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She laughed and nodded. “Yeah, but you still need to call her. She been asking about you.”

“Okay, I’ll call her tonight.”

“Good.”

I slid another plate into the dishwasher before looking over at her. “How she taking everything? You know, with me not being around?”

“She ain’t been talking to Pops. She been giving his ass the cold shoulder.”

I couldn’t help but laugh because I knew exactly how my mama got when she was pissed off at somebody. Once she stopped fucking with you, she made damn sure you knew it. And knowing my mama, she probably wasn’t making things easy for him either.

“Good, because I don’t want shit to do with his ass right now.”

“Me either.” She handed me another dish before looking over at me. “But sis, let me ask you something.”

“What’s up?”

“How you liking it here? He treating you right?”

I took a deep breath and looked down at the plate in my hand before putting it into the dishwasher.

“It’s okay for the most part.” I shrugged. “I just wish I was back home in my bed.”

“I feel you.”

“Yeah.”

She was quiet for a minute before asking, “He don’t put his hands on you, do he?”

I looked over at her. “Nah, girl. He don’t put his hands on me.”

“Good, because I was about to say.”

I shook my head, knowing damn well she would’ve had something to say if I told her otherwise.

We finished loading the dishwasher and stayed in the kitchen talking and laughing for a little while. I was in the middle of saying something to my sister when Cassian walked in and slipped his arms around my waist from behind.

I ain’t even gonna lie, that shit caught me off guard.

“Boy, what the hell?” I looked over my shoulder at Cassian, who had the nerve to be standing there smiling.

“What?”

“What you mean, what? You scared the shit out of me.”

“My bad, ma.”

He didn't sound sorry worth a damn. Instead of moving, he leaned down and pressed his lips against the side of my head like he had every right to be doing that shit.

I didn't know what had gotten into this man. He knew damn well we weren't a couple, and we definitely weren't on that level. Just because I'd started tolerating his ass a little more didn't mean he could go around acting like I was his woman.

I looked over at my sister, who was standing there watching us with her eyebrows raised.

“What?” I asked her.

“Nothing.” She held her hands up before reaching for her phone. “But I'm finna get ready to go. I still got some stuff I need to do when I get home.”

“Already?”