Naughty 2: My Way or the Highway by Brenda Hampton Page A

him that under the circumstances, it wouldn’t be the best thing to do. He’d agreed, but made me promise to at least bring LJ by his barbershop sometimes to see him.
    Stephon’s forgiveness really had me worried, though. For me to walk away from him at the altar, he was handling himself extremely well. Deep down I knew he was hurt, but he was putting up a front like he really didn’t care. Maybe he did understand why I couldn’t go through with the wedding, or maybe he had somebody else in his life and didn’t know how to break the news to me. I wasn’t going to stress myself too much about it because I believed my decision worked out for all of us.
    Around 12:15 P.M., LJ and I were just about ready to head out. There was no sense in me calling Jaylin to let him know that we were on our way; I was sure he was having a fit already since we were late.
    LJ looked darling. He wore a blue-jean outfit with a hat to match. I put on the white Nike tennis shoes I’d found at St. Louis Mills when Mama and I had gone shopping earlier. LJ’s soft, curly hair peeked out the sides of his hat, and his grey eyes sparkled when I looked into them.
    We pulled in front of Jaylin’s house, and I carried LJ on my hip as I walked to the door. I rang the doorbell and patiently waited for someone to answer. After I rang it several more times, Jaylin finally opened the door. His face lit up as he reached for LJ.
    â€œWell, hello to you too,” I said, handing LJ over to him.
    â€œHey, sorry, come in. I actually forgot you were coming,” he said, looking like he had just gotten out of bed.
    â€œI left a message with Nanny B last night. She didn’t tell you?”
    â€œNo, but that’s okay. I’m glad you came. ’Cause if you hadn’t, you know I was coming for you.”
    I followed behind Jaylin to his office. I took a seat on the couch, and he sat in his chair while lifting LJ up in the air, looking at him eye-to-eye. “Do you know how happy your daddy is to see you?” he said, talking baby-talk to him. I couldn’t do anything but smile after finally seeing them together. At that moment, I knew just how wrong I was for trying to keep them apart.
    I watched him sharing precious moments with his son, and after a while heard someone walking down the steps. I’d thought Jaylin was alone. When Scorpio came into his office, I could have died. My smile vanished as she looked over at me. “Hi, Nokea,” she said dryly, then turned to look at Jaylin.
    â€œHello,” I replied.
    Jaylin sat LJ on his lap, then turned him around so Scorpio could see him. “Look, baby. Ain’t he handsome? I bet you didn’t think I could pull something off like this, did you?” he asked her.
    â€œYes, Jaylin. He is gorgeous, and I never said you couldn’t, so be quiet.” Scorpio turned toward me. “Do you mind if I hold him?”
    â€œNo, not at all,” I said. Of course, I didn’t want her to touch him. I only tolerated her because of Jaylin, and I cringed as she took LJ off his lap to hold him. When she sat down in one of the leather chairs, her silk robe slid open and showed her goods. She quickly crossed her legs, but I had already seen that she didn’t have on anything underneath. Of course, with Jaylin having come to the door in his robe, I figured they had probably been in the middle of screwing when I rang the doorbell. If not, I was sure they had been at it all night long.
    It really wasn’t like me to hate on another woman when it came to Jaylin, but after listening to him call her “baby” my feelings were hurt once again. And if that wasn’t enough, Mackenzie came into the room and added to my pain. She hopped in Jaylin’s lap, and put her arms around his neck.
    â€œGood morning, Daddy.” She kissed his cheek and he kissed hers.
    â€œIt’s not good morning, Mackenzie, it’s good afternoon.