Roll Tide.
INVOLVED: Mia Blackwell, Tyler Blackwell, Mekhi Blackwell, Kenya Blackwell, Gabrielle Reed, Adrian Reed, Aniya Reed, & Christopher Reed. TIME FRAME: Friday, April 14th, 2017. LOCATION: Miami Beach; Miami, Florida. NOTES: The two families go to the beach for a little fun, they think.
Mia held Kenya’s hand as they walked across the sand, the child held in her grasp a bucket and shovels to play with. Mia looked down to her as she stumbled about the warm Florida sand in pursuit for somewhere to sit. “Where are we going to sit?” Kenya asked her as she walked alongside Mia. “I don’t know mama, we have to pick a spot” she said as she held her beach back in her other hand, Mia looked to Tyler and Mekhi as they walked along with them within the small group of friends. Mia let the child’s hand go only for a second as she tossed faux dread locs out of her face, walking towards the shoreline.
Gabrielle walked with Christopher and Aniya; they both held her hands and she huffed slightly as the two energetic kids bounced about. “Calm down Christopher” she commanded as he hopped on his two feet. As they tugged her behind Mia and Tyler, Gabrielle looked to Christopher again “baby don’t open those until we get to our spot, okay. When we sit down I will open them for you!” she repeated for the second time since they got out of the car. She shook her head before Aniya asked “where’s my snack?” looking up to her mother. “It’s in my bag Aniya” Gabrielle said looking down at her as they continued to walk. “No fair” Aniya said and Gabrielle gave her a knowing look “don’t start that, or I’ma make you walk with your daddy and hold his hand!” she threatened.
Tyler rubbed his hand over his freshly braided hair as he drug his feet across the sand, staggering along behind the women and children. Looking down at Mekhi against his chest, he smiled kissing the child’s forehead tenderly before he spoke up. “Babe I think I see a spot over there.” He told her pointing with his freehand, adjusting his grip on the picnic basket with his other.
Adrian moved along side his friend, his eyes scanning the beach as he followed behind the girls. He was quiet as he listened to Aniya and watched Christopher struggle against Gabrielle’s grip. “Aniya, quiet.” He said quickly before he gave Christopher a stern look as the child glanced back at him.
Mia looked back to Tyler as he spoke, she turned to look into the direction he was pointing in and she nodded in response to him. Moving towards the location Mia finally lifted Kenya up in her arms, carrying the child the rest of the way and when she finally hit the area of sand she put her down, exhaling tiredly. “There. Let me put your towel down before you sit Kenya” she said gently as she looked to her husband whom had all their towels with him.
Gabrielle followed behind Mia as she made her way to a spot for them to sit in, thankfully. The children were always a hassle when they went out on little outings. If her husband didn’t say anything they were bound to act out the entire time. As they finally reach their spot, Gabrielle moved to place towels for both of the kids down. She bent over “don’t move please” she told them both as she sat her bag down and spread the towel out for them both. “Here” she told Aniya sitting her down herself “and here” she said grabbing Chris and placing him on his own blue towel “there” she said before she moved to place a towel down near them for herself as well. As Christopher moved to get up “nope” she said gesturing with her finger for him to sit down again. “I will open them in a second and if I repeat it again, I am not going to Christopher” she said sternly.
Tyler moved behind Mia, following her over to the spot that he had scouted out. Unfolding the towel, he handed it to her before he began to unfold the rest, laying them out strategically so that they formed one giant towel of coverage. “There we go.” He said as he sat the basket down in the center to keep them all down. Sitting down himself he looked at Mekhi as he slept. “I’m going to keep him here until he wakes up.” He said looking at Mia.
Adrian shook his head at his children. Two was definitely enough for them. Two was almost a little too much to handle. It was such a headache taking Christopher and Aniya out. They were both handles and hardheaded. “Christopher if I hear your mama ask you again that your butt. Wait.” He chastised the child before he looked at Aniya arching an eyebrow at her as he sat the cooler down and laid his towel out.
Mia let Kenya sit down before she did, the little girl waited patiently for her parents to tell her to go play. Instead she looked to her sleeping brother watching him drool which she thought was funny to pass her time. Mia looked to Tyler sitting her bag down and she nodded “okay baby” she said to him as she looked to their baby. He looked so cute sleeping peacefully against Tyler’s chest. “Go play baby girl” Mia told her, “not too far” she warned ahead of time as she removed her sunglasses tossing them into the bag.
Gabrielle sat down near the kids as Adrian approached them, once she was settled she grabbed the Jelly Beans from the child and opened them before she gave them back to Christopher. “There, eat your snack Chris” she told him. Aniya moved to crawl to Gabrielle “let me see” she told her removed Gabrielle’s sunglasses from her face. “Aniya don’t do that” she told her. “I wanna see” Aniya said taking hers off and putting her mother’s on. “Okay, but you don’t take things off my face Aniya. You know better, stop it” she said. “Go play with Kenya” she told her as she grabbed the glasses back and tucked them into the bag she grabbed Chris’ as well. “Uh uh” Aniya replied to Gabrielle climbing in her lap and grabbing her bag of grapes out of her mother’s bag eating them quietly.
Tyler smiled at Kenya as she admired her little brother. As the child got up to play Tyler watched her run off, making a mental note of what she had on. Looking at Mia, he leaned over and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek. “I love you baby.” He cooed sweetly to her before he sat back on his hands, looking at Mekhi once more. He gently lifted the sunglasses a little, checking to make sure he was indeed still asleep. Their baby had a tendency to be a little quiet sometimes. Once he was sure Mekhi was still asleep, he laid back and placed his hands behind his head.
Adrian laid out on his towel, a headache already forming in his left temple. “Why did we think this was a good idea?” He mumbled to himself as he watched Aniya and Gabrielle interact. He simply didn’t have the strength to snatch her up on this beach in front of all these white people, but he would once they got in the car. “Aniya act like you have some sense and go play with Kenya.
Mia watched Kenya as she moved to scoop up sand close by, she turned her attention back to Tyler and their son. As he leaned in to kiss her, she smiled brightly “love you too baby” she added as she shifted on the sand again. “You need to put on some sunscreen” she told him as she moved into her bag to grab some. “You know you too light skin, you’ll be the first one to burn” she joked chuckling slightly, before looking back to Gabrielle. She took in the couple and their small family and sighed slightly.
Gabrielle looked to Adrian as he laid back and she rolled her eyes slightly. Shifting on the towel she held Aniya in her lap saying nothing before she looked to Christopher “don’t eat that!” she said as he picked up a Jelly Bean that fell in the sand. “Put it down” she commanded and watched as the boy dropped the piece of candy once more. She looked back to Aniya “slow down” she said calmly as she caressed her hair with her hand watching the child stuff grapes into her mouth. As Aniya handed her the rest of the grapes standing up “are you gonna go play now?” Gabby asked and the child nodded her head, pulling her toys out of her mother’s bag before she ran across the towels, moving towards Mia. “Go around” Gabby said as she pointed to where she was talking about.
Mia looked up to Aniya as she ran towards her; she glared at the child for a moment. “Why are you acting out?” she asked her simply as she moved to stand up. Grabbing Aniya’s hand as moved to walk her over to where Kenya was and she checked on Kenya in the process.
Tyler chuckled at Mia. “I put some on before we left the house.” He told her even as he accepted the sunscreen anyway. He poured a little into his hands, gently rubbing the sunscreen into his arms and face some. He looked at Mekhi and gently rubbed a little on the child’s nose. Looking over at Gabrielle and her kids, he shook his head. He wasn’t going to say a word but their kids were a little out of control.
Adrian laid there, in silence, shaking his head at both Aniya and Christopher. He told Gabrielle they just needed to stay home. They didn’t need to go run out and do everything Tyler and Mia did. Sighing out, Adrian shifted his sun visor on his head and popped open the cooler, pulling out a bottle of water to sip.
Mia knelt down with the children and she watched them interact, letting them chatter between each other as she sat there watching them quietly. Gabrielle and Adrian’s children were not bad, for heaven sakes they never acted that way at her house, they were just badasses for their parents who is to consumed with work and other things to notice they just need attention. “Are you girls going to build a castle?” she asked and Kenya and Aniya nodded happily. “You have to get water too mama” she said to Kenya.
Gabrielle looked to Mia, Kenya, and Aniya over in the sand. She looked to Christopher he was the odd man out, Mekhi was too young to play but she also knew her son was going to try and finish the whole bag of candy before he did anything else. “Baby boy, you can’t eat them all right now. Save some for later” she told him gently moving to grab the bag as he handed it to her licking his sticky fingers. “Here” Gabby said pulling some wipes out for his hand. “Ask daddy to hand you some water please, so you can drink some” she told him as he grabbed the wipe wiping his mouth quickly before he moved for Adrian.
Tyler finished rubbing the sunscreen in and looked over at Mia as she sat with Kenya and Aniya helping them with their sandcastle. Turning his eyes he looked at Gabrielle and Christopher before at Adrian. With a content hum, he laid back once more, hands behind his head as he got comfortable, eyes closed.
Adrian sipped from his bottle in silence, checking out the water and deciding not to get in it. He grabbed his phone and began scrolling through his music before he pulled out his beats pill and turned it on. He started the music, stretching out on his towel. Hearing Gabrielle’s instructions for Christopher, he opened the cooler and was prepared to hand the fresh bottle over to his son.
Mia moved to walk the children to the water, putting some into the bucket wetting the sand before they moved back to the castle they were building. Mia looked back to her husband, and she shook her head at him slightly before she licked her lips turning back to the girls.
Gabrielle watched Christopher as he grabbed the water from his dad. “Babe you have to open that for him” she reminded Adrian. She grabbed her own sunscreen and began to rub it into her skin gently. She moved from both of her arms, standing up and moving to her thick thighs.
Adrian looked at Gabrielle, taking the water back and opening it up for Christopher before handing it back to him. He adjusted his sunglasses on his face before he laid his head back down.
After Gabrielle finished she looked to Christopher, seeing as he was finished sipping from the water. She took it from the boy and closed it off sitting it down on the towel before she lifted him up. Adjusting her bathing suit she pulled it down in the back. She carried the little boy towards the water and she got in with him, holding him in her arms. He was fidgety he didn’t want to be put down “I have you Chris” she reminded him gently as she bounced him in her arms. “Calm down” she chuckled slightly as he clung to her tightly. Gabrielle adjusted her top making sure it didn’t fall as she walked into the water a little further.
Mia continued to help the two girls gently, she looked back to see Gabrielle and Chris were gone and she looked around before she noticed their outlines in the water. She looked back to the men before she looked down at the kids. “Wanna get in the water with Chris?” she asked them and as the girls yelled out ‘Yes’ she moved with them towards the water with Gabrielle.
Tyler laid there, resting his eyes as he listened to the noise around him. He kept his ears open to Mia and their children’s voices. Shifting slightly, he opened an eye and looked at Mekhi once more before he closed it again and began drifting.
Despite what everyone thought, Adrian was not sleep. He was actually wide awake watching everyone through the dark shades he was wearing. He simply wasn’t in the mood to be bothered. He didn’t want to go out but Gabrielle had dragged him here anyway. So he was here but he didn’t have to be happy about it.
After a few moments Chris actually allowed Gabrielle to rest him on his feet in the water. She held his hand to make sure she’d didn’t lose him or could grab him if a big enough wave came their way. She looked out at the water, it was beautiful today and the sun was shining just right. She licked her lips as she looked down at the little boy once more.
Mia walked up the Gabby as the girls bounced around in front of them in the water, playing and giggling alike. Mia chuckled at them, and even Chris as he joined them splashing around. “Is everything okay?” Mia asked, cover up still on as she stood next to Gabby pushing locs back as she did.
Gabrielle looked to Mia and then the children before she said “he didn’t want to come is all, it’s fine” she said waving it off. Gabrielle rested her hands on her hips again looking down at the children as she sighed. “I don’t know what his deal is” she said shaking her head as she looked back and then back to Mia.
Mia looked to Gabby, she nodded licking her lips before she sighed along with her. “How was his birthday?” she asked curiously.
“Fine” Gabrielle added again, not saying much. As of late she just didn’t want anyone in their business personally. So she covered everything up with, fine, rather it was or not.
Tyler felt Mekhi shifting and kicking against his chest and he opened one eye to peer at the infant. “Uh-oh.” He said with a smile as he sat up slowly, his hand holding Mekhi’s head steady as he did. “Someone's waking up.” He cooed gently as he stroked the top of Mekhi’s head through his little bucket hat. Mekhi shifted and fidgeted, his little mouth opening for a silent yawn before his big brown eyes opened and he was peering through his little sunglasses at Tyler. “Hey little man.” Tyler said easily, looking at his son happily. “Have a good nap?”
Adrian looked over at Tyler as he sat up and he shifted, rolling onto his stomach. Taking his glasses off he sat them aside, folding his arms and laying his head against them.
Mia looked to her friend again nodding her head, she got the message loud and clear she didn’t want to talk about it so she wouldn’t make her. Pushing long locs back again she looked to the kids, watching them as they played. Mia looked back to see Tyler, up alert, and Mekhi moving about. “I’ll be back Gabby” she told her as he moved back towards him. “He’s up?” Mia cheered happily as she moved for her son, kissing his cheek.
Gabrielle looked to Mia nodding her head at her, she watched all three kids closely as they played before her. “Not too rough Chris those are girls” she reminded him as they continued to splash and chase each other around in the water. Gabby was overprotective of Aniya but in the past few months she’d lighten up a bit when it came to her.
Tyler smiled at Mekhi, making faces at the little boy as he slowly began to slide the shades off his face. Looking at Mia as she approached, he nodded. “Yup.” He said with a chuckle. “He’s alert as ever now.” He told her as he began unstrapping Mekhi from the kangaroo pouch so that Mia could hold him.
Mia watched Tyler and she smirked happily, moving to hold Mekhi in her arms. “Hey fat man” she said cooing at him happily as he let out another wide yawn. She chuckled rubbing his back gently with her hand. He wiggled about smushing his face into her large breast and she looked to Tyler. “Didn’t I feed him before we left?” she asked curiously as she shifted him in her arms. A kicking Mekhi beginning to fuss as she did.
Tyler smiled, reaching for his phone to take a picture of the two. He snapped one quickly before he sat the phone aside and chuckled. “Sure did. You know he likes to eat.” He said with a smirk as Mekhi began to fuss. Leaning over towards Adrian he opened the cooler and pulled out a bottle for Mekhi. “Here you go.” He said handing it to Mia.
Mia rocked Mekhi lightly in her arms “shh, shh” she said sweetly as he fussed, real tears falling from his eyes. He wasn’t faking like he normally did, he was upset. She took the bottle from Tyler and popped the cap off before she stuck it into his mouth and she looked to her husband “baby is there a bib or burping cloth in the bag?” she asked before looking down at their son seeing him spit the milk out. “Mekhi” she said gently holding him up a bit as he continued to let milk drip down the side of his mouth before he stop sucking all together crying out once more, he fussed turning red in the face his hands and feet kicking as he did. “Shh” she said again “is there a blanket in there?” she asked Tyler next.
Gabrielle splashed the kids one or two times as they played, chuckling as they did. Aniya ran up to her wiping water off her face “I need towel” she said to her mother. “Ask daddy to wipe your face” Gabby told her as she pointed back towards everyone behind them. Aniya ran off full speed headed for her dad, she fell on top of his back “daddy, daddy” she repeated “wipe my face! Please!” she told him before she started bouncing on his back. “Come play daddy” she added.
Tyler watched Mia as she tried to calm Mekhi down while he fussed and cried. Sliding closer to them he looked around for Kenya for a moment, seeing her with Gabrielle. Looking back at Mia he nodded, reaching for the bib from Mekhi’s diaper bag. “Here you go.” He said watching as Mekhi spat the milk right out. Shaking his head he grabbed the nursing blanket from the bag as well, handing it to Mia as he looked down at Mekhi. “It’s the exact same man. The exact same.”
Adrian laid drifting in and out of sleep until Aniya plopped down soaking wet on his back. He turned his head looking back at her with a small grunt and a chuckle. “Do you want a towel or do you want me to come play?” He asked as he reached around and grabbed Aniya. He sat up and held her in his arms as he grabbed a towel and wiped her face before he stood up and reluctantly began marching towards the water.
“Mekhi calm down son” Mia said as Tyler handed her the blanket, she handed him the bottle and she draped the blanket over her right half. She shifted him in place, looking down as she did. She pulled her top down slightly on the side helping him latch on as she held him. She watched him eat quietly and she shook her head. “Spoiled rotten” she exhaled with a smirk as she watched him, watch her. She closed the cover off as she watched Adrian stand up with Aniya moving towards the water.
Gabrielle shifted on her feet; she pulled her bathing suit top up in the front a bit before she moved her hands back to her full hips. She looked back, looking for Aniya when she noticed Adrian walking over and she smirked slightly.
Tyler watched with a shake of his head. “Rotten to the core.” He smirked as he placed the cap back on the bottle and put it away. Reaching into the cooler, he got himself a beer and popped it open, sipping it slowly. “What’s the deal with those two?” He asked looking towards Adrian and Gabrielle.
Adrian walked with Aniya resting securely in his arms. He sat her down on her feet when they reached the water and allowed her to run freely. He stood there, smiling slightly before he looked at Gabrielle, rubbing the back of his neck. Slowly he walked over to her, his arm coiling around her waist.
Mia looked back down at Mekhi for a second, hand pressed against her breast as he ate happily, eyes closed lips suckling away. Mia looked back to Tyler closing off the blanket again. “I don’t know” she said looking to the kids. “She said he didn’t want to come with us today” she added as she sighed softly, her other hand rubbing Mekhi’s back gently.
Gabrielle looked to Aniya as she rushed up to Kenya hugging her tightly in a fit of giggles. They began to chase each other around, running around Adrian and herself. “Careful” she reminded them both before her husband came over to her, hugging her to him. She looked to him for a moment before she looked to Christopher as he brought her a seashell. “Look!” he said and she reached out her hand for it. “Oh, it’s so pretty” she cooed “thank you” she told him with a smile as she held it in her hand for him.
Tyler gazed out at the water, smiling at the beautiful scene before him. If he had of brought some material’s he would have done a quick sketch or a watercolor painting. Looking back at Mia, he nodded slowly. “Yeah… I can see that being the case. I don’t know what’s been up with him lately. I’ll talk to him.” He said with a small shrug before his phone vibrated. Glancing down at it, he quickly dismissed the text message from Isaiah.
Adrian stood behind Gabrielle, his strong arm wrapped around her midsection holding her close. He rested his head on top of her’s, watching their children and Kenya play. When Christopher approached with a seashell he smiled. “Nice catch buddy.” He said to the child.
Mia continued to rub her son’s back gently, she licked her lips before she asked “could you hand me some water please?” sweetly to Tyler. At his next words she nodded her head, she didn’t know what was wrong with their friend the supposed family man but based off his wife’s lack of words she figured it were something. “Yeah, Gabby wouldn’t say much. I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing though” she told him.
Gabrielle looked to the children; she blinked slowly as she stood there. “Thank you” she said again as Christopher picked up another shell and handed it to her. “Are you going to find one for your sister and for Kenya?” she asked him as he moved about to find one at her question.
At his wife’s question, Tyler nodded reaching over into the cooler and pulling out a bottle of water for her. “Here you go.” He said as he handed it over. Lifting the blanket gently, Tyler gazed down at their son as he continued to suck from Mia’s nipple and he chuckled. “Thirsty much?” He said shaking his head as he carefully released the blanket letting it fall back into place, covering Mia’s body. “Mmm. I don’t know but I’ll talk to him.”
Adrian stood there in silence. If she wasn’t going to say anything neither was he. Christopher searched for more seashells before he looked back at Gabrielle and asked. “Can I get one for mama too?”
Mia grabbed the water bottle placing it next to her, as Tyler moved to look to her son and she rocked him slightly. He was still eating soundly even as Tyler looked about him. As he covered her again she asked “could you open this?” with a chuckle as she adjusted their son, lifting the chubby little boy a bit as his body slid downwards.
Gabrielle pulled her bottom lip into her mouth and she looked to Christopher “you gave me two” she said showing him the two shells in her hand.
“Yeah I got you babe.” Tyler chuckled as he picked up the bottle again and opened it up for her, holding it in his hand. He held it out, bringing the bottle to her lips with a smirk.
Adrian looked down at Christopher, dropping his hand from around Gabrielle’s waist. “Come on Chris, let’s go look over there for some more.” He said as he took the little boys hand and began to walk away with him.
Mia smiled at Tyler and she accepted the drink, sipping some water down thankfully. “Thanks” she told him happily. “It’s warm out here” she told him.
Gabrielle looked to the little boy curiously before Adrian moved to walk away with him. She looked to them both before she looked back to Aniya and Kenya. “I’m thirsty” Aniya said and she nodded “come on let’s get some juice” she told them both letting them rush off for their stuff as she walked behind them.
Tyler held the water bottle up for her, allowing her to drink from it. “You’re welcome.” He smiled gently. “Yeah it’s a nice day to be out but it’s hot as hell.”
Adrian moved with Christopher away from everyone before he stopped the child and knelt down before him. “Hey little man…” He began gently. “We’ve talked about this already.” He said as he held the child’s shoulders. “You only have one mama and that’s Gabrielle.” He told him gently. “That woman that tried to pick you up from daycare is not your mama okay.” He told him. “Natalie is not your mama; despite whatever she might have told you.”
Gabrielle moved behind the children and she helped them grab juice boxes out of the cooler, she helped them sit down and she opened it for them. She sat the shells down near her things and sat down huffing loudly. She didn’t look at Mia or Tyler as she adjusted her bathing suit again looking off in the distance.
Christopher stared at Adrian, blinking slowly as he nodded. “O-Okay…” The toddler said quietly before he spotted another seashell nearby and ran over to go pick it up. Sighing out, Adrian stood tall and followed the boy over to the shell before he picked up one of his own and handed it to Christopher. “Alright let’s head back.” He told him as he hoisted the child into his arms and began moving back to the group.
Mia looked to Gabby and then down to Mekhi, she noticed that he’d unlatched and she fixed her top quickly before she moved to burp him. She lifted him onto her shoulder rubbing and patting him back gently before he let out two burps one after the other. She moved to open her water again drinking some more down thirstily. She looked to Gabby again before she closed her water bottle.
Combing through some of her curls Gabrielle picked at her hair for a moment before she looked to Kenya and Aniya. She pulled her eyes away from them and she grabbed her phone checking it for a moment. “Can we play with bubbles?” Aniya asked and Gabby nodded her head “yeah” she said easily handing over her wand for she and Kenya to share.
Tyler shifted his body, laying his head down on Mia’s thigh, staring up at her as she began to burp Mekhi. He smiled softly, closing his eyes as he folded his arms over his chest. Opening his eyes for a moment, he glanced over at Kenya and Aniya before his eyes closed once more. He got comfortable with a small smile on his face.
Adrian walked over and sat down with Christopher in his lap. Looking at Gabrielle, he pulled his lip into his mouth and sighed. Christopher crawled out of Adrian’s lap, moving over to Gabrielle with more seashells.
Mia continued to rub Mekhi’s back gently before she looked to Tyler chuckling at him. She held their son in her arms, before long removing his t-shirt and rubbing some sunscreen on him as well. She cooed at the baby, making him smile all while doing the same. She made sure the girls were playing nice before she moved back to Mekhi.
Gabrielle fiddled with her phone a bit before she placed it back into her bag and when Christopher came over, she pulled him into her lap. “Thank you” she said as she did before. “I like them” she told him as she shifted her legs Indian style.
Tyler smirked slightly, opening his eyes once more to look at Mekhi as Mia took off his shirt. “We got to hit the gym man.” He said gently poking Mekhi’s side. Closing his eyes once more, he let out a content hum. “Don’t let me burn baby.” He said to Mia with a gentle laugh. “I can’t go through that again.”
Adrian was pretty quiet as he sat there. His eyes traveled around the beach before he picked up his phone and began scrolling through a few emails and messages. Glancing at Gabrielle he sighed before he returned his focus back to the task at hand. Reaching into his bag he grabbed a stylus and began to get a little work done.
Gabrielle looked to her husband momentarily and she whispered into Christopher’s ear, telling him to go play with the girls all while handing him over his wand of bubbles. As he scurried off, Gabrielle looked to Adrian again, folding Aniya’s cover-up “is now the time and place?” she asked loud enough for him to hear.
Mia looked down at Tyler, chuckling slightly “leave my baby alone” she joked back chuckling as she rubbed the cream into his many rolls. “Say I am breast milk fed” she cooed at the little boy. At Tyler’s next words Mia side eyed him before she laughed, “mhm, I won’t” she told him thoughtfully as she held Mekhi with one arm and hand, stroking her husband’s braids with the other.
Adrian looked up at Gabrielle through his eyelashes and his face contorted. “How is this bothering you?” He asked her honestly. “How is what I’m doing over here in my bubble bothering you over there in your bubble?” He asked her.
Tyler laughed out. “Ain’t nothing wrong with being breast milk fed.” He said looking up at the two of them. Hearing Adrian and Gabrielle, Tyler shook his head, closing his eyes once more as Mia played with his braids.
Gabrielle looked to Adrian at his comment; she tucked Aniya’s cover up away. She bit her tongue hard, blinking slowly. “You should’ve stayed home” she said after a few minutes passed them by.
Mia continued to stroke Tyler’s braids and she looked up at Gabrielle’s comment. Licking her lips slowly she quickly looked back down at her husband before looking back at the kids.
“I wanted to remember.” Adrian said without missing a beat. “But you were moaning and groaning about going out so here we are. We’re out.” He grunted.
Tyler popped an eye open looking over at Gabrielle and Adrian before he looked up at Mia, his mouth forming a small ‘o’ of shock.
“Then take your ass home now” Gabrielle retorted as she shifted on the towels. “Tired of you and your attitude” she replied back to him her gazed hard as she looked to him. “Bye!” she said forcefully as she tossed him the car keys.
Adrian stared at Gabrielle, his eyes hard as ice as he caught the keys in his hand. He chuckled softly, shaking his head as he moved to stand up. Gathering his things he prepared to go in silence.
Tyler let out a deep sigh as he slowly lifted up and said, “come on man let’s go for a walk.” Clasping his hand against Adrian’s shoulder he pulled his friend along, walking them away from the women and children. When they were out of earshot he asked, “what’s wrong with you man?”
Gabrielle looked away from Adrian, as Tyler moved towards him she averted her gaze trying her hardest not to catch Mia’s. She instead watched her two kids and Mia’s as they all played happily unaware of the brewing storm just nearby.
Mia looked to Adrian and then to Gabby, she let Tyler move to stand up. Shifting Mekhi in her arms as she did. She kissed his cheek sweetly as she looked to Gabby, she didn’t really know what to say. “Are you okay Gabs?” she asked her sweetly.
Adrian sighed out, shaking his head as he rubbed his hand down his face. “I don’t want to talk about it man.” He said shrugging Tyler’s hand off his shoulder.
Tyler eyed Adrian. “You need to talk about it before you mess around and ruin your whole marriage and I promise you man whatever it is or whoever it is isn’t worth it.”
Gabrielle looked to Mia and she shrugged “I am fine” she told her as she looked back to the children.
Mia looked to her nodding her head and she moved, holding Mekhi she moved to sit by her friend watching the kids as she did.
Adrian stared off at nothing as he adjusted his visor on his head. “It’s Natalie…” He said with a grunt.
Tyler’s eyes grew wide with shock. “Please don’t tell me you're messing around with Natalie again. You’re better than this man. Gabrielle loves you. Don’t mess that up over a bitch like Natalie. Hell don’t mess that shit up for any bitch.” He said shaking his head.
Adrian pursed his lips. “I’m not fucking her man.” He corrected Tyler. “She’s back and she’s been trying to see Christopher.” He ran his hand down his face again. “Gabrielle doesn’t know. I went to pick the kids up from daycare one day and Natalie was there trying to let the staff let her take Christopher.” He sighed out. “Since she’s been blowing my phone up trying to see him and now Christopher’s got it in his head that he’s got two mama’s.”
Gabrielle rocked slightly as she looked to their kids, her mind wandered into endless questions without any answers. He was cheating, it was a sure sign. Nothing she did pleased him as of late. The question was why? What had she done as his wife to deserve this? She looked down as she felt the water works but she held them in. Because maybe it wasn’t maybe it was something else, but if it were why couldn’t he tell her? She sighed softly as she moved to slide her sunglasses on once more.
Tyler was taken back. “What the hell do you mean she’s back and trying to see him? She gave up her parental rights the moment she walked out the door and left him with Gabrielle.” He said growing a bit angry himself. He rubbed the back of his neck sighing out. “You’ve got to tell Gabrielle what’s going on.” He told his friend outright. “If she finds out some other way it’s going to be bad man.” He said knowingly. “Don’t let this bitch ruin your happiness with your wife.”
Adrian shook his head. “That’s what I thought but we’d have to go to court and fight it out if it came down to it because technically it’s her name on Christopher’s birth certificate.” He explained to Tyler with another grunt. “I can’t tell Gabrielle. She would lose it. We’re dealing with two 2-year-olds and juggling work and our relationship. It’s already a lot.”
Tyler waved Adrian. “Fuck that noise. That’s Gabrielle son end of story.” He told Adrian out-right. “I hear you, I do but you need to give her some peace of mind.” He said taking Adrian by his shoulder and turning him around. “Look at her, she’s crumbling slowly. You need to tell her.”
Mia looked to Gabby, her hand moving to her back as she rubbed it gently. She didn’t know what was going on and she didn’t know at this point if Gabby did either. But she felt for the woman, because the worst feeling in the World is when the person you loved casted you aside.
Gabrielle blinking slowly she inhaled sharply as she felt Mia’s hand rubbing her back and she continued to rock slightly as she watched the kids. Mind still racing, tears still brimming her eye lids.
Adrian looked at Gabrielle as she tried to mask her tears and he sighed. “I’m going to tell her…” He licked his lips. “I’m going to tell her when the time is right.”
“The time is right now man…” Tyler said as he began walking back towards their small group, gesturing for Adrian to come along.
Gabrielle dropped her head slightly before Aniya came running over blowing bubbles. “Look! Look!” she said and Gabby forced a smile nodding. “I see” she told her.
Adrian walked back over with Tyler and sat down in silence. He began unpacking his things before he looked at Gabrielle and gently took her hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze.
Tyler sat back down and rested behind Mia, his legs on either side of her body as he pressed his chest to her back, resting his chin on her shoulder. “The tea is hot as hell.” He whispered into her ear.
Gabrielle smiled at her daughter before she ran off again, bubbles floating behind her. As Adrian moved beside her, grabbing her hand and squeezing it she snatched it away discreetly. Her head never turning to look in his direction as she looked straight ahead.
Mia looked to Tyler over her shoulder and sighed turning back around. “Jesus” she breathed.
Adrian looked at Gabrielle as she snatched her hand away and he sighed deeply, shaking his head. “Yo I’m out.” He said looking over at Tyler as he stood again. He collected his things for a second time, grabbing the keys and his towel as he walked away.
Tyler shook his head in Mia’s shoulder. “I can’t tell you though.” He whispered again as Adrian stood up. “Man…” Tyler said with a grunt, his eyes pleading for Adrian to tell Gabrielle to no use.
Mia looked to Adrian as he got up and though she wanted to say something she didn’t. She kept quiet and she looked down to a sleeping Mekhi and the kids at play wondering if they all should stay or just go?