Page 101 of Heavy Is The Crown

Laughter rippled through the room. That was all it took before Kenyatta felt himself loosening up. Kaliyah had already disappeared upstairs with Mia, giggling and plotting whatever trouble seven and eight-year-olds got into.

By the time they made their plates, the house was lively. The vibe at Pam’s house on a Sunday was something you had to experience to understand. It wasn’t just a dinner, it was a ritual. Family, food, laughter, and the kind of banter that could cut you if you weren’t quick enough to keep up.

Then, the door opened, and Pam’s face lit up instantly. “Oh, look who decided to bless us with their presence.”

Sydnee had that effortlessly put-together look, with thick-rimmed glasses giving her a sexy librarian vibe, her sundress flowing as she walked in. But it was Panda, her girlfriend, that had some eyes widening.

Panda was the opposite of Sydnee. Fair skinned, tall, athletic build, rocking fresh braids pulled back under a fitted cap, tatted, her whole energy screamed cool but don’t try me. She wasn’t loud, but she didn’t need to be.

“Sorry, sorry,” Sydnee said smoothly, already heading toward Pam for a hug. “We got caught up.”

Pam waved her off. “Mmhmm, long as y’all made it. And Panda, baby, you eating this time, right? Or you still on that ‘I don’t trust everybody’s potato salad’ phase?”

Panda chuckled, dropping into an empty seat near Ray. “You already know I’m picky, Aunt Pam, but I ain’t about to pass up your cooking.”

“Damn, Panda,” Ray teased, eyeing her fit. “You was hoopin’ or heading to a cookout?”

Panda chuckled, voice smooth. “You know I stay ready for both.”

Jared, Ray’s boyfriend, dapped Panda up before shaking his head. “You got the energy of a nigga that stay dropping twenty in a pickup game and act like it’s nothing.”

“‘Cause it ain’t,” Panda shot back, taking a seat at the table with an easy sprawl. “But if y’all tryna run one after we eat, just say that.”

“Shit, say less,” Kenyatta chuckled, shaking his head. “I like the confidence.”

Panda studied him for a second before nodding. “You must be Kenyatta.”

An arrogant smile spread on Kenyatta’s face. “Y’all be talking ‘bout a nigga, I see.”

Sydnee’s eyes lingered on him a little longer than necessary. Not in a flirtatious way, but in a measuring, calculating kind of way. Sydnee’s gaze was subtle, barely a flicker of expression crossing her face, but Krys caught it anyway.

Their eyes met, and for just a moment, there was a conversation between them that didn’t need words.

Sydnee said nothing. Just gave the smallest nod.

Panda leaned back in her seat, her gaze full of amusement. “It’s just surprising ‘cause Krys be so picky and secretive…So, yeah…heard a lil’ bit about you already.”

Kenyatta raised a brow, amused. “Yeah? Good things, I hope.”

Panda chuckled, shaking her head. “Mmm. More like interesting things.”

Kenyatta glanced over at Sydnee, who was now casually sipping on some lemon tea, not offering a damn thing.

Krys was watching with mild amusement, letting them go back and forth.

Panda cracked her neck before drumming her fingers against the table. “You got hands?”

That caught him off guard for half a second. “The hell kinda question is that?”

Panda chuckled. “The kind that matter when you tryna date a woman like Krys.”

The table laughed, but the underlying truth wasn’t lost on Kenyatta. Panda wasn’t here to joke.

Krys rolled her eyes, finally jumping in. “A’ight, Panda. Don’t start.”

Panda leaned forward. “Nah, I’m just sayin’. You attract a certain…energy, cousin. You can’t be out here with just anybody. We gotta know that the nigga ain’t no…” She tried searching for an appropriate word, but Kenyatta understood.

He smirked. “Oh, so I gotta go through an application process?”

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