Chapter 28: KYENNA - A Street King's Widow

Iwas thankful to everyone on my team for stopping the fight with Raya from becoming the buzz of the city. It was Wednesday, and I was more than ready to sit and have lunch with Lloyd. He was already at the table when I got to the new restaurant by the courthouse. He instantly stood up and pulled my chair out for me.

“I was starting to think you were going to cancel on me after the week you’ve had,” he said, smiling as he reached for his water.

“I thought about it for thirty seconds, but I needed to eat anyway. Plus, if I stayed at Royal Flush, somebody else was going to ask what happened to my hand, and I was going to end up fighting twice in one week.”

“That would make my job significantly harder, so I’m glad you are here. I’ve already had enough people question me about what happened with Raya, and most of them know I wasn’t there. They just know I have a connection to you, and think I got the inside scoop.”

“I hate people. Everybody suddenly knows what happened except the two women who were actually in the room.”

“I know what happened. Grif gave me the run down.”

“I’m going to fire his ass.”

“He was concerned on the legal side of things.”

The waitress came over, and we ordered drinks before even opening the menus. Once she walked away, Lloyd glanced down at my hand.

“Since we are already talking about it, tell me how bad this could get if Raya decides she wants to make a big deal out of it.”

“Legally, it depends on what she decides to do. She can file a police report. She can consult an attorney. She can claim you assaulted her after denying a request involving her daughter. None of that means she automatically has a strong case. You had witnesses, and she didn’t. The bigger concern is the optics. Royal Flush doesn’t need any bad press. If she hits that social media one time, you know what that’s going to do.”

I nodded because I thought about all of it. She was missing teeth, and I’m sure her face was fucked up. If she posted one picture and then Royal Flush would be the first thing people attack instead of me.

“I can see the narrative being flipped now. She’ll make this about Rah’s money and how I’m stealing from her and not helping her take care of his child. That shit would be a mess.”

“Exactly. You’re not just Kyenna that hides in the shadows of Royal Flush anymore. You are the face now. Then you got the King Foundation as well. If she gets her ass online with a busted mouth and black eyes, people will run with it before anybody bothers asking what actually happened.”

“I’m telling you now. I’m not apologizing.”

“Oh nah, I don’t expect you to. She deserved everything you gave her. I’ve witnessed her verbally abuse you since the funeral.”

“Good, because for a second I thought this lunch was about to go left.”

The waitress brought our drinks, and I took a sip to calm my nerves.

“What do you think I need to do to get ahead of this?”

“I think we remove the thing she can use most effectively against you, which is the mortgage situation.”

“I don’t want to dip into Ryleigh’s money. That’s not fair to her that her mama moved somewhere she couldn’t afford.” Then an idea hit me. “I’ll pay it out of my account.”

“What? Nah, I can’t let you do that.”

“Nah, I refuse to touch that baby money. I won’t know it’s missing. That little bit of money is something I would spend on a purse.”

“Talk your shit,” Lloyd said.

“I’ll cut a check, and you can call the bitch to come and pick it up. That way you can explain to her that this is the only time we’re bailing her ass out. She’s on her own after we catch her up.”

“I can’t believe you’re doing this.”

“I’m not a mean woman. She can’t stand me, like I did something to her, as if she didn’t fuck my husband and get pregnant.”

“Better yet, let’s make the payment to the lender on her behalf. That way, if she decides to one day do or say something on social media, we have documentation.”

I pointed towards him, “I like that. And have a letter stating exactly why it was paid. If she gets behind again, that’s on her.”

“I’ll make the language clear.”

“Can we order now before I fade away? I’m starving.”

The waitress returned, and once we ordered, the conversation finally moved away from Raya. Lloyd and I could handle business and instantly move on to other topics. As Lloyd talked, my phone vibrated on the table. We both looked down and saw Shameek’s name.

Shameek: You at lunch wit’ that fuck nigga

I almost laughed. I didn’t even respond. Lloyd kept talking as I flipped the phone facedown and listened. By the time we finished eating, almost two hours had passed. When the check came, I snatched it off the table.

“Kyenna, don’t be disrespectful. I refuse, as a man, to let you pay for this bill. I told you when you're with me, you don’t have to pay for anything. The system is very simple.”

“A system built by a man is flawed.”

“Oh shit, a slug.”

“Not really. Please let me pay this time, and I promise I won’t pay for anything else when I’m with you,” I told him.

“So, there will be more us moments.”

“Of course. You tired of me already?”

“Hell nah. This is probably the most I’ve laughed.”

I paid the bill, and we walked out. This was the first time he got close to me since we danced. He kissed me on my forehead when my car pulled up.

“I’ll get that payment handled and send you the documentation before anything is finalized.”

He opened the door.

“Thank you.”

“I got you,” he said. “Have a good rest of your day.”

“You too.”

As soon as I pulled away, my phone started ringing instantly. I hit the button on my steering wheel.

“Did you let that muthafucka kiss you?”

“Meek, please. I already know you got muthafuckas tailing me even though I told them not to.”

“You’re driving with one hand. Fuck I look like not having someone follow you. Now answer the question, Ky.”

“Yes, he gave me a sweet kiss on my forehead.”

“You want his ass dead, don’t you?”

I rolled my eyes.

“You are doing too much. And before you start giving me another speech about Lloyd, remember that you still have Nikki. I’m not questioning you and her, so why you down my neck about Lloyd? You still laying up over there in her bed.”

“I ain’t been in that girl’s bed in a minute, ‘cause I been yours. That’s beside the point. He could’ve gave you a damn handshake. He takin’ that shit a lil’ too far for my likin’, Ky.”

I laughed because he was offended by an innocent forehead kiss. Now, did I feel like Lloyd and I were getting closer? Yes. I didn’t see the issue with it. Shameek and I couldn’t go further than what we were doing. Every time we laid down with each other, the feelings got greater and greater. I didn’t want to be engrossed in him, and that’s why I was talking to Lloyd more than just business.

“Okay, Shameek. It was a forehead kiss, and I liked it. That’s the end.”

“Ain’t shit sweet ‘bout another nigga puttin’ his lips on you.”

“Ain’t shit sweet about you leaving my house and going back to a woman you claim to love, either. But you see how I learned how to mind my business.”

I struck a nerve when I said that because the line got quiet.

“You keep holdin’ that shit over my head like I ain’t told you I’m gonna handle it. Me and Nikki got years tied in each other. I’m not finna walk in her house and act like none of that shit didn’t matter because me and you started doin’ somethin’ we ain’t got no business doin’.”

“Did I ask you to? I just told you I wasn’t going to be second, and you said you would handle it. You just can’t get boyfriend privileges with me and tell me who I can spend time with or who can touch me. You chose to keep Nikki in your life, so stand on your choice and stop trying to control mine.”

“You really pissin’ me off.”

“What’s new? When I speak truth, you can’t take it.”

“I don’t like the nigga ‘round you, Ky. I ain’t finna keep dressin’ the shit up as security either. I don’t like the way he makes you laugh, and I don’t kno’ how long before I take that shit too far wit’ that nigga.”

His honesty shut me up. Shameek could spend hours hiding bullshit and then suddenly say something so direct I didn’t know what to do with.

“Well, that sounds like something you need to work through.”

“Play wit’ me.” He laughed coldly.

“I’m not going to make myself unavailable to a single man because you can’t decide what you want. It’s not like we can just tell your family, ‘Hey we fucking’.”

“I kno’ what the fuck I want.”

“Okay, Meek.”

“Are you headed home?”

“I’m stopping by your parents first. Jaharee texted me saying she has food for everyone.”

“Oh, I’m pulling up here now.”

“Meek, do not do no weird shit when I get there. Jaharee’s already suspicious, and I don’t need her pressuring me. She’s going to come for me and not you.”

“You must’ve known I was gonna see if I could eat yo’ pussy in one of the bathrooms downstairs.”

“Goodbye, Meek.”

“Ky, don’t hang–”

I disconnected the call. He was usually the one to hang up first, so it felt good to hang up in his face. Once I got to the compound, I parked my car behind Jaharee’s. I waited a few minutes before getting out. It was getting harder and harder to hide this shit because Shameek couldn’t control himself. I got out and went through the garage, which led to the kitchen, where Ma was packing food into containers when I walked in.

“There she is. I thought I was going to have to drop it off over there to you.”

“No, I was at lunch. I told Jah I was coming when I finished.”

“With Lloyd,” Jaharee added when she walked into the kitchen.

“Lloyd is a good dude,” my mother-in-law said. “How was it?”

“Lunch was good. The food was worth the hype.”

Shameek was walking in the kitchen as I was talking about it.

“Sounds like a nice lunch.” His voice dripped with sarcasm.

Then Jaharee had that look again. The same look she had when he was acting an ass when Lloyd was in my office.

“It was great. We stayed for about two hours. I was having such a good time, I didn’t know that much time had passed.”

Shameek’s jaw started twitching, and Jaharee caught it. My mother-in-law was completely oblivious as she handed me two containers.

“I’m glad you’re getting out. Rah trusted him, and that says a lot because my son didn’t trust everybody.”

“He’s becoming a good friend.”

“A friend,” Shameek repeated.

“Is there an echo in the room?” I mocked.

Jaharee laughed before looking down at her phone.

“Meek, why you sounding like that girl said she was getting married?”

“Nah, it’s just weird.”

“Yes, you do,” Jaharee added. “Every time that man’s name comes up, your whole energy gets weird.”

“Son, stay out her business,” his mama said.

“I’m not in her business.”

“Then why did you call when I got five minutes up the road about him kissing me?” I asked, staring at him. All he had to do was stop the hating shit and let me tell his mama about the lunch, and we wouldn’t be here.

“He kissed you?” My mother-in-law turned around.

“On my forehead.”

“Oh,” she said. “That was sweet.”

“Thank you.” I rolled my eyes at Shameek.

Jaharee squinted. “Meek, why the hell you care if Lloyd kissed her forehead?”

“That’s the thing. I don’t care.”

“Jah, leave your brother alone.”

“Okay, ma, before he explodes,” Jaharee teased.

“I ain’t gonna explode over shit.”

“Well, on that note. I’m going home,” I said, grabbing my containers.

“I’ll walk out with you. I need to leave anyway,” Jaharee said.

“I’ll carry yo’ food.” Shameek snatched the containers out of my arms.

This nigga just didn’t give a fuck at this point. Jaharee was smiling too hard, so at this point she knew what the fuck was going on.

Outside, Shameek walked ahead of us and put the food in my passenger seat. Jaharee was digging in her damn purse like her ass wasn’t trying to give us rope to hang our damn selves.

“You have to stop,” I whispered.

“Girl, fuck you. You like that nigga kissing you?”

“We talked about this already. Now get out and go back in the house.”

“Ky, I’m deadass.”

Jaharee’s heels started clicking towards us, so I leaned up in my car.

“Did I interrupt something?” she asked.

“No,” I answered quickly.

“Aight, I’m finna head back inside,” Shameek said, closing my passenger side door.

Jaharee waited until he was halfway back to the house before speaking.

“I’m not accusing nobody of anything, so don’t start getting defensive. I’m just saying my brother is getting real possessive over you, and the shit is starting to look like some relationship type shit.”

“Yeah, you’re reading too much into it.”

“I’m not stupid, Kyenna. I love both of y’all if there is something for me to know. I’m sure eventually somebody will tell me,” she said, hugging me.