“True, but ain’t you tired of this shit yet?”
“No,” Kas answered simply, eliciting laughs from Quan and Kalil. “I’m serious. I know it seems like me and Yanna are hopeless, but I understand her beyond the façade she puts up. It’s some shit in her life that damaged her, and I do want to do right by her. At the same time though, her ass is so set in her ways, and I’m not about to let her play in my face.”
“You sure you wanna do right? Cause I can’t tell.”
“Yea, Nyx, I’m sure. It’s just… I think we done almost got into a routine of the toxic shit. One of us gets mad, we argue like strangers in the street, I put dick in her soul, then boom, she knocked out. The shit just resets after that.”
“Just because you can fuck yo’ girl to sleep, don’t mean you solved a problem. Shit, that’s light work.”
“First of all, don’t act like you won’t constantly trying to fuck Brea’s existence from Troi’s mind. You stayed using yo’ dick to try and make up for some shit. Second, she don’t just be sleep because I fuck her good. I mean, yea that, but mainly because I be making love to her in a way that be putting her whole body and mind at ease. If only for a little while.”
Kas released a cloud of smoke into the air while Quan, Onyx and Kalil stared at him in perplexity. A few moments passed before Kalil stood and picked the blunt from Kas’ fingers.
“What the hell is in this weed because who the fuck are you right now?”
“I’m me, nigga. Don’t try to make me feel bad because I’m deep. Need to get yourself a girl or something.”
“Nah,youneed to get one because according to Yanna, you ain’t got that.”
“Don’t nobody believe that shit, not even Yanna. She know she mine, and that’s why every time you see me, you see her too.”
Onyx, Quan and Kalil made comments about the state of Kas’ relationship, but he wasn’t interested in what they had to say. From the outside looking in, his and Yanna’s situation wasextremely toxic. Hell, it seemed that way from the inside as well. However, Kas knew what no one else knew. Yes, Yanna gave him a hard time, but like he’d told Onyx, he understood why. Although she couldn’t fully convey it to him, he knew there were aspects of Yanna’s upbringing that made her weary of giving love. Made her weary of accepting love. While Kas meant it when he said he wouldn’t allow her to play in his face, he was still willing to wait. He was willing to give her time to gain enough emotional intelligence to realize the things she witnessed in her past had nothing to do with her present. Until then, he’d accept what she gave, however noxious it may be. Scooting his feet into his slides, he hopped up from the chair.
“Hell you going?” Onyx questioned.
“Upstairs with Jaiyanna.”
“This nigga got it bad,” Kalil joked.
“Bad as fuck,” Kas confirmed. “Oh shit, aye, Quan hold on to this for me.” Going into his pocket, Kas pulled out Yanna’s pink iPhone and placed it in Quan’s hand.
“You stole her phone?! She been looking for that shit since last night!” Quan exclaimed.
“Yea, I need to keep it away from her until I can get Yasmine to take the video down. If she get on social media now, she’ll definitely see the shit. Once the video is deleted, all the mentions and shit will disappear. Just keep it off and keep it hidden.”
“If it’s one thing I’ve learned over the past couple years, it’s that shit done in the dark will eventually find its way to the light. You doing the most, hiding her phone and shit, but even if ole’ girl delete the video, you never know who screen recorded it and just waiting to share it with Yanna. Once shit makes it onto the internet, it’s there forever.”
“Well, I’ll deal with that when the time comes. For now, Quan, keep that fucking phone out of sight, and Nyx keep Troi baby out her phone too.”
“I’m not hiding shit from my fiancée, Kas.”
“Why not? You used to be real good at it, just pretend you hiding a girlfriend and it should come easily for you.”
Kas narrowly dodged his brother’s punch as he hurried through the patio door and slid it closed. As he ascended the twelve stairs, he contemplated all the ways he wanted to sex Yanna just in case it was the last time he’d be granted the honor. Entering the room, he heard the shower running and immediately pulled his shirt over his head. He said a quick prayer to God, asking that somehow his latest misstep would go unnoticed before joining Yanna in the shower.
CHAPTER TWO
The faint smell of salt permeated the air, mixing with the sound of calypso music, providing the perfect ambiance for patrons of the Bridgetown Market. Even though the temperature was close to 90 degrees, the breeze from the ocean made it so the heat wasn’t unbearable. Tourists and locals alike danced to the music while either gorging on food or purchasing fine art, jewelry, or other wares. None of the group particularly wanted to attend the market, but Layla insisted. She’d spent most of the vacation caring for Kian and doing whatever everyone else wanted to do. All she wanted to do was one activity of her choosing, then she’d go back to being the designated babysitter.
She led the way while the rest of the family trailed behind her. Troi and Onyx were holding hands, stealing kisses from each other every few moments. Kian was perched atop his father’s neck, taking in the sights of the market. Yanna filled the middle with Kas holding onto her as if she’d disappear at any moment.
“Tender ass nigga,” Quan clowned. He was lagging behind the group along with Kalil, walking slowly with a rag covering his forehead. The night before, he’d made the mistake of mixingtequila and vodka, and the hangover was kicking his ass. He’d wanted to stay at the villa, stretched out on the plush king-sized bed, but he had to honor his aunt’s attendance request.
“Mind yo’ business, muh’fucka!”
“Kasra!” Layla called sternly.
“My bad, mumma.”
