“Hard. Like I’m thinkin’ about that nigga,” Emani scoffed to cover her scent. Thinking, dreaming, resenting… all of that. She was doing all of that. Donnée knew it. She knew her cousin. She knew her heart and she knew that Jahlil was the second man in Emani’s life to let her down. Sure the front was convincing seven years ago. But Donnée and the rest of them saw straight through it. Jahlil’s protest to come back and get her then was short lived. “So I’m doing this on no sleep and a fuckin’ attitude and now he wants to wipe all of this away like he didn’t accuse me of everything but fuckin’ that nigga while I’m on the road. I’m irritated.”
“Shake it off. Focus on what’s in front of you right now. Deal with Malik when you get home. You’re a bad bitch the nigga should be sweating. And that’s not just because Jahlil is back but you can have anyone you want and you choose him,” Donnée encouraged while Derrick grunted.
“Anyone you want. Don’t forget that shit. Emani fuckin’ Rose. Number one female MC, fashion icon. You’re it and the IT girl. If anything, he should be dropping dick and gifts left and right to keep you. Trapped you with a few babies by now,” Derrick added.
“I’m just saying,” Donnée said, agreeing with Derrick and turning some music on. “Let’s get this shoot done.”
She spotted the sisters in the corner and poked her lip out. “What are they talking about?”
Emani was back on her phone, shrugging her shoulders. “I don’t know. Don’t care.”
Derrick muttered. “That sure is a nice bracelet. Nice clarity. Maybe I should charge you more so I can get one too.”
Carson: heard the news. You good?
Emani: hearing something you and Kyrie arranged is wild. I’m fine
Carson: wasn’t going to say shit until the ink dried
Emani: doesn’t matter, C. I have a life and he has his. Don’t make this a thing
Carson: tell Ashton that
Emani: I’m not telling that short shit anything. He’s ShadyPalms I swear
Carson: you hell, E!
Once she was primped and primed, Emani walked on set only to be welcomed by a massive bouquet of flowers. From Malik, of course, to soothe the irritation he caused. Emani shook off their fight and locked in with her work. Anything weighing on her would have to wait until later. Jahlil and Malik included.
2 /JAHLIL
“Season openerwith the Oceania Hawks is going to be a dub!” Ryan Jones shouted. “Bringing Jahlil is going to cause confusion. This is the Malik Kilpatrick show, let him do his thing.”
“Kilpatrick is struggling. He needs the help of Savage,” Micah countered.
Jahlil strolled into his living room. There were over twenty boxes that needed to be unpacked. The only thing Andrew had managed to do was slouch on the couch scrolling on his phone while Sanaa, Jahlil’s daughter stood in front of the TV intently watching two unqualified sportscasters debate with Micah about his validity when it came to the Hawks. The shit was sickening. Since he entered the league, the Jahlil Savage hate was louder than the love. Time after time, season after season, he proved why he wasn’t just a contender butthecontender.
“Why are you letting your niece watch this?” Jahlil questioned his younger brother and his assistant.
Andrew briefly looked up from his phone and cut his older brother a look. “I’m not fighting with that girl over the TV. She straight up jacked the remote. She saw your picture and decided that listening to E.Rose could wait.”
“She shouldn’t be listening to that either,” Jahlil grumbled.
The mention of E.Rose made Sanaa start bouncing. “I’m a treat you like a fuckin’ dawg, baby. I clap my hands all the niggas come runnin’, baby!”
“Sanaa Lily!” Jahlil barked, as Andrew covered his mouth and laughed. “Her little ass cussin’ ain’t funny, boy. That’s your fault. I told you about that shit.”
“My bad, Jah,” Q said with a wince, turning the channel to something age-appropriate. “I was watching it. Sanaa was just along for the ride.”
“Hey, I wanted to see what else those assholes had to say about my daddy,” Sanaa huffed, stomping over to the couch and pushing Andrew over so she could sit right in his space. He was more like her big brother than her uncle.
“Sanaa, your mouth,” Jahlil rumbled, making her little face frown more. He focused his attention on Andrew. “I thought you were going to unpack before going to the basketball court?”
Andrew looked at the stack of boxes and then out the window. “I was thinking.”
“You about to ask me for some shit I’m going to say no to,” Jahlil muttered. “What, boy?”
“I met a few people, can they come over and we just kick it by the pool?” Andrew asked.
