“It damn sure ain’t because he had an appointment,”I said. KJ cut his eye in my direction and shook his head.
“What were you picked up for, Kaleb?”
KJ’s voice cracked.“I was called into the principal’s office today. Word around the school is I’ve been selling weed.”
“Dawg, ain’t no way you just said that to me,”Kaleb let out in a low tone before a roar.“Ain’t no way you went out and did the shit that we just talked about you not fucking doing the last time, KJ. Fuck is up witchu?”
KJ’s leg jumped up and down, while he pulled at the skin on his lip. I thought back to the heated back and forth I’d walked in on last month between the two and began to connect the dots. Kaleb had made it clear then that he had handled the situation, so there was no need for me to know anything. Whatever the issue was, KJ was to stay clear of the projects for a while. Something in my gut told me that this whole weed selling thing had something to do with that conversation. So, I asked the question that I was sure Kaleb and his son knew the answer to.
“Where’d you get the weed from, KJ?”
He kept his eyes on the phone in his hand and rubbed the back of his neck. “I got it from Uncle Koric.”
I sucked in a breath and pressed my lips tightly together to keep from flipping the fuck out. Kaleb went quiet on the other end of the phone, so quiet that I thought he’d muted because I didn’t even hear him breathing. That lasted a few seconds before his voice came back, controlled.
“Yo, unplug every game system in that room, PC included. Give the phone to your mother and I’ll get back to you in a minute.”
I didn’t give KJ a chance to move before I stepped forward and snatched the phone from his hand. “Put everything in the hallway once it’s disconnected.”
“Alright.”
Turning, I walked out. I stepped out into the hallway with the phone pressed against my ear.
“Tyri!” EJ squealed while bolting toward me.
“Gimme a second, Kaleb,”I said, crouching down to catch EJ in my arms. I kissed the top of his head. “I’ll be right out, okay? Go to Daddy.”
I pointed behind him where Enzo had started to walk down the hall.
“My bad, Ma. I got him,” Enzo said quietly, taking EJ by the hand.
I held my hand up to him and pointed to the phone. He understood immediately, turning and walking back to the living room, giving me privacy without me having to ask. I stepped into my bedroom and brought the phone back to my ear, closing the door behind me.
“Who you got in the house?”
My face scrunched up, stopping mid-step.
“The only person that concerns you in this house is a junior. You haven’t been asking who’s here. Don’t start now.”
“I don’t ask because…”
“You don’t reserve that right. You’re KJ’s father. Not mine. I don’t get questioned.”
He exhaled heavily. I knew he was tight, but that wasn’t my problem.
“Cool. I’ll deal with Koric and talk to KJ.”He attempted to end the conversation because he was in his feelings, but this wasn’t the time for him to let his ego override the co-parenting that we agreed to.
“I let you just brush me off the last time, Kaleb, but not this time. We need to come together to handle this. Your brother gave our son weed. What the hell is that about? Is he tryna recruit my son to be his little block boy? Cause that shit ain’t happenin’.”
“I don’t know what the fuck Koric got going on.”Frustration bled through his tone, but I wasn’t fazed by it.“Iwon’t know until you let me get off the phone to handle it.”
“And then what? I should trust that you’ll call me back to let me know what’s going on or go around me so long as you feel it’s handled?”
“Man, I ain’t got time to be going back and forth wit’ you. Tend to your company and I’ll take care of what’s going on with our son.”
“Our son, nigga,”I shot back.“Don’t be so deep in your feelings that you forget that.”
He ended the call without responding. I wasn’t about to coddle Kaleb when I had a fifteen-year-old weed dealer in the other room. While he was handling things with his brother, I was going to be brainstorming punishments for KJ that would keep him so busy he wouldn’t even have time to miss a game system because his ass was going to be dog tired.
