“Don’t look at me. That one was Jaylen,” Pops said from my accent chair, lifting both hands in the air.
“Why I gotta take all the blame?” Jaylen looked up from where he was helping Dakoda put plastic track pieces together.
“Because you brought a U-Haul to babysit,” KO muttered. I looked over at KO. He looked entirely too good sitting on the couch, helping Dakoda open his toys. Damn. My eyes drifted over the black button-down he had on, the sleeves pushed up his forearms just enough to show off the tattoos on his arms. His lineup was crisp, and his chain caught the light every time he moved.Lord.There was no way this date wouldn’t end with me sitting on his dick.
“It was not a U-Haul.” Jaylen pointed a track piece at him. “It was a trailer.”
“Same difference.”
“Y’all lucky I ain’t bring an eighteen-wheeler to this bitch.”
“Y’all know he’s only five, right?” I asked, stepping further into the room. “Where is all this supposed to go?”
“Wherever his stuff goes,” Jaylen said.
“We missed a lot, baby girl.” Pops looked over at me. “This the first time I’m meeting my grandkid. Pops had to step now.”
I sighed. “He already has too many toys.”
“Not from us.” Jaylen stood up and brushed his hands off. “This is five years’ worth of gifts I owe my nephew.”
“Ooh.” Nia stepped around me slowly, her eyes landing on Jaylen like she had just discovered the prize.
“Ooh?” Jaylen’s head lifted immediately.
“The report was accurate.” Nia nodded at me, and I covered my mouth to keep from laughing.
“What report?” Jaylen sat back on his heels, suddenly looking way too interested.
“The one that said you was fine.”
Pops let out a loud laugh while KO closed his eyes, like he was already tired of everybody in the room. I just shook my head. Nia had always been the one to say whatever was on her mind.
“That so?” Jaylen grinned.
“I came for my nephew, but I appreciate a pleasant view.”
“Your nephew?” Jaylen asked.
“I’m Nia, Lyrius’s best friend. Dakoda’s honorary aunt.” She extended her hand toward Jaylen, and he took it and laid a soft kiss on it.
“Oh Lord.” KO barked out a laugh.
“Yeah,” I said quietly. “I know, right?”
“Don’t start your shit.” Pops tossed a piece of toy wrapper at Jaylen. “We here to babysit. No hanky panky.”
“And you must be pops.” Nia moved closer to pops, eyes narrowing like she was studying him now too.
“That’s what they call me.”
“Mhm.” She nodded. “I see where they get it from.”
“Get what?”
“All that fine.”
I gasped. “Nia!”
