Page 111 of Seasoned
“I knew him before,” Jackie said gently. She didn’t want to hurt him, but he needed to understand that the feelings she had for Tyson started long before this summer.
“So that’s it? I get nothing?”
“Honey, I don’t know what you mean. Aren’t you and your father working on your relationship?”
“Yeah, sure. We’re working on our relationship,” he said, the bite of sarcasm deep in his words.
“I thought you were getting along.”
“He and I had plans tonight, but he canceled. And he told me he canceled because he made plans with you. Am I right?” He challenged her with his eyes.
Jackie pressed a hand to her chest. “I’m sorry. That’s my fault. I surprised him with tickets to a concert, not thinking much about the fact that he would have other plans. I should have—”
“No.Heshould have told you he couldn’t make it and had other plans. Of course he’d choose you over me. Everybody comes before me.” He laughed bitterly, the hand at his right side clenching into a fist. “You know what, forget it. Forget you. Forget him, especially. I’m out of here.”
Jackie grabbed his wrist before he could turn away. “Don’t leave. Let me take you home. You’ve obviously been drinking and are in no condition to drive.”
He glared at her. “Don’t treat me like a child. I’m aman.”
“A man who I cannot let drive,” Jackie shot back in a hard voice.
Her fingers tightened on his wrist. She didn’t know how, but she would keep him from getting into his vehicle in his condition.
The fire in Kendrick’s eyes died, and with a defeated sigh, he slumped against the door of her BMW. All the fight had drained out of him. “Fine,” he muttered.
Relieved, Jackie unlocked the doors and they both climbed into the car. He closed his eyes and rested the back of his head against the seat.
Before she pulled out of the parking lot, she shot Tyson a text, letting him know she was with Kendrick and taking him home because he’d obviously been drinking. He responded quickly that he would meet them at the apartment, and she started the car.
When she pulled into the parking lot of Kendrick’s apartment, Tyson was already waiting and jumped out of the Cadillac SUV. He looked good in a pale rose-colored shirt with the top buttons undone and a gold rope necklace glinting against his dark brown skin. Concern marred his forehead as he watched her and Kendrick climb out of the car.
“Thank you,” he said, keeping his eyes on his son.
Kendrick slowly walked past him, hands hooked in the belt loops of his jeans. He didn’t even acknowledge his father.
Jackie touched Tyson’s arm and captured his attention. She quickly told him what Kendrick had said to her about their plans and that he felt everyone else came before he did in Tyson’s life.
With a grim nod, Tyson said, “Thanks.” He leaned toward her, as if to give her a quick kiss, and then thinking better of it, shook his head. “I gotta talk to him. I’m sorry about tonight, but I’ll call you later or tomorrow—as soon as I can.”
“Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.” Jackie climbed in her car and drove away.
Tyson joggedto the building and caught up to Kendrick at the elevator. They rode to his floor in silence and entered his apartment in silence.
“Say what you have to say and then go.” Kendrick tossed his keys onto a side table and plopped onto the sofa. Not once did he look at his father.
Tyson sauntered over. “I don’t have anything to say, but I’m sure you do.”
His son snorted. “I went after your woman. I know you havesomethingto say.”
“Okay, I’ll talk.”
He sat on the coffee table, directly in front of Kendrick. Kendrick finally looked at him, but his eyes remained expressionless. Tyson shoved down his dismay at the emotional distance between them. If anyone had to fix this rift, it was him, and he couldn’t do that focused on self-pity.
“You weren’t going after my woman. You were trying to get my attention, and now you have it. Tell me what you’re feeling.”
“I don’t have shit to say to you.”
“You don’t want to tell me how disappointed you are in me? Tell me that the shit I do is not what a real father does?”
