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"Zion! Come down and bring your bag with you," I called him from the bottom of the steps.
"Mommy, I don't know where my crocs are." He said rubbing his eyes as he came down to the top of the stairs.
"Did you leave them in the car? I think you left them in there. Go check your room first." I told him knowing he probably didn't look hard enough.
I stood up from the couch and grabbed his backpack, double-checking to make sure all his stuff was in there. Even though I felt he should have separate stuff at his father's house I refrained from bringing it up to avoid an argument.
The sound of the doorbell caused me to place the backpack on the couch and walk over to the door.
"Oh hey," I said when I saw Tasha standing in the doorway instead of Delon. I wasn't expecting her but she did pop up now and then so I wasn't really surprised.
"Girl, you didn't hear me calling your phone?" She asked as she hugged me.
"I have been trying to get Zion ready and make this lunch. I woke up so late today." I sighed as I looked around the living room for his Crocs.
After thinking to myself I thought about whether I was making the right decision to keep Zion from Going with Delon. I asked Zion if when his dad left anyone else was there and he let me know that no one else was there.
Now I knew he didn't leave him there with malicious intent but I was still being cautious of my son. I made sure to purchase a AirTag to place in his backpack as well.
"I can tell girl. Your hair isn't done or anything." She laughed causing me to mug her.
"Anyway, I came over here because I have some tea for you. I was gonna call you but I was already in the area." She sighed as she sat down on the couch.
"What kind of tea?"
"I talked to Tia and she wants an apology but I'm just like why do I need to apologize to you for telling you what I heard? Everyone else is running around saying the same thing. I just said it to your face." She started ranting about her younger sister who she had an on-and-off marriage situation .
It was no secret that Tia's husband was running around with any and every woman who would sleep with him. He's been caught and posted in multiple social media groups of random women who didn't even know he was married.
"And what did she say?"
"She was like you're supposed to be my sister and it's not right that you would even say that to me." Tasha rolled her eyes.
"Wait, what did you say to her again?" I squinted my eyes at her knowing how she could be.
"I said babes you need to do what's best for your mental state and leave that man alone."
"Now Tash, that's not how you said it." I side-eyed her and she laughed, leaning into me.
"That's what I was trying to say but it came out as you deserve so much better than a dirty ass man that's going to be running around fucking anything that lets him and I'm not wrong." She shrugged her shoulders.
"You know you have to talk to her a certain way or she gets defensive. Her marriage is a touchy subject for her." I explained.
"Yeah because she's married to a man that isn't shit and is stringing her along but doesn't want to be with her."
"They've been together for almost ten years now but I don't think Chris has changed. He's older than her so he knows the right things to say to her."
"But enough about her. How's things going with you and Mikey?" I asked since they were always getting into it. I watched as she put her head down, rubbing the back of her head to avoid my question.
As I began to speak I was cut off by my doorbell going off. Standing up from the couch I walked over and opened the door for Delon.
"What's going on Trina?" He smiled.
"You could've just called and I would have brought him outside." I narrowed my eyes at him.
"You ready to go? Tell your mom you'll see her later. He said to Zion who came down the stairs with his Crocs in hand.
"You're ready to leave mommy, huh?" I smiled running my hand over his curly hair as he excitedly put his crocs on.
"No, I'm excited to get my hair cut!" He smiled at me. Delon convinced me to let Zion cut his hair even though I didn't want to. Zion was super excited about it so I was going to let him do it as long as they didn't cut it all off.
"I know you are. I love you and I'll see you later. You make sure you're being good, okay?"
"Okay, love you too." He kissed my cheek.
"He didn't even eat his lunch." I realized once he left.
"Girl, he was ready to go. What do you have planned for tonight? Since you're kid-free and everything?" She laughed.
"Going to see my boo. We're going out."
"Damn, that's all you do now." She laughed and I shrugged my shoulders. Even though I was newly in a relationship it was nice to experience what a healthy one would be like.
"How long have y'all been talking?"
"Like three months now."
"Has he been around Zion?" She asked.
"Why would he be around Zion and I just met him three months ago? You know how I am about my son."
"I know, I was just asking cause sometimes women can get blinded by men and ignore red flags."
"I'm very much not blinded and I'm paying attention to red flags. He has a child as well so we can understand each other's boundaries.
"You know I'm just looking out for you. Just because he has a child doesn't mean you can trust him around yours."
"But why are you trying to make it seem like he's a bad person or something? You don't even know him." I threw my head back not feeling her energy. I felt some kind of animosity which was weird to me because she didn't know him.
"Why are you getting defensive? I'm just saying."
"I know but you don't have to Tasha. I just don't like you implying that he would do something to Zion." I pursed my lips at her.
"Well that's my nephew so I'm always going to think about his first. I wasn't saying it to imply anything."
"Alright Tasha, I'm all set talking about it. I need to get ready to go." I picked my phone up from the counter and looked at the time.
"Oh wow, you're kicking me out?" She laughed as she stood up from the couch and made her way towards the door.
