Page 117 of The Need to Know

“Okay? What’s wrong with that?” Ezekiel wanted to know.

“Like I said, my parents and I are complicated. I dropped out of school and didn’t have any plans, something that my parents weren’t too thrilled about,” I explained. “We’re picking up the pieces now, little by little. My dad kind of shamed me for being the way I am, and not like my sister, and it still stings, you know?”

Ezekiel arched a brow. “The way you are?”

“Lover of love,” I said dryly. “I dated lousy guys and got my heart broken, while my sister focused on her education and career. She’s going to be a doctor and save the world, and I’m going to be…me.”

The look on Ezekiel’s face made me step back and chew on my lip. His annoyance over my father was palpable. “There’s nothing wrong with you. Besides, you’re straight now.”

“Yeah.”

“If you don’t want to go, I get it,” he said, in full of support of the idea.

I didn’t. I could’ve easily hung out with Alannah solo, but that wasn’t what she wanted. She was strapped for time, something I could understand. “I don’t want to, but she practically begged me.”

“This is your baby sister,” he said. “Kinda sounds like she needs you.”

She did and I was going to let her down if I didn’t show up. “I should just do it for her.”

“You should,” Ezekiel agreed. “I’ll come with you if you want.”

My lips parted and I didn’t know what to say as I stood staring at him. “Y-You don’t have to do that. It’s kinda soon.”

“I did sorta drag you to meet my parents on like…day five,” Ezekiel joked.

That was different. “Ezekiel.”

He stood and came up to me, going and taking me into his arms. “You’re my girl. I’m not letting you walk into any situation when you’re uncomfortable and feel ambushed. Besides, with me there, it’ll take some weight off you and your sister’s boyfriend’s shoulders. I look good on paper. I don’t mind taking some heat.”

I wrapped my arms around him, not even ashamed at the idea of him possibly feeling how hard my heart was beating through my chest.

“Thank you, Zeke,” I said.

His lips pressed to my temple. “I always got you. Don’t question it.”

I closed my eyes and reveled in the sensation of melting. It was terrifying how much I could love him so much so fast so soon.

The house was packed. Just about everyone in the state of Georgia had shown up for our Battle of the Sexes event.

I made sure Nastasia was tucked away safely up in VIP. But even from where I was standing up on stage with Paisley, I could see that the Diamond Suite was full. Men and women lined the railing to see us down below and watch as we battled it out. Paisley had DJ Aux and a killer female playlist, and I had my boy DJ Gravity on the spin table helping me drop bomb after bomb.

Currently, we were neck and neck, headed for an honorable tie should neither of us play a dud.

At the moment, the crowd was going wild for Paisley’s current song. “Lookin Ass” was playing and the women all around the Club Suite were rapping along. A few fellas up front could be seen nodding to the beat, too.

Of course Paisley was talking her shit, but it was all love at the end of the day. I forgot whose idea it was, but for the night, we were matching. Her in a pink blazer, matching shorts, and a black bralette, and me in a matching pink suit and white dress shirt. I intended to beat her, but it was an honor to work with her.

I took my mic and clapped into it as the song ended and the women in the building hollered. “Nice song.”

Paisley smirked. “You can relate, huh?”

I grinned. She had no idea what I had planned.

Facing the crowd, I studied every single lady in the vicinity I could see and smiled my charming smile. “Fellas, y’all know we winnin’ this, right?”

The men in the building shouted my way in agreement. “Hell yeah!”

“Real talk, though, we can talk shit all night, but I’m a lover.” I pressed a hand to my chest and eyed the women in front of me again. “It’s all fun and games, but how many of us are going home with a woman tonight?”