Page 113 of When I Thug You Like That

“Right, friend.”

“You think this gonna change anything between you and Jay? I mean, it’s new, but I know you really like him.”

I sighed. “Honestly, I don’t foresee it. Jay seems to have his shit together when it comes to his kids’ mothers, so I’m not trippin’. Hopefully, everything is addressed before his cousin’s birthday party he invited me to.”

“Yeahhh, bitch! You in wit’ the family already. I’m tellin’ you a lil’ bit of coochie will get you through the door.”

“No. I’m hanging up forreal this time, Taina.”

“Alright. Just know I’m happy for you. And I love you. And it’s up when I see Ms. Baby Mama. You know I don’t too much even play ‘bout you.”

“I know.” I snickered. “And I love you most, sis. Night.”

“Night, boo.”

Ending the call, I walked over to the elevator. I went to press for it when my phone chimed in my hand. It was a message from Jay.

Jay: India was out of line, and I’m going to make sure it’s addressed. I appreciate you bringing it to my attention. I’ma call you tomorrow.

I stared at the screen for a few seconds before smirking.

I wasn’t here for the drama, and his willingness to address the situation head-on only made him look better in my eyes. I had to know how a man was coming about me. This was as clear as it could get.

CHAPTER 17

Come Party With A Sullivan

JAMISON

Ididn’t know what the fuck India had going on, but I was tired of playing this game with her.

After the text I got from Jai’ana earlier, I couldn’t even bring myself to text back immediately. That was how embarrassed a nigga was. I went on about my day, finding myself even more pissed off as the hours went by. Tay must’ve sensed it too ‘cause all that playing and joking we usually did when we were in the field ceased immediately. He didn’t even ask me what was wrong. It was for the best because I was ready to tweak out.

Now, standing in India’s living room hours later, waiting for her to walk back out from checking on Baby Jay, I was coaching myself to relax to avoid waking him. Usually, I’d avoid these kinds of interactions when he was present, but tonight, I said fuck it. The conversation was going to be had.

“So,” she said with her arms folded across her chest and a stank face. “What you here for? To tell me what I can and can’t do wit’ my son?”

“Nah. I’m here to figure out why the fuck you keep insisting on making shit difficult, India? You have really become the baby mother from fuckin’ Mars. Not hell because I’ll never give you control over my life to the point where you’d ever make me miserable. But Mars for sure.”

“What am I making difficult, Jay? Am I making it difficult now that I have something to say about our son’s education? Or am I making it difficult for you to fuck your son’s teacher in peace?”

“That’s the fuckin’ point. You don’t really have shit to say other than it’s not the right fit. No explanation. No how it can be better. Nothing. You done made up a problem but ain’t got a solution. That’s not caring about our son’s education, India. That’s your fucking ego.”

I’d been dealing with India long enough to know when she was just doing some shit out of spite, and this was one of those times.

“You got an issue wit’ me, address that shit wit’ me. You taking that shit up to our son’s school makes you look crazy. And if you look crazy, I look crazy.”

She stepped closer to me and ran her tongue across her teeth.

“So, that’s what this is about. You worried about how you look to the teacher, nigga? You in here doing all this yapping about the next bitch?”

“Watch how you address her.”

Her eyes widened. “Watch how I talk about her? Wow, Jay. You’ve known this bitch how long, and all of a sudden, she has rank over me?”

“This shit ain’t about rank. I ain’t telling you you gotta like her. I’m telling you not to disrespect her in my presence.”

“Ohhhh,” she dragged out. “You fuckin’ her, huh?”