“Oh, yeah. I heard he was coming to the ceremony. The big baller who made it coming to share a few words with the little people he left behind. What? You his date?”
“No, I’m not coming with him. I’m…I’m coming for you. Mama thought—”
“Mama thought I might start using because I just couldn’t take Naz’s success? Seeing him again?”
“I’m coming because—”
“I may not be a big-time baller, a millionaire like your new boyfriend, but I have my job and my kids. I ain’t jeopardizing that for him.”
“Good.” Even though this went as badly as I’d thought it would, I take some heart from that reassurance. “I’m glad to hear that. When I come next week, we can—”
“Don’t bother.”
And the line goes dead.