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By two p.m., Tazeem was so tired of walking around the park without actually doing anything that he thought his legs would fall off if he took another step. That’s when Jay decided that he wanted a piggyback ride because he was tired too. And of course, he didn’t want them to rest because there was stillsooooomuch to see.
The boy could test the patience of a god, and Tazeem was no god. He was tired, annoyed, and on the verge of snapping at the child. The only thing that kept him leashed was his desire not to ruin their budding relationship.
As they walked (or rather Tazeem walked and Jay got carried around like an emperor), Tazeem looked around, hoping to cross paths with Chess so she could handle her little terrorist-in-training. But Chess was nowhere to be seen. True to her word, she only appeared at four p.m. at the gates.
Tazeem had never been so happy to see someone.
Relief and exhaustion must’ve been written all over Tazeem’s face because Chess burst into laughter as soon as she saw them. When she finally stopped laughing, all she said was, “I told you.”
17
A
PPARENTLY, BEING A HELLION WAS a very tiring career. Jay fell asleep before they got to Tazeem’s car. He didn’t even stir as Chess strapped him into the backseat.
“Uh-uh!” Chess protested when Tazeem tried to get into the driver’s seat. She snatched the car keys from his grip. “Not when you’re this exhausted. I’m not trying to die.”
Tazeem had the look of a man who’d been through it. He could barely keep his hooded eyes open, and every step he took was heavy and slow. Hell, he looked like he was using all his strength just to stand. She doubted that he could drive for even five minutes without wrapping his car around a light or something
Tazeem sluggishly protested, “I can drive.”
“No, thanks. I’m not trying to die today.” Chess grabbed his arm and escorted him around the car. “I’ll take us home.”
A few half-hearted protests later, Tazeem was safely strapped in the passenger seat. He immediately leaned back and closed his eyes.
Talking about I can drive.Chess scoffed. She was surprised he didn’t start snoring immediately.
Despite his exhaustion, Tazeem was somewhat aware of his environment. When she started moving, he opened one eye, took note of their direction, and mumbled, “Are we going to my house?”
“Yeah.” She said, “We’ll drop you off first, then Jay and I can take a cab home.”
He nodded and closed his eyes again. A minute or so later, he opened his eyes. His voice was gruff with drowsiness as he proposed, “Why don’t you guys just spend the night at my place?”
The suggestion came from so out of left field that she was struck speechless. “Huh!”
“It will save you the hustle of a longer trip and having to take a cab at this time of the day-” He turned slightly to meet her gaze. “-and I’d get a chance to spend a little more time with Jay.”
“No,” she instinctively nixed the idea. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?” he asked.
Why not? Because the last time I was at your apartment, we slept together then you cussed me out. But she couldn’t say all that because it would look like she was still salty when the situation was all her fault anyway. So she reached for the first alternative excuse she could find. “We don’t have any clothes.”
“We can stop at a store.” He was quick with his response. “I’ll buy.”
Breathlessly, she grasped for another excuse. “Jay isn’t used to sleeping in strange places.”
“Well, if we’re doing this co-parenting thing, he’ll need to get used to sleeping at my place,” Tazeem countered. “Isn’t it better for you to be around for his first time at my place so he doesn’t get disoriented?”
Why was this fool making so much sense and trashing her excuses?
Chess spent a few seconds looking for another excuse. When none came, she grumpily surrendered, “You’re right.”
Right after getting his way, Tazeem fell asleep. He woke up when they got to the supermarket, but she told him that she was okay shopping for hers and Jay’s things alone. After handing her his credit card and promising to keep an eye on the still dead-to-the-world Jay, he leaned back in his seat.
Luckily, everything Chess needed was available at the store. She got herself and Jay clothes to change into, then threw in some food in the cart just in case someone got hungry later. Though she had Tazeem’s card, she couldn’t bring herself to use it and instead paid for everything with her own money. She thought Tazeem would be too tired to notice. She was wrong.
He was frowning when she got into the driver’s seat. “You didn’t use my card.”
