“Don’t concern yourself with grown folks’ business, Justin,” Dominique replied brusquely, even though she understood why Justin thought it was his business as well. “No matter what happens between Jake and me ... Mommy will be fine.”

The look on Justin’s face suggested that he wasn’t buying Dominique’s story. She couldn’t blame him. She didn’t buy it either.

55

55

The next morning, Dominique entered the Capricious offices with a determined stride. She’d barely slept the night before and the simple question that had robbed her of sleep, the one her son had asked, still plagued her. Did Jake call you? Asked, Justin had said, because he’d seen Jake at school. What did they talk about? Was it about me? And if so, did Jake tell Justin something that made him think I’d get a phone call? At one point, Dominique had almost gone to Justin’s room to find out exactly what Jake had said. But as she’d told him in the car—this was grown folks’ business. Any conversation about their relationship needed to be between her and Jake, not between her and Justin and most definitely not between Justin and Jake.

Dominique had told Faith that she wasn’t going to call Jake again. And she’d meant it. That’s why as soon as she left the office today she was going to his house. She’d wait at his door, camp out all night if she had to. But before her head hit the pillow, Dominique determined, she and Jake were going to have a conversation ... and she was not taking no for an answer!

Across town, Jake sat in his office thinking about Dominique—but he didn’t have talking in mind. It had been a month since he’d squeezed her lusciousness, too long since he’d glided his fingers along her smooth, soft skin and tasted those sweet lips. Face it, brothah, you miss her. And you’ve probably lost her because you’re scared. A bittersweet smile crossed Jake’s face at the irony: in the beginning it was Dominique who’d shied away from their having a relationship. Now he was running for the border.