“I kind of promised my little bro I’d hang with him today at the carnival, but you are welcome to join us if you want,” Rose offered, lifting his duffel bag from the floor to the large king-sized bed. Minx brought it up in the kitchen while Gannon conversed with Max.
He pulled is shirt over his head and waited on a response from Nadia.
“Well, I guess if that’s all you have to offer, I’ll accept. What time are you heading that way?” she asked.
“Soon. Meet you in about an hour at the front gate,” he told her before hanging up.
He tossed his phone onto the bed and stripped down so that he could take a shower. The hot water rained down on him and he tipped his head back allowing it to rinse him before washing up. With a towel wrapped around his waist, he brushed his teeth and stepped into his bedroom. Slipping into his jeans and socks first, he remained on the edge of his bed when his phone buzzed. Nadia’s text came through letting him know she was heading out. Rose set the phone back on the bed. She was the best distraction he could think of right now. Being back only caused what harbored for Minx to resurface.
“What you in here thinking about?” Her calm voice pulled his attention to the doorway.
Distracted, Rose eyed her from head to toe. On her fly shit today, she leaned on the frame in ripped jeans, a tight crop top tee showing off her tone stomach, and a pair of aqua and gray Retro Air Max. Although she had asked the question, she couldn’t help but notice how ripped Rose was. His abs were defined. When he stood, she took in the deep-V leading to his baggy pants.Whew! Shit! What the hell was going on?He’d always been fine, but now he gave her a set of butterflies she wasn’t prepared for.
“Nothing,” he answered, grabbing his T-shirt and slipping it over his head. “But… I did invite Nadia. She’s gonna meet us there,” Rose mentioned casually, grabbing his shirt at both shoulders and adjusting it over his big, square chest.
“Why?” she asked, sucking her teeth and making a screw face.
“Shit, she called and asked what I was on.” Rose shrugged, grabbing his phone and tucking it into his front pocket.
“So y’all back on or what?” Minx questioned, nosy ass.
Rose shook his head and grabbed his shoes to slip on next.
“Nah, we just chillin’. You know how we do.” Rose was so cool, and Minx could feel herself turning up on the inside.
She hated sharing him with anybody, let alone that leech Nadia. That girl was nothing but an opportunist, and Minx couldn’t stand her. She felt like she only kept in touch with Rose because she wanted to stay in his pockets. Minx knew that he had her running his boxing gym, and rumor had it she was fucking just about every nigga coming in the place. She got a percentage of the monthly take, and Minx didn’t like that shit.
“Yeah, I know how you do,” she muttered, shaking her head. “She act up and I’m beating her ass,” she quipped.
This girl. Rose stood after making sure his shoes were tied and laughed. He walked up on her, hooking one arm around her neck and pulling her close. Inhaling his Chanel Bleu cologne, she rolled her eyes when he messed up her hair.
“Rose! Stop!” she yelled, attempting to shove him off.
“Nah, you like talking all that shit and I let you.” Rose went in on her, and she hooked her arms around his waist.
“I hate you,” she muttered, strolling out of his bedroom together.
“You know I don’t believe that shit,” he kidded, completely in sync taking the stairs one by one.
“I’m never gonna accept you with any woman, let alone Nadia,” Minx voiced.
Relaxing his grip, he kept his arm around her, expression void of any playfulness.
“’Cause you spoiled as fuck.” Rose was very blunt when they reached the landing together. “You ain’t got shit to worry about though. A nigga ain’t shit, and I doubt they built a woman that can tame me.”
“Hmm, maybe,” she replied, and Rose side-eyed her.
He wasn’t sure what she meant by it, but he was curious. Since Gannon was making his way up front from the kitchen, he let that shit go. He picked up on the tension between them. Minx and Rose had the kind of chemistry that couldn’t be denied. From their body language and how comfortable they were, it was kind of hard not to take notice. Like they were in their own world, Gannon got the feeling he was interfering on some shit.
“You ready?” Gannon looked at Minx.
“Yeah, we taking your car?” She pulled away from Rose and slid up beside Gannon.
“That’s cool,” he agreed.
“Mille! Let’s ride, kid!” Minx shouted.
Not too much later, she heard his bedroom door open. With his backpack on his shoulders, he raced down the steps. The Puma track suit he wore made him look older. The spitting image of their father, Mille was tall as shit. With medium length locs pulled into a manbuna, he was ready to go.
