After a few moments of staring at Jasmine, Sam drove off, not saying another word to her. He didn't even bother to look in the rearview mirror to see Jasmine's reaction. The only thing that was on Sam's mind was that he was starting to feel overwhelmed. He needed to quickly find a happy place, and he realized exactly where that would be.

Sitting in his parked G Wagon, Sam contemplates how he's going to convince Yemi to talk to him as he stares out of the window at her building. He then decides to do something he hasn't done in years... Pray. Sam goes to church every week, but he's never been the one to ask God for anything.

He bows his head, and silently asks for a sign letting him know if he should take the risk of being rejected or not. As soon as Sam lifts his head back up, his eyes land on a couple of kids walking their bikes down the walkway. He notices one of the bikes has a busted tire, and then an idea pops up in his head. "Aye," he calls out to the boys. They look in his direction and they nod inquisitively.

"How'd you bust your tire?"

One of the boys kisses his teeth, thinking back to how it happened. "Doing something my mom's gonna be pissed about."

"Why? 'Cause she's gotta come out of her pocket?"

"Yep," he says, shaking his head.

"How about this... I'll give you the money for it, if you knock on someone's door for me."

Both boys furrow their eyebrows in shock.

"You trynna rob 'em or something?"

"No."

The friend taps the boy and chuckles. "It's probably his girl, man. My sister is always kicking out her boyfriend."

They both laugh. "Damn. See that's why I don't want a girl. Too much drama."

"So we got a deal?" Sam asks.

"What if she doesn't open it?"

"I'll still give you the money."

"For real?"

Sam nods.

"Alright. Which apartment is it?"

Sam gets out of his truck and locks it. "Come." The boy follows Sam as his friend waits for him to return.

They walk up the stairs, and then Sam backs up against the corner, making sure Yemi doesn't see him through the peep hole or window.

The boy knocks and a few seconds later, the door opens revealing Yemi, wearing Sam's shirt that she used to wear when she lived with him, and some sweat pants. She's about to open her mouth to speak when she does a double take at Sam.

She shakes her head in disbelief while Sam pulls his wallet out, handing the kid a fifty dollar bill.

"Thanks man!" The boy smiles and runs off.

Yemi's mouth drops at the transaction while Sam puts his hand on the door, preventing Yemi from closing it. "Sam..." she sighs, not knowing what else to say.

"Fuck this break-up shit," Sam says to her calmly.

"Kaylin..."

"What did you call me?" He asks heatedly.

Kaylin comes around the corner, and Sam looks like he's seen a ghost.

"I was calling for Kaylin," Yemi tells him before turning around to Kaylin. "I'll see you at work."

Sam scowls at Kaylin, upset to see him coming out of Yemi's home.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Yemi," Kaylin expresses to her, looking at Sam the whole time.

Sam warns Kaylin with his eyes.

"Kaylin, just go please," Yemi tells him, trying to keep the peace.

Kaylin mean-mugs Sam on his way out and Sam shakes his head, trying to keep his cool. As soon as Kaylin is out of ear-shot, Sam frowns at Yemi, causing her eyebrows to furrow. "So, you're fuckin' with him, now?"

"Sam-"

"You know what, fuck it. I shouldn't've come." He turns around and starts to walk away.

"This is why you need to go to counseling," she blurts out.

"What the fuck does me going to counseling have to do with you moving on to someone else?"

"How could you even think that about me?! I am not your ex Sam!"

"You broke up with me two days ago, and you already have him in here knowing damn well he wants to be with you."

"He came here to check on me as a friend."

"Oh he's your friend again? Why, because you told him you were single?"

"I only told him because I kinda snapped at him at work, and he said I looked... sad."

"Yemi if you're sad, then why would you break up with me?"

"Because I need you to get your shit together so you can love me, Sam."

Sam looks at her in awe, and nods remorsefully. "You have no idea how much you mean to me, Ma."

"And you have no idea how much I want for you to be at peace. Getting that closure may be the start to that. You may not think you need it, but that's only your pride talking. I want our relationship to grow emotionally, but that can't happen until you stop holding on to her."

"Yemi-"

"Sam, you told me that you would work on how you respond to me touching you, but you went backwards because of her. And that's not fair to me or you."

Sam sighs, rubbing his temple. "... I get it. And I apologize for hurting you, Yemi. I'll do whatever it takes to fix this."

"So, yes to Counseling?"

He takes a deep breath. "I'll talk to the Pastor about counseling me."

Yemi nods. "Don't do it for me though. Do it for you."

"And us," he adds.

"... And us," she approves.

He stares at her for a brief moment. "I need to tell you something."

"Should I be worried?"

"No. But it's about Jasmine."

"What is it?" She asks annoyed.

"Jasmine told me she has a child by me."

Yemi's eyes grow wide. "What?!" She stammers silently.

He shakes his head. "I don't know what to think about all of this shit."

Yemi crosses her arms across her chest with a slight attitude. "I'm confused. I thought you said you didn't talk to her after she cheated?"

"I didn't. She found out she was pregnant after I left her."

"...Wait. So that means, the child is...?"

"13."

"13?! Sam, 13?! That sounds crazy."

"I know. Part of me doesn't believe her."

Yemi sighs, disappointedly.

"I hope this doesn't add more problems between you and me," he expresses sincerely.

"It's hard for me to process this, but I know me being mad about it isn't going to help anything. So the first thing we need to do is order a DNA test."

"Yeah, I definitely have to get that done." Sam grabs her face and pecks her lips. "You're my everything, Yemi."

Yemi hides her smile from him.

"You're gonna call off our break-up?"

Yemi hesitates before nodding.

"Don't ever leave me again, Yemi," he tells her as he follows her inside her apartment.

"Alright."

"Promise me."

"Sam-"

"Promise me, Yemi."

"I promise."

"As a matter-of-fact, let's write out a contract," he says with a straight face.

Yemi chuckles as Sam closes the front door.

"You're laughing, but I'm dead-ass."

"I know."

___

ONE WEEK LATER

Sam is sitting on a park bench when Jasmine approaches, wearing 4 inch thigh-high stiletto heeled boots and a skin-tight outfit. Sam gives her a quick once-over, shaking his head.

"Hi Sam."

He gets straight to the point, "Where is he?"

Jasmine sits next to him, causing Sam to move over a little. "Unfortunately, he's not ready to see you, yet."

"When did you tell him about me?"

"When Tevin said you wanted to meet up with us, I went home and told Brent immediately."

"Does he know I didn't know anything about him?"

"He knows."

Sam shakes his head, getting annoyed at the situation all over again.

"He'll come around." She looks at him in hopes that she can brighten his mood. "Let me show you a photo of Brent. He's extremely handsome, just like you." She pulls out her phone and scrolls through her photos. She stops at a picture of her and Brent together, and then gives the phone to Sam.

He glances at it and gives the phone back to her. "He looks exactly like you."

"Yeah, but he has your skin complexion and your height."

He rubs the back of his neck, in a stressful manner. He sighs, deciding to pick her brain a little. "When's his birthday?"

" February 11th."

He squints. "So he's turning 14?"

"Oh. Umm. No-no, he's turning 13."

He looks at her suspiciously.

"I told you 13 at the church because his birthday is coming up."

Sam stands up, and she grabs his hand. He quickly removes it from her hold. "Don't touch me."

"I was just trying to comfort you."

He starts to walk away from her.

"Sam, please accept my apology," she practically begs him, causing him to stop in his tracks. "I never meant to hurt you. I was young and selfish, but I always knew you were a great man. I was so embarrassed that I had lost you."

Sam finally looks at her. "What the fuck does that have to do with me seeing Brent?"

Jasmine is taken aback by his rudeness. The Sam in college was always so sweet to her. When he caught her cheating, she wasn't even surprised that he didn't spaz out on her, because he was always putty in her hands.

"When he's ready to see me, let me know."

"I don't have your number."

He takes his wallet out, and pulls out a business card. He walks back to Jasmine, and hands it to her. "If I'm not in the office, leave a date and time with the receptionist." He walks away, leaving Jasmine there staring at him desperately.

Sam pulls out his phone and texts Pastor Harold.

Sam reaches his truck when the Pastor replies.