Anticipation (Urban) Book 3 | The Sideline Series

Chapter 23

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Sincere

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I grabbed Teddy Jr.'s hand and took him outside to my backyard so he could play with Victoria and Deonte. Teddy Jr. was Teddy's son, who was the same age as Victoria and I swear he had a thing for her. I know they're too young to be together but he's just a little more friendly than other little boys. He's a smooth operator, just like his Daddy, but he was only sweet to Victoria who fell for it. 

"Teddy!" Victoria yelled once she saw him walking outside. She dropped her dolls in the sandbox and ran as fast as her legs would carry her to T.J. He let go of my hand and ran over to her, hugging her as tightly as he could.

"How come you didn't call me?" He asked grabbing her hand.

"I forgot to," Victoria replied, walking down the porch steps with T.J.

I turned around to Teddy, who I'm surprised had calmed his emotions and came down to my house to tell me what's been going on with him. I've been meaning to talk to him for awhile about his behavior but he was always going through something, so I never got the chance.

"You know Effrin's going to kill you once he finds out T.J. likes Victoria," I said sitting down at the table on my deck.

Teddy laughed before sitting down across from me. "I know but he doesn't have to know. But, who knows? Maybe they'll be together one day but T.J's a good kid."

"Yeah he is but Effrin's not gonna want to see his little girl with anybody. He's going to kill anybody that likes her."

"But not T.J."

"Of course not T.J. Effrin loves him but let me ask you something Teddy," I replied.

"What's up?" He asked.

I remember you saying earlier today that Tracy left you and T.J. What's going on?" I asked. Tracy was his baby mama and Teddy Jr.'s mother, who I hadn't heard Teddy mention in awhile. I don't ever remember Teddy saying they were together that long before she got pregnant with T.J but then they realized that they needed to just be friends and co-parent from the baby's sake.

Teddy sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "I have no idea what's going on. For the past few months she's just been acting really distant. She hardly ever came home and when she did she never talked to T.J and I. Then a couple of months ago, she was supposed to pick T.J up from her mother's house but she never showed up and I haven't seen her since."

"She left no record of where she was going?" I asked. 

He shook his head. "Nah. She just up and left us and I've been trying to take care of T.J the best way that I can but it's hard trying to do that and still sell out on the streets."

"I know, that's why we want to get you working at the bar," I replied. I guess I shouldn't have came to the conclusion about Teddy being emotional because he wasn't getting his way. I should have just sat down and talked to him about what was going on. "You know if you ever need help Effrin and I are always here."

"Yeah, I know," He said.

"Who's been watching T.J while ou've been at work?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "It just depends on who ever I can get to watch him that day but luckily Tracy put him in pre-school, so Monday through Friday he's at school but after school is a completely different story. Usually my Mom watches him but she's been sick lately and I can't keep making her take care of him," He replied.

I sighed. "Damn Teddy, how come you didn't tell me any of this before?"

"Because things weren't that bad up until a couple of weeks ago. Shit has been extremely hard lately. I just want my son to not grow up like me and depend on quick money to get him by through his life. I want something good for him, not this shit I'm putting him through. He's too young to be wondering where his Mom's at or when his next meal is coming. I can't keep putting him through this."