Page 130

“I know, but I’m asking you to trust me.”

I scoffed. “Trust you? Nigga, I just asked if you fucking my cousin and you damn near changed the subject before I finished the sentence.”

“I told you I’m not fucking Heather.”

“And I’m supposed to just take your word for it?”

“Yes.”

I rolled my eyes.

He came closer.

“Come on, Ave. You not gon’ help your baby daddy?”

I actually laughed.

“Nigga, now you my baby daddy?”

His face tightened.

“You know what I mean.”

“No, I don’t.” I pointed at him. “Because around everybody else, you fucking Carter’s uncle.”

Xay sighed.

“Avery.”

“No. Don’t Avery me. You get to be Daddy in motel rooms and Uncle Xay everywhere else, then come ask me for four thousand fucking dollars like I’m supposed to reach in my purse and hand it over because you my baby daddy?”

“I give you money for her.”

“And like I just fucking said, you’re supposed to.”

“I know.”

“Do you?”

“Yes, I fucking know.”

I stared at him.

He rubbed both hands down his face.

“Come on, Ave. Please.”

That made me pause.

Xay wasn’t a please nigga.

At least not with me.

Normally he asked for shit like he’d already decided I was gonna do it.

Now he actually looked stressed.

Not fake stressed either.