Page 67 of When I Thug You Like That

“It could be better. I have another son too. His name is Justin. Me and his moms are cool.”

“Cool like y’all still intimate cool or cool like y’all just get along without the presence of a bed?”

He chuckled. “No bed involved.”

“Sounds good.” ‘

It wasn’t my place to believe him or not believe him. I just took him at his word.

“Ever been interested in dating a parent of a student?”

“Never. Have you?”

“A parent of a student, nah. Teacher… yes.”

I immediately regretted asking. He’d been so honest and filter-free thus far, so I didn’t know what made my ass think he’d lie.

“You quiet now?”

“Processing,” I replied quickly.

“I wanna get to know you more.”

His statement was simple. No sexual innuendo or slick comment attached. There wasn’t even a smirk on his face, just truth. I absolutely hated that he’d gotten so serious. It was easier to dodge the flirting than the serious look he now had.

“You’re overlooking the line here.”

“I am.”

“May I ask why?”

“’Cause I can. And I want to.”

“Your son…”

“Is in your class. I know that. We don’t have to get to know each other on school grounds. I know how to separate church and state.”

I studied him for a moment.

“You really have an answer to everything, huh?”

He shook his head. “Not really. Just the shit I’ve thought about.”

Dammit, that shit got me. This wasn’t some impulse attraction he was entertaining just to see where it went. This was him being intentional.

“I have a rule, Jay.”

He reached over the table and brushed his fingers over my knuckles.

“If there’s any nigga to break a rule for, it might as well be me.”

I looked down at his fingers still brushing over my knuckles and felt something settle in me. The confidence on this man was dangerous.

“You had to reach over here and touch me?”

“My statement wouldn’t have landed the way I needed it to if I hadn’t.”

Grinning, I pulled my hand from beneath his. “You real slick.”