Page 179 of When Love Takes Root

JJ’s shoulders were squared, but his face was fighting him. His nostrils flared once. His eyes shone too bright beneath the entry light. One hand gripped his keys so hard the metal pressed red marks into his palm.

Kayden looked past him. “Move.”

JJ didn’t move.

His voice came low. “Say it again.”

Kayden’s lip curled. “Move, JJ.”

“No.”

“Man, I’m not doing this with you.”

JJ’s jaw pulsed. He looked toward the living room, saw Skye watching with her knees tucked beneath her, saw Zuri pressed against Maya’s side, saw me standing near the kitchen with a wet face I hadn’t managed to hide. Whatever control he’d been holding started cracking through his expression, showing in the tremble near his mouth and the hard blink he used against tears.

“You should’ve thought about that before you acted like that at dinner.”

Kayden’s face hardened, but the tears gathering along his lashes betrayed him. “I didn’t do nothing.”

JJ laughed once, no humor in it. “You embarrassed Mama in her own house and disrespected a man who didn’t do anything to you.” Kayden’s mouth opened. JJ lifted one hand. “Don’t.”

The word came out with bass in it.

Kayden closed his mouth.

JJ took one step toward the stairs, then stopped himself. His chest rose. Fell. Rose again. He looked at the ceiling like he was asking God for one more ounce of sense. When his eyes came back down, they were wet and furious.

“I’ve been trying to stay out of it. I’ve been trying to give you room to hurt without making you feel smaller for hurting. But I’m in it now.”

Kayden swallowed.

The first tear slipped down his cheek.

JJ pointed toward the dining room, his hand trembling. “You sat at that table and acted like Mama owed you permission to breathe past Daddy. You talked to her guest like he’d done something wrong by accepting a plate. You kept poking him, kept hunting for a reason to hate him, kept trying to make him act ugly so you could feel right about being ugly first.”

Kayden wiped his face with the heel of his hand.

JJ’s voice dropped harder. “And he didn’t give you anything. He sat there and took it because he’s a better man than what you were trying to make him become.”

Kayden’s chin trembled.

No comeback came.

JJ moved one step closer to the staircase. “You’re not the man of this house.” Kayden flinched. “You’re her son. That’s enough. That’s a blessing. But you’re not her husband. You’re not her daddy. And you’re not the police over Mama Cee’s happiness.”

Kayden stared down at the step beneath his feet, tears falling freely now.

JJ’s eyes reddened as he stared at him. The keys shook in his hand. His next breath came out ragged, like the words had to climb over grief before they could leave his mouth.

“Dad would’ve been disappointed in you, and I have never in my life been so ashamed to call you my fucking brother.”

The room cracked open.

Skye’s hand flew to her mouth.

Maya’s eyes filled.

Zuri tucked herself closer against Maya’s side.