Nina was silent after the doctor left. Wearing our white gowns so as not to pass any infection, we both camped out in the nursery. We stayed there all night, never speaking a word to each other. We both took turns talking to Rick Jr. Nina would rub his arms and legs and sing to him. When she sat down, I knew it was my turn. I went over to the incubator.

“You’re a fighter like your dad,” I whispered to my son, as he clung to my finger. “You are going to be all right.”

Kyra sat in the waiting room all night. I knew she was hurt, but I was even more thankful that she stood by my side when I needed her most. She had passed my test.

SEVEN

“Kevin, how close are you to Faheem?” I had to tread lightly but at the same time I wanted to know.

“Close enough. Why?”

“Because I would like to bring him in on something.”

“Sev, Faheem is out of your league. I’m telling you, you don’t want to fuck with him. Stay far away from him. They were asking me who you were at the shower. Stay away.”

“Who wanted to know?” He now had my full attention. I followed him to the front door.

“Stay away, Seven. Plus, he’s married.”

“I know that. I’m talking about business. Business and pleasure or business and relationships don’t mix.”

“You have a business partner. I’m your business partner.”

“What if I don’t want us to be business partners anymore?”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” He had opened the front door and now he had closed it back, his eyes cutting through me.

I didn’t want to tell him, but the baby shower allowed me to see a different side of him. Seeing that all of the people he would talk about were real and they were exactly how he described…all bosses. The chicks and the men. Dayuuummmm. It gave him more credibility. Lately I had been having a hard time not fantasizing about them; and now I was looking at Kevin in a whole new light.

I stepped up to him and kissed him. There. I did it. And yes, he was caught by surprise.

“What are you doing, Sev? You know this ain’t us.”

“Why can’t it be us?” I kissed him again. This time longer as I went in close. His hands were raised in the air, as if he was scared to touch me. “We can bring Faheem in and me and you can see where this goes.”

“Sev, stop playing. We can’t shit where we eat. And we damn sure can’t mix business with pleasure.” And with that he slapped me on the ass and left out.

KEVIN