“You know. Shooting guns. Late nights in the streets. Drugs. Leave that mess to the boys. I don’t know understand why youcan’t just appreciate being around. Things were getting better, and you’ve set the family back. Again.”
“If you’re referring to how Iwas shippedto Slyde City after my mom died, I wouldn’t say that was my fault.”
“Stop being sensitive, Kannon. You know I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I don’t know anything, and stop calling me sensitive for having feelings about your slick remarks.”
Kasey pleaded her case, but the notification on my phone easily stole my attention.
Tune: If you keep ignoring me, I’m going to come in the shop and get you.
Annoyed and amused, I gnawed on my bottom lip. I didn’t take his threat lightly, but I still didn’t respond. Mr. Delano’s party was a week ago, and by the time we left, I believed we’d mended the damaged bridge between us. However, after Neptune took me to a hotel instead of his house, I was certain his mean ass held resentment that may forever keep his guard up.
Tune: Stop fucking playing with me, Kannon.
You first.
Tune: I’ve been calling your stubborn ass.
For what? Our next event isn’t for a week.
Tune: Are you trying to piss me off?
I pressed the button on the side of my phone, making the screen go black. I tried to doze off in Yari’s chair, but the sound of the door opening pried my lids open.
Heavy.
That was the first word that came to mind when Neptune’s frame fell into my view. His steps were heavy, the chains around his neck were heavy. The ball in the pit of my stomach,...heavy. I closed my eyes to avoid eye contact, but Neptune didn’t let me find peace. He slammed one hand on each side of the chair, then leaned down, locking our eyes.
“What are you doing in here?” I wondered aloud.
“You read my message. Didn’t I tell you to come to me, Kannon?”
“You can’t tell me what to do, Neptune.”
“You rarely have a problem when I tell you to cum.”
His comment locked a grin on my face, but not out of shame. I just couldn’t think of a comeback.
“I’m getting my hair done.”
He stood upright and looked at Yari. “How much longer does she have?”
“About twenty minutes.”
Neptune grabbed a wad of cash from his pocket, then slipped the bills between my fingers.
“Meet me outside when you’re done. If you don’t, I’m going to come back inside and carry yo’ass out of here.”
Unable to speak, I nodded. All eyes were on me when the bold man exited the building, leaving me to deal with the consequences of his presence.
“Bitch!” Yari slapped my shoulder. “Why would you have him meet you at my shop?”
“I didn’t! I wouldn’t do that to you.” I sulked in my seat. “He...found me. Again.”
My sister stared back and forth between the exit and me. “I know that’s not the man Daddy told you to apologize to.”
“Kasey, please don’t make a big deal out of this. Neptune and I are . . . friends.”
