I was doing my best to sound annoyed and assertive, but he wasn’t affected. I swear he leaned in closer.
“What if I don’t want to move, Farrah?”
My heart pounded even faster when he said my name. His voice was low, gritty, with some sort of regional accent. Who was this? And where was Steel? Hell, where was anyone else in this damn store? I moved to the left, trying to slide away from him. He simply boxed me in again, his scary smile staying in place.
“I guess you didn’t like the tulips.”
I sucked in a breath as I finally got the confirmation that the tulips were related to all of this going on with Mekhi.
“I won’t take much of your time, pretty girl. I just want you to give your boyfriend a message.”
I swallowed and almost asked who my boyfriend was but playing dumb might piss him off. I knew he was talking about Mekhi.
“What’s the message?”
He touched my hair again. I moved my head and he chuckled.
“Tell him it’s a shame how easy it was for me to get close to something he’s supposed to treasure. And tell him Trell said his days are numbered.”
He stepped back and winked at me before strolling off like nothing crazy had just happened. I didn’t realize I was still pressed against the cooler, staring ahead of me until I heard Steel ask, “You good, Farrah?”
I jumped, then whirled around to face him. My mouth opened, but no sound came out. I didn’t know what to do. Should I lie and deliver the message straight to Mekhi? But I was too shaken up for that.
“Did you see… did you see that man?”
Steel frowned. “What man?”
I gave him a quick description and he shook his head.
“He gave me a message for Mekhi.”
“Fuck!” he cursed. “Let’s go.”
I crossedmy arms over my chest and looked at Steel. To give the nigga credit, he looked me right in the eyes.
“I’m just tryna understand how she was alone long enough for all this shit to happen if you were supposed to be with her,” I said calmly.
“I fucked up?—”
“It’s actually my fault,” Farrah broke in. “Someone hit his car, and I insisted?—”
Tilting my head, I looked at her. “Was I talking to you?”
I cut her off midsentence. Her mouth dropped open before she sucked her teeth and glared at me.
“You need to stop being so fucking nasty!”
“You need to stop interrupting when people ain’t talking to ya annoying ass.”
“But I’m trying to explain what happened to you.”
“If I wanted your explanation, I woulda asked you. Go sit down, Farrah.”
She looked ready to argue. I pointed toward the brown sectional. Frowning, she stood still.
“Who the fuck you talking to, Mekhi? You don’t tell me when to move. I move when the fuck I– oh!”
She shrieked as I swept her ass up bridal style before dumping her on my couch. She started to stand up, but I pushed her forehead with my index finger. “Move yo’ ass off this couch and it’s gon’ be trouble. I promise.”
