“I can tell. Monroe talks about you like you hung the moon. That means a lot. She doesn’t trust easily.”
“She’s a good kid. Really good. You should be proud.”
“I am. Every single day.” There was a pause, and Kennedi could hear the weight in it—the distance, the years he was missing, the guilt of not being there. “I know my brother can be a lot. Intense. Overprotective. But he’s solid, Ken. He’ll do right by you and my nephew.”
“I know he will. He already is.”
“Good. And if he doesn’t, you call me. I’ll handle him.”
She laughed despite herself. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“For real though,” Robin continued, his voice dropping. “I appreciate you stepping up. Not just for Monroe, but for Ro too. He’s been carrying a lot since I got locked up. Since we lost Pearl. He doesn’t say it, but I know he’s tired. And now with you and the baby... that’s probably the first real good thing that’s happened to him in a long time.”
Kennedi didn’t know what to say to that. Her throat felt tight.
“I’m just trying to show up,” she managed.
“That’s all anybody can do.” Robin paused. “Aight, I gotta go. But keep doing what you doing.”
“I will.”
They disconnected, and she stood there for a second, phone still in her hand, trying to pull herself together.
“Ken, this was so good. Love you,” Monroe said, wrapping her arms around Kennedi before she took off, chattering about her science project with her friend Tionna.
Kennedi's mind drifted to the man who'd turned her entire world upside down in the best way possible as she cleaned up the kitchen, feeling domestic as hell, but she loved it. She grabbed her phone and hit Rolani’s name.
He answered on the first ring.
“Hey, doll baby.”
Chapter Twenty
THE NEXT DAY
Kennedi stoodin the middle of an empty commercial space at the plaza on Twelve Oak Lane, phone pressed to her ear, staring at peeling paint and water stains bleeding across the ceiling. The realtor had called it “cozy with potential.” She called it a health hazard.
“No, this one’s a pass too,” she said, watching a roach scurry across the baseboards like it owned the place. “Yeah, I’ll keep looking. Thanks.”
The realtor left, and she pulled out her notes app, crossing off another address with more force than necessary.
“Why is this so hard?” she asked to no one.
Coupeville was growing, and she wanted to grow with it. But she couldn’t offer people some raggedy mess with roaches bold enough to move around in broad daylight.
Her phone buzzed with a text from Rolani.
Ro: I miss the fuck outta you! Almost home.
A rush of warmth spread through her. She’d never get used to him being gone.
Kennedi: I miss you more.
Rolani: Bet not be feeding my baby that nasty ass chicken tender and pickle and olive shit.
She laughed so loud she nearly choked on the exact combination he’d just named. The chicken tender was halfway to her mouth, a pickle spear and a handful of olives in a Ziploc bag balanced on the napkin beside her. How the hell did he know?
Kennedi:
