, please?”

“Yeah,
I’ll be right back.”

“I’ll
come with you. I want some of those cracker thingies they’re passing around,”
Nana says, following Lisa into the crowded room. My eyes automatically lift,
searching the room for Kiptyn. For some reason, I feel like I need him by my
side right now. I don't know what’s going on with my body, but I have quickly
come to understand that whatever it is, it isn't normal.

“Granny
. . .” I say, gripping the table as another cramping pain starts in my lower
back. This one works its way around my side, darting to the center of my
stomach. I suck in a deep breath and hold it until the pain passes. Granny is
watching me with a knowing gaze.

“I’ll go grab Kiptyn. You
just sit right here, dear, and wait on your Nana.” I nod my head and watch as
she stands and walks with purpose through the crowd. Another pain grips me. It
seems the last one just finished, and this one is already starting. I try to
breathe through it, but I can't do it sitting here at this table, so I stand,
and taking small steps, I walk in the direction Granny just went.