Michi, who wanted to hear the truth from the horse’s mouth, stared at her girl. When Kennedy remained quiet and stone faced, she glanced down the table at her cousin, and Savvy rushed to stuff a half-moon shaped fried pastry in her mouth. Michi gawked.
“Bitch, you know what’s really up and didn’t tell me? Let me find out!”
“It’s not my business to tell! I don’t even have all the details, but I know whoever Kenn is giving her coochie to shouldnotbe a dinner discussion.”
“Exactly! She’s grown and can have sex with whoever she wants to. Relationship or not,” Toot sassed, rolling her eyes. “I don’t get why y’all are putting her on the spot and Tek, you shouldn’t have shit to say about it, honestly. She told you not to deal with me, but you did it. She told you not to go around getting hoes pregnant, and you did that, too. Hell, I told you not to talk to Ry because it’s too close to home and would be a problem for me, but look at you, still doing the same hoe stuff you always do.”
“Man, I told you, me and Ryell are friends! And don’t you have a boyfriend?!”
“Whatever.” Toot flicked him off before continuing to defend Kennedy. “Tres, you know you’re my bestie, and I love my brother to death, but I asked you not to mess with his butt. What did you do?”
“Wait, I didn’t even say nothing!” Treasure squeaked, whipping her head around so fast, her boho braids flailed. “I’m not judging her when my man is a jail bird with three kids, three baby mommas, and one is my sister’s friend.”
“Goddamn, Bird! Do you even fucking love me, or are you my biggest hater?” Pierre stared at her with wide eyes as she giggled before flinging her arms around his neck to kiss his cheek.
“Sorry! I’m just agreeing, none of us are perfect, so we can’t judge Kennedy.”
“Well, I mean,” Michi dragged out boastfully, flinging her crimped bundles over her shoulder before she beamed at Titan. “My man is damn near perfect.”
“Agreed, but are you?”
Her smile faded before her stare went across the table when Relic pointed that out. She tucked her peachy tinted lips, speechless, while inhaling through the achy chest she endured from his observation.
“My brother didn’t have trauma or baggage, but then he met you. The nigga was so gone, he was willing to put up with all the damage you carried, even after you tried to lil’ boy him and wouldn’t give him a real chance. It ain’t a secret, I didn’t want him with you. I even got the nigga his condo, so he could move out that cramped ass apartment with you. What did he do?”
“Moved me in,” she muttered, loathing that Relic was right. As much as it hurt Michi to hear or acknowledge the truth; Titan should’ve cut his losses with her, but he held strong and held her down. He loved her despite her flaws, sketchy past, and trauma.
“I can say, with receipts to prove it, that one person, if not both, in every couple at this dinner, has some shit with them,” Relic attested. “So, why the fuck does what me and Kennedy do or don’t have going on bother y’all so fucking much? Am I that bad of a person that she has to be out her damn mind to fuck with me? Is that what it is? Y’all got so much to fucking say, so speak up. You got the floor.”
Relic stared around the table at every pair of eyes on him, and he could read the reticent judgement in each, but none of them dared to speak, fearful that he’d a shed light on their flaws they magically forgot about while pointing out his. He held a secret in the chamber for every last one of them that could cause strife in their relationship, but he minded his goddamn business and never aired their dirty laundry unless provoked. It was one of those nights where he was willing to do so if they pushed him. Relic exposing that Tekken talked to Ryell was light work on his part.
“You’re right.” Tekken was the first one bold enough to shatter the tension. “Like I told my aunt, I don’t want to see herget hurt again, but I also don’t want her to feel like I’m judging her. She’s already been acting like a nigga is invisible since she got here, and maybe that’s my fault—”
“I have not!” Kennedy lied straight through her teeth, and he frowned.
“Big dog, you ain’t even speak! Where is my hug at? I get that I haven’t been the best nephew, but I thought that we were locked in. You haven’t looked me in my face once since you sat down, even while you were defending me to P’s punk ass.”
“You’re being a lil’ ass boy again,” Relic chided with a shake of his head. “Get yo overgrown, spoiled, entitled ass up to hug your aunt. Why the hell does she have to initiate it? She’s babied you too much, and that’s the problem.”
Kennedy glared at him. “Relic, you’re doing too much now. Leave him alone. It’s fine.”
“Nah, it’s not, and he’s right,” Tekken admitted as he stood to head toward her.
Kennedy wished she could dissolve through the deck when Tekken bopped over and wrapped her in his strong arms. Her eyes shut as she returned his gesture—hugging him around the waist like he’d slip away if she let him go. The moment his lips pressed against her temple, guilt took its sweet time creeping through her insides before coiling around her heart with a pressure that caused her breath to stutter. Tekken pulled back and peered at her as his bushy brows pinched in concern.
“You good, big dog?” The faint lines on his forehead bloomed to full creases as she swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. “You sure? You look like you’re ‘bout to be sick.”
“I think the flight threw me off because I’ve been like this since we landed. I just need some fresh air.”
“Bonnie, we’re outside on a damn beach. How fresher can the fucking air get?” Pierre butted in, making her mug him as she stood.
“Breathing it with your simple ass is making it stale. I need air you’re not using. I’ll be right back, Tekken.”
“You want me to come with you?” Savvy offered.
The concern in her girl’s voice was apparent, but she shook her head before scampering off so no one else could press her. Kennedy needed time to compartmentalize her overwhelming emotions.
Relic watched her while piecing together the theories he’d formed in his head the last few days about her erratic temperament. About the softer sides of Kennedy that she wouldn’t dare reveal to anyone, let alone him, if she could help it. He stood and patted a sulking Tekken on his back.
