Page 16 of Coming Home for Love

“Ice cream it is then.”

He clapped his hands.

“You don’t have to go with us if you have something to do.”

I cut my eyes at Wynter because she must have bumped her head if she thought I was going to let them out of my eyesight, especially without her explaining to me how I had a son I didn’t know about.

“Don’t play with me, Wyn.” I placed my son in his seat and buckled him in. “Get in the car, Wynter.”

She walked around to the driver’s side, and I entered the passenger side.

“Are you ready for ice cream?” I asked Osiris as I buckled my seat belt.

“Wait, you’re riding with us?” Wynter asked with her eyebrows raised.

I wasn’t sure why she asked that question, since I was clearly sitting in her truck.

“I’m in here, right?” I smiled widely at her.

She sucked her teeth but started her truck. I didn’t know what she was tripping for.

“Get used to my presence, baby.” I winked at her, and her cheeks reddened.

She pulled away from the curb, and I took that moment to admire her from the side. Wynter was still so damn beautiful to me with her chocolate skin. She reminded me of those big chocolate bunnies they only sold around Easter time. Her titties were bigger, and her hips had spread from the last time I saw her, more than likely a result of my son.

I peeked back at him, and he was in his own little world, so I took that time to ask Wynter a few questions about him.

“How old is he, and when is his birthday?”

“Three, and September second.”

“Damn. The day after mine.” She nodded. “You’ve been telling him about me?”

It was obvious she told him something about me if he knew who I was.

“I did. I mean, it’s not like I knew a whole lot since we weren’t messing around that long, but I told him what I knew. I also showed him pictures from the few pictures I had.”

I was grateful she told him about me because I would have hated for him to think I was a deadbeat.

“How come you didn’t tell me?”

We were supposed to wait to have that conversation, but I couldn’t. I needed to know why she would keep something like that from me. I thought she and I were better than that.

“I tried.”

I cut my eyes at her when she glanced at me. “I really did,” she continued. “I went to your apartment when I found out, but some lady told me you left, and she didn’t know where you were. I tried to call you, but your phone kept going to voicemail. I called a few times before I showed up. Hell, why didn’t you tell me you were leaving?”

I softened up when I heard the shakiness of her voice. I never thought my leaving the way I did would affect her, but knowing what I know now, I could see why it did.

We’d arrived at the ice cream place, and I wanted to get Osiris situated before we continued the conversation.

“How about we get some ice cream, then we can go somewhere and talk.”

“Yes, because he doesn’t need to hear our conversation.” She peeked at Osiris in the rearview mirror.

“I’ll get him out of his seat.”

I unbuckled my seat belt, then went to get Little O out.

---