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Even through the windshield I could tell it wasn’t some regular conversation.

His jaw was tight.

One hand gripping the steering wheel while he talked with the other.

I couldn’t hear shit through the closed windows, but whoever he was talking to had him irritated.

As soon as I got close to the passenger side, Xay looked up.

Saw me.

The phone came away from his ear and he ended the call.

I opened the back door.

“Amari, get in first.”

“I wanna sit by Serenity.”

“You can sit by Serenity. Get in.”

Zion climbed into the third row with Michael while I got Serenity’s carrier clicked into place.

“Everybody buckled?”

“Yes.”

“Michael?”

“Yes!”

I pulled his strap anyway because three-year-olds were liars.

Then I shut the door and climbed into the passenger seat.

Xay pulled away from the curb before I had even finished putting my seat belt on.

I looked at him.

“Who was that?”

“Who was who?”

“The person you just got off the phone with.”

“Work, babe.”

He reached over and squeezed my thigh.

“Nothing crazy.”

I looked at his hand.

Then his face.

He seemed normal again.

Just like that.