Page 97 of When I Thug You Like That

“Wassup, Chuston?”

Her eyes went from me to Jay then back to me.

“Wassup, Jai?”

“Morgan.”

Jay’s eyes lingered on my face before turning back to her.

“Y’all know each other?”

Morgan answered first. “We do.”

“We dated,” I clarified.

“Oh, this the ex,” he said nonchalantly.

“Yeah. I’m the ex,” Morgan repeated like it meant something.

“Sit in that chair for me, Chuston,” I said, pointing to the chair behind me.

Morgan folded her arms across her chest.

“So, you the teacher, huh?”

My head turned in her direction again and so did Jay’s. For a split second, I wondered when I’d been the topic of discussion. Then, I remembered our date. Morgan was the one who’d cut Jay’s hair. She unknowingly had him looking all good for me. The irony.

“Saying it like we was just kickin’ it about her is wild, lil’ nigga,” Jay let out.

Morgan let out a humorless laugh.

“Can I talk to you outside for a second, Jai?” she asked me.

“No,” I replied flatly.

“I ain’t even tryna hold you up forreal. Just wanna talk and not in front of all these people.”

For some reason, I found myself looking to Jay for his okay. When he gave me a head nod, I took it.

“I’ll watch Chuston,” he said.

“Thanks.” I grabbed his hand and kissed his cheek. “I’ll be right back.”

I heard Morgan scoff before walking toward the door. I let Chuston know what I was doing and got his okay before following behind her.

“So, you back to fuckin’ wit’ niggas now?” she asked as soon as the door closed.

“First off, if you not gonna speak to me wit’ respect, then we can cut this conversation short now.”

She frowned. “You want me to treat you wit’ some respect when you came to my job wit’ a nigga?” She motioned toward the shop. “Type shit is that?”

“I didn’t even know you worked here, Morgan. I ain’t thinkin’ ‘bout you.”

“Are you fuckin’ wit’ him?”

“You asked me that already.”

“And what’s your answer?”