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“There isn’t one. Well, I lied,” she said. “I did think you and Lloyd looked good as fuck last night.”

I immediately shook my head.

“And there it is. Y’all really took one dinner and turned it into something way bigger than it was.”

“Who the hell is y’all?”

“You and your brother. Shameek has been on this weird ‘Lloyd’ campaign for a minute now, and I don’t understand why. Nobody went home with anybody and there was no secret relationship created over steak.”

Jaharee slowly put her glass down.

“Hold on, bitch, because you skipped over something. What did Shameek have to say about Lloyd? I knew something was off with him last night, but I didn’t know his ass had already been bothering you about the man.”

“He thinks Lloyd is around too much. First, it turned into him questioning Lloyd himself, which embarrassed the hell out of me. Then, it was about safety and how we don’t know who was involved with Rah’s murder. I had to tell him I was grown enough to decide who I’m comfortable around.”

Jaharee laughed before taking a bite of calamari. “That actually explains a lot. I caught his ass watching y’all at the event last night. I don’t mean some casual glances either. Lloyd had touched you, and Shameek looked like he wanted to walk across that ballroom and personally remove that nigga out of your space.”

I waved her off as the waitress sat my drink and appetizers down.

“Shameek is always somewhere looking mad.”

“Nah, Kyenna. I have known that man my entire life. I know the difference between his regular ‘these niggas getting on my nerves’ face and when something is actually bothering him.”

I picked up my strawberry lemon drop and took a sip because I didn’t want her studying my face too closely.

“He thinks he’s protecting me. Ever since everything happened, Shameek has gotten it in his head that I’m another responsibility he inherited.”

Jaharee nodded, but I can tell she wasn’t buying it. I was trying to sell the fucking lies that were falling off my lips.

“That could be part of it. Meek has always been protective as hell when it comes to family. Now he’s trying to cover every spot Rah used to cover, too. I can see him being overbearing because he thinks he’s keeping you safe. What I can’t explain is, why his ass looked ready to end Lloyd’s life over a dance?”

“I think you and Shameek are making too much out of nothing.”

“I ain’t making shit out of anything. You and Lloyd looked good together, and my brother hated that shit. Whatever that means is between y’all. I’m just the innocent little sister who happened to have eyes.”

“Innocent?” I laughed.

“Oh, bitch, don’t ruin my image.”

That was my way of getting the pressure off me. Jaharee started telling me about some man who had been in her messages for months.

“So, he sends you a fire emoji on every picture and never respond?”

“Chile, I accidentally hearted one of his messages on a drunk night. He been good morning my ass every day since.”

“Gave that man hope for nothing.”

“That nigga will heal. But can I tell you something else I noticed last night? It just hit me.”

My stomach dropped, so I picked up my glass and downed the rest of my drink.

“I asked Lloyd where you had disappeared to, and he said you went to the bathroom. Around that same time, Nikki asked me if I seen Meek. I didn’t think anything of the shit. But as soon as you texted me you were leaving, Meek ass reappeared holding hands with Nikki. I figured he had cornered your ass about Lloyd and ruined your night.”

“He did,” I lied.

“He needs to learn how to mind his business.”

Thankfully, Jaharee moved on without noticing how uncomfortable she had made me. When the waitress placed the check down, Jaharee snatched it before I could.