Page 54 of Heavy Is The Crown

Krys didn’t hesitate, and Kenyatta just chuckled again, shaking his head. “Damn, Bae. I really gotta compete with a damn dog?”

Krys tilted her head slightly, eyes flicking toward him with something unreadable. “You sure that’s not already happening?”

Kenyatta went silent for a second, watching her. Then, with a slow, knowing smirk, he muttered, “Youfull of shit, you know that?”

Krys just grinned, pressing the gas a little harder.

**********

When Krys pulled up outside Kenyatta’s spot, she expected him to just hop out and go.

Instead, he stayed put.

She glanced over. “What?”

He studied her for a second, his usual smirk absent. “You gon’ be good?”

Krys frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Just…in general.” He leaned back against the seat, voice lower now.

She hated how comfortable he looked in her car. Like he belonged there. Like she didn’t mind him being there.

“Appreciate you,” he said finally, voice a little lower than before. “For letting me slide through tonight. It was straight—Aye, tell yo’ auntie she did her thang on that soul food board. Them mac-n-cheese bites…”

Krys had to agree with him. “Yeah, they were the business. I’ll let Auntie Shonda know.”

“I had a good time though. Doing normal…” his voice wandered, “…shit.”

Krys shrugged. “You handled yourself better than I thought.”

Kenyatta licked his lips, eyes still on her. “That mean you impressed then. Go ‘head and say it, Bae.”

Krys exhaled. “It means…you didn’t embarrass me. You did your job.”

Kenyatta chuckled, then did something she didn’t expect.

He reached over, brushing a stray curl from her cheek. His fingers were warm, slow, careful. Not rushed. Not cocky.

Just intentional.

Krys’ breath caught. She was too stunned to move, to react, to stop him.

Kenyatta leaned in slightly, his voice a quiet hum. “You sure you ain’t feel nothing tonight?”

Krys swallowed, forcing herself to snap out of it. She pulled back, clearing her throat. “Get out, Yatta.”

Kenyatta smirked, like he knew he had just knocked her off balance. He continued, “Dude got in your head earlier. I saw it.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m fine.”

“You keep saying that, but you don’t look it.”

Krys sighed, annoyed at how well he read her. She was in her head; but it was other things, deeper things gnawing at her. Like his presence for one.

She turned fully toward him. “Zahir is old news, Kenyatta. I’ve moved on. This whole thing? You? Just proving a point to my family; not him.”

Kenyatta nodded slowly, like he was filing that away. Then he licked his lips, gaze dragging over her for just a second longer than necessary.

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