“Straight teeth.”
“I was laughing at a story he told me! It was fucking funny!”
He dragged a hand down his face. “Ny…”
I shook my head. “No.”
“What?”
“I’m tired.”
His eyebrows pulled together. “Tired of what?”
“This.” I gestured between us. “The constant crazy. I can’t breathe sometimes when you act like this.”
His jaw tightened. “So what you sayin’?”
I turned toward the car. “I’m saying I’m getting a hotel. I don’t even wanna look at you right now.”
The silence that followed was immediate. Knuck’s voice dropped. “A what?”
“A hotel.”
“Don’t play wit’ me like that.”
“Who’s playing, Keon?”
He laughed like I had just said something ridiculous. “You ain’t goin’ nowhere.”
“Watch me.”
“You trippin’.” I opened the back door and carefully placed Kassim’s carrier inside, making sure he was secure before stepping back. Knuck’s voice rose as he moved quickly around the car. “Nyomi.”
I shut the door and walked toward the driver’s side. “I’m not doing this right now.”
Just as I reached for the door, he grabbed it. “You ain’t takin’ my son to a hotel.”
I yanked the handle again. “Knuck, move.”
“Nah, you the one actin’ crazy when you know better. Didn’t we talk ‘bout this shit the last time you jumped out my truck in the middle of the fuckin’ street?”
“Keon, move. I’m leaving.”
“No.”
“Move!”
He yanked the door again. “You ain’t finna drive off mad like this!”
“Yes, the fuck I am!”
“You doin’ too much!”
“I’mdoing too much?” My voice cracked, eyes glistening. “You’re thedefinitionof doing too damn much! Embarrassing me in front of that man.”
“Fuck that nigga!”
“Whatever! Move!”