Him

28.

Nicki

I wished I never dragged Ray home with me that day. He wouldn't have to do this for me. A bitch with a attitude. He basically gave up everything for me. But then again he showed me that things aint all that bad and how to love again.

It was harder than I thought to do what we just did. I didn't even wanna see Cherry because she would come up with some clever shit to say and I wouldn't be on my way to get my brother that I never met. I love Ray for that. Putting others before himself; the people he loves at least. I love him.

"Baby, I love you." I cooed trying to lighten the mood in the car. I glanced at him while I was driving.

He was staring at me again but it didn't bother me this time. He smile sheepishly. "I love you, too. What's the plan again?" He asked.

I sighed. "I told you three times already." I stopped at the stop light. "Get the bag." I ordered.

He grabbed the duffel bag and opened it. "Its on the side. And why do I always have to repeat myself to you?" I asked turning onto the intersection.

"Because your crazy half the time. And where are you going I-85 is the other way?" He said going into the side pocket pulling out the picture I took from Uncle Charles office the other day.

"First of all Im not taking 85 Im taking 301 its faster. Second, Im not crazy. Third gimme the picture." I said snapping my right hand.

"Lies." He handed the picture. I glanced between the picture and the road. "He look just like you."

I looked at that picture constantly for the past 10 days. It was him. In a park playing with a ball. Just like a normal kid. But it was something off about it. Theres other people in it but was not involve with what he was doing. Someone familiar was in it but I couldn't name that person to save me life.

I took the picture and put it up in the visor. "Like I said before, Im sick of repeating myself to you." I said yielding right on to 301 like I planned.

"Sound just like my mother. You plan on having children Nicki?" Ray now fully turned in his seat staring at me intensely.

I look at him side ways. "Tay Tay is enough for me. Thank you."

"We having some little Ray 2wices in the future. I can see it now." He looked off in the distance out the window. "Me and you, in house it don't matter where at. It can have a yard so the kids can play. Me owning my own dance studio. You...whatever. Rayonna becoming a ballet dancer along with a lawyers degree. Rashaad being just like his daddy. Trust me Ima be there for my babies and you. If you would like that as our future." He smiled weakly looking at the road just like me.

"I wont be doing 'whatever' Ima be something in life. I can make somebody else handle that bullshit for me." I said gripping the wheel a little bit harder. "We not naming the girl no damn Rayonna. Rashaad is okay, for now. And you forgot something most important before them kids are even thought about." I smirked.

"What?"

"We gotta get married." I smiled.

Ray

I never thought that she was thinking about things like that. I mean I thought she was going to say none of that was going to happen. But she did.

It made me believe that all of that could happen.

"That never slipped my mind. I just thought you would be the 'only girlfriend/boyfriend type'. " I shrugged.

"Naw, We could last until infinity. I want it to be better than the one I witness." She bit her lip. "I understand she was a ride or die but it seemed like they was never together."

"You got to witness that type of shit though. I seen that man every time my moms got pregnant. Last I seen him him was went Tay Tay was born." I said eyeing her and the road.

"Thought you aint know him."

"Can't know somebody that us occasional and spends no time with their kids." I said bluntly.

"I know that." She muttered. "I got a question."

"And that is?" I asked rubbing my eyes.

"Why do you even like me? For real because honestly I think you and Moe would be like the modern day Ike and Tina." She joked.

I laughed at her for rushing her words. "You really want to know?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Yes, I didn't wanna waste my breathe on that hoe name for nothing." She said getting over in the far left lane, driving even faster.

"Well you just did. Ill tell you when I think your ready." I smirked.

We drove in silence for hours. She would glance at me staring at her but she didn't seem to mind. She was speeding on this highway and we still got two more states to go through. We stopped for gas and food twice and I had to force her to eat. Her eating habits have changed drastically and she lost some weight. I care too much sometimes but what can I say.