When You Know It’s Real(20)

I bit into my lip, trying to hide my smile before I took the bottle from Jahari and held him against my shoulder to burp him. I wasn't in love with the idea of Jock being with other women, even if I did have Red, but the fact that he always made a point of trying to convince me that they didn’t mean anything to him put me at ease just a little.

“That’s a good look for you, Kiz, but only if it was my seed. Not that weak ass muthafucker you with.”

I sucked my teeth and cut my eyes at him. “Well, you don't have to worry about that either way because this is as close as I'm getting to anybody’s seed. Yours or his. I don’t want kids.”

“Well you better rethink that plan cause you’re having mine when you get your head right, and I put that on everything.”

“You sound crazy as hell right now, Jock. Here, take this baby.” I shoved Jahari toward Jock.

He took him into his arms and laughed at me. “I ain't crazy, Kiz, just confident.”

I shook my head and sighed. He could be as confident as he wanted, but there won’t be any babies coming out of me, and that was my word, so Jock could take it or leave it.





Nonie


“Why you keep looking at that piece of shit watch?” Siah teased, which made me suck my teeth.

“It's not a piece of shit, and you bought it, so—”

Siah smiled and lifted his glass to his mouth. I watched his sexy ass lips as they connected with it, and my body shivered with memories of his lips on me.

“It is a piece of shit, Pretty. I only bought it because you asked me to. It's not what I would have chosen.”

I looked at my wrist again and smiled at my new watch. It was cute to me. Simple, but still cute. Siah was trying to get me some overpriced watch that would have gotten me robbed. His logic behind it was that it was an investment. Siah purchased expensive things, but mostly things that held value. It wasn't like he spent stupid money, well not all the time, but when it came to his cars and jewelry, he invested in items that held value. I didn't care too much about that. I just liked what I liked.

“Well, I like it, so stop talking about it.”

Siah reached for my hand. Once he had it, he brought my wrist to his mouth and kissed the inside of it. His action made me blush a little before he inspected the watch on my wrist and then shrugged.

“If you like it, I love it.” He smiled at me before releasing my wrist. “But it's still a piece of shit.”

Before I could say anything, Siah’s phone went off and he leaned back to pull it out of his pocket. He glanced at the screen before his eyes connected with mine and he answered.

“Yeah? Nah, what’s up? I can't do that right now. Just hit me in the morning and I’ll make it happen. Aight, bet.”

Siah moved his phone back into his pocket, but not before putting it on silent. “No more calls,” he said and winked at me, but I leaned back in my chair annoyed.

“What, Nonie?”

“Nothing.” I lifted my drink and let the straw of my daiquiri slide between my lips then took a sip before placing it down in front of me.

“That was business, Nonie. You know I wouldn't disrespect you like that. So fix your damn face, Pretty.”

“What makes you think I care who calls you and why?” I asked, holding a nonchalant expression, but smiling inside.

“’Cause you’re spoiled as shit, and the way your damn lips poked out the second I answered that call told me you care.”

I wanted to slap the smug grin off his face, but I didn't react. Instead, I changed the subject. “We have to meet Archer in the morning, and Kizzie doesn't want to be stuck there with him alone, so I was thinking—”

“Fuck Archer’s old ass. He ain't gon’ fuck with Kizzie, I’ll make sure of that. But you’re staying at my house tonight, so don’t even say that shit. I’ll handle Archer.” Siah’s expression dropped and his eyes turned dark. “That nigga don't be pushing up on you, does he, Nonie? And don't lie trying to save his ass either ’cause I swear on everything, I’ll fuck him up.”

“No, he hasn't. Chill out, crazy. He flirts with Kizzie a little, but trust me, he knows better than to say anything to me. Thanks to you.”

Siah looked across the table at me, wearing a grin. “I didn't say shit to him, but I will, if I need to.”

My eyes moved to Siah’s face, but I looked past him when I saw a man who looked like Red. It couldn't be him because this muthafucker I had my eyes on had his arms around some trick with his lips on her face. So I know good and damn well that it wasn't Kizzie’s Red.

I guess the look on my face concerned Siah because he turned to see what I was looking at. By then, I knew for sure that it was Red, so I was already digging in my purse in search of my phone. Realizing what I was doing, Siah leaned forward and snatched it out my hand.