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“You want his ass dead, don’t you?”

I rolled my eyes.

“You are doing too much. And before you start giving me another speech about Lloyd, remember that you still have Nikki. I’m not questioning you and her, so why you down my neck about Lloyd? You still laying up over there in her bed.”

“I ain’t been in that girl’s bed in a minute, ‘cause I been yours. That’s beside the point. He could’ve gave you a damn handshake. He takin’ that shit a lil’ too far for my likin’, Ky.”

I laughed because he was offended by an innocent forehead kiss. Now, did I feel like Lloyd and I were getting closer? Yes. I didn’t see the issue with it. Shameek and I couldn’t go further than what we were doing. Every time we laid down with each other, the feelings got greater and greater. I didn’t want to be engrossed in him, and that’s why I was talking to Lloyd more than just business.

“Okay, Shameek. It was a forehead kiss, and I liked it. That’s the end.”

“Ain’t shit sweet ‘bout another nigga puttin’ his lips on you.”

“Ain’t shit sweet about you leaving my house and going back to a woman you claim to love, either. But you see how I learned how to mind my business.”

I struck a nerve when I said that because the line got quiet.

“You keep holdin’ that shit over my head like I ain’t told you I’m gonna handle it. Me and Nikki got years tied in each other. I’m not finna walk in her house and act like none of that shit didn’t matter because me and you started doin’ somethin’ we ain’t got no business doin’.”

“Did I ask you to? I just told you I wasn’t going to be second, and you said you would handle it. You just can’t get boyfriend privileges with me and tell me who I can spend time with or who can touch me. You chose to keep Nikki in your life, so stand on your choice and stop trying to control mine.”

“You really pissin’ me off.”

“What’s new? When I speak truth, you can’t take it.”

“I don’t like the nigga ‘round you, Ky. I ain’t finna keep dressin’ the shit up as security either. I don’t like the way he makes you laugh, and I don’t kno’ how long before I take that shit too far wit’ that nigga.”

His honesty shut me up. Shameek could spend hours hiding bullshit and then suddenly say something so direct I didn’t know what to do with.

“Well, that sounds like something you need to work through.”

“Play wit’ me.” He laughed coldly.

“I’m not going to make myself unavailable to a single man because you can’t decide what you want. It’s not like we can just tell your family, ‘Hey we fucking’.”

“I kno’ what the fuck I want.”

“Okay, Meek.”

“Are you headed home?”

“I’m stopping by your parents first. Jaharee texted me saying she has food for everyone.”

“Oh, I’m pulling up here now.”

“Meek, do not do no weird shit when I get there. Jaharee’s already suspicious, and I don’t need her pressuring me. She’s going to come for me and not you.”

“You must’ve known I was gonna see if I could eat yo’ pussy in one of the bathrooms downstairs.”

“Goodbye, Meek.”

“Ky, don’t hang–”

I disconnected the call. He was usually the one to hang up first, so it felt good to hang up in his face. Once I got to the compound, I parked my car behind Jaharee’s. I waited a few minutes before getting out. It was getting harder and harder to hide this shit because Shameek couldn’t control himself. I got out and went through the garage, which led to the kitchen, where Ma was packing food into containers when I walked in.

“There she is. I thought I was going to have to drop it off over there to you.”

“No, I was at lunch. I told Jah I was coming when I finished.”