Page 11 of Rocky

“What is wrong with you? I amnotgoing out with that man. He’s rude, disrespectful, and?—”

“Sexy as fuck. Girl, you ain’t had no dick since you left your trifling, broke, baby daddy. Rocky looks like he’s holding something heavy between his legs, and I bet he knows exactly what to do with it.”

“Well, I sure as hell won’t be finding out. Thank God he left before getting our address.”

I turned to head to the back of the store before Rosemary’s words gave me pause.

“He’ll probably just get it from Briar’s paperwork. By the way, I’ll watch him for you tonight, and don’t worry about rushing home.”

“Shit!”

When I leftthe flower shop, I went directly to the center and found Russell in his office, which was next door to mine. I didn’t see him the night before and hadn’t had a chance to update him on my exchange with Rue until now.

“Deacon Lewis? From the Westside Riders?” Russell asked.

I nodded. “And get this. RJ’s best friend is his son.”

“You’re telling me you’re about to go out with the woman you had a run in with yesterday, and she happens to be the mother of RJ’s best friend and the ex-girlfriend of one of our biggest rivals?”

“Yeah, and I think Deacon is one of them.”

“One of—Oh shit. What makes you think that?”

“There was a handprint on her neck, and when I asked her about it, her sister told me everything I needed to know.”

“You want to make a move?”

“Nah, not right now, but I already got Semi watching him.”

“You like her?”

“Who?”

“What the fuck? Are you an owl now? Who the hell have we been talking about for the past twenty minutes?”

“Rue?”

“Nigga, get the fuck outta my office. You’re avoiding the question, so I got my answer.”

“I don’t know her enough to like her, but I am…intrigued. I wanna know her story.”

“Then you like her. I don’t know why it’s so hard for you to admit it.”

“I think Cinda is calling me. I gotta go.”

“Yeah, you like her!” my brother shouted as I disappeared into my office.

Yeah, I think I might, but I won’t say it out loud yet.

Once I was seated behind my desk, I went through my emails. We’d received more applications for our summer positions, and after skimming them, I ruled a few out.

Mayhem would host our first annual block party fundraiser soon, and I had a few emails from companies about sponsorship and donations. I responded to those immediately.

Before I knew it, the kids were arriving for the afterschool program. Russell and I met them at the entrance and gave each of them a high five as they entered and headed to the classrooms to do their homework. We stopped RJ to see how his day was before sending him with the other kids.

“So, where are you taking her?” Russell asked, leaning against the front desk.

“Taking who? Rocky has a date? Do tell,” Cinda teased.

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