“Why are you rehashing this? I, for one, don’t want to think about those times in my life.”
He could tell she was trying to hold back her emotions, but he needed to know. “I just need to know how you got off the street.”
“Kelvin found me and took me home with him. A week or so later, I found out I was pregnant, so I started fighting again. If it weren’t for my cousin, I’d be dead.”
He flinched. Fuck, the thought of a world without her in it was obscene. “He was the man you had lunch with that day?”
“Yes. I told you that.”
“Why did you look guilty?”
“Because he’s gay, and I thought you’d hate him and be mad I spent time with him.”
“Why would you think that?”
“I heard you and a few men talking about it, and some horrible things were said.”
King’s eyebrows rose. “I said something?”
“No, but you didn’t contradict them.”
“Because they were assholes, and nothing I said would have mattered to them. I’d tried before.”
“I’m sorry, but I need to get him fed. So if you could leave…”
“You’re not going to let me hold him?”
He saw her grip on the boy tighten, and he got angry. “Listen, it would be easy to take you to court to get visitations.” From the stark terror in her eyes, he regretted saying that right away.
“Leave.”
“I’m sorry. I just want to hold him.”