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“Ky–”

“And don’t call me Ky. Rah used to call me that. Let me out,” I said.

Shameek opened the door and let me out. I sent a text to Jaharee letting her know I had a headache and I was heading home. There was no way I could look Lloyd or Nikki in the face after what almost happened in that conference room. When I arrived home, I stripped out of everything and took a long hot shower, brushed my teeth, and crawled in the bed. This was the second time this happened and I was afraid that next time we were going to take the shit too far.

CHAPTER 19

SHAMEEK

Istood there watching Kyenna rush out of the venue. Nikki was right in my face as soon as I turned around.

“Where you been?” she asked, looking me up and down.

“In the bathroom.” I grabbed her arm to try to bring her back to the ballroom when her eyes caught the back of Kyenna.

“What the fuck y’all got going on?” She snatched away.

“Look, don’t show the fuck out at my family shit. We ain’t got a fuck thing goin’ on.”

“You damn sure been watching her all night with that lawyer dude.”

I wasn’t about to stand here and argue with Nikki. I had just done enough of that shit with Kyenna a few minutes ago.

“You even smell like her. Y’all were mighty close.”

I looked Nikki dead in her eyes. “Ain’t shit goin’ on wit’ us. I checked her ‘bout some shit, and that was it.”

“About him,” she pointed towards Lloyd.

“You don’t think it’s too soon for her to be in a nigga face and my brother just died?”

She eased up as soon as I told her what the issue was. It was a lie. I was mad as fuck she was in that nigga face because there was something there between us. The first kiss, she was drunk, but I felt it then. This second time, she kissed a nigga back. It was passionate. She let me touch her.

“Shameek, Rah has been dead for over six months. Is there a timeframe on when someone can move on? He’s never coming back and as long as she was loyal when he was alive, what does it matter now that he’s dead? Let her live again.”

I looked at her before grabbing her hand and walking back into the ballroom. All I wanted to do was finish this night out so I could take her ass home. For the rest of the night, I checked my phone over and over again. It was close to ten.

“Come on, let me get you home.” I told Nikki.

“I’m not staying with you tonight?”

“Nah, I got some movin’ ‘round to do tonight and I don’t want to hear yo’ mouth. I got you tomorrow, though.”

We slipped right out the door before anyone stopped me to talk. I needed to see where Kyenna head was at. If she looked me in my face and told me we couldn’t cross that line, I would walk away and leave her alone. Nikki talked my ear off about the event as I drove her home. I tried to pay attention to her and respond when necessary, but I was desperately running the conversation I was about to have with Kyenna in my head. I pulled up in Nikki’s driveway and got out to open her door. She tried to go in for a kiss when she got to the door so I gave her a peck.

“I love you. I gotta go handle some shit at one of my spots,” I told her, rushing off.

She stood there in disbelief. I waited for her to close her door before I pulled off. As soon as I got down the road, I pulled my phone out and went to Kyenna’s name.

Me: You make home?

She was ignoring my message because she would usually text me right back unless she was in a meeting. I knew her ass wasn’t asleep.

Me: Kyenna

Nothing. I hit the gas heading towards our estate. My parents would be at the venue until at least midnight. They didn’t like to leave until they rubbed elbows with everyone. Sometimes that meant mingling with the owners of the venue. I didn’t want to chance them seeing my car at Kyenna’s house so I drove home and drove my golf cart back.

“Aye, call Kyenna and tell her to let me in the gate,” I told her security.