Page 146 of Heavy Is The Crown

Krys half-shrugged, keeping her energy light. “I’m just saying, you should be grateful.”

“Oh, I’m grateful.” His voice dropped slightly again, something deliberate in his tone. “So…when we running that back?”

Krys hummed, pretending to think it over. “Hmm…wouldn’t you like to know.”

Before Kenyatta could press the issue, a familiar voice interrupted.

“Aye, ain’t this some Midtown bougie-ass shit?”

Kenyatta looked up, shaking his head as Jay-1 strolled over, already smirking.

Krys, barely sparing him a glance, went back to cutting into her food. “Didn’t nobody invite you.”

Jay-1 grinned, sliding into the booth next to Kenyatta like he belonged there. “Ain’t have to. My boy said where he was headed, but I ain’t think he meant a whole rooftop, pastel colored drink ass brunch spot.”

Kenyatta sighed, already knowing this was about to be a whole thing. “Nigga, don’t start.”

Jay-1 leaned over, eyeing the glasses on the table. “Mimosas?” He let out a sharp whistle. “Damn, Yatta. Next thing I know, you gon’ be rocking loafers with no socks.”

Krys grinned, finally looking up. “What? You don’t like Midtown, Jay-1?”

Jay-1 scoffed, shaking his head. “Man, Midtown cool for business, but I ain’t tryna be out here on no brunch tours.” He looked around dramatically. “Everybody dressed like they got trust funds. It’s crazy.”

Krys laughed, shaking her head. “Maybe it’s ‘cause you don’t belong.”

Jay-1 clutched his chest in mock offense. “Damn, boss lady. That’s cold.”

Kenyatta chuckled. “She got a point.”

Jay-1 sucked his teeth. “Man, whatever. You let a woman convince you to drink mimosas, you ain’t got no room to talk.”

Kenyatta gave a genuine smile. “Shedidn’tconvince me. I was being polite.”

Krys wrinkled her nose and stuck her tongue out at Jay-1. “Exactly.”

Jay-1 rolled his eyes, then shifted slightly, his expression turning more serious. “Nah, but real talk, Yatta. I needed to holla at you.”

Kenyatta immediately picked up on the shift. “What’s up?”

Jay-1 looked around slightly before lowering his voice. “Been hearing some shit in the Water. Something about some Cuban nigga tryna slide in and set up shop.”

Kenyatta’s expression darkened slightly. “What Cuban nigga?”

Jay-1 exhaled. “That’s what I’m tryna figure out. All I know is, Rico been tryna link up with him.”

Kenyatta’s jaw flexed at that. Rico was already an issue, but if he was making moves with outside niggas then that wasn’t good.

Krys’ phone vibrated, breaking the moment. She glanced at the caller ID, her expression unreadable.

“I gotta take this,” she muttered, standing from the booth.

Kenyatta gave her a look. “Everything straight?”

“Yeah,” she nodded, grabbing her clutch. “Just something I need to handle real quick.”

Kenyatta didn’t press, but something about the way she said it made him pause.

Krys glanced at him, her tone light again. “I’ll meet y’all at the mall in an hour, is that okay?”

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