Page 84 of Heavy Is The Crown

They just played the game.

Chapter 21

The energy in the house had shifted. The laughter was still there, the games still rolling, but the vibe was different now. More settled, intimate. The house was alive with the rhythm of the night, the Bluetooth speaker pouring out a mix of smooth R&B and old-school grooves.

Krys had stepped away from the chaos for a moment, finding a quieter space on the back patio, letting the warm night air cool her skin. She needed a minute. Too much was happening. Too much was changing.

Then, she heard small footsteps behind her.

Kaliyah.

Krys turned, her lips curving into a soft smile as the little girl hesitated before stepping forward. She had her arms crossed, but her face was curious, observing Krys in a way that made her feel like she was under some kind of test.

Krys lifted a brow, leaning against the railing. “You having fun?”

Kaliyah nodded slowly. “Yeah.” Then she tilted her head. “Are you?”

Krys chuckled. Smart girl. “I am.”

Kaliyah studied her for a moment, chewing on her bottom lip like she was thinking hard about something. Then she finally asked, “Do you like my dad?”

Krys wasn’t expecting that. She took a slow sip of her wine, playing it cool. “What makes you ask that?”

Kaliyah shrugged, looking out at the yard. “I don’t know. You look at him a lot.”

Krys blinked. Damn. This kid was way too observant.

Kaliyah glanced at her again. “Do you?”

Krys reflected, choosing her words carefully. “I think your dad is…interesting.”

Kaliyah thought on that. Then, after a pause, she said something that caught Krys completely off guard.

“I like you.”

Krys stared at her.

Kaliyah wasn’t looking at her, though. She was kicking at the ground, arms still crossed like she was trying not to make a big deal of it. But her face, her expression held pure admiration. The little girl thought she was the prettiest lady she’d ever seen in real life; even if she was too shy to say it.

Krys’ chest tightened. She cleared her throat, squatting slightly to Kaliyah’s level. “I like you too, short stuff.”

Kaliyah beamed, but only for a second before quickly hiding her smile like she didn’t want to give too much away.

Krys shook her head, reaching out to smooth a hand over her curls.

This was definitely growing into something else that Krys wasn’t prepared for.

**********

At some point, Kenyatta found himself off to the side, just watching; eyes trained on Krys and Kaliyah.

Watching Krys as she laughed with her family. Watching Kaliyah as she twirled in her little white dress. Watching the way Kaliyah kept finding Krys, like she was already claiming her. And when Kaliyah reached for Krys’ hand, pulling her toward the dance floor, Krys didn’t hesitate. She let Kaliyah lead her, spinning her around, making her laugh; her face lighting up in a way Kenyatta didn’t see often.

The laughter, the games, the way Kaliyah kept twirling around the backyard like she was having the time of her life; it all felt so natural.

Too natural.

Krys, for all her sharp-tongued, bougie-ass ways, wasn’t forcing it. She was just being. And it was messing with him. Because this wasn’t a part of the game. This wasn’t some carefully orchestrated performance. This was just… Krys. And Kaliyah liked her.

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