Page 26 of On You 2

“Like what?”

“Like, the way he chews to the right side of his jaw sometimes,” I answered while looking down at RJ.

“And the way he is quiet, real quiet. I know he's autistic, but it’s more than that. He has this calm demeanor about him, smooth in a way that always reminds me of you.”

Hov stayed silent while listening.

“And his feet. They are huge.”

I replied, almost laughing as I reminisced.

“Rj’s feet are way bigger than they are supposed to be for his age. So over the years, I just started putting little shit together in my head.”

The room went quiet again.

“But it’s not something I knew from the beginning,” I added quickly.

“So, I didn’t know he was yours when I gave birth to him.”

Hov rubbed his hand slowly over his face before finally speaking again.

“So how long were you going to keep this shit a secret? Wondering if he’s mine? Forever? Even after you've seen, I can be a family man?”

“I don’t know Hov. Truthfully, I can say that I probably never would’ve told you had this not happened. I was scared because I felt like I waited too long.”

That made him look at me fully.

“Hov, you have to understand that I got comfortable in the situation I was in, and the only reason I said anything then was because it became life or death for him. So please forgive me for not being completely honest with you. I’ve never been honest with myself either, Hov.”

He looked at RJ.

“He is mine, Jasmine,” he replied firmly, like he knew this was a fact.

“We can figure it out for sure sometime soon, Hov.”

“Listen,” he leaned forward in the chair.

“I found out earlier today that I have O-positive blood. Now, I’m not sure what you or that other fuck nigga has, but he has my blood, and I think that says enough right there.”

My stomach twisted hearing him sound so sure.

“But to be safe, we can do a DNA test on him now to find out.”

“You want to do a DNA test on him, even with the condition he is in right now? He’s not even awake, so shouldn’t we wait?”

“If he is my son, I want to know.” He paused for a second.

“Even if he passes away, if he is my son, I need to grieve him the right way. As a father.”

The second those words left his mouth, I instantly started shaking my head because hearing somebody even speak death over Rj made my chest tighten painfully.

“When do you want to do it, Hov?”

Almost like clockwork, the room door opened after those words left my mouth, and walking inside with a bag in her hand was Ciara.

“Hey,” she spoke to me.

I lifted my hand, waving to acknowledge her.