“Love is not something you can up and turn off, I know. I loved him.” Spirit’s voice broke on the words. “I still do. And that’s the problem. Because even if he knew, even if he felt the same way back then, he made his choice. He chose her. He chose to be with Monshay, to build a life with her. And I gotta respect that.”
“Fuck that bitch.” Kennedi’s voice went hard. “I hate a hating-ass, dumb bitch that can only win if they take it or copy it. Fuck flattery. That’s not flattery—that’s betrayal.”
Spirit laughed, surprised. “Damn, Ken. Tell me how you really feel.”
“I’m serious. She knew what she was doing. She saw what you had, what you wanted, and she took it on purpose. That’s not friendship. That’s sabotage.”
“I know. I’ve known for years. But knowing doesn’t make it hurt less.” Spirit exhaled. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do when I see him. What I’m gonna say. Or if I should say anything at all. I’m mad at him, but he didn’t do anything wrong. This shit should not be this confusing fourteen years later.”
“You don’t have to have all the answers right now.”
“I know. But I also can’t keep running. That’s why I came back. To face it. To deal with it. To finally let it go.” Spirit’s voice went quieter. “Robin is the only man I’ve ever been with...”
She trailed off, and Kennedi let the silence sit, giving her space.
“Maybe I’m holding on because it’s easier than starting over with someone new. Shit, I’ve tried.”
“Spirit, you’re not giving yourself enough credit. You built a whole career. You’ve got your brother and other clients’ million-dollar deals. You published three books. You created a life for yourself. Love coming now is a bonus, because it is coming.”
“I should let you go,” Spirit said, voice thick. “I’m sure you’ve got stuff to do. Monroe needs you.”
“You sure you’re good?”
“Yeah. I need to sit with this for a minute. Process it all.” Spirit paused. “But seriously, thank you.”
“Anytime, Spirit. I mean that.”
“I know you do.” Spirit exhaled. “I’ll check in tomorrow. Make sure Monroe’s okay.”
“She’d like that.”
“Okay, girl, tell her I said goodnight.”
“I will.”
They disconnected, and Kennedi sat there in the quiet living room, phone still in her hand, processing everything Spirit had told her.
Her hand moved to her belly, where Little LA was finally still.
“Roe, dinner! Come on,” she yelled upstairs.
She heard feet thundering down the stairs, and Monroe appeared with a grin on her face.
“Feeling better?”
“Yeah, a lot better.” Monroe slid into her seat at the kitchen table. “Uhm, my daddy is on the phone and would like to speak with you if that’s okay.”
Kennedi’s eyes grew wide. She set the plate down in front of Monroe carefully and took the phone, her heart suddenly racing. She’d never met Robin, never even spoken to him. But Robin meant the world to Rolani—everything he did was with Robin and Monroe in mind. The pressure of that hit her all at once.
“Hello, this is Kennedi.”
“Ayoo, my brother gon’ get in yo ass for being pregnant and threatening to bash hoes’ faces in,” Robin said, his laugh booming through the line, immediately breaking the ice.
Kennedi couldn’t help but laugh. “That was very mild.”
“I fuck with it.” His tone shifted, still warm but more sincere. “Thank you for looking out for my baby and my brother. Y’all straight though?”
“Yeah, no complaints.” She paused, glancing at Monroe, who was already digging into her spaghetti. “I...” Spirit's name sat right there on her tongue. She knew how to ask questions that cracked people open; it was literally her job. But this wasn’t an interview, and Robin wasn’t a source. Whatever he and Spirit had between them was older than anything she had a right to walk into on day one. She let it go. “You’re welcome. I’d do anything for them, to be honest.”
