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“You wanna eat something?”

“Yes. My treat.”

“Here you go wit’ your shit.”

Lunch turned into a few hours at a soul food spot not too far from the barbershop. I enjoyed Jai’ana’s company and the fact that she felt comfortable with me. By the time we’d gone our separate ways, we’d made plans for a second dinner date. Only this time, she’d be doing the cooking at her place.

I hadn’t been home thirty minutes before India hit my line.

“Wassup?” I answered the call on speakerphone while stretching out on my couch.

“What you doing?”

“Nothing at the moment. Why, wassup?”

“Your son has been asking for you.”

My brows furrowed. “Oh, yeah? Everything good?”

“Yeah. He’s just been asking for his dad.”

Something about that shit sounded off. Baby Jay never asked for me when he was with India. Maybe because he never had to. I was always a phone call away, and he knew how to get me on his iPad. Her calling me and making it seem like I needed to come get him right then had me questioning if that was the only reason she wanted me over there. Still, I had no problem picking up my son.

“Aight. I’m coming to get him.”

“You don’t have to if you’re busy.”

I pulled the phone from my ear and looked at it.

“So, what you call me telling me that for?”

She went silent for a few seconds before replying.

“I know how you are about your sons, Jay. I was just letting you know.”

“Cool. I’m on the way.”

When I got to India’s place, I rang the doorbell instead of letting myself in. After a few conversations with Jai’ana about life and being open about my access to India, I realized that I needed some boundaries. This was a start.

“Who is it?” she called out.

“Jay.”

When she opened the door, her brows were drawn in, showing obvious confusion.

“You forgot your key?”

“Nah. I didn’t use it.”

Walking past her into the house, I spotted Baby Jay sitting on the couch crisscross applesauce. When he looked over at me and smiled, it made my suspicions about India irrelevant.

“Daddy!”

“Wassup, champ?”

I picked him up from the couch and playfully slammed him back down.

“You ready to come back to Dad’s house already?” I asked, sitting on the arm of the couch.