Page 28 of Ride

I swallowed the rest of the wine in my cup. “No, Virgil tried to snatch up Kayne, and Laikin blocked him.”

“That’s a good man, Savannah,” Winter teased me a reference of the movie Waiting To Exhale, and I bumped her on the shoulder.

Tomorrow if we ran into each other, I had no clue what to say. “He is not my man.”

A grin curled her lips. “Which is stupid,You both want each other.”

“How do you know?”

“I can tell.”

“He hates me.” The words lingered in the air.

Winter stretched her arm around my shoulder and pulled me along with her to walk back in the condo. “Give him space.”

“I just want our friendship back.”

Winter grabbed the bottle to top off both cups, then gulped hers down. “Is my godson asleep?”

“Yes, he is and please don’t wake him up.”

If she had her wish, he would stay up all night playing, with her spoiling him. Winter had no kids—and no man, as far as I knew—so spending money and giving Kayne everything he wanted was her Godmotherly duty.

“All right, party pooper, let me get out of here and let you sleep.”

“Thanks for coming over.” We hugged each other, and I walked her out.

“Best friends are for venting and drinking,” Winter said as she waved goodbye.

I watched her get on the elevator and leave. My eyes scanned Laikin’s door out of curiosity and then I stepped back inside to shut and lock mine. Like I planned to do before she came, I headed to my bedroom to shower and go to bed, with thoughts of Laikin on my mind.

Chapter Seven

Laikin

A week had gone by since Amena and I had an argument and working closely together had not made it any better. The awkwardness started as soon as we got on the private jet to New York. Kayne wanted to come, but Amena promised him a trip in a few months. Amena and Sarai got in the car together continued talking and planning my schedule. Sincere blabbed on in my ear about his plans to meet up with an old flame.

“Laikin, you hear me?” Sincere called out, then tapped me on the shoulder.

* * *

“Come on, Laikin, are you scared?” Amena teased, throwing her bikini top on the side of the pool.

“Pepper, you got me breaking into the community center.” Removing my t-shirt and shoes, I dove into the pool then pushed Amena’s back against the edge with both hands planted on each side.

“Aww, my little baby is scared.” Amena giggled and stretched both arms around my neck, kissing the side of my cheek.

“Keep playing and find out.”

“My mom would kill me if she knew.”

“How about we forget about our parents for the night?” A hand came up against my cheek.

“She wants me to go live with my uncle and aunt in Missouri.” Amena rolled her eyes.

“You and your mother are just alike. That’s the problem.”

Amena nodded, her small frown curving into a smile. “Kiss me.”

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