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“Don’t even try it. I invited you, so I’m paying.”

As we waited on our cars, Jaharee hugged me.

“I’m so glad Rah married you. I always wanted a sister that was on my level. Averie just wasn’t it.”

“Bye, Jaharee.”

She walked off laughing. I climbed in my car and shut the door. I had no idea that Nikki was looking for Shameek. Did she catch us? Better yet, Jaharee said they walked back in the venue holding hands. Why was he blowing my phone and shit up about his feelings when he had a whole woman? The next time we talked, I was going to check him about it and leave it where it is. He can’t be jealous of the friendship I had with Lloyd, and he had someone to go fuck off on.

CHAPTER 21

AVERIE

“Yes,” I moaned. “Right there, Q.”

Q gripped my hips tight as he thrust into me, making my ass shake like an earthquake. For weeks now, I let my guard down and from that day on, Q had been satisfying me sexually and mentally. With all the funds that Rah had left me, I hired a nanny and started living my life. For years, all I did was work and take care of my kids. Q came along and brought some light. Now, did I feel guilty for completely cutting off the King family? Sometimes. They were calling and popping up, but my nanny was given instructions not to answer my damn door. Shameek would FaceTime the kids and that was the most he would get. I figured removing myself would help me get to know Q better. The shit worked. I didn’t wake up every day with Rah on my damn mind. What I did know was whenever I did run into any of the Kings, it wasn’t going to be a pretty situation. All that bending for them was over. Besides my kids, my connection to them was over. It was starting to feel great.

Q slapped my ass and went straight into the bathroom as I laid stretched out in his bed trying to catch my breath. That man had worn my ass out and still had enough energy to walk around like he hadn't put in a full damn shift. I pulled the sheet over me and reached for my phone. There were six missed calls. Kyenna had called me and Ms. Lorraine. Kyenna had called at least once a week trying to get the kids. Her ass was cut off, too. She was a King. It was the missed calls from my son that made me sit up. I dialed him back immediately.

“Hey baby. What happened? I saw you called me a few times.”

“I was just asking what time you were coming home. Ms. Nia said you told her you might be late, but you didn’t tell us that.”

His tone had changed so much over the last few weeks that I could feel the attitude even when he was trying to hide it. Kaiden had gotten quieter with me. Every question sounded like he was one answer away from telling me how he really damn felt.

“I’ll be home in a little bit. I didn’t realize it had gotten this late. Did you eat?”

“Yeah, Ms. Nia cooked.”

“Okay, I love you. I’ll see you when I get home.”

“I love you, too,” he said, hanging up.

Kaiden wasn’t rude, but I knew my child. Something was bothering him, and I knew exactly what it was. Q walked back in the room wearing nothing but a pair of sweats.

“You good?” he asked.

“My son called. I need to be heading home.”

Q nodded as he sat on the edge of the bed.

“You been saying little man been acting different. You ever ask him what’s on his mind?”

“I haven’t had the time to sit down and really talk to him. Between work, football, and everything else, it’s been a lot.”

He looked at me for a second before speaking, and one thing I learned about Q, he didn’t rush his words when he gave advice.

“I’m not telling you how to raise your son, Averie, because I know better than that. But twelve is old enough to notice when shit changes. You got a nanny now, you’re spending more time out, and from what you told me, he used to spend time with his daddy’s side of the family. If all that changed around the same time, he might be connecting the changes to me.”

“I needed some distance from them. Every time somebody from the King family called, it was Rah this, Rah that. I was trying to move on with my damn life, and I couldn’t do that with them constantly pulling me back into that family dynamic.”

“I understand why you needed distance. I’m asking if the kids needed the same distance.”

“They’re my kids, Q.”

“I know they are your kids. That’s why I started the conversation with I’m not trying to tell you what to do. I’m just asking questions.”

I got out of bed and grabbed my clothes from the chair.