Page 48 of D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding

“That wasn’t even ten minutes. What are you talking about?”

Kris shook her head. “That was an inside thing between me and my mans right here. Don’t worry about it.” She held out a hand to her left and Felix slapped it.

“On that note, I’ll see you two tomorrow.” He shot Kris a look. “Good luck.”

Kris snorted and did a reverse nod. “’Preciate you, big dawg.”

He walked off toward a van, shoulders shaking as he chuckled. Turning to Kris, the question on my lips died when I saw her once again standing next to my car. This time, she looped an arm around my waist and pulled me next to her as she opened the driver’s door. She released me immediately after and shoved a hand in her pocket as she gripped the door with her other hand.

“C’mon. It’s getting late and we both have to get up early.”

I frowned, not liking how dry she suddenly seemed.

“Okay...”

Feeling totally confused, I climbed into the car and looked up at her.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Of course,” she answered smoothly, smiling down at me.

She leaned into the car and dropped a kiss onto my cheek before stepping back and closing the door. I watched her open her own door and slide into the seat before the engine revved and she pulled the strap of the seat belt across her chest.

“Let’s go,” she mouthed before pantomiming driving.

The silly move was cute, and I was unable to keep from grinning at the sight. It wasn’t until I turned onto the street and watched her drive off in the opposite direction that confused feeling returned. I wasn’t an expert on Kris, but I knew my feelings, and I was certain that something had happened. I just needed to figure out what.

Chapter Eight

Kris

Do-Over

“She said what?”

Rolling my eyes, I flopped back on the couch and stared up at the ceiling while Rhea cracked up. She hadn’t been home when I’d arrived, so I’d jumped in the shower. Emerging from my bedroom refreshed, but no less confused about my conversation with D’Vaughn, I found my sister in the kitchen digging into a plate of smothered chicken. After dapping me up, she pushed a container bearing the name of a soul food spot near Raul and Ray’s apartment that we frequented toward me. While I ate, she gave me her feedback on the outing and told me about the family’s conversation on the way home. As I’d suspected, they absolutely loved D’Vaughn. Mami had sung her praises the entire drive, with the only negative talk being at the venues’ expense. It was what I’d wanted to hear, but after the conversation D’Vaughn and I’d had, the news was a little bittersweet. Sighing heavily, I waited until we cleared away our empty containers and moved into the living room to fill Rhea in.

Although she was silent the majority of the time, her face was so damn expressive that I had to lie back across the seat cushions just so I wouldn’t have to watch her reactions. When I got to D’Vaughn’s bizarre response to me telling her she needed to let me love her, Rhea shot to her feet. The sudden movement startled me into sitting up.

“You heard me.”

“Nah.” She shook her head. “You gotta say that again because I know damn well you’re fucking with me right now.”

Groaning, I dragged both of my hands down my face. I wish this was a joke. I’d been so thrown off when D’Vaughn had said that shit that I hadn’t even known how to respond. What the hell did you say to someone who had missed the point completely?

“I told her that she needed to let me find the love of my life and she told me that all I had to do was take off my ring and be discreet when I went out scouting.”

Rhea clutched at her stomach, wheezing. “I know you fucking lyin’, bro. Ain’t no damn way.”

Without taking my eyes from the ceiling, I reached blindly for a decorative pillow and pressed it against my face. Where the fuck had our wires gotten so crossed that D’Vaughn thought that I was telling her that I wanted her to move out of the way while I searched for somebody to love?

“You told her you came on the show to find love, and then said she needed to let you do what you came to do, and she said ‘none of your other bitches even know about me so do what you gon’ do’. I’m crying!”

Without removing the pillow, I lifted my middle finger into the air and waved it around in hopes that Rhea would follow the directive and go fuck herself.

“I’m so glad I could provide your post-dinner amusement. Truly honored.”

“Whew, shit!” She slapped my feet off of the couch before dropping down beside me. “Don’t be mad at me. You know this is all your fault.”