Page 5 of Nothing Like Your Ex

Watching two people choose each other over and over again, despite whatever was going on outside their world, was the kind of relationship Kwinn wanted. She knew what partnership looked like and knew what it felt like to be considered. That’s why what was happening with Jabari bothered her so much.

“Yeah,” Vic mumbled, kissing Toya’s neck. “I hear ’em. They ain’t talkin’ ‘bout shit, huh?”

Toya giggled. “Not at all. Kwinn, when you’d get here?”

“Not too long ago. Came to see TT’s stinka man. He’s just so handsome,” Kwinn said as BJ stirred.

As a first-time grandma, Toya felt the same way. “He truly is, and just so calm. Were you like that as a baby, Bishop?”

Bishop smirked. “Yeah. Even as a kid, too.”

“Well, hopefully my little precious baby stays that way because Lauryn was a hell raiser, do you hear me?” Toya exclaimed.

Dramatically, Lauryn gasped, faking as if she were offended. “Now, Mama. I was not that bad.”

“Shiiit,” Vic dragged, not agreeing one bit.

Kwinn laughed. “Okay, now. Not too much on my sister. Mama, weren’t you still clubbin’ with Auntie Rita nem’ when you were pregnant with her?”

“Girl, I tried to, but your daddy wasn’t having it.”

“Not at all. Made her sit that ass down quick,” Vic said, then kissed her exposed shoulder.

Lauryn grinned and glanced Bishop’s way when he cleared his throat.

“Speaking of sitting down, what that nigga Jabari got going on? He getting traded or what?” Bishop asked.

That seemed to be the million-dollar question. Kwinn looked over at Bishop, then at her daddy, whose attention had shifted from the TV to her. She could already tell by the look on Vic’s face that he genuinely wanted to know, too.

“I don’t know,” she admitted, adjusting BJ against her chest. “Same thing I told you last time. Nobody knows anything yet.”

Vic frowned. “How long they been saying that?”

“Couple months now.”

“Damn,” both men said.

“Exactly.” Kwinn looked down at her nephew when he made a little sound, then smiled as he settled back against her. “They keep saying they’re trying to figure everything out, but nobody is telling him anything concrete.”

“His agent knows something,” Bishop said, still watching the game. “They always know before the players do.”

“And Marcus probably does,” Kwinn agreed. “But he’s not going to tell Jabari something he doesn’t know for sure.”

Vic leaned back, rubbing his chin. “That boy gotta be stressed out.”

“He is.” Kwinn shifted BJ onto her other shoulder. “He’s been stressed for a minute.”

“I bet, especially with that leg bothering him,” Toya added, taking a seat beside Vic. “I know he’s ready to get back out there.”

Kwinn nodded. “He is. That’s probably the biggest part of it. He hates sitting out. He’s always been the type to want to play through everything.”

“And that’s not smart,” Toya added.

“Tell him that.” Kwinn laughed softly. “He doesn’t want to hear it from me.”

Vic chuckled. “Nobody ever wants to hear the truth when they already know it’s the truth, baby girl. You know that.”

Kwinn rolled her eyes, but she smiled. “Yeah, I do. He’s just frustrated. He doesn’t know if he’s staying, getting traded, when he’s going to play again... It’s a lot.”