“Yep. We already started planning, so I’ll find a larger space and then incorporate Shabu into it. Maybe get Titan involved since I know you’re super busy.”
“Do that, and we can throw it at my crib. I have a date in mind, too.”
“The budget is switching out of our pocket into yours, so it’s your world, daddy.”
Relic chuckled with a head nod, loving their idea. He planted a hand on her thigh and gave it a squeeze to show his appreciation, and his stomach twisted at the light smile she returned that didn’t compare to ones he’d seen during the surveillance checks on his house.
“You still hate me?” he asked with a cursory glance at her. Shock covered her face before she shrugged.
“Less than usual. You haven’t been around to piss me off much lately.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you missed me.”
“Sometimes,” she admitted softly, and Relic hummed while that fucking flittering in his chest commenced. “I’m not used to being in that big of a house alone, and your ass is gone more thanyou’re home. It’s too quiet and empty. I used to think I wanted a huge house like that one day, but not if I’m by myself. It’s pointless.”
“I’m usually at the condo when I don’t have Jah. I can put you there, and you’ll be closer to Michi.”
She gave a vehement shake of her head, making him smirk since he knew she preferred solitude over being too accessible to people. The same as him. If she’d said yes, he would’ve had to remove the pest that’d been there for the past week.
“No, thanks. That wasn’t the solution I was shooting for, but it’s fine. I’ll pick up Jah after school more often, so he can liven it up in there.”
“Liven it up, or drive us crazy,” he grumbled, making her laugh as his eyes drifted to his dashboard when a call came in.
Relic scratched his brow, feeling the instant searing of Kennedy’s glower as he realized it had slipped his mind to switch his phone to do not disturb while driving since she was in the car. He didn’t have to glance at her to know she was in the passenger seat seething while another woman’s name taunted her in big, bold letters. After a short debate, he picked up since the call could pertain to where he was taking Kennedy.
“Speak.”
“Hey, are you still coming?” Milan’s delicate but prim voice wafted into the car, making him glance at a teeming Kennedy, noting her leg shaking as she gazed ahead. “You said an hour ago that you—”
“I’ll get there when I get there, Milan.” He cut her off, and she sighed.
“Fine. I’m just so anxious to see your handsome face. I hope I make you happy this time. If not, I promise to work harder until I get it right. What you usually need from me has changed, so it’s throwing me off my game.”
“Well, get the fuck back on it, or I may take my needs elsewhere next time. See you when I get there.”
Relic ended the call before Milan got another word in since he was already pulling up to their destination. When he rolled behind Milan’s car and parked, he turned to face Kennedy but didn’t get a chance to explain himself before she let her vicious tongue off its leash.
“Take me home right fucking now before I snap. You are so damn disrespectful, Relic! You really answered for a bitch like I’m not right here?!” she spewed, foaming at the mouth while clapping with each word before breaking out in a snide laugh. “I hope she does make you happy. I hope she works her pussy off the bone to earn her keep! I don’t know who disgusts me more, you or the weak ass women you love so much. I see why we’ll never fucking work.”
“Heard. Now, are you finished embarrassing yourself yet? Because I have better shit to do than listen to it. Sit in the car until I’m done as far as I care, and I’ll drop you off wherever you want to go afterward.”
Relic’s nonchalance to her rabid attack muzzled her bark and left her looking as foolish as she sounded while he killed the engine before grabbing his shades from the center console to slip on. He climbed out of his car like he couldn’t give one damn about her feelings since she didn’t care about his when she had gone off without hearing him out. Relic stalked toward the house he’d parked in front of but then doubled back and snatched opened his passenger door to call Kennedy out on her shit. He figured what time she was on when she’d mentioned her stylists speaking on his fucking name.
“And you’re talking shit ‘bout Milan, but I bet money she’d be on her game if you got out of this car. Meanwhile, you’re off yours because you let a salon of basic, hating ass birds get in your head. Your fucking feelings are showing, Kennedy. Putthem away, and bring my bitch out, because you’re the one sounding weak right now. All that big dog talking you do, but you’re letting another chick make you sweat. First Aura, and now Milan. You’re ‘oh and two’ on the score board, and that ain’t a good look if you ask me.”
“I didn’t ask you,” she snapped, but got her ass out of the car at the mention of Milan being in the vicinity. Relic grilled her when she slammed the door, knowing it’d piss him off.
Kennedy grabbed her oversized shades out her purse and slipped them on to conceal the emotions she’d put on display from the moment Relic picked her up. That green eyed monster had come out to play, and it had brought its best friend, insecurity with it. Relic clocking it, knowing it wasn’t her style, was a blatant reminder for her to tighten up and keep her head in the game if she wanted her spot to remain secure in the final stretch. Relic had chosen her, but it was still her versus the long list of women vying for his attention.
A dog barking nearby made her gaze wander around the neighborhood she hadn’t paid much attention to since they’d entered it. She spotted the pesky mutt a few houses down, yapping from the porch at the new faces intruding on its territory. The more she took in the homey energy of the beautiful two-story houses with clean whips parked in multi-car driveways, and manicured lawns putting a nice distance between each property for privacy; she realized it was the exact spot she’d love to live in rather than a lavish but lifeless one like Relic’s home.
The for-sale sign forked into the lush yard they stood in front of amplified her humiliation before she glanced at the home’s door after it opened. She put on her game face, but her posture stiffened at the bronzed skin, pressed hair, pencil skirt wearing woman in heels who strutted onto the porch. The designer bag dangling from Milan’s French-tip nails with its gleaming ‘B’charm sickened Kennedy to her core. She refused to show it like she’d just done in the car.
“The crazy thing about it is,” Relic started, bracing his hand at the small of her back like they weren’t privately at each other’s throats as they headed toward his realtor. “A nigga figured I’d leave work early to show you the house I was looking at for you, we’d kick it the rest of the day, and then you’d show me a good time as thanks in the bedroom to finish out strong. You just had to fuck it up. I guess I’m not the only one letting my past traumas ruin shit, huh?”
Kennedy shrunk under his chiding but recovered and lifted her head high. Relic made valid points, but it didn’t invalidate her stance.
“You’re right, but it doesn’t justify that you put me in the same place with another woman off of your roster. It’s fucking offensive, no matter the reason, and she obviously doesn’t even know. Now, when I do the same shit, don’t spazz out like you did at my parents’ house.”
