homecoming. | EDITING

thirty

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After Angie brought Khaila home at 11:37 last night, I just decided to bite my tongue cause I knew me saying something would get Nicole upset.

"Goodmorning, daddy," Khaila said when I walked in her room.

"Goodmorning," I said, sitting on the bottom of her bed,"I'm surprised you're up. You came back home two hours after bedtime last night."

"I know, daddy. I'm sorry. Me and auntie Angie had so much fun helping mama and grandma move in their new house that she lost track of time."

"Mama and grandma?"

Grandma?

"Yeah, grandma said something about moving up here from "Hio" and mama's moving with her."

"Wow," was all I could say. "Am I still going over there for the weekend, daddy? Please?"

"Yes, Khaila. As soon as your mom comes over to pick you up," I said, crossing my fingers that Jada didn't have a way to come get her.

"Okay," she smiled and got out of bed. I took her hand and led her downstairs to make her some cereal.

"Hi Ms. Nicole," Khaila greeted her when we walked into the kitchen. I had no idea she was down here making breakfast.

"Hi, Khaila," she bent down and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead,"You like French toast?"

She nodded and Nicole handed her a plate. I tried to kiss her lips but she put her hand in my face. "Stop it, Justin. Not now."

"Why not?" I frowned. She just shook her head and started washing the leftover dishes. "You're not the maid, yknow," I reminded her, just teasing.

She sighed and ignored me. What was her problem?

I pulled her closer to me by her waist and tried to kiss her again but she pushed me off. "Stop. Not around Khaila, Justin. I'm not in the mood anyway."

"Whatever," I mumbled, taking my plate and going in the living room.

"What's wrong with daddy?" I heard Khaila ask Nicole. "He just wants some love," she told her.

"Oh, then why aren't you giving him any?" Khaila giggled. Nicole sighed,"It's complicated, Khaila. Just eat your breakfast and then I'll see if me and you can go to the park."

"We can't. I'm going to see mama today!" She said excitedly. That's when I got my nose out of their conversation and watched TV while picking at my breakfast.

***

Me and Khaila were waiting on the porch for Jada to show. Nicole had left to go get her kids from their dad's house. We'd been waiting for Jada almost 2 hours, and I could see Khaila was getting hurt by this.

"Is she coming?" Khaila asked, half asleep. Her little suitcase was barely zipped because of all the toys she wanted to take to show Jada.

"Yes, baby, she's coming," I said, trying to remain hopeful. Where the hell was she? I didn't want Khaila to leave in the first place, but I never wanted Jada to play Khaila.

She sighed and rested her head on her knees. I wanted nothing more than to call Jada's phone and ---

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Jada ran over to us, screaming as she went. "I'm so sorry," she was out of breath when she finally approached us.

Khaila's eyes lit up and it's like all her sleepiness and gloom went away. She smiled at her mom and hugged her.

"Baby, I'm so sorry," Jada kept apologizing.

"What happened?" I asked. "Why the hell are you two hours late?"

She eyed Khaila and then me. "Language."

"Jada."

"I was at a job interview and they literally took forever. I was supposed to be there an hour and ended staying three, I was gonna call but I couldn't just pull my phone out during the middle of everything, I'm sorry. Okay? And I'm usually not the one to apologize."

"That's a you problem," I muttered.

"Justin I --"

"Your mom's in town?" She stopped talking,"What?"

"Is she?"

"Why do you care?" She scoffed. I shrugged,"I don't know. Just curious who my daughter's gonna be around."

"That isn't any of your business. She's allowed to be around anyone besides Khalil, and I'm not even gonna be around Khalil so you have nothing to worry about, Khaila's 'father'," she snapped.

"Don't say father like that," I chuckled,"That's what I am."

"Barely," she mumbled.

"Jada stop playing with me."

"Excuse me? Last time I checked, you aren't my husband nor my boyfriend so I can do or say whatever I want. You're Khaila's dad, not mine."

I clenched my fists. I hated when she talked to me like that. Her attitude was out of control.

"Okay, but --"

"Can y'all just stop arguing?" Khaila came outta nowhere and it came to both of our attention that she was crying.

"I hate when you two fight! You're my daddy but that's my mommy, and she's been my mommy longer than you've been my daddy. Stop acting so mean to her, please," she cried.

"I-I'm sorry."

"I just hate when you get mad whenever mommy gets brought up. And mommy, you need to learn to get along with daddy. I wish things were the way they used to be! Sometimes you both really get on my nerves, ugh!"

And Khaila stormed in the house like a teenage girl, and when I heard the click that's when I knew she locked the door.

"Shit," I ran my fingers through my hair.