Cassie slowly stood up, and I saw Ken get into a defensive stance. She would fight anyone, anywhere, and didn’t care if she ruined an event or not. Lucky for her, Jah loved her dirty, period-stained draws, so if she turned his party up, he’d be right beside her stomping a hoe’s ears together. That was just how hard they rode for each other.
“I apologize again, for staring. I’m a new writer with them, and I really wanted to do a piece on you in your own words. I feel like so many times blogs get it wrong when it comes to y’all, and it’s more damaging than helpful. I pitched the idea to them, and they just told me good luck as if they didn’t believe that I could get it done.”
I blinked a few times, processing her words. “You want tointerviewme?”
“Yes,” she shook her head rapidly. “A chance for you to set the record straight in your own words.”
“Uh,” Ken inserted herself, her eyes scanning Cassie from head to toe. “One thing about Dreka, she don’t give a fuck about setting no record straight. People can believe what they wanna believe.”
“I agree, but I also believe she has a voice independent of Xyleek, and I just…” she blew out a deep breath. “I believe the world wants to hear it. Certainly, people here in the 757 are invested in your relationship, and I see that the only time youspeak to any reporters is when you’re with him. I think this would be a great opportunity for the spotlight to be on you and you alone.”
“Rahdreka,” Dean walked up to us. “Xy needs you up on the roof. You too, Makenna.”
“I know damn well Xyleek don’t wantmeup on no roof!”
“Not him, your husband.”
Glancing at Dean, I nodded and shrugged slightly. “I’ll think about it, Cassie, okay? Thank you.”
Dean extended his arm so that we could walk ahead of him. We made our way up the stairs and then out to the rooftop deck where there seemed to be a whole other party going on. The music was playing at a soft volume, and the decorations up there matched the ones inside the lounge. I didn’t realize there were so many people up there smoking and chilling. It wasn’t hard at all to spot Xy and Jah because they were the blingiest niggas on the deck.
Xy’s arms were outstretched as I walked towards him. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he wrapped me up in a hug after I stepped into his embrace. “I wanted you near me,” he kissed the side of my head repeatedly. “I don’t like when I’m away from you too long.”
Melting into his chest, I inhaled deeply and laughed a little. “Xy, you act like it was hours.”
“Damn sure felt like it,” he squeezed me tighter. “I love you so much, Drek. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
My body immediately tensed at his words. “What happened?”
“What you mean?” He leaned back a bit to look at me.
“Did something happen, Xyleek?”
“With what?” He looked genuinely confused.
Staring at him, I realized my body was responding to those words because they typically came righttttt before somethingfucked up happened.I don’t know what I’d do without youwas Xy’s red flag.
“You only say that when something is about to explode in my face, so what is it this time?”
“What? The only thing that’s gon’ be exploding in your face is me, later on,” he chuckled then kissed me softly on the lips. “Drek, I really am trying this time. I said I don’t know what I’d do without you because Itrulydon’t know what the fuck my life would look like if you weren’t in it. You really are my angel, and the only thing that’s ever made sense to me in this fucked up world.”
The way he looked at me melted me like ice cream under a summer sun, and I went weak in the knees. Healwayslooked at me like I was the only person on the entire planet, and it did something to me every single time. Something that made my brain shut down every logical function, and that’s how I ended up looking stupid time and time again. I really was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt though.
“Mmhmmm,” I hummed, getting lost in the dreams in his eyes.
“Aye Dean.”
Dean was right beside us in a split second and Xy whispered something that I couldn’t hear. Nodding, Dean quickly walked away and seconds later,Angelby Shaggy started playing over the speakers. My lips twisted to the side because I knew Xy’s ass told them to put this shit on. It was our song back in the day, and the reason he only called me Angel for real.
He started singing the lyrics to me while holding me as we two-stepped to the beat.“Girl, you're my angel, you're my darling angel, closer than my peeps you are to me, baby, shorty, you're my angel, you're my darling angel, girl, you're my friend when I'm in need, lady, life is one big party when you're still young, but who's gonna have your back when it'sall done?”Smiling, he kissed me again. “Thank you for always having my back, Angel. I’m not taking that for granted ever again. I love you, beautiful.”
“I love you too, Xy.”
“I’m ‘bout to tell the DJ to turn this shit off!” Ken disturbed our moment, purposely bumping into me and Xy.
“Makenna,” I whined with a slight laugh.
