Page 23 of Kisses Behind The Spotlight 2: Finale

“AGGGGHHHHH!” I yelped as I was hoisted in the air.

“HELPPPPPP!” I screamed, kicking my feet.

My phone dropped, and my body froze from fear. This couldn’t be real life. Then I was thrown across his shoulder and immediately recognized the build, the locs, and the scent. I stopped hollering, and he realized the game was over, roughly placing me down on my feet. My heels stabbed the ground, and I stepped back.

“Stepp, what the fuck? I told you I hate it when you appear out of thin air,” I whined, stomping over to my phone on the ground.

“What I tell you about being so fucking oblivious to your surroundings? If I had nefarious intentions, yo’ ass would be as good as gone. I thought you were with Duke and Jameera today?”

“I had to go to the warehouse to handle some things. Why are you sneaking up on me in the parking garage?”

“That’s the thing, I didn’t sneak up on you. I got off the elevator, and you were engrossed in your phone, oblivious to your surroundings.”

“Why do you care? I thought you told me we were done the last time I was in Miami.” I badgered, folding my arms across my chest.

“Yeah, that was before I realized that nigga you with is lame as fuck. I changed my mind. You let that nigga post up where you lay your head? What type of pussy shit is that?” Stepp chastised me.

“I didn’t know he was going to do all of that, and as soon as it was brought to my attention, I told him to take it down.”

“So you going all in with that nigga now?”

“Leave me alone, Stepp. I had a long day. I’m not in the mood for your hot-and-cold shit tonight.”

“You running to that nigga?”

“Maybe,” I sassed, strutting towards the elevator.

“That nigga slept in your bed?” Stepp questioned, running up behind me.

I cut my eyes at him. Debating whether I wanted to lie and cave his chest in or tell the truth. Staring up into Stepp’s dark eyes as his freshly twisted locs hung loosely over his face, I decided to admit the truth.

“No. He slept in the guest bedroom.”

“You really ain’t fucked him yet? Or you just say that shit because it sounds good?”

“It’s the truth.”

“You know that he just wants to be around you because of your name, right?”

“I’m aware. It has you realizing what you’re going to lose, right?” I craned my neck to the side. “Sounds like it has you watching his social media accounts.”

“Fuck no. You know good and well I wouldn’t do no shit like that. Your Pops was telling us and saying he don’t know how much longer he’s going to support you bringing that nigga ‘round,” he detailed.

The elevator dinged, and I stepped on when the doors slid open. My bad habit placed his hand on the door, stopping it from closing.

“Come on.” Stepp gripped my hand and pulled me back out of the elevator. “You already ate?”

“Nope,” I replied, popping the P for dramatics.

“What do you want to eat?” Stepp asked, opening the door to the truck he was driving.

“I was thinking about wood-fired pizza.”

“Put it in the GPS,” he instructed before rounding the truck.

I settled into the passenger seat and grinned inwardly. Once I pulled up the address for Fabrica’s, I went to Yarissa’s text thread to Apple Pay her $100. The reply bubble popped up immediately, and I watched her text come through.

Yarissa: Who has my sister’s phone? She’s too cheap to randomly send me $100.