Page 84 of When I Thug You Like That

“Wanna go,” he expressed, trying to snatch his hand from her as she walked him up front. “Wanna go playground!”

“Aye.” My voice got his attention, making him stop mid-step.

I met them halfway and gestured with my head for him to walk to me.

“Daddy, wanna go playground.”

“Not right now,” I said once he was at my side.

Ms. K handed me his bookbag with a smile. “Hey, Mr. Sullivan.”

“How you doing, Ms. K?”

“I’m good. Can’t complain.”

“I hear you. Looks like you were having some trouble with a certain somebody.” I looked over at Baby Jay.

“Just a little bit,” she admitted. “He’s used to getting ready to go out to the playground, so he wasn’t too happy.”

“Yeah, but that don’t give him license to perform the way he just did. I’ll talk to him about it.”

She nodded. “Thank you. See you tomorrow, Jamison.”

“Byeee.” He waved to Ms. K and the receptionist.

Guiding him outside, I stopped just before we walked out in the street.

“Hold on, champ.”

“Wanna go.” He tried to pull at my arm, and I pulled him back to me.

“Jamison, look at Dad.” I waited until I had his full attention before continuing. “What you did back there wit’ Ms. K, Dad not going for. We don’t snatch back from adults unless we’re in danger. If you’re in danger, you have Dad’s permission to wild the fuck out. Excuse the curse word. But you don’t do that wit’ your teachers, aight?”

He rocked slightly on his feet. “Yes, Dad. Wanna go playground.”

“Not today, champ. Gotta drop you to Mommy.”

Taking his hand in mine, we walked across the street to my car. India never failed to miss an opportunity to piss me off. This was exactly what I meant when I told her she had to meet him where he was. I was over the reminders. Shit was becoming a fucking headache. Hopping inside my car, I checked the time on the dashboard. It read 3:15 p.m. By my calculations, I had more than enough time to get him to India over at her mother’s house. I hoped for their sake that neither one of them added to my mounting irritation.

India’s mother didn’t live too far from the school. With the distance, one would think that we’d have her on the pickup list. We didn’t. Well, I didn’t. Me and Vanessa Jennings never got along. While most people were good at hiding their feelings of disdain, I wasn’t.

Vanessa was a recovering addict and an active thief. Her addiction wasn’t the problem. Her stealing from my son and using India as a doorway to do it was the reason I kept my distance. Having to drop Baby Jay to her house instead of India’s didn’t make me happy, but she assured me that she’d be there when I arrived. However, when we got there, it was Vanessa that opened the door.

“Heyyyyy, grandson,” she greeted. “Hey, Jay.”

“Hi, Grandma,” Baby Jay replied.

“Wassup?” My greeting was less enthusiastic and fake. “India here?”

“She was. She just ran to the store real quick. Should be back in a few minutes.”

I looked past her and into the house then looked back down at Baby Jay.

“Cool. We’ll wait.”

Her face changed, and she scoffed. “You don’t have to wait with him. I don’t know why you think I’m not capable of watching my grandson, Jay.”

“I don’t. I just don’t trust you,” I said, emotionless.