Page 39 of Gang of Roses: Rebel

I chuckled. “You serious?”

She shrugged. “I mean... we’ve done dumber shit.”

She wasn’t lying.

I looked at her for a second before scooting a little closer. “Aight.”

She met me halfway. The second our lips touched, I realized this wasn’t anything like the kiss at the game. There wasn’t a crowd screaming or a camera pointed at us. It was just me and her. I tilted my head and kissed her again, a little slower this time. Before I knew it, my tongue brushed against her lips, silently asking permission. When she parted them, I slipped inside, and our tongues tangled together in a slow, unhurried rhythm. A few seconds later, we finally pulled apart. Neither of us said a damn thing. Finally, I cleared my throat.

“So...”

“So,” she copied me.

“We good?”

She nodded once. “Yeah. We good.”

Then a crooked grin spread across her face.

“Next time, put some ChapStick on, my nigga.”

I laughed. “You telling me? Your shit was rough for a woman.”

She smacked my arm, and we both burst out laughing. I knew I shouldn’t have kissed her again. Because once I crossed that line with a woman, there was no going back. I wasn’t the type to fool around just for the hell of it. If I kept putting my lips on Rebel, eventually I’d want more. And if we ever ended up in bed together, that’d be the end of us being just friends. Neither one of us was ready for that conversation, so we did what we’d always done whenever life got too real. We laughed it off, turned the TV up, and acted like nothing had happened.

Chapter 10

Rain “Rebel” Crawford

My motorcycle rumbled beneath me as I pulled into the parking lot, the familiar vibration traveling through my body. I killed the engine and sat there for a second, staring at the massive building in front of me. Luxury cars filled the parking lot. People dressed in expensive suits and designer dresses moved in and out of the entrance like they belonged there. Truthfully, being surrounded by smiling faces and happy couples was the last place I wanted to be. But I was a woman of my word, and the only reason I’d dragged my ass out of bed was because Crow asked me to.

I stepped into the ceremony wearing the dress Mama Joyce had bought me. Yeah, a fucking dress. Even I couldn’t believe that shit. The black fabric hugged my body, showing off curves I usually kept hidden underneath baggy jeans and oversized hoodies. My locs fell over my shoulders, and instead of my usual Timbs or sneakers, I had on the heels Mama Joyce picked out to go with the dress. I felt completely out of my element, but I couldn’t lie. I looked good as fuck.

Looking up, I spotted Crow wearing a custom suit. The nigga looked clean as hell, like always. The second he saw me, though, his whole expression changed. He froze, his eyes dropping from my face to the dress before slowly traveling back up. A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth as he leaned back in his chair and continued staring at me.

I frowned as I made my way over to him. “What?”

“Shit, Rain.” His eyes dropped again. “You been hiding all that under them big-ass clothes?”

“Don’t start.”

“I’m serious.” He stood as I reached him, taking his sweet-ass time looking me over. “Turn around.”

“Nigga, I’m not turning around for you.”

“Come on, Rain. Let me see the whole situation.”

“The whole situation?” I repeated, trying not to laugh.

“Yeah. I’m trying to figure out when the hell you got all this.”

“I’ve always had it.”

“Could’ve fooled the fuck outta me with them big-ass hoodies you stay wearing.”

I rolled my eyes. “And this is exactly why I don’t wear dresses.”

“Nah, don’t blame me.” He stepped a little closer, lowering his voice. “Matter of fact, I think you should start wearing them more often.”