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“I know what I need.”

“Last week you forgot your mouthpiece.”

“One time.”

“I got him, Averie,” Q said.

“I know. I’m just telling you what he needs.”

“And I’m just taking him to football practice. Not across the country.”

“Thank you,” Kaiden whispered.

The doorbell rang before I could respond. I looked towards the door.

“Who is that?” I asked.

Kaiden shrugged, so I looked at Q.

“I ordered something.”

“What did you order to my house?”

“Relax, please.”

He got up and headed towards the door. I followed because I didn’t trust him when he said relax. A man was standing outside with a large box. Q signed for it, thanked him, and dragged it inside.

“What is that?”

“For Kaiden.”

“I told you not to buy my kids expensive gifts.”

“It ain’t expensive.”

Q opened the box as Kaiden was coming around the corner. Inside was one of those training rebounders football players used to work on hand placement and reaction time. Kaiden’s eye lit up.

“Yo!” Kaiden said excitedly.

I looked at Q.

“You just said not expensive, Averie.”

Kaiden took the box and started dragging it through the kitchen to head out back.

“I appreciate you doing things for them. I really do. I just don’t want them thinking every man I date is supposed to come in here and spend money.”

Q leaned against the wall.

“Averie, I bought that boy something for football because the boy is serious about it, and I saw him looking at one online. That’s it. I ain’t trying to buy his love.”

“I know.”

“And I’m not trying to buy yours either. Stop looking for something wrong every time shit feels good.”

“I’m working on it.”

By eleven-thirty, Q and Kaiden were leaving for practice. I watched them load the football bag into Q’s truck while Khari stood beside me complaining that she wanted to go, too.