Page 55 of Just Listen
“I was getting my hair done, but I stepped away to answer.”
“Oh, yeah? So, you was getting primped up to go bopping, huh?”
“Bopping?” I smirked. “Nigga, please.”
“So, that aint what’s going on?”
“Nope. I’m getting ready to celebrate my cousin’s birthday.”
“At the club,” he added.
“Right. There’s nothing wrong with that, right?”
“I mean…it’s cool. Not really my thing…but…you don’t be doing this all the time, do you?”
I arched a brow. “Before I had Khari, yes, I did club often. But I’m just bouncing back, after having her. So, I’ve only been out a handful of times.”
“Oh, alright.” He nodded, seeming satisfied with my answer.
I studied him. “Why did it feel like you were checking me?”
“I was,” he stated without a hint of laughter. “I gotta see where your head is at.”
I tilted my head, while trying to read him. Last I checked, he wanted to establish paternity first, but he was now talking like he was my baby’s daddy, which was a bit confusing.
“Anyways…what’s up, Malice? What’s on your mind?”
“You. The baby,” he answered bluntly.
“Really?”
“Hell, yeah. Ever since I left the mall that’s all I been thinking about.”
I twisted my lips, before nodding. “Me too.” I thought about it. “Why aren’t you somewhere enjoying your night with…Paisley?”
“Pssh. That was the plan, at first. We were supposed to go out to eat. But after seeing you…I knew that I was too mentally fucked up to go anywhere with her. So, I told her that I had to handle something.”
My brows creased. “And now, you’re just somewhere sitting in your car?”
He licked his lips. “Something like that.”
I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.”
“Yeah, I know. So, you gone be ready in the morning, right?”
“About that…I forgot that my cousin is having a birthday brunch.”
“Birthday brunch? Man, come on,” he grumbled. “I aint trying to hear that shit. This is way more important than brunch. But if we get up early enough, then maybe you can do both.”
My lashes fluttered. “So, I guess that I’m not supposed to get no type of sleep?”
He shrugged. “That’s on you, and how you choose to prioritize.”
“Boy, bye,” I scoffed. “You are real pushy—”
“As I should be. This is a serious matter. I literally don’t have kids, Jaylah. Outside of what I did with you, I’m not a reckless man. And that’s been by design. So, hell nawl, I aint letting up. I’m not finna walk around with this looming over my head.”
“Okay, good. I’m glad that you’re taking it seriously. That tells me that we’ll get along just fine. As long as you stayconsistent, then I won’t have any problems letting you be involved.”
