"We go see Niy?"

I laughed and nodded my head at Emmie, who was sitting in her car seat. "Yes, we go see Niyah."

I turned the music back up, making her bob her head and sing along as if she knew the lyrics. Because both our parents and everybody else were at work, we were going to pick up Niyah from the airport. She's been out of state studying and doing research since the end of the spring semester. She came home for the baby shower and a couple weeks after they were born. So she hasn't seen us in about four months besides the occasional FaceTime calls. It was a Friday, so the traffic was heavy. I grabbed my phone from the cupholder and smirked at a particular message.

✨💕I don't appreciate you falling asleep on me last night. 🥺

I shook my head laughing to myself and quickly replying.

I'm sorry love. It wasn't intentional but I'm glad I did because I would've been late picking up my sister from the airport.

I put my phone back in the cupholder and paid attention to the traffic. Jersey natives can not drive. I was in Pop's Range Rover, so I knew I had to be extra cautious. It's been about two weeks since the ball, and that's how long me and Ms. Wright have been communicating. I had a feeling once I told her my age, it was going to stop. I wasn't hiding the fact that I was 19. Our ages were never brought up. I know she's 21 because of the simple fact that she was carded at the restaurant. If and when she asked? I'll tell her, but I'm not going to be the one to bring it up. I like her vibe, and I'm not even about to cap on that. She's pretty and spoiled as hell, which I don't mind because I had the means to get her everything she desired and more.

My parents, especially my mama, liked her, which was a bonus.

Minutes later, I was finally pulling up to the airport. I parked and killed the engine. Looking in the rearview mirror, I couldn't do anything but shake my head. My baby was sound asleep. Let me find out if they are working her hard at school. I grabbed my phone, wallet, and keys before climbing out of the foreign SUV. I walked around and pulled her door open, and she was already staring at me with those big brown sleepy eyes. I jumped at her, making her giggle. Crazy little girl. I reached in and unbuckled her seatbelt. I picked her up, set her on my hip, and grabbed the flowers and sign from the front seat before heading inside.

"You see, Niy?" I asked Emmie as I placed a kiss on her cheek. She shook her head and laid it on my shoulder. My baby was still sleepy.

After standing in place for about ten minutes, Emmie started tapping my chest rapidly and pointing. I looked in the direction of her pointing finger and shook my head. A very short Aniyah was making her way towards us.

"Niyah!" I yelled, getting her attention, and held up the sign that read "welcome home." She looked up and smiled before running our way. I let Emmie down, and she took off running towards her. I pulled up my falling shorts and walked their way.

"Wassup girl?" I pulled her into a hug and passed the flowers off.

"Hey, Jayboog! I missed you and everybody else."

I grabbed her large duffle bag and 32-inch hardside suitcase while she picked up Emmie. Only two year old, I know that knows how to walk but won't. We made our way outside and I popped the trunk, sliding Aniyah's bags inside. I grabbed her bookbag and carryon from her grasp, sliding them inside as well. I opened the back and passenger doors, waiting until she secured Emmie before climbing into the driver's seat.

"You hungry?" I looked over at Niyah before pulling my seatbelt access my body and buckling it.

"Yes, can we go to the diner?"

I nodded my head and pulled off, driving out of the airport. I looked in the rearview mirror and laughed. Emmie was singing along to Lil Baby's "Get Money" as it seeped through the speakers. Baby was a character.

"Your phone is ringing."

I heard Niyah say, which made me look at the dashboard, seeing that it was my mama calling. "Answer it."

"Hey, baby! You got Niyah?" Mama's voice flowed through the speakers as I cruised down the road.

"Hey, sister girl!"

I busted out laughing when I heard Mama scream. She loved her some Niyah. I tapped my turning signal and changed lanes while increasing my speed.

"Jay!"

I furrowed my eyebrows. "Yes ma'am?"

"Can you stop by Target for me and pick up my order? I didn't know it was going to be ready this soon. It's some stuff for the boys. Your name is down for pick-up, so you won't have to worry about anything. The Walmart order is going to get shipped to the house."

"Yes ma'am. I'll pick it up on our way home." I decreased my speed as I approached a stop light.

"Where is my baby? She sleep?"

I looked in the rearview mirror only to see her looking out the window. Her lips were moving, letting me know she was counting the cars that went by. "No ma'am, I don't think she knows you're on the phone. Emmie, tell mama hi."

"Hey, stank! But I was just calling Jay, I'll see y'all at home. I'm trying to finalize everything with Hayden for the Free of Incarceration foundation."

I nodded my head. "Yes ma'am."

I pressed the red button on the steering wheel. The foundation was founded by mama but inspired by pops. Even though mama's one-year grace period isn't up until Christmas, she's decided to start working early. She liked the FBI, but she knew it wasn't for her. She was helping people, but she felt she wasn't helping enough, so she'd decided to be more hands-on and felt the foundation was the best way.

"Emmie, are you ready to eat?" I asked as I stood at her door. She nodded her head.

"I want cheese."

I laughed as she stood up in her seat and leaped into my arms. I felt her pull-up and made sure she hadn't used it. I grabbed her book bag and opened the door for Niyah. I held it open until she was all the way out.

"Emmie, you need to walk." I said as I tried to put her down, but she tightened her grip on me, making me shake my head. I held the diner door open and walked in behind Niyah.

"Ooo! Not my favorite people! Hey y'all! Go ahead to y'all's usual booth. I'll be right over with y'all drinks."

We waved at our favorite waitress, Sandy, as we walked to the booth we occupy every time we come here. When mama or pops didn't feel like cooking, we'd come here or just randomly in the middle of the night for milkshakes and fries. I slid into the booth and sat Em on my thigh before sitting her in the corner of the booth. I grabbed her iPad from the bookbag and went to ABC Mouse, letting that take her attention for a few minutes.

"Why you ain't tell me Kambria popped up at the house and raised her hand at you?"

I heard Aniyah ask, and I pursed my lips to the side like oops. I rolled my eyes. "My mama is always running her mouth."

"She pop back up. I'm popping her in her mouth. Don't nobody have time for her none sense. She cheated, not you."

I blew out a breath because I knew she wasn't lying and it wasn't no trying to stop her. Short ass is really TTG. Damn ticking time bomb.

"Okay, I have a kid's fruit punch, a peach lemonade, and a sprite with a splash of vanilla. Are you guys getting your usuals or something different?"

I grabbed the small cup from Sandy and passed it over to Emmie. Her smart self propped the iPad up against her bag that was by my leg and sat back against the wall. I couldn't do anything but shake my head. I let Niyah order food before speaking. "I want a spicy grilled chicken caesar wrap with no tomatoes, and for Emmie we're going to go with her usual.Tenders and grilled cheese."

The flash on my phone flashed three times rapidly, letting me know that I had received a text message. I flipped it over and smirked, running my tongue across my bottom lip. I unlocked my phone and read the message.

✨💕Mhm, I guess I'll let you slide this time, because if you fall asleep on me tonight we're fighting. How's your day going?

I laughed and quickly moved my fingers across my keyboard. She was a character.

Stop playing like I won't put you on your back. You not ready for these hands. They're lethal and rated E, for everybody. My day is going good. I'm out to eat with my sisters right now. How's your day going?

✨💕Oooo! I'm shaking in my boots. I'm not scared of you, Mr. Jayden. And I'm out running errands, just trying to enjoy this day off without being on call.

Well you should be scared, Ms. Orianne and yea? Buy me something.

✨💕Well too bad I'm not. What do you want?

Before I could even reply, Niyah was calling my name, trying to get my attention. I looked up and she was pointing to our food. I slid my phone into the pocket of my shorts and grabbed some hand sanitizer from Em's bag. I grabbed her plate and cut her grilled cheese into 4s. I placed her on my thigh and pulled her plate in front of her. She instantly grabbed a tender and a grilled cheese square.

I picked up half of my wrap, being that it was already cut in half. I nodded once I saw the extra chicken. I leaned across the table and bit into it. I wiped my mouth and looked at Emmie.

"Girl, slow down." I pulled her hands away from her mouth because she was already chewing and trying to add more. I took the food from her hands and let her finish chewing before handing her the cup of fruit punch.

"How was the research, Niy?" I asked as I grabbed my cup, grabbing the straw. Peach lemonade is so good. I need to tell my mama to make me a pitcher.

"It was fun, honestly. I learned a lot, met some new people and networked. I'm just about ready to graduate now. My advisor thinks I can graduate this fall instead of the spring. I'm going to talk to her after class tomorrow."

I nodded my head as I listened. Although she's going into dentistry like Uncle Sav, she was going to focus more on the research and science aspect. She wanted to be the voice of affordable dentistry.

About 30 minutes later, I was pulling into the parking lot of Target. Since Emmie was asleep, and since I was just running in and out, I left her with Aniyah and climbed out of the truck. I made sure the doors were locked and headed inside. I looked at the signs and shook my head. Why the hell is pick up in the back? I started walking until I heard a familiar voice. I looked to my left and smirked. I eased my way onto the aisle and wrapped my arms around her waist, making her jump.

"But you not scared?" I laughed and spun her around, making her face tint red from blushing.

"Hi Jayden." She said as she pushed some loose hair out of her face. I love the fact that I make her nervous.

"Juice! I found it!"

I looked behind me to see her friend from the dinner. I laughed at the look of shock on her face. She started staring and I mugged her before putting my attention back on Orianne. "I know I didn't text back, but that's because our food had come and I had to help my baby. But I'm going to call you when I make it home. I had to pick up some stuff for the twins."

"Baby?"

I rolled my eyes because, why are you in my business? I looked at Orianne and she nodded her head while trying to conceal her laughter. I turned around and looked at her friend, whose eyes were going back and forth between me and Orianne. "Yes, baby. I got three."

I kissed Orianne on her cheek before walking away, leaving her in laughter as her friend stood there looking stupid. I headed to the pick-up section and completed the security process before walking back to the front. I had four bags and a box. There ain't no telling what my mama done bought. I looked at one of the cash registers, seeing Orianne in line. I bypassed everybody and stood behind her as the cashier ran her stuff up.

"Three hundred fifty dollars and seventy-five cents is your total."

I popped her hand and swiped my black card before walking away. I smirked because I knew she was standing there in shock.

"Girl, don't nobody got you on pause. I'm trying to submit my assignment." I told Orianne as I saved a copy of my work and submitted the original through the portal.

It's been a couple hours since I returned home. I showered, took a nap, and now I'm trying to complete my homework while I was on FaceTime with Ms. Wright.

"Well, hurry up. I want to look at your face."

I laughed once she smacked her lips. "Hold on, girl dang."

"And you think you are smooth too! Mr. Black Card, but I like that. I've never had that done before. You definitely shut my friend up, and I'm glad. Once you said you had three kids and walked away, she tried to preach to me that I was a fool and dumb. I think it's time I started loving her from a distance."

I frowned as I listened to her express her feelings and how she felt. "Has she always acted the way she do?"

"Honestly, yes, but now it's worse and I don't know why. I've asked and tried to see what's wrong because I feel that it's something deeper. But I can only try so much, especially when I'm not being met half way."

I shook my head as I exited out of Canvas and pulled the FaceTime screen back up. I smirked, looking at the beauty on the screen. She was laying sideways with her head propped up on her hand. Her brown square Avery frames sat nicely on her face with her scarf tied around her head. I watched as she scratched her cheek with her purple coffin shaped nails.

"Stop staring at me!" I laughed and licked my lips as she hid her face while being silly.

I slid up against the headboard, straightening my posture. I rubbed my hand across my stomach, watching as her eyes followed my movement. "Nobody is staring at you, but I see you watching me."

"Mmcht! Nobody is watching you, boy!"

A knock sounded at my door, making me look away from the screen. I saw my Pops standing there with one of the twins on his shoulder. "Your mama said come eat."

"Yes, sir." I nodded my head as he slid back out the door.

I looked back at the screen. "Are you staying on FaceTime with me or no?"

"Your parents are not going to say anything to you being on the phone at the table?"

I shook my head. "No, and plus I'm about to put my AirPods in my ears. I'm about to call you from my phone."

She nodded her head and hung up. I grabbed my AirPods and phone off the charger that was sitting on my nightstand. I slipped them into my ear and called her.

"You took too long."

I smacked my lips and slid out of bed, pulling on a pair of shorts whilst sliding my feet into my Versace slippers. "Stop playing with me, girl."

She giggled like her school crush had said the funniest thing ever. "Who said I was playing?"

"Yea yea, but are you busy next weekend?" I asked as I jogged down the stairs. Emmie bad ass was driving her Range Rover, running over stuff. I winced once she ran Pawpaw's feet over. Mama wanted to do a little 'welcome home' dinner for Niyah, so they decided to come over.

"Nothing at the moment. I'll have to check my work schedule to be a hundred percent sure. Why?"

I smirked. "May I take you on a date?"