Page 46 of When I Thug You Like That

I glanced back at India, who was now standing and watching us.

“Turn the music down, India.”

Her shoulders dropped in frustration. “Hey, Alexa, turn off.”

The music cut out, and the kitchen went quiet outside of his sniffles.

“Cool?” I asked for reassurance from him.

He nodded.

“Aight. Let me get the iPad.”

His lip poked out, and the dip in his brows said that he wanted to protest, but I was sure my stance reminded him that I wasn’t his mother. Sniffing, he complied.

“Now that we got that out the way, we need to clean your face, brush your teeth again, then get dressed.”

“My iPad.”

I stood, tucking the iPad underneath my arm. “I’ma hold onto it until after I talk with Mommy. Right now, we gotta get ready for school, aight?”

He nodded somberly.

“Cheer up, son. We ‘bout to have a great day. Come here and give Dad some love. Good morning.”

He walked over and wrapped his arms around my waist. I leaned and kissed the top of his head. His arms tightened around me. Knowing he needed that moment of solitude, I didn’t move or rush him to.

“You good?” I asked after a few seconds.

“I’m good,” he mumbled into my jacket.

Behind me, I could hear India kiss her teeth.

“This the shit I be talkin’ ‘bout.”

I looked back at her with my brows drawn close. I didn’t like her tone.

“What you talkin’ ‘bout?”

“I’m talkin’ ‘bout the fact that he just spent the last half hour flippin’ out because I went to take the tablet so that he could focus on eating his food. He knocked the bowl over then ran in the corner. Now, you walk in, and now he’s calm and listening. That shit is not cool.”

Baby Jay lifted his head from me and looked over at her.

“Is his clothes out?” I questioned, opting not to address her the way I wanted to in front of him.

“Yeah. On his bed.”

“Aight. Come on, Jay.”

I turned him around and led him out of the kitchen. Directing him to the bathroom first, I helped him brush his teeth and wash his face before guiding him to his room to change. Once he was dressed, I checked my watch and saw that we had about twenty minutes before we had to leave the house. That gave me enough time to have a co-parenting moment with India.

“I’m ready, Daddy.” Jay stood before me, dressed in a Gap sweatsuit and a pair of Jordan 1s that looked new.

“You look fresh, champ. I need you to do something for me, aight?”

He nodded.

“I gotta go talk to Mommy real quick, so I need you to take your blocks and build something nice. It’s gonna be something for Mommy though ‘cause you gotta say sorry for hurting her feelings by not listening.”