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“Kaiden doesn’t even like her like that.”

“She was askin’ ‘bout Khari…Ryleigh and even Kaiden.”

“All these years and now she wants to play stepmama? That shit stopped the day your brother stopped breathing.”

“That’s fucked up, Averie.”

“I don’t think that girl ready to see my face.”

“I ain’t ask if she was ready to see yo’ face.”

Averie paused.

“I’m askin’ if you’ll let Khari spend a lil’ time with her.”

Averie leaned against the counter.

“Shameek, you know why that’s hard for me.”

“I do.”

“I watched that woman get the version of Rah I prayed for.”

“I know.”

“I watched him marry her.”

“I know.”

“I watched my babies ask why Daddy don’t live here with us,” she said as her eyes filled with tears.

I couldn’t believe Rah’s ass put me in the middle of this shit.

“But…” she said, looking at Khari. “I also know that girl loves Kyenna. It irks my fucking nerves when she comes home and talks about her.”

“And Kyenna loves her,” I told her.

“Khari used to come every Sunday with them damn pink nails.” Averie laughed through the tears.

“So, why take those moments from her?”

“I never hated Kyenna. I hated what she represented. She got the finished version of Rah.”

“But she didn’t tho’. She went through her shit, too.”

“That was just karma.”

“Karma for what? Kyenna didn’t take Rah from you. Y’all both were single.”

“You always taking her side.”

“No, I’m speakin’ truth.”

“Khari can go next weekend.”

“Thank you, Averie.”

“But…”