by A'zayler
“Father God, thank you right now for this handsome, hardworking man that you made love on me every day. You deserve all the praises for this one.”
“Yoooo.” Yeshi’s smile debuted again.
“That’s right, girl, gas your man up,” East yelled from somewhere in the house.
“How can I not?” Logan yelled back.
“Yo, you gon’ chill out and let me tell you what I called for?”
Logan rolled her eyes and nodded. “Go ahead but hurry up before I start praising God for you again.”
“You something else.” He smirked. “I was calling you because I thought about you while I was in the barbershop. I think I’ma go to Bible study with you tonight.”
“Oooohhh Lord, drops mic.” Logan playfully dropped her phone before picking it up and dancing around the kitchen. “See, God is always giving me another reason to praise him, and people wonder why I serve him the way I do.”
Yeshi was so busy smiling and laughing at her that he hadn’t said anything back yet.
“You must be ready now because it starts in another hour or so.”
“I have one more stop to make, then I’ma come scoop you. You at East’s spot, right?”
“Yep.”
“Bet, beautiful. Give me a few more minutes, and I’ll be through there.”
“Okay, I love you.”
“Love you too.”
Logan’s screen went blank, and she went in search of East. She found her in Cali’s room folding baby clothes. The bright pink and purple room was beautiful with flowers and other girly things all over the place. East was seated Indian style on the floor with a small, pink basket in front of her. The clothes falling all over the top of it made Logan grab her chest.
“I want a baby.”
“Have one. I’m sure Yeshi has no problem shooting up the club.”
“What?” Logan smirked.
East looked at her and rolled her eyes. “I’m saying, I know that nigga don’t pull out.”
“You’re right. The few times we’ve done it, he never does.”
“Okay, I been meaning to ask you this. How can you be as Christian as you are and still have sex? I thought you were supposed to wait until marriage.”
Logan paused to think of a good answer. “You are, and I’ve repented for it already. I’m a Christian, but I’m also still in my flesh, so I make mistakes sometimes. God forgives me, though. As long as I’m really sorry and plan to never do it again, he’ll forgive me.”
“So, you haven’t given that boy any ass since you repented last?”
“Nope.”
“And just like that, you’re forgiven?”
“Yep. All you have to do is be Godly sorry and turn away from what you’re repenting about, and he’s there to take you back just like we’re always there to take our man back.”
“You mean you gon’ make me and my man an example?”
They both laughed with Logan telling her that was exactly what she was doing.
“You miss Cali, don’t you?”
East’s smile dropped. “More than anything. We’re getting her back, though. Jesse and Killian have been talking, and Jesse has agreed to let me keep her the whole summer and whenever else I come to get her. We’re going to get her Friday.” East clapped and smiled happily. “Me nor Killian can wait.”
“That’s so good. I’m so happy for y’all.”
“Me too! And now that we’re having another girl, she’ll have somebody to play with.”
“It’s a girl?” Logan screamed in excitement.
“Yep! Found out this morning. I’m going to tell Killian tonight.”
“Aww, that’s so sweet.” Logan grabbed her chest again.
“Yeshi said he’s going to church with you tonight?”
A bright smile lit up Logan’s face as she nodded. She was so happy. He’d told her all about his church experience but hadn’t gone back since. He listened to her read her Bible every night and would pray with her occasionally, but that was it. He hadn’t budged any more, and it worried her a little, but she knew she had to give him some time. Salvation didn’t happen overnight for everyone.
“You don’t want to do something to your hair?”
Logan’s hand went to her hair and smoothed over the little bun she had it in. “What’s wrong with it?”
“Nothing, I guess, but you were just talking about how fine he was. Bitch, you need to be just as cute when he sees you. You were doing all that, and I ain’t hear that nigga return not one compliment to your nappy headed ass.”
Logan was in stitches.
“You get on my nerves.”
“Your hair is getting on mine. Come on and let me do something to it for you.”
East was off the floor with Logan following her. Once they reached East’s room, they walked to her vanity, and East got down to work. She used her flatiron to make some loose curls in it before pinning her hair to one side.
“Look at you. You already look better.”
“I sure do, but you’ve taken so long, I’ma be late now.”
East looked at her watch. “No, you won’t. Go get yourself together while I throw something on, and I’ll drop you off. That way, Yeshi doesn’t have to come all the way out here and make y’all even later.”
Logan was all for that, so she took off toward her backpack. She had a long, purple knit outfit and some boots in there that she quickly threw on. Once she was finally put back together, she was happy she’d taken East’s advice. She looked so much better than she had in her work clothes and bun.
“Yes, Lo-Lo!” East snapped as she waddled past her in a long dress and boots. “Much better. Let’s dip, sweetie.”
Before responding, Logan stood back watching East and how beautiful she was. She’d always been beautiful, but pregnancy and Killian had made her look even better. Logan gushed with happiness when she thought about Yeshi and how much better he’d probably be making her look if he ever got his life together. One thing was for sure, she looked exceptionally good on him. In her opinion, he’d never looked better.
“Girl, come on while you standing back there smiling like you don’t have somewhere to be.”
Logan hurried to East, and they left. They used the ride to her church to catch up on the things they’d missed while Logan had been mad. When they pulled up, Logan instantly spotted Yeshi’s truck. She was surprised to see that he’d beaten her there.
“Chile, you ain’t gon’ tell me what a nigga won’t do for some pussy.” East looked over at her and smiled. “Your ass got Yeshi busting the church doors down. Ain’t that some shit.”
Logan laughed so hard at East that she had to grab her head. “With a mouth like that, you need to be getting out and coming in here too. Only God can deliver you from something that filthy.”
East’s head shook adamantly. “No ma’am, you go ’head.”
“East, please?”
“Eww, girl, no. I’m not about to be sitting up in no church all night. Now, maybe on Sunday, I’ll go. Not tonight, though. I’m trying to go find my man.”
“He’s at the gym, and you’re not going to be doing anything in there, so you might as well come on with me.”
East was still shaking her head, but she’d turned into the parking lot. Logan didn’t say anything, just sat there smiling instead.
“Don’t get happy. We will not make this a regular thing.”
Logan expressed her happiness all the way to the door. Once they were inside, she looked around and found Yeshi in the corner. He was seated with his head down but had raised it as soon as he heard the door. Obviously, looking for her. His smile was breathtaking, and Logan couldn’t get to him fast enough. When she got on the row with him, she scooted as close to him as possible. He kissed her cheek once she was comfortable.
Logan was so happy as she sat there with her best friend and her man. She’d been going to church alone for so long that she’d gotten used to it, but prayer really did change things. Her
feelings were through the roof for the entire service, so the moment altar call was presented, and Yeshi stood up and grabbing her hand in with his, she was nearly floating to the Heavens.
“Where y’all going?” East whispered.
Logan pointed the front but didn’t say anything. When she and Yeshi got to the front, she nervously looked around. They were the only two up there, which was normal, but she didn’t want Yeshi to feel alone. She’d almost wished other people had joined them. Logan was holding Yeshi’s hand tightly when the pastor walked down to them and handed Yeshi the mic.
“What you doing?” Logan whispered with confusion spread all over her face.
Yeshi smiled down at her and raised the mic to his mouth. “Good evening, everybody.”
The church spoke an array of hellos.
“My name is Yeshi, and I’m a friend of Logan’s. I’m sure you all already know her.”
Laughter came from different directions.
“I’m going to try not to be before you all long. I just wanted to take this time to personally thank my girl for truly being my angel. I remember when I first met her, she told me she was an angel and a daddy’s girl,” Yeshi made air quotations with his hand. More laughter came from Logan as well. “I took it all as a joke then, but the more I’ve been around her, it’s hard to deny. She really is an angel, and I’d like to think she’s my own personal guardian angel here on Earth. I believe God gave her to me because he knows I have the tendency to fu—”
Logan’s eyes bulged as she hit his arm.
“My fault, I’m sorry.” Yeshi looked around the room before looking at the pastor. “I’m really sorry.”
He nodded with a smile.
“Excuse me, y’all. I curse a lot, but like I was saying, I mess up a lot, and if I didn’t have her, I probably would be way worse. I’ve tried suicide, alcohol, sex, and a bunch of other stuff to numb some of my deepest pains, but the only thing that ever helped was her.” Yeshi looked down at Logan.
Her eyes were watering, and she’d just wiped them before smiling up at him.
“Because of her, I’m on the road to sobriety,”
Applause erupted throughout the building; some people shouted Amen and stood to encourage him as well. Yeshi smiled and nodded at everyone until it was quiet.
“I’ve learned to let go of the past. I’ve learned to love myself… to love her.” His lips pecked her Logan’s forehead. “But, most importantly, I found God.”
Logan watched as her church members stood around waving towards them, smiling, and sending love their way. She was so overwhelmed that she allowed her tears to fall. Her head was down as she wiped her face when she heard the doors of the church open again. When she raised it to see who it was, she nearly fainted.
“Baby, look!” she hit Yeshi’s arm.
Since he was taller than almost everyone in the church, he didn’t have to strain too hard to see. Her father, Egypt, and Killian had just walked in.
“What are they doing here?” She turned her head to ask Yeshi, but he wasn’t there.
Well, not where he’d been. He was now on the floor, resting on one knee with a shiny ring extended toward her. Logan’s first instinct was to grab his neck and fall on top of him, so that’s what she did. It was a good thing Yeshi was strong and held their balance because that was the only thing that had kept them from toppling over onto the floor.
“You gon’ marry me or what?” he asked through his laughter.
“For real this time?”
Yeshi nodded. “For real.”
“Yes! A thousand times yes, baby!”
Yeshi’s arms circled them and pulled them both back to their feet. They hugged as everyone around them cheered in happiness. Logan looked around with eyes filled with water. Everyone was blurry due to her happy tears, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. At that moment, she was truly the happiest she’d ever been. Little did she know, life with Yeshi would top that day in so many ways that she’d die enjoying.
Epilogue
Logan
“Okay, go now. Hurry! Run! Run! Run!” Logan pushed her sons' backs as they took off running toward Yeshi with balloons tied on their arms.
“Go with your cousins.” East ushered Cali and Kari behind the boys before standing back up next to Logan. “Look at that nigga. His happy ass.”
Yeshi’s smile could light up the darkest room as he squatted down to welcome the children into his arms.
“You know how he is about them kids. That’s what I get for always making fun of Killian.”
“I told you. It’s a headache, ain’t it?”
Logan smiled just as big as Yeshi. “Nah, not for real. I like it. It gives me all the time I need to be to myself.”
East turned her nose up at Logan as they began to walk toward where Yeshi, Killian, Onyx, and Gabrion had gathered.
“Eww, you get on my nerves. You’re always finding a way to make things sound good.”
Logan was tickled. “Maybe you should try it.”
“Nope, I like being mean.”
Both women laughed as they approached their men. It was the grand opening of Yeshi’s accounting firm, and Logan was ecstatic. It had been such a long road, and they’d finally made it. Yeshi had been working so hard to get his life on the track that he’d been wanting, and it was paying off beautifully. With her and God there every step of the way, he’d achieved so much, and she was more than positive he would continue.
“Hey, sweetheart.” Yeshi’s arm circled her with his lips following their lead. “You need to find a corner somewhere and bend over for me right quick. You’re looking too good not to let me at least look at it for a minute.”
“Yeshi, you’re ridiculous.”
“Nah, I’m horny. You gon’ slide or what?”
Logan smiled mischievously before looking around the large banquet room on the first floor of his office building. When she didn’t see anything right away, she looked back at him. All he did was smile and nod his head toward the elevators. Having learned to go with the flow, Logan looked at East.
“Watch them right quick.”
East looked between the two of them. “Keep it up, and y’all gon’ have fifty more of these li’l bad ass boys running around here.”
“God said for us to be fruitful and multiply. I know you’re not trying to stop the work of the Lord?” Yeshi teased.
“Yes, the fuck I am. Hurry up,” East sassed, making her and Killian laugh.
Yeshi and Logan laughed while making their way toward the elevator anyway. It didn’t matter if they had a thousand kids. Yeshi would be happy, as would she.
Killian
To love and be loved was the one thing Killian had hoped for his entire life, and he’d finally found it. East was all that and then some. Even on the days she got on his everlasting nerve, he would keep her just the same. She had been exactly what he’d needed when he didn’t even know he needed it.
“Look at Kari’s li’l bad ass pulling on Gabriel’s shirt. That is definitely your daughter. She ain’t got no home training.” East watched her daughter interact with her pretend cousin. Little Kari picking on the big kids, as always.
“Nah, that’s your bad ass baby. Always trying to fight somebody. You need to teach her how to sit her ass down somewhere. Li’l destructive rug rat.”
Some of East’s juice flew out of her mouth when she laughed at him. “Nigga, I know you didn’t just call my baby no damn rug rat. Besides, she can pick on Gabriel all she wants. She needs to kick his little ass down. Standing over there looking like Sheena’s ugly ass.”
“How you gon’ say that shit about that baby? He may have fucked up parents, but he’s a sweet little boy. Now, your daughter, on the other hand, is wild as fuck. Her hardheaded ass, look at her.” Killian took a step toward the girls. “Kari, get your ass off that damn boy.”
Killian watched his baby girl release the hood of Gabrion and Sheena’s son jacket. They were all in the small play area that
Yeshi had set up and keeping up hella noise.
“I still don’t see how you’re okay with your best friend fucking and having a baby by your ex. I would still be beating their ass. The little boy’s ass would get beat too.”
Killian shrugged. “Because I don’t give a fuck about her. I’m actually happy for him and her. Maybe since they’ve found each other, they’ll stay out of other people’s relationships. Everybody deserves a happy ending, East. Jaylen and Onyx are the definition of love, Logan and Yeshi are the modern-day Joseph and Mary, and us… hell, we’re the fucking goats at this love shit. Just let them have each other.” Killian wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pecked the side of her head. “Besides, that nigga can have any woman in this world as long as she ain’t you. Some sucka shit like that would have me in jail.”
East’s hidden smile surfaced as she pulled at his arm. “You’re just saying that so I’ll stop talking about them.”
“I might be, or I might be saying that because I love you.”
“Whatever. You love Kari and Cali more.” East rolled her eyes toward the play area where her girls were.
Killian looked at her with a smile on his face. “You jealous of your own daughters?”
East playfully pouted. “I sure am.”
Killian’s heart burst every time East displayed how much she craved him. It didn’t matter how long they’d been together, he didn’t ever see himself getting tired of that.
“Look at what not protecting yourself from me got you.”
East smiled bashfully as she recalled their very first night of lovemaking all those years ago. “I wouldn’t change it for the world. You really saved me.”
See, that was the shit that kept him going. The way East loved him was overwhelming, and she didn’t try to hide it. She was loud and proud with her shit. Possessive even, and he loved the shit out of her for it.
“We saved each other, boo.”
East smiled at him before laughing a little. “Nah, you saved me. I didn’t do nothing for you but take your heart.”
“Shid, took my heart and went crazy.”
