“Don’t know yet,” Jazzy replied.
Again, my phone dinged. “I’m sorry,” I muttered and turned around to look at my phone. I knew better than to flash my screen this time.
Lakesha had sent another text.Your son needs you to teach him how to be a man.I clenched my jaw to keep from reacting since two pairs of eyes watched my every move.
Your son. Your son. If I heard those words one more time… I pressed the OFF button, shoved my phone into my pocket, and asked, “Anybody need something from the vending machine?”
Jazzy and Niya shook their heads in unison.
“You sure you don’t want anything?” I asked them both again, but I had my gaze fixed on Niya.
“No, she don’t want anything. Except, what she wants to know is when you fixing to tell her about your son?” Jazzy spoke up. Her neck snapped back and forth, causing her earrings to swing like a pendulum. “Can you go to the vending machine and come back with an answer to that question?”
I stepped back from her blaze-filled eyes. “Where you getting your facts from? I don’t have a son.” I tried to sound cool but my heart was moving faster than a rabbit being chased by a bobcat. Why did this girl have such a problem with me over stuff that wasn’t even her business?
Niya rested an arm on Jazzy’s shoulder. “Thanks, sis, but I got this.” She stood and walked over to me. I told myself to play it cool.
“Lakesha’s telling everybody you’re denying your child.” She cocked her head. “Why are you doing that? That don’t even sound like you.”
“There’s no way that kid is mine,” I said, pushing the flashing image of the physical similarities out of my mind.
Niya rested her hands on her hips. “So you didn’t sleep with Lakesha?” Her face soured at the words.
Any response got caught in my throat. “Well, I, uh… It was a mistake and she intends to make me pay for it for the rest of my life, claiming that boy is mine.” Another thought struck and my tongue loosened. “No doubt she heard I was into you and made this up to get back at you. Revive the rivalry.”
Niya raised a brow. “Hold up. You making this about me?” Her neck snapped back and forth as she enunciated each word. “I can’t believe you’re twisting the story to suit your needs. No, your wants. You don’t want to be a daddy.”
“No. No, I don’t,” I yelled. “I don’t want to be a daddy. Not now. Not ever.”
Her mouth popped open and her brows shot up to her hairline. She stepped back. “You don’t want children?”
I massaged my temples.No, I didn’t. Wait. Didn’t I?
Niya’s eyes flashed but I could see the plea in their depths. “Answer me.”
I swallowed. I couldn’t. To answer would be to relive my childhood when I was done with my past. I lifted my chin. “Sure you don’t want anything from the soda machine?”
“All right. Bet. Shut me out. Have it your way.” Niya folded her arms. “After you help yourself to your snack, keep on walking. Don’t come back here. We have enough drama going on with Big.”
Jazzy came over to stand by Niya’s side, like a sentinel keeping me at bay. My chest constricted when Niya buried her head in her sister’s shoulder.
I took a tentative step forward.Explain,I told myself.Say something or you’ll lose your chance with Niya.But my throat tightened.
“Niya, if I leave, how will you get home?” I asked instead.
Jazzy curved her body, holding Niya tight like she had to shield her from me.
“Niya, answer me,” I urged.
“We ain’t leaving Big,” Jazzy spoke up, curling her lips.
Niya lifted her head to look at me. I saw the disappointment in their eyes and had to look away. I was no match against twin sisters united.
I trudged out of the waiting room feeling as if I had been pummeled to the ground by a sumo wrestler. I admitted I would’ve preferred a physical battle over the verbal tongue-lashing by the Thompson twins. They had won this round. My stomach tightened and I experienced a sunken feeling. Something told me I hadn’t just lost a round; I had been T-K-O’d out the entire game.
