Jahleel opened his mouth and then shut it, glancing at Kennedy after he realized she’d never told him.
“His name was Koda.”
The loudest squeal shot from Jasmine as she grabbed her brother’s arm to shake him while bouncing like a ball of pure energy. Jahleel looked annoyed, making Kennedy laugh.
“I love that name, Ms. Kennedy! It’s kind of like my middle name. Dakota. What’s your nephew’s name?”
“Tekken, and he’s a rap star,” Jahleel boasted, and she smiled. Her stare flitted to their grandmother, and Neffie’s eyes were trained on her with a small twinge of disbelief in them.
“That’s really your nephew’s name, Tekken?”
Kennedy laughed. “I know, it’s odd. My brother used to love the game, so my nephew’s mom used to joke about naming him Tekken. She called him that during the whole pregnancy, so when she passed after labor, Koda refused to name him anything else.”
“Wow.” Neffie laid her fingers over her lips in mild shock from the story and the memorable name.
“I know, and I’m sorry I’ve been telling all these sob stories since we met. Let me not hold you up. Jah, are you ready?”
“Yea, but can Jas come with us now that you and my granny like each other?”
“Slow down, Jah,” she said, holding out a hand as he frowned. “We just met, so let’s start small. Maybe I could take y’all for ice cream and hang out for a day.”
“Next weekend,” Neffie suggested, making Kennedy glance at her, surprised. “I’ll come with you all. Saturday since we go to church on Sunday.”
“My nephew’s concert is next Saturday, and I have a bridal shower the following one, so maybe the week after that? We can do it on either day, and if it’s Sunday, I’ll go to church with you all.”
“I’d love that, and I’m sure Jahleel would, too.”
“Great! If I can get Relic to come—”
“Just you!” Neffie asserted, her words firm and set in stone. “Like you said, start small. I’d like to talk to you.”
“That works for me.” Kennedy agreed before Neffie changed her mind.
After Jahleel hugged his grandmother and little sister goodbye, she tossed an arm over his shoulders before theyambled toward the parking lot. She couldn’t help the huge smile that made its way onto her face as his mouth started going about his school day and excitement about their ice cream date with his sister soon. Kennedy had worried that Relic had bought them a home for nothing, and she’d have to fight to see Jahleel once he was arrested. She should’ve known better.
Just like everything else; Relic had meticulously laid a piece and planned ahead. Kennedy’s smile faded after she contemplated what the hell else he’d planned for where it concerned her.
“Bishop to F5.”
Kennedy glanced up from the chessboard at Jahleel and smirked after her move. She watched his face pinch as he propped both forearms on the island and squinted like he was moving the pieces in his head before taking a turn. His defensive tactics were improving a lot, but his thought process was slow, and Kennedy knew that could lead him to a loss. She wanted to rush him because time wasn’t on his side in chess or real-life situations where he’d have to act fast but still make the best move or end up a loser. She added a chess clock to her list of things to buy, along with Jasmine’s cute two-piece sets.
“Knight to F3.” Jahleel pushed his horse shaped piece upward two squares and one to the left. She nodded and moved her pawn.
“E6.”
“Bishop to E2.”
As soon as Jahleel made his move, her eyes rounded and then scanned her pieces, before lifting to his face. The smug grin he wore was like looking at a younger version of Relic, if she’d ever seen one.
“I can start castling my king already. You’re nowhere near it.”
“True, but rule number one... never get too cocky or comfortable. We just started, so there’s always a chance I can make a comeback. The game isn’t over until it’s over.”
“Well, can it be over until we eat? I’m starving, and Relic isn’t coming home anytime soon.”
Kennedy picked up her phone, checked the time, and then sighed after seeing it was well after eight o’clock. She had sent Jahleel to shower as soon as they got in while she started dinner since he loved homecooked meals. So did his dad. Relic was still withholding dick from her, albeit it had been days since their minor argument, so she figured she’d make a heavy meal to butter him up and then top it off with the gifts she’d purchased him out of her pockets instead of using his money.
She had texted Relic hours ago to bring his ass home, and stalled Jahleel with a chess match, but knew he was famished after being at school and then football practice most of the day.
