Page 14 of A Toxic Redemption

"Oryoucan tell daddy to come by and eat—"

"Khalil, you better not," Kira interrupted as she walked by and mushed his head. "Cousin, are you ready to go?" She walked over and kissed my cheek." I want to see what you're going to wear on this date tonight."

"Date?" Khalil and Bino both asked.

Giggling, I placed KJ back on the ground, and he shot off in his daddy's direction. He climbed back beside him on the couch, picked up his tablet, and went back to whatever he was doing.

"Who in the hell do you have a date with tonight?" Bino asked as he got comfortable in the recliner and popped a few grapes into his mouth. "I know damn well you're not letting a nigga love on your mean ass."

"I'm not mean." I rolled my eyes and placed my hand on my hips. I could feel Khalil's eyes on me, but I chose to ignore him. "Plus, who said I was letting anybody love on me? It's dinner and dick, nothing special."

"Dick, huh?" Khalil asked, making sure KJ's headphones were secure over his ears. "So is eating food and then eating dick your thing? And here I am thinking I was special."

"Why would you think that, love?" I smirked as I folded my arms. "Single people do single shit. If I want to go out for dinner and dick on a daily, I can do that. Worry about Larry, Curly, and Moe." I winked at the mug forming on his face. "I got me."

"Oh, I get it." He chuckled as he draped his arm over the sofa. "You're just a hoe like the rest of them. You're just out here fucking anything moving."

"Khalil!" Kira gasped as she walked over and hit his shoulder. "Don't call my cousin out of her name."

"Girl, that shit doesn't bother me." I waved her off.

Bino and Jake were looking between us as if they knew some shit was about to pop off, and they couldn't be more wrong.

"If that's what he feels, he's entitled to his opinion." I shrugged as all eyes were now on me. "I'm grown as hell, single, and make my own money. I get dick from these niggas, and I send them on their way. There's no harm in that. Granted, I could be out here on some scandalous shit. You know, fucking on brothers and hiding babies for almost three years."

"Oop!" Bino instigated as he held his fist over his mouth. He dragged his eyes over to a fuming Khalil as I looked on without a care in the world. When people go low, I go to hell. I'm not rude by any means, but you will not come for me. "You gone take that shit, Loon?"

"He doesn't have to take shit." I chuckled and nodded toward Kira. "Meet me outside, boo. I'm ready to go before I change my mind. You know how I get." I was not about to stand there and go back and forth with Khalil. He has a lot of pent-up aggression when it comes to women and his baby mother. I get that, but I am the wrong one to take that shit out on.

After a few more minutes of sitting in my car, I looked on and noticed Jake walk Kira over to the passenger side. I felt as if I was imposing as I watched them hug and kiss all over each other, as if she weren't coming back. If I ever were to take a man seriously, I would hope he loved me as much as Jake loved my girl. Finally, they both came up for air so we could be on our way.

"So bitch, when were you going to tell me you were messing with Loon's crazy ass?" Kira grilled me as we made our way inside the mall.

Despite the holidays, traffic was light, and now I see why. Everybody and their mama are here. I only wanted to come because I needed an outfit for a night out with Monty. He's been coming by the bakery apologizing for the way he's been acting.I told him there was nothing to apologize for, but he insisted on going to dinner. I'm a girl who loves to eat, so why not?

"Because it's nothing like that," I countered as we made our way inside of Foot Locker. He gave me money to shop with, and although it was probably for something to wear for our date, I'm a sneaker head. I can never miss the chance to get something new. "Khalil and I are just cordial. We're not even friends."

"Girl, please." She waved me off as we browsed the store. "You were the only one who was able to talk some sense into him the day he wanted to kill his brother and baby mama. It was also you who patched him up the day he was shot. Also, Lori told me about y'all's little lunch date and how he wanted to fuck you at the table. Tell that lie to somebody else."

I couldn't help but chuckle as she ticked away our many encounters on her fingers. Kira couldn't be more wrong, though. Yes, all of those things transpired, but that's as far as it will go with us.

"Khalil is not the type of person I would be with if I were in the running for a man." I pulled an all-black pair of Viper Max from the shelf and took my place on the bench to try them on. "He clearly has some baby mama drama going on, not to mention his harem. Girl, I will hurt all of them hoes fucking with Khalil."

"Girl, Loon is a good guy despite all of that." Kira sat beside me and pled Khalil's case as she tried on shoes of her own. "He just needs a real woman by his side because that baby mama of his did a number on him. I really want to beat her ass."

"Hopefully, they get it together for KJ." I finished with my shoe and went in search of the store associate. "He's so sweet and doesn't deserve that toxic shit."

"Yeah, I know." She stood and followed me. "I was telling Jake—"

"Kira, hey, sis."

We both turned and came face to face with the Doublemint twins. I don't know their names for anything in this world because it's not important to me. Deciding to give them space to talk, I made my way toward the register. I had no reason to stick behind.

"Hey, girl." I could hear Kira greet them from behind me. "What have y'all been up to?"

"You'd know if you would let us come to the house," one of them snapped. "It seems as if you have a new friend and don't have time for us."

"Relax." I could hear the agitation in her voice as she got closer. I was paying for my things and going to get out of their way because I didn't have time for the petty mess. "I've been busy and dealing with family stuff. I talk to y'all all the time."

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