“In a minute. I wanted to warn you first. Gio’s boy Ro, the one we’re waiting on? Also, the one I told you about. I told him we had someone for him. That someone is you.”
Kennedi narrowed her eyes. “So, you made me sound desperate?”
“No, his mean ass is the desperate one. But y’all are both fine as hell, and y’all would look so cute together, so it evens out.” Paige smirked, unbothered.
“Why does this feel less like a warning and more like a setup?”
“Because it’s both.” Paige’s grin widened. “He’s not your type, but that’s what you need. I need you to trust me.”
Kennedi laughed. “You don’t even know my type.”
Truth was, neither did she anymore.
“I’m on my best behavior,” she added. “No hookups. Business only. And I’m definitely not hooking up with your man’s business partner. That’s messy.”
Safe. That’s what she did. Temporary men, she could leave without consequence. Clean exits. No compromise.
Rule #1: Have fun, but never stay.
Paige smirked. “Why not?”
Kennedi swallowed it down but didn’t respond.
“I just want to focus. The premiere’s big for me.”
“Mm-hm,” Paige said, but smirked, leaning back. “He’s still a lot of man. Just… have some fun, get some dick, drink, eat good food. Live.”
“Preach,” their other friend, Blake, clapped beside them. “I can’t wait for some hotel dick.”
“Mind y’all’s damn business this weekend. I’m not kidding. Do not get on that matchmaker mess.”
Kennedi took her time pointing at each of her friends.
“Blah, blah, I’ll do what I want to do, and I can promise one look at Ro is about to change all those thoughts.”
Paige laughed, giving her a quick hug before floating off toward Giovanni’s lap. Kennedi watched them with a mix of happiness and that hollow tug of longing. Giovanni was the reason she was here; it was his premiere, his invitation, his generosity that had led to this moment. He’d given her the exclusive, flown her out, and reminded her she still had people in her corner. But that was him. Her friend had hit the jackpot. Wedding bells were on the way;she could see it in the way they looked at each other.
“One day,” she muttered.
When she first came back to Coupeville, she’d worried she’d clipped her own wings. Leaving the security of traditional media to be closer to her parents had felt right, but scary. She’d spent years producing content for other people's platforms, telling stories on their terms, and she was tired of it. The political climate had shifted everything — especially for black women. So she’d walked away, built Through Ken’s Lens, and bet on herself. Some days, it still scared her. But at least now, the stories she told were hers.
“This shit is so nice,” Blake said, dropping into the seat Paige had vacated, eyes wide like she still couldn’t believe it. “Friend, look at our life. This is crazy.”
“It’s deserved. I’m proud of y'all too.”
“Aww, Kenny. I’m so happy you're back.”
Behind them, Emon popped another bottle, laughter bubbling up with the champagne. Kennedi had to admit, it felt good. Soon she’d be thirty thousand feet in the air, surroundedby people she’d known since the block, sipping champagne on a private jet. She felt like a rich bitch, even if only for a weekend.
Well, they would whenever this late, disrespectful friend arrived.
She eased back into her plush seat and opened her laptop. Might as well get some work done while they waited.
Through Ken’s Lens: Giovanni Dowlen - From Coupeville to Custom
This story could change everything for her platform. Giovanni's story was exactly what TKL needed — a Black man from Coupeville with big dreams, turning custom cars into an empire the whole world would see. These were the narratives she wanted to amplify. People who looked like her, focused on community and legacy. The news stayed full of the negative, but Coupeville was growing, and she wanted to document that.
She typed quickly:
