Page 100 of Heavy Is The Crown

“You ready?” Krys asked, snapping the mirror back into place.

Kenyatta smirked, rubbing his palms together. “Should be asking you that. You bringing me back to the wolves.”

Krys rolled her eyes. “They like you.”

“Mmm,” Kenyatta hummed, unimpressed. “Is that what they told you, or that’s what you telling yourself so you don’t regret this?”

Krys side-eyed him, clicking her nails against the steering wheel. “Don’t make me leave your ass in this car.”

Kenyatta laughed, deep and full. Yeah. He needed this. The past week had been heavy. As for tonight, he just wanted to eat and vibe.

His gaze flicked to Krys, who was now pulling down the sun visor again, adjusting her earrings.

His thoughts went back to a week before when Jay-1 asked if he had hit that yet; that being Krys. He would be lying if he said he didn’t want to, because he found himself thinking about her romantically often. However, he wanted her to want him on the same level, and right now, she was fighting against the obvious chemistry between them.

“You done staring?” Krys asked, arching a perfect brow.

Kenyatta smirked. “You done pretending you ain’t love it?”

She sucked her teeth, grabbing her purse and stepping out before he could get the last word.

Kenyatta chuckled to himself as he glanced back at Kaliyah. “You ready, baby girl?”

She nodded, but he could tell she was feeling things out. He should be taking notes and doing the same. It was time to put on a show; not just for the family, but for Krys too.

**********

Kenyatta barely had a chance to take in the familiar warmth of Pam’s house before the screen door swung open, and Pam stood on the other side, hands on her hips, her expression already knowing.

“Well, well, well. If it ain’t the man of the hour,” Pam grinned.

Kenyatta dipped his head respectfully. “Miss Pam.”

Pam grinned playfully. “Oh, you one of them polite thugs. I like that.”

Krys groaned. “Mama.”

Pam laughed and waved him inside. “Come on in, baby. You family now.”

Kenyatta wasn’t used to that; being let in, being welcomed like he belonged.

But before he could dwell on that too much, the deep voice of Stevie, Pam’s “friend” cut through the air.

“So, this the youngblood?” Stevie asked, peering up from his spot in the living room.

Krys rolled her eyes. “Here they go.”

Kenyatta took the man in; older, salt-and-pepper beard, the kind of presence that commanded respect but didn’t beg for it. He had that old-school cool about him, like he’d seen and done enough to not be impressed by much.

Kenyatta nodded. “Nice to meet you, OG.”

Stevie studied him for a second, then nodded back. “A’ight, youngblood. We gon’ see if you worth all this hype.”

Kenyatta chuckled. “Hype? Ain’t know I had a fan club.”

“Oh, you do,” Ray interjected, walking in with a teasing grin. “Even my mama over here tryna act like she don’t be asking Krys about you.”

Pam swatted at her. “Girl, hush.”

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