Kennedi watched the way people parted, the nods and daps Rolani collected without stopping, the way Giovanni moved beside him like they’d been doing this their whole lives. Because they had.
“I can’t believe you got that nigga in love like this,” Spirit said, sliding into the seat next to Kennedi.
“Put it on em make em wanna marry me,” she sang, flashing her engagement ring.
“Perioddd, I love it for you both. Sorry, I went so hard about Rolani,” Paige said. Kennedi grabbed her hand and squeezed.
“No, don’t apologize, Rolani deserves people who go hard for him. Just because I didn’t want to hear doesn’t make it false.”
“You happy, Ken?”
“I am. Home feels good. Being with Rolani feels good. Work feels good. I’m here to stay.”
“This the shit I write about,” Spirit said, shaking her head. “The reformed street nigga falls for the woman who sees past all his bullshit. Y’all are literally a romance novel.”
“Girl, please,” Kennedi laughed. “Ain’t nothing about this been smooth.”
“That’s what makes it good. The messy ones always are.” Spirit took a sip of her drink. “For real though, I’ve known Ro my whole life. He’s never been like this with anybody.”
“Like what?”
“Open. Soft with it.” Spirit gestured toward the crowd where Rolani had disappeared. “That man used to move like he didn’t need anybody. Had walls up so high you couldn’t see over them. But with you?” She shook her head. “He’s all in. It’s beautiful to see.”
“He makes it easy,” Kennedi said. “Once I stopped fighting it.”
“That’s the hard part, right?” Paige added. “The not fighting. Letting somebody in when you’ve been doing it alone for so long.”
“Facts.” Kennedi’s hand went to her belly. “I almost messed this up. Multiple times.”
“But you didn’t,” Spirit said. “That’s what matters.”
The DJ switched tracks—Khia’s “Can’t Wang Wit It”—and half the crowd moved toward the open space near the strip.
Paige jumped up and grabbed Kennedi’s hand. “Oh, this is my shit. Come on!”
“Paige, I’m pregnant.”
“And?”
Before she could argue, Spirit had her other arm, and she was being dragged into the line forming up.
The music hit, and Kennedi fell in — muscle memory, hips rolling, feet knowing exactly where to go. She looked up and caught Rolani at the edge of the crowd. He’d stopped mid-conversation with Giovanni, staring at her with his mouth in a smirk.
She smiled at him across the crowd. He grinned back, that slow grin that still made her stomach flip.
“See?” Spirit said, catching the exchange. “That’s what I’m talking about. That man has his head up yo ass and around the corner.”
The laugh that fell from Kennedi was out of order but from the soul.
“Girl,” Kennedi said, still giggling. “Add me to that list.”
The song ended, and she made her way back, out of breath but smiling. He met her halfway.
“What else you hiding?” he asked, pulling her close.
“Guess you gotta stick around and find out.”
“I plan to. But let me feed you. Tacos or Bar B Que,” he asked, pointing to the food trucks behind them.
