Page 20 of Know Your Place

“Says who?”

I looked at her like she lost her mind. “Have you met me? Better yet, have you met Beretta?”

Capri giggled as she sat down on the bed across from me. “Met you both, and honestly, you two are perfect for each other if you’d get out of your damn heads and learn to love on each other a little and not just fuck and fight.”

I blinked at her and took my time before responding. “But . . . that’s what we do best.”

“How do you know unless you try something new?”

My mind flashed to what Beretta had said yesterday. His words were similar to my sister’s. I didn’t understand why I was the only one who thought this wasn’t the brightest idea.

I thought of what I could say to her to get her to understand, but I took too long because before I could say anything, I heard the front door unlock, and Beretta shouted, “Juicy, come on!”

Capri’s brows scrunched. “You gave him a key?”

I got off the bed and glanced at myself in the mirror as I responded. “No.”

My black skinny jeans, purple shirt, and black jean jacket paired nicely with some black heeled booties. I’d gotten my hair done earlier in some Fulani braids, and I even put a little makeup on with Capri’s help. I had to admit that I looked the fuck good.

“Then how did he get a key?” Capri asked.

I eyed her through the mirror. “Again, have you met Beretta? He don’t really ask for shit. He just takes.”

Capri chuckled and shook her head as she followed me out of the room. I stopped when I spotted Beretta at the front door with his hands in his black pants pockets, looking around as if he was trying to be on his best behavior. When his eyes found mine, I saw a hint of crazy flash through them before lust took its place.

“You ready?”

I nodded curtly, completely unaware of how I was supposed to respond.

“Hey, Beretta.” Capri greeted him as she grabbed her purse.

“’Sup, sis? You good?”

“Yup. Have fun on your date, you two,” Capri said as Beretta moved to the side and held the front door open for her.

I fought the urge to stick my middle finger up at her again since I felt like she had been zero help. Instead, I waved and grunted, and then Beretta and I were alone.

Silence engulfed us as we eyed each other. I had no idea how to act or what to say, and it seemed like his ass didn’t, either, even though this date was his idea.

He finally cleared his throat and said, “Come on. We’re on a time limit.”

Curiosity surged through me, but I decided to go with the flow, so I grabbed my purse and walked over to him. Before I could step out the door, he grabbed me by my waist and kissed my cheek. “You look good, Juicy.”

I blushed. “Thanks. So do you.”

He beamed down at me, and I felt like I’d won the lottery. I knew Beretta didn’t smile much. Fuck lighting up a room. When he genuinely smiled like this, he lit up the entire universe and poured it all into me, illuminating me from within. My heart tap danced to a funny beat as I gazed at him.

It was my turn to clear my throat. “Ready?”

He blinked as if he didn’t realize how lost he’d just gotten in my gaze.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

I locked up, and we walked to his car in an awkward silence. I wasn’t sure if I should hold his hand or not. It wasn’t like I hadn’t before. Whenever we were in public together, one of us snatched the other’s hand to ward off thirsty bitches or niggas who stared a little too long. But this felt so different. It felt more intimate, and I wasn’t sure how to navigate that.

When we got to his car, he opened my door for me. I slid inside and waited patiently for him to get in. Once we were on our way to our destination, the awkwardness made me antsy, so I reached for the dash to connect my phone to the car so I could play some music.

As soon as rap music flowed from the speakers, Beretta reached over and turned it down.