If Only We Knew by Ancelli Page A

dick into her when Matthew’s crying came through the baby monitor on his nightstand. “Shit.” He grunted, trying to move off her.
    Karen wrapped her legs around his waist and wouldn’t let go. “Don’t go, please, Matt,” she pleaded with him. “He’ll eventually stop crying.”
    Matthew’s cries got louder. He pried himself away from Karen. “I have to.” He got off Karen. Jumping off the bed, picking up his boxers and pulling them back on, he went in the bathroom to wash his hands and headed out of their bedroom. He entered the nursery. “Hey, little one, I’m here.” He picked him up. “You’re chewing on your fist. You’re hungry.” He went over to the dresser and picked up the baby’s bottle, sat down in the rocking chair, and fed him. “How can she look at you and not feel anything? You’d have to not have a heart to see you and not love you.” He gently combed Matthew’s hair.
     
***
     
    Karen heard everything Matt was saying over the baby monitor. “I have to start paying that fucking baby some attention or else I’ll lose everything I’ve worked so hard for. I told him this would happen.”
     

Chapter Nine teen
     

One month later.
     
    It was Sunday, time to take Matthew back home to his mom. He knocked on Shannon’s door.
    An African American man answered. He was about six feet tall, just a few inches shorter than Matt. He sized him up. He had a short, tapered haircut .
    “How can I help you?” the guy asked.
    Matt looked at the man dumbfounded, passed him, and went right in.
    “Excuse me, you can’t just come in this house.” He closed the door, watching as Matt strolled in .
    Matt ignored him, putting the car seat with the baby sleeping inside on the sofa. “Where’s Shannon?” He turned angrily to face the guy .
    “Who are you?” He walked closer to Matt.
    “I’m the father of her baby. Who the fuck are you?” Matt asked staring at him angrily.
    “I’m her fucking date. Soon to be her man.” He smiled.
    “We’ll see about that.” He took the baby out of the car seat, walked into the nursery, and placed him in his crib. Then he went searching for her .
    “Shannon.”
    “I’m in here,” she yelled.
    When he opened her bedroom door, she was putting on a pink T-shirt. He ogled at her now flat stomach. Looking farther down, he noticed she was only wearing a black lace Cheekies, which defined her butt. He instantly became aroused. I forgot how amazing she looks, he thought.
    Shannon got the T-shirt over her head and was startled when she saw him standing there, glaring at her . “Oh God, Matt,” she said, trying to cover up. She grabbed her jeans and ran into the bathroom. “I’ll be right out.”
    Its not like I haven’t seen your body before . He walked into her room, then stepped back when she came out of the bathroom with her jeans on. Pink brings out her beautiful chocolate eyes . “Who’s that in your living room, opening your door?”
    She ignored his question . “What are you doing here so early? I thought you were bringing him back later.”
    “My mistake. I thought you missed him.” He stared at her, still having the vision of her in her panties in his mind.
    “Of course I did. Where is he?” she asked, about to pass him.
    He grabbed her arm and turned her to look at him. “He’s in his room, sleeping. Answer me. Who is he?”
    “He’s someone I started seeing about two weeks ago.”
    “So when were you going to tell me?”
    “I don’t have to tell you what I do in my personal life.” She tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let go.
    “You do when it involves Matthew,” he said, clenching his jaw.
    “It doesn’t involve Matthew. He came to pick me up because Matthew wasn’t here. I wouldn’t let anyone meet our son unless they are going to be involved in his life.” He let her go and sta lked through her bedroom door and on into the nursery.
    She followed him. “He’s getting so big, and his hair is get ting really