“Love you too,” I said, dapping him up as best I could from the bed.
Once they cleared out and the door clicked shut, the room went quiet again. I shifted lightly, pulling Sianni closer until she was tucked right into my side. I couldn’t believe she’d slept through that whole back-and-forth, but I was glad she did. I kissed the top of her head, finally letting my own eyes close. I was tired as hell, but with her in my arms, I could finally drift off.
TWO DAYS LATER…
I was happy as fuck to be rolling up in my driveway. Getting the hell out of that hospital was the only thing on my mind all morning; that tiny-ass bed they had me in was uncomfortable as hell, and the smell of bleach was starting to piss me off.
Sianni put the car in park and hopped out, coming around to my side before I could even reach for the handle with my good arm. She reached in, offering me her hand to help me steady myself. I looked at her hand, then up at her, feeling a way about the whole situation. I was used to being the one opening her doors and handing her down, but the roles had flipped.
“Shawty, next time, let me get out of the car and help you,” I grumbled, stepping onto the pavement and leaning into her just a little more than I actually needed to.
“And how you gonna do that with one arm, Kyrie?”
She arched a brow, and I could see the corners of her mouth twitching. Her ass wanted to laugh so bad she was practically vibrating, but she held it in.
“Damn, you actin’ like a nigga handicapped or something.” I sucked my teeth, cuttin’ my eyes at her while she tucked herself under my good shoulder to lead me toward the front door.
“I mean, you kind of are.” She let out a light laugh, tossing her hair.
Her hair slung around, catching me right across the face. The smell of whatever fruit and floral magic she put on it hit my lungs, smelling good as shit and instantly calming my nerves. She didn’t wait for a comeback, either. She just turned and headed for the house, putting that little extra twist in her step that she knew I liked.
I followed her inside, the heavy scent of home-cooked seasoning hitting me the second I crossed the threshold. It smelled like heaven in here. As I made my way into the kitchen, I stopped in my tracks. My girl had the whole counter covered with food everywhere.
I leaned against the doorframe, watching her move around. My arm was in a sling, and my body was aching, but seeing her handle business in my kitchen made me realize that even if I was a little banged up, I was still the luckiest nigga in the city.
I scanned the spread laid out on the table, then cut my eyes back to Sianni. “Damn, ma. When the hell did you have time to do all this?”
“I started on it early this morning, but Mrs. Hill came through and helped me with some of it,” she said, moving around the kitchen with a focus that had me watching her every move. “So, I can’t take all the credit.”
“Mmhm.” I leaned against the counter, my arm still feeling the weight of the sling, but my mind was elsewhere. “Where’s my cousin?”
“He hasn’t made it yet. He and Alexia went to a hotel.”
I stopped mid-lean, my brow pulling together. “A hotel?”
“Yeah.” Sianni paused, turning to face me with her hands on her hips. She cut her eyes at me, that sharp look she gets when she’s trying to get to the bottom of something. “Mrs. Hill said Alexia didn’t want to stay here last night. Said something about you made her feel uncomfortable. Kyrie, what did you do?”
A slow, wicked smirk crept across my face. I didn’t even try to hide it. “I didn’t do nothing,” I lied, the silk in my voice probably giving me away. “Why don’t you ask that hoe whatshedid?”
“I did. I called her, and she stood on the fact that she didn’t want to stay because of you. Now, I’m gonna ask you again. What did you do?”
I let out a low, husky laugh and bit down on my bottom lip, my eyes trailing over her. She was sexy as hell when she was trying to drill me, all serious and pressed. I took a step closer, letting the tension in the room thicken.
“I asked her what her issue was with you,” I said, my voice dropping an octave. “She kept trying to play it off like she was cool, but a blind person could see she isn’t rocking with you the way you’re rocking with her.”
I watched Sianni’s face change as the words landed. I knew what it was. Sianni looked at that girl and saw a sister, but Alexia looked at Sianni and saw everything she wanted but couldn't have. Jealousy was a hell of a drug, and Alexia was overdosing. I’d pressed her about it last night, watching her squirm and play dumb like she didn’t know what the fuck I was talking about. We both knew the truth.
But it was cool. Real always recognizes fake, and eventually, that light was gonna shine on her true colors.
Sianni shrugged, her shoulders dropping just a fraction. “I’ve been sensing she was distant… I just didn’t want to believe it. We’ve been friends for too long.” She shook the thought off, asmall smile returning to her lips. “But it’s cool. I got a new friend anyway.”
“Mmhm. So, you and Drayla gonna be kicking it more now?”
“Yeah, I don’t see why not. She was there for me last night, Kyrie. She came through and made sure I was straight.”
I nodded, feeling a bit of that tension in my chest loosen. “That’s good. That’s how it’s supposed to be.”
“Yup.” She reached for a plate, the smell of the food hitting me again. “Now come on and eat. I’m starving, and I’m not about to sit here and wait for your cousin any longer.”
