Page 13 of Kisses Behind The Spotlight 2: Finale

I sat back in the seat, amused, and waited for Xain’s response. “Aye, that’s me. I ain’t going to do shit to her. Q locked us in her apartment for almost twelve hours last week. We good,” Xain explained.

“Oh, I didn’t know.” Duke threw his hands up. “So like when you say that’s me, does that mean y’all dating?”

“Yeah.”

“No!”

We both declared at the same time. Xain confirmed while I vehemently denied.

“The fuck you mean, no?” Xain glared at me. “You know what? We’ll discuss this upstairs.”

Xain opened the door for me, and Duke popped the trunk to retrieve my luggage. Duke rolled the luggage over to Xain, and he shook his head as he took possession of my things. We continued across the garage to the elevator, and I stopped Xain before he pressed the button. “I’m not taking the elevator. I’m taking the stairs. Since you have my luggage, you can take the elevator, and I’ll meet you upstairs.”

“Nah, I understand. I’ll take the stairs with you. It’s only three flights,” Xain assured me.

He threw the duffle bag, stuffed with everything I’d bought in Morocco, over his shoulder and led the way.

I’d never been so thankful to have downgraded to a smaller third-floor apartment after breaking up with Montell. Elevators wouldn’t see me for the foreseeable future, so it would be me and the stairs against the world.

When we reached my floor, I immediately saw my brother sitting in the hallway, leaning up against my door.

“It’s about time you came home. I called both of y’all a bunch of times,” Noah chastised us. “Xain, you were a no-call, no-show yesterday. And Khaleesi hasn’t answered her phone for me all day.”

“I’m so sorry, Noah. We were not ignoring you.”

“Yeah, I would’ve been there, but we got locked up as soon as we touched down,” Xain confessed, and I quickly elbowed him in the ribs.

“OOF!” Xain groaned.

“Locked up?” Noah spluttered.

“Come on, man. You know I just took a few kicks to the ribs,” he reminded me.

“I’m sorry,” I cringed, remorse spreading across my face.

“We wouldn’t just ignore you. I forgot you were supposed to be training with Xain yesterday morning. Or I would’ve called you. There was just so much going on. I didn’t see your call this morning because my phone was on silent; we just left the courthouse. I’m putting my ringer back on now. Are you okay? Why aren’t you in school?” I quizzed, noticing it was a little after noon, and school didn’t get out until 1:45 PM for Noah.

“Half day,” he clarified, standing up. “What did y’all go to jail for?”

“Some BS charges that we will get handled. Nothing for you to worry about. I promise,” I answered.

“So you going the jail bird route like pops?” Noah joked, folding his arms across his chest and shaking his head from side to side.

“Boy, hush and move so I can unlock the door,” I laughed.

Noah stepped aside and helped Xain with my things.

“Home sweet home,” I sang, flicking on the lights.

Everything was just as I left it. I went straight into the kitchen to wash my hands and grab a bottle of water. Noah and Xain rolled my luggage into a corner and plopped down on my sofa while I quenched my thirst.

“Oh, look at that. The two complainers are happy to sit on my uncomfortable couches,” I joked, sauntering into the living room.

“I’m sorry I ever talked trash about your hard couches. Do you accept my apology?” Noah pried.

“If we can call it even for me not answering the phone for you,” I negotiated.

“Water under the bridge, sis, because I need to come stay with you. My mama is tripping,” he blurted.