Page 6 of ClickBack

“And who’s this?” Trina asks.

The man glances at her forearm and touches the same spot on his own. A price sticker clings to her skin. Trina peels it off.

“I knew that was there.”

“All right,” he says, and returns his attention to Jarrett.

It takes everything in me not to laugh. Jarrett feels the movement in my hand and gives me a look that says he’s struggling, too. He releases me just as Byron comes over.

“Everything good, Giselle?”

He has used that voice in restaurants, at school events, in front of neighbors. It used to make me lower mine even when I hadn’t raised it.

“Everything is fine.”

Jarrett stays where he is. “Signed Zion’s ball.”

“Appreciate that,” Byron says.

“He asked me,” Jarrett replies, glancing at Zion. “Kid’s got manners.”

Zion stands taller. Byron’s smile holds, but he looks at me again before checking his watch. Sutton already has her bag over her shoulder.

“You’re not staying for cake?” I ask.

“We have our thing in the city.” He crouches in front of Zion. “We’ll do something, just us. Real soon.”

“You’re leaving?”

It is a small question, and Byron gives it the same answer, gentler this time. Soon. He kisses the top of Zion’s head, tells Rae he’ll call her, and leaves with Sutton before anyone can turn a promise into a date.

Zion watches the doorway. I almost tell him Byron will call. The reassurance comes so readily that I have to close my mouth on it. I can’t promise him that. He shouldn’t have to discover I can’t promise him that. I am reaching for him when Jeremy calls from the games.

“Birthday man. You said you were beating me at air hockey. I’m waiting.”

My grandson looks down at his signed ball. “I have to put this somewhere.”

“I’ll hold it,” Rae says.

He considers that, then places it carefully in my hands. “Don’t put it with the other ones.”

“I won’t, baby.”

He goes to his father. Rae follows him with her eyes before she bends to collect the wrapping paper on the floor. I make room for the ball behind the cake box, away from the frosting and every child in this building.

When I look up, Jarrett is still there. He saw Byron go. He saw what happened afterward. I can tell by the absence of a question on his face.

“They’re waiting for you,” I tell him.

“Yeah.” He gives me one more look before joining the man at court two.

Trina comes up beside me. For once, she says nothing. She only takes the paper plates from my hand and puts them where Rae had them in the first place.

I let her.

Chapter 2

Jarrett