Page 121 of Heavy Is The Crown

Kenyatta’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. He exhaled. “You tryna start some shit today, huh?”

Krys smiled, looking away and rolling down the window as the warm air spilled in.

“Just drive, Yatta,” she ordered as she reached into the bag at her feet, pulling out two cold bottles of water. She twisted the cap off one and handed it to him.

“Hydrate before you go drinking all day,” she muttered, taking a sip of her own.

From the backseat, Musa lifted his head slightly, eyes locked on the bottles.

Kenyatta glanced at him through the mirror, then laughed. “Oh, that got your attention?”

Krys chuckled, twisting in her seat. “You thirsty too, baby?”

Musa wagged his tail once—only once—then put his head back down.

Kenyatta shook his head, popping the cap off the bottle. “You tryna take care of me or somethin’?”

Krys didn’t even blink. “Somebody gotta make sure you ain’t out here passed out in the sun.”

Musa exhaled like he had heard enough.

Kenyatta took a slow sip, glanced at Krys, and smirked.

Yeah…this was going to be a long ass ride.

**********

The Porsche rolled smoothly over the pavement, the ride so quiet that the tension had no choice but to fill the space.

Kenyatta kept his left hand on the wheel, his right resting against his thigh. The air between them was thick; not awkward but thrilling.

She smelled good. That soft, clean, floral scent drifting over to him every time she shifted in her seat. And she kept shifting. Crossing and uncrossing those shiny, glossed-up legs like she was testing his patience.

He exhaled through his nose, keeping his eyes locked on the road.

She was doing the shit on purpose.

For a while, neither of them said anything, just the sound of the city slipping past them as they moved toward the lake.

Then, finally, Krys broke the silence. “Where’s Kaliyah?”

Kenyatta glanced at her briefly before refocusing on the road. “Already there. My mama and her niece set up a sleepover with one of my cousin’s daughters. They was hyped about it.”

Krys nodded, tapping her manicured fingers lightly against her thigh. “That’s cute. She getting more comfortable?”

Kenyatta let a small, pleased smile pull at his lips. “Yeah. I mean, it’s different now. She don’t look at me like she waiting to be disappointed no more.”

Krys studied him, tilting her head slightly. “That’s gotta feel good.”

It did. Hell, if she knew how bad that little girl’s eyes used to cut through him, she’d understand why he wasn’t letting nothing fuck this up again.

“Yeah,” he admitted, voice low. “It does.”

Krys nodded like she understood, then let the silence settle again before asking, “What about Brooke?”

Kenyatta scoffed, shifting in his seat. “What about her?”

Krys arched a brow, amused. “Damn, I can’t ask about her or something?”

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