The Pride – page 32
“Yeah. My scalp is so sore. She pulls harder than she has to, I think.” Xavari used the flat of your palm to pat the top of her head vigorously. She didn’t want to scratch her scalp, so this was the only way to relieve the itching sensation. She felt gingerly around the edges of her hair and the tension bumps were evident to her touch. She was lost in thought, trying to figure out how she was going to sleep without putting the back of her head on her pillow, when Emmanuel’s voice startled her.
“You ready to talk to me?” He felt her jump, but he didn’t turn to face her.
“Huh?” Xavari knew that he knew she’d heard him, but she was trying to get her thoughts together. She still didn’t know if he’d heard just the last sentence of her conversation with her sister or more. She didn’t want to give away too much, but she also didn’t want to get caught lying. Emmanuel hated to be lied to.
“Xavari. Please. You heard me.” Emmanuel rolled over onto his back only to realize that Xavari wasn’t looking at him.
“I thought you were going to call before you stopped by.” Xavari kept her back to Emmanuel and rubbed her index finger between the cornrows feeling for more bumps. She was debating whether to put alcohol on her scalp, but she couldn’t stand the thought of her head being on fire. Emmanuel would usually put the alcohol on for her and blow on her scalp to cool it off as he dabbed between each braid. She wasn’t sure she could ask him to do that tonight.
“Xavari. Look at me.” Emmanuel waited for what seemed an eternity for Xavari to turn around on the bed and look at him. Finally, she reluctantly did so.
“What, Emmanuel?” Xavari kept feeling her scalp. She looked at Emmanuel briefly and then lowered her eyes.
“Look at me.” Emmanuel touched her leg. Xavari felt the tears forming in her eyes.
“What?” She couldn’t force her eyes to meet his.
“Hey,” he said as he moved slowly over to her and put his head in her lap so she had to look at his face.
“What, Emmanuel?” Xavari turned her face to the other side, so she was now looking at the top of Emmanuel’s scalp. A tear escaped her chin and dropped on the top of his head.
“Zee, what’s wrong with you?” Emmanuel didn’t have anger in his tone. His words dripped with concern.
“Nothing. My scalp hurts.” Xavari knew it was a lame excuse, but she was grasping at straws. Why didn’t she want him to know about the pregnancy? She kept asking herself that. She knew he wouldn’t be disappointed. She knew he was be overjoyed. That was it. That’s why she didn’t want him to know. He wouldn’t see this as a problem for her. He’d see it as a blessing, pure and simple. She knew he wanted more children. She just didn’t want to be the one to give him another child so soon after having Xavier. The thought of labor made her stomach churn.