Synergy: Restitution (Synergy Series #3) [BWWM]

Chapter 2. 'September 24th'

Dee and Jason barely spoke as they prepared food together. Jason silently cut sandwiches into triangles at Dee's request, and racked his brain for something to say. It felt unnatural to be so quiet around her, as if they didn't know each other. In the next room there was plenty of chatter coming from her family, with some voices louder than others. It was worlds apart from the atmosphere of the kitchen, and Jason hated it. He shifted uncomfortably, putting his weight onto another foot, feeling awkward. He never stopped loving this woman, so it was hard to act like he didn't. He wanted so much at every moment alone with her to tell her how he felt, but at the same time he felt like it was territory better left untouched. She'd made herself clear all those months ago how she felt, and he couldn't argue with that.

When they'd first broken up, his mother had wisely told him anything meant to be would be, and he believed her. 'Give her some space' she'd said sympathetically, understanding her son's sadness. She'd experienced her fair share of breakups in her time, and she knew it was that much harder when children were involved.

"What's left to do?" Jason finally asked, once the sandwiches had been delivered to the table. He rolled the sleeves on his shirt up to expose his forearms, waiting anxiously for her reply. Her mood could be intermittent.

"I think we're good," Dee replied, gathering up the food items from the counter and putting them away in cupboards and the refrigerator, never looking at him as she spoke.

"Once his dad's back I'll get the kids in to eat."

Just as Dee moved away from the fridge, Kiki re-entered the room, with a tear-stained Destini on one hip. The baby was suckling away on a pacifier silently, exploring her surroundings with her eyes curiously.

"Hey," Kiki smiled, as she spotted Jason across the room. She didn't see him too often anymore, but unlike Trey, she never held a grudge against him. She knew he didn't break her sister's heart like he had. As far as she knew, Dee broke it off with him, and frankly, she was disappointed. Her family could see he'd been nothing but good to her.

Jason smiled as he saw Dee's sister enter. He still found it hard to believe she was a mother herself now, and as he greeted her, he tickled Destini under the chin affectionately.

"She's so big now," he smiled.

"I know. She's a moody butt though," Kiki replied, turning and speaking to her daughter.

"Aren't you?"

"Just like your aunt, huh?" Jason joked, speaking to Destini but looking around to catch Dee's gaze afterwards.

At his comment, Dee snapped around, turning to look him in the eye. Her face was one of thunder.

"Watch yourself," she warned.

Kiki laughed at her sister, knowing she didn't really mean it. Angry was her thing.

"Well, she is spending a lot of time with her now," Kiki explained. Dee had been looking after Destini for her while she'd been back at school. So far, it was working perfectly.

As Jason laughed and shook his head at their exchange, Kiki promptly changed the subject as her stomach rumbled at her.

"When are we eating? I'm mad hungry."

"I'm just waiting for Trey to come back," Dee explained for the second time.

At the mention of Trey's name, Monique's silhouette came into view at the kitchen door.

"He got back a while ago, he's outside with your brother," she explained, placing her empty glass down on the kitchen counter.

"What's he doing?" Dee asked, rolling her eyes at his incompetence.

"Want me to get the kids in?" Jason offered.

"Yeah, may as well."

As Dee disappeared through the house to find Trey, Jason walked out to the garden to call the kids in. He was excited to finally see Tushaun, not wanting to disturb his good time when he'd first gotten there.

"Who's hungry?" Jason yelled at the door, to a response of cheers and random chatter from the collection of kids. As a handful of them abandoned toys and the lure of another turn on the slide and raced toward him, there was only one kid he was interested in seeing, and he only hoped he was happy to see him too.

Jason was here in the first place because Tushaun had asked his mother if he was coming.

"Do you want him to?" Dee had asked, and her son had nodded. That kid loved him, blood or not. Jason respected that Dee had listened to him, despite the likelihood of her own wishes. He appreciated it, that she could still be amicable with him. He'd built up a bond with that kid over the last year that he couldn't compare to anything. He didn't want to lose that.

"When did you get here?" Tushaun's voice asked, as he followed his friends toward the house.

"A little while ago, but I didn't want to interrupt your game," Jason explained, smiling at the little boy and ruffling his hair affectionately.

"Happy Birthday Buddy," Jason said, kneeling down to his level.

"You had a good day so far?"

"Yeah!" Tushaun replied enthusiastically. "I got up real early for presents and we went to nanas for breakfast."

Jason faked surprise, opening his eyes wide.

"So all those toys back there," Jason gestured toward the house. "They're all for you?"

"Yeah!"

Jason shook his head in pretend disbelief.

"Man...you're lucky. You know, there's still some from me left to open though. But how about we get something to eat and you can open them later?"

As Jason made his way back into the house with Tushaun, he watched as an array of adults at the table held onto paper plates, helping the children pick out the food they wanted. It was chaos, to say the least, but he figured he'd see a lot more of this as more birthdays came around. He knew before long Rio would be turning one, and he shook his head at the thought. As he passed the table, he saw Dee's aunt Neesee holding Rio on one hip, a paper plate balanced in her other hand.

"Here, I got him," Jason offered, taking his infant son from her.

"Welcome to the madhouse," a familiar voice said from across the room. Dee's best friend Tip was leaning on the counter ahead of Jason, his freakishly tall stature bent down slightly for his hands to reach. Jason made his way over, greeting the man who had always made him feel welcome at these things.

"Ey Rio," Tip said, tickling the baby's belly, and causing a smile to spread across his face, before a huge yawn replaced it.

"I think someone's tired," Jason commented.

"Join the club. It's the first time I've had all 4 kids in the same place," Tip said, gesturing to the other side of the room where his twin girls fought over a plate.

"How's that going?"

"It's...an experience," Tip admitted honestly, causing laughter from the two men.

Their laughter was soon broken from a shout across the room, from the last person Jason wanted to speak to. As the family at the table fussed over a camera phone, Trey held it up in Jason's direction.

"Ey Jason," he yelled over the noise. "Make yourself useful, huh?"

Jason looked from Tip and back to Trey again, trying to keep his composure. He had to ignore his ignorance. Slowly, he moved across the room with Rio still hooked on one hip.

Taking the phone from Trey, Jason held it up with one hand, trying to get everybody into the picture.

"Let's get Rio in too," Trey added, barely waiting for permission before he moved toward Jason to take him. Quickly, Dee reacted and grabbed her son from Jason's arms before Trey could, aware that things were getting a little tense. Jason grinned and bared it, for the sake of Tushaun. He knew he'd want his dad in his photos, but he wanted nothing more than to wipe the smile off his smug face.