He shrugged casually, not knowing that he’d just thrown my mind into a spiral.
“He’s been doing research. And honestly… He has the money, so why not?He came by the office to talk to dad about it,” he continued. “They were going to make a few calls. We don’t know anyone personally in that space, but I’m hoping he findssomeone solid and maybe even a mentor. Someone who really knows what they’re doing.”
I nodded slowly, my mind already on Stacks. The way he talked about trading so effortlessly. I’d never been to his home to see the way he lived but from the car he drove and the way he paid for everything without blinking, that showed that he knew what he was doing.
I’d always held a soft spot for Kordai, and if he was trying to rebuild his life the right way, I wanted to help however I could.
“I think I might know someone,” I said carefully.
Kairo looked up immediately. “Yeah?”
“Someone who does day trading,” I added. “I can reach out and see if he has resources, recommendations… maybe even someone he learned from.”
“Yeah, he’d appreciate that. Who is it?”
I laughed, buying myself time. “Baby, with all the clients I’ve had over the years, I’ve crossed paths with people doing all kinds of careers we don’t even think about. Real estate brings everybody around eventually. I’ve definitely run into a day trader or two.”
He nodded. “That makes sense. Well, get whatever info you can.”
“I will.”
I stood in the mirror after my shower doing my skincare routine. Coffee was already mid-sentence in my AirPods.
“In that moment,” she said talking like I was her student, “you shoulda just shut the fuck up.”
I laughed softly, dabbing toner onto a cotton pad. “But you know Kordai is trying to get his life back on track. He doesn’t want to depend on anyone. Why wouldn’t I help if I can?”
Coffee sucked her teeth. “Ain’t nothing wrong with helping your brother-in-law. But not when the situation could get messy. You shoulda listened to your future sister-in-law Niv and not even contacted that man. Because now he already has you doing shit without thinking.”
I rolled my eyes, smoothing moisturizer into my cheeks. “Relax. I never said I was gonna connect Stacks and Kordai. I’m not that crazy.”
“Mhm.”
“I just meant,” I continued, “Stacks probably knows people. I can get information without anyone knowing anything about… us and our friendship.”
Coffee laughed. “Yeah. Friendship, my ass.”
I smiled at my reflection. “Oh hush.”
“The same way,” she went on, “I’m standing in this kitchen right now finishing up lamb chops for a man who was just begging for closure last week.”
“So this is finally the embryo conversation?”
She paused. I could hear a pan sizzling in the background.
“Girl,” Coffee said, laughing under her breath, “he’s not even gonna bring that shit up.”
“Really?”
“Nope. I shoulda said no to dinner,” she admitted. “But… I missed him today.”
She got quiet and then she exhaled. “You know what, never mind. I can’t tell you shit like this anymore. I’m not married.I can afford to do stupid shit. You can’t. And I don’t need you following my bad habits.”
I smiled, applying my eye cream. “Coffee, please stop. You act like I don’t have my own mind.”
Before she could respond, my phone buzzed on the counter.Motion detected: front door.
I glanced at the screen and saw Kairo stepping inside with grocery bags, and shoulders relaxed now that he was home.
