Tappin' On Thirty by Candice Dow Read Free Book Online Page B

why don’t you trust me?”
    Maybe cause I don’t know your ass? I rubbed her back. “It’s not that I don’t trust you. I don’t really like to leave people in my house.”
    She grumbled and I massaged her shoulders. “I hope you’re not upset.”
    She tossed the comforter back and jumped out of the bed. While mumbling under her breath, she scampered around the room. It was obvious she was offended by my stance, but I wasn’t in an appeasing mood. Finally, she stood in front of me with her high heels and low-rise Capri jeans. With her huge lime-and-brown Louis Vutton bag propped on her shoulder, she put her hand on her hip.
    â€œI’m ready.”
    The wrong head throbbed and I said, “I hope you’re not upset with me.”
    â€œIt’s okay. I just want to get some rest.”
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    I asked for a hug and she half-heartedly obliged. I kidded, “You can do better than that.”
    â€œLook, I’m tired. Can we go?”
    Her irritation decreased my obligation. It meant that she thought I was a jerk, so she wouldn’t be blowing my phone up later. She’d be a good girl and just disappear. Hopefully .
    When we walked out of my building, I kissed her on the cheek and hailed her a taxi. I walked to my ex-wife’s apartment to pick up my daughter, Nicole. I called from outside the apartment and Jennifer’s live-in boyfriend answered. “I’ll bring her down,” he said.
    â€œWhere’s Jennifer?” I asked.
    â€œShe left early.”
    All of a sudden, my anger elevated. “She left?”
    An irritated sigh came through the phone. I took a deep breath. “Just bring her down.”
    Before they came down, I called Jennifer. “Didn’t I tell you not to leave her alone with him anymore?”
    â€œDevin, grow up.”
    My anger vanished when I looked up and saw my baby. “Daddy,” she screamed.
    Stooping down to catch the cannonball of excitement flying into my chest, I closed my phone. Aaron ducked back into the elevator without speaking. Nicole crashed into me. “Daddy.”
    I kissed her cheek. “Hey princess.”
    When I stood up, she pulled off her backpack. “Here, Daddy.”
    I laughed. “Why do I have to carry it?”
    â€œYou’re stronger.”
    My cell phone rang. Jennifer sighed in my ear. “Devin, when will you understand that Aaron is going to be her stepfather and there will be times when I’ll need to leave her with him? He would never do anything to hurt her.”
    â€œOkay. Can I call you when I drop her off?”
    By the time I dropped her off at camp, my issue seemed selfish. How could I control what Jennifer did in her home?
    I strolled into my office a little after ten. My assistant smiled. “Hi, Mr. Patterson.”
    â€œHey, Lisa.”
    â€œI made your travel arrangements to DC. You’ll be staying in the host hotel.”
    I frowned. “Are you talking about for the Black Caucus?”
    She nodded.
    â€œI have to go down next week. I have some meetings with the legislative division of the Train Workers’ Union.”
    She shrugged her shoulders. “That’s not on your calendar.”
    I pointed to my head. “I keep it all up here.”
    â€œThat’s the problem.”
    We laughed. It’s not funny, though. I have a whole bunch of damn problems.

7
    SCOOTER
    W hen I walked into the house, my heart sat in my throat. I’d done some things early in our relationship, but since we moved in together last year, I’ve been faithful. Hoping my infidelity wasn’t spray painted on me, I took a deep breath before calling her name, “Akua.”
    â€œI’m in the office, baby.”
    I peeped in the hall mirror before walking into the office. After running my hand over my face a few times, wiping away the evidence, I stood in the doorway of the office. She twirled around