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My stomach dropped.
“Keith.”
“What?”
“Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Put me out.”
He looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
“Avery, you really thought you was staying here?”
“Keith, please. I don’t have anywhere—”
“You got somewhere.”
“Where?”
“Ask Xay.”
“I’m not going to Xay!”
“Then call your mother.”
“Keith!”
Carter started fussing.
Keith immediately stopped arguing.
“Shh. I know, mama.”
He lifted her onto his shoulder and started patting her back.
I stood there crying while he walked around calming down a baby that wasn’t his.
That was the fucked-up part.
He wasn’t taking anything out on Carter.
Not one thing.
She didn’t know what the hell was happening.
She knew Keith.
She loved Keith.
He’d been there.
And I’d fucked that up too.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
He didn’t answer.
