Page 134 of Tainted

He was no longer a sad puppy but a Pitbull protecting his owner.

“Whatever,” she spat, turning and storming off.

I half expected Kenyon to scold me, but he glared for a moment before draping his arm around my neck as the party continued.

“Punkass nigga got his girl back and learned how to smile again,” Nolan joked.

“Don’t talk about my baby like that,” I scolded Nolan, but he waved me off.

“Oh, my badBabygirl.”

“Watch it nigga,” Kenyon warned.

Jewel and Brandy joined us in our secluded corner, but after a while, Brandy grew tired and announced that she was ready to go. She didn’t bother telling me, figuring I was going home with Kenyon.

She was right.After promising I’d call in the morning, Nolan and Shaudi climbed in the backseat. Once we reached Kenyon’s home, it felt like the argument I walked out on greeted us at the door. Kenyon felt it, too, because he was back to being quiet and unsure of what to do next.

I sat on the couch leaning over the back, watching Kenyon’s broad shoulders lean on the kitchen counter.

“We have to talk.”

“Do we?”

“Yeah, we do boyfriend in training.”

Kenyon sighed, wearing the same expression Dad had whenever Mom told him the same.

“Let’s talk,” he conceded.

“Who was that man who questioned me at the station?”

He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face like he’d been expecting this, “Ask me something else.”

“Okay, did you kill Makori and Tasha?”

Kenyon’s eyes met mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flash of vulnerability before it disappeared.

“If you’re looking for the perfect nigga, I’m not him.”

“If perfect is what I wanted, I wouldn’t be here!”

I had already had it, and perfect was overrated. As much as Kenyon drove me crazy, he made me feel alive. Most importantly, he made me feel perfect when I knew I was the furthest thing from it.

“I’m still in training, but isn’t hitting below the belt against the fuckin’ rules?”

“I need a minute,” I announced, walking upstairs before I hit below the belt again, but for real.

A moment is all Kenyon allowed before his steps entered the bedroom. He leaned against the doorframe for a moment, wearing a smirk that made me roll my eyes. Then he inched closer to where I had climbed under the comforter because, per usual, it was freezing in here.

“What’s really going on with you?”

“You keep dodging my questions, and it’s making me crazy. You’re used to calling the shots and everybody following you blindly. That’s not me.”

“You call the shots in my world, so what’s the problem?” he asked, pulling the blanket back and hovering over my body.

I turned my head to avoid looking Kenyon in the eyes, thinking that if I did, I could stand my ground.

“This is serious, and you’re playing.”

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