Chapter 2: Fall Out, Make Up, Fall Out

I ran my fingers through my blonde hair, my gaze locked on the other hand resting in my lap.

Me and Baby were chilling side by side on that worn-out couch, totally locked into a serious convo. We knew we had to deal with the issues in our relationship and patch up the cracks that had formed over time. Our voices were all hushed, like we were sharing some top-secret stuff only we could hear.

"I think we gotta communicate more," I said, my voice full of determination. "We've been holding back way too much, and it's causing major tension between us. We gotta talk straight up and be honest about our feelings."

Baby nodded, his gaze softening. "You're right, Keisha. We've been dodging those tough convos, thinking they would magically disappear. But nope, they don't. We gotta confront 'em head-on and figure out solutions together."

"Talking of tough convos," I said. "I've got a secret or two to spill." I stretched on the beat-up couch, my face all twisted up with nerves and amusement. I let out a deep breath and glanced over at my husband, who sat there looking all sheepish by the coffee table.

"Alright, Baby," I said, my voice serious. "I gotta apologize. I'm sorry for messing with your precious whiskey by mixin' in some sugar."

"Wait, you did that?" he blurted out.

I nodded, smirking. "Yep, guilty as charged. But hear me out! You pulled a fast one on me with that red hair gel of mine. Swapped it with tomato paste!"

If his skin were lighter, I'm sure his face would have turned all red like said tomato paste. "Oh dear, I'm really sorry 'bout that, I didn't realize you'd go to such lengths for payback."

"Come on. You know better than anyone—I don't mess around when it comes to my hair gel."

"Well, I gotta confess too. Remember that night you wanted to hit up that club program?"

I raised an eyebrow, the memory coming back. "Yeah, I remember. What about it?"

Baby scratched his head, a guilty grin tugging at his lips. "Well, I was the one who let the air outta your car tire. Didn't want you goin', but I didn't wanna admit it either."

My annoyance flared up once again. "You did what? Baby, that was my shot to see Nicki Minaj perform! By the time the Uber finally showed up, she was already long gone!"

Baby attempted to suppress a giggle, but when my eyes locked onto him like a heat-seeking missile, he zipped his mouth shut like a bank vault.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry, alright? That was a dumb move."

I simmered in my anger for a few more minutes, but gradually it started to cool down. I took a deep breath, realizing our pranks had gone way too far.

"Alright, Baby," I finally said, my tone softening. "I accept your apology. Let's promise to be more considerate of each other's desires, no matter how silly they may seem."

Baby nodded, relief washing over his face. "Deal, hon. No more sabotaging or deflated tires, I swear."

We both chuckled, the tension melting away like smoke in the air. I reached out my hand to Baby, offering him a truce.

"Truce, Baby?"

He took my hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Truce, babe. Let's keep things light and fun, just like we used to."

While we were going at it, Grandma Edna was peeping us from her rocking chair, eyes twinkling with amusement. She'd seen plenty of couples dealing with similar challenges and knew that building a stronger relationship wasn't a walk in the park. But she could feel the love between us, and she believed we had what it takes to overcome our obstacles.

The room was filled with the aroma of fresh coffee, drifting from those old, chipped mugs on the coffee table. That warm, cozy scent mixed with the sound of our voices, making us feel right at home.

I reached out and grabbed Baby's hand, a little smile playing on my lips. "We also gotta make time for each other, reconnect, and remember why we fell in love in the first place. Let's plan some regular date nights, just the two of us, where we can chill together and make new memories."

Baby squeezed my hand, his eyes shining with hope. "I'm diggin' that idea, Keisha. We gotta keep that spark alive, nurture our love, and show each other some serious appreciation. Together, we can handle anything that comes our way."

Grandma Edna let out a soft chuckle, her laughter blending with the melody of our voices. She knew we were on the right track. With open communication, quality time, and a commitment to our love, we had the ingredients to rebuild our relationship stronger than ever before.

Baby and I walked out of Granny's house, arm in arm, like the argument from before never happened. Granny had packed some coffee for us in to-go cups, but as we stepped down the porch, Baby's grip slipped, and the cups went flying, drenching my shirt with scalding coffee.

My eyes widened in disbelief as the hot liquid seeped through my clothes. I turned to Baby, my voice trembling with accusation. "You did that on purpose, didn't you? Just to mess with me!"

Baby's face twisted in shock. "No way! It was a total accident! I'd never do something like that intentionally."

But the tension flared up again, and our argument reignited. Our voices grew louder, filled with biting words.

I scoffed, my frustration building up. "Come on, don't act all innocent. I know you, Baby. You always find a way to get under my skin!"

"You're being unfair. Why would I wanna ruin your shirt? Do you really think I enjoy seeing you all upset?"

"Oh, sure seems like it! You've got this talent for ruining everything, don't ya? Just like you wrecked our date night last week!"

Baby's eyebrows furrowed, his tone defensive. "That wasn't my fault, and you know it! The car broke down, and I did everything I could to fix it. But instead of being understanding, you blamed me for every damn thing."

I crossed my arms. "Of course, it's always someone else's fault, right? You never own up to your actions. It's always poor, innocent Baby."

"You know what? Maybe it's not all about me screwing up. Maybe it's about you and your constant need to find faults in me! Nothing I do is ever good enough for you!"

"Oh, spare me the theatrics! I'm not the one who keeps messing up and expects everyone else to clean up after 'em. I've got my own life to deal with, Baby. I don't need your constant screw-ups dragging me down!"

He took a step closer, his voice filled with hurt and anger. "You think you're so damn perfect, don't you? Well, newsflash, Lakeisha, you're not! You've got your own flaws, and you can be just as difficult to deal with!"

I glared at him. "Oh, do enlighten me, Mr. Perfect. Tell me all about my flaws, 'cause apparently, you're the expert on 'em!"

"You're selfish. It's always about what you want, what you need. You never think about anyone else's feelings or needs. It's all about you."

My anger reached its boiling point, and I jabbed my finger at him, venom dripping from my voice. "And you're a hypocrite. You talk about consideration and understanding, but you never practice what you preach. You only care about yourself and your own desires."

He scoffed. "Oh, yeah, 'cause you're the epitome of selflessness, ain't ya? It's always the Lakeisha show, and the rest of us are just background characters in your little drama."

I clenched my fists.

The lovey-dovey couple that left Granny's house a few minutes ago now fought like sworn enemies.

"I can't deal with this anymore! I'm out!"

Baby responded curtly. "Fine, go ahead and leave!"

"Fine!"

I spun around, determined to storm off, but before I could take a step, I caught Baby's apologetic expression. Something in his eyes softened my anger, at least for a moment.

I paused briefly, giving him a look that was both defiant and filled with pain. With a surge of emotion, I flipped him the bird before heading toward my car.

Me and Baby pulled up in different cars 'cause we couldn't have a proper face-to-face before coming here.

While walking, my anger started to fade, replaced by a hint of regret. I turned back for one last look at Baby, and to my surprise, he stood there with an amused expression, sticking his tongue out playfully.

That mischievous face managed to ease some of the tension between us. I couldn't help but chuckle, my frustration momentarily forgotten.

Outside Granny's house, the surroundings were calm, with a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of nearby trees. The sun painted the sky in shades of orange and pink as evening approached. It was a serene backdrop for the storm brewing between us.

My car, a sleek black sedan, waited nearby, its shiny exterior reflecting the fading sunlight. It represented my independence and determination.

Baby's ride, on the other hand, was a flashy red sports car, reflecting his adventurous and impulsive nature. Its powerful engine roared, ready for an exciting drive.

Our cars stood witness to our argument, silent observers of the swirling emotions between us.

I took a deep breath, my anger dissipating further, as I locked eyes with Baby once more. There was a flicker of understanding between us, a realization of the love we shared despite our current conflict.

With a small smile, I let go of my anger and approached Baby, my steps hesitant but hopeful. Maybe we could find a way to bridge the gap between us once again.

He also got out of his car, kind of jogging towards me. Right when we were almost face to face, I remembered his initial words and shot him a fierce glare before sprinting towards my car.

I hit the gas, the screeching tires practically screaming, "I'm still mad at you, Baby Corrigan!"