Page 48 of Widow Mayker

“Bianca’s right,” Coco added as she joined us. “Adir went to see Von a some weeks back—”

I scoffed loudly. “What?”

Coco laughed. “What made you think he wasn’t going to go see that man? You’re Adir’s baby.” She glanced at me, Shyah, then Heir. “In fact, the three of you are Adir’s babies. He’s going to always make sure a nigga is on the up and up when it comes to y’all.”

Heir gasped. “Oh, shit! You think he went to see Kody?”

Coco grinned sheepishly.

“Oh, my goodness,” Heir whined, causing us to roll with laughter.

“Well, you’ve made it clear that there’s nothing between you and Kody,” Shyah reminded her. “So, at least you don’t have to worry about him popping up here.”

Heir’s face relaxed. “You know what. You’re right.”

Shyah grinned, but it fell moments later when her phone rang. She looked at the screen like it emitted a bad smell.

“What’s that look for?” I asked.

She glanced over both her shoulders, then whispered, “I have a stalker.”

Everyone gasped.

“What? Let me see,” I demanded, taking her phone. If someone was fucking with my cousin, I would have lost my mind.

“That number has been calling me for weeks, and he keeps leaving crazy-ass messages,” she informed us. That made the ladies at the table uneasy. Peering at the number beginning with an Atlanta area code, I relaxed.

“Is his name Lewis?” I questioned.

Suspicious, Shyah nodded.

I giggled. “Okay, this is kind of my fault.” Everyone’s eyes pinned on me, so I explained, “Lewis is Von’s old partner. I met him when I went to Atlanta. Not only is he fine as hell, but he’s really cool. So, I gave him your number.”

Shyah’s face contorted into shock. “You gave a man my number?”

Everyone’s stares seemed to burn. “I did.”

“Okay, maybe Von has some special powers or something. The Maja we know would’ve never did any shit like that,” Heir quipped. “But wait a minute. Why didn’t you just block his number?” she glanced at Shyah and quizzed.

Shyah shrugged sheepishly. “Alright, so maybe his voicemails aren’t weird. I mean, they’re weird because I don’t know him. But…they’re kind of sweet. And his voice is sexy.”

We burst out laughing. Shyah’s face tinted deeply. I gave her back her phone and said, “Next time he calls, you better answer. You’ll thank me later.”

Heir shook her head and glared at me. “Back to you. As much as it pains me to say this, the ladies are right about Von. I fear…he’s changing you, sis. You can’t walk away from him. Plus, he’s such a good guy.” She gagged after saying that last part.

I smacked my teeth and popped her on the hand. “Stop it.”

Kwamé grabbed my face in her hands and turned my attention back to her. “My advice to you is to open up to him. You’d be surprised how much a man, who truly wants to be with you, will understand whatever it is that lies behind you. And I promise you that what he does for a living won’t even matter once it’s all said and done.”

“Right,” Coco muttered. “Plus, ain’t no way Adir is about to let another man get this close to you. It’s Von or no one.”

No One Gunner, I thought with a soft smile. Maybe they were right. If Von was the closest chance I had at experiencing a true connection with a man, then cowering wasn’t an option.

“His parents are celebrating their wedding anniversary this coming weekend,” I said.

Coco beamed. “Then I suggest you show up looking like the next bride-to-be.”

I didn’t know about all that.