“I’m okay. Mommy and Daddy are looking for me so she can do my hair.”
I cracked my first laugh all week. “You’re always ducking getting your hair done.”
“It hurts.”
“Not for too long.”
“Mommy takes forever,” he groaned.
I wrapped my arms around him and kissed the top of his head. “You know you’re gonna have to get your hair done eventually, right?”
“Until they find me.” He shrugged his little shoulders.
“You using me to hide?”
He shook his head. “I wanted to see if you were okay too.”
It stung a little that I had my nephew concerned. I always tried to keep my spirits high around him, Blue, and J’Ream, so the fact that he noticed I wasn’t okay made me realize I was in a very dark space.
I managed to pull on another small smile as I cupped his handsome little face. It was crazy how much he looked so much like Priest with small specks of Britain. “I’m okay, Gen. I’m strong. I’ll get back to myself eventually.”
“Where’s Uncle Ahk?”
I bit down on my bottom lip while trying to figure out how to answer his question. I had no fucking clue where Ahkeem was. “Can I be honest with you?” He nodded his head, prompting me to respond to his question. “I have no clue, but I’m sure you can call him. He always answers for you.”
“Maybe later. I’ll ask if Blue can come over.”
At the end of the day, Ahkeem would always be considered family. I wanted our issues to remain our issues. I didn’t want anybody carrying resentment toward him. It was easier said than done when it came to my brother, J’Ru, and Kaymen, but I knew they would eventually calm down.
There was another knock on the door, causing Genesis’ eyes to widen, and he ducked underneath the duvet.
“Yo, Gen, you got five seconds before ya moms get to snapping,” Priest warned him as he popped his head into the room. “She halfway up the stairs.”
He knew he had gotten caught and pulled the duvet from over his head. “But, Daddy,” he whined.
“Listen, if you keep giving her a hard time, then she gets on me about you not listening. I can’t keep catching heat for you, lil’ man,” Priest stressed.
Genesis stressed the hell out of Priest constantly, mostly due to Britain always nagging him about enabling Genesis’ behavior. The boys were like two peas in a pod, so Priest was always helping him get over on her.
“Genesis Truce Justice, you just made me climb these stairs looking for you,” Britain huffed out with her hand on her hip.
Defeat set in for him, and his shoulders sulked. “Bye, Auntie Jazz.”
“Bye, Gen,” I laughed before kissing his cheek. He climbed out of the bed and shuffled his way toward his parents.
Britain let him know she would meet him downstairs, and he went on his way. Soon as he was out of earshot, I could see the concerned look that masked both of their faces.
“You good, Jazzy?” Priest asked as he dropped his hands into the pockets of his sweats.
As always, I nodded my head and put up a front. “I’m fine.”
“You sure? You haven’t really eaten anything aside from oatmeal here and there. And you haven’t left this room for a little minute.” Britain frowned.
I sighed while raking my fingers through my unkempt hair. My roots had sweated out, and I was in need of a good blow dry and press.
“I’ll grab something to eat in a little while. I promise.”
She eyed me a little while longer and wanted to press the issue, but Genesis calling for her downstairs prevented her from doing so. “Talk to her,” I heard her say to Priest before they kissed and she left the room, shutting the door behind her.
