Page 41 of A Toxic Redemption

"I guess you can stay the night." She rolled her eyes slightly before getting back into bed. "I have to go back to work tomorrow, though, so no funny shit."

"I just want to hold you, girl." I chuckled as I pulled her on top of me. "I got to get up in the morning and handle business, anyway. I need to look into a lawyer and shit so I can get joint custody. Mia ain't keeping my son away from me."

"Have you ever thought about getting back with her? I mean, you know niggas are always going back home for the kids."

"Fuck no." I frowned as I flipped the television to ESPN. If we weren't fucking, I needed the sounds of the TV to sleep. Shit was weird. "That bitch can't even get my dick hard. Trust me, she tried that shit earlier."

"Oh really?" She lifted her head and smirked. "It seems to me that things are working just fine now."

While staring at me, Lucky climbed on top of me and eased herself down onto my rock-hard dick. Our eyes never left each other as she lifted her body and began riding me slowly. Reaching up, I grabbed her by the neck and brought her lips down to meet mine. I don't know how to describe what this girl was doing to me, and I wasn't going to try. All I knew was when I was with her, I forgot about all my problems, even if it was just for a moment. Here lately, she'd been my voice of reason. I know I have a lot of things going on, and I know I needed to get that shit under control, but there was no denying the inevitable. Lucky was mine and it's about time she knows it.

CHAPTER

TEN

DEVYN

"Girl,I can't believe you let that nigga trick you off the streets. We were supposed to have a hot girl summer, and you fucked around and let that nigga knock you up."

I couldn't help but laugh and chuckle at the disdain that flowed through Lori's voice as she expressed her concerns to Kira. We were just informed that one of the gifts she gave Jake a few days ago for Christmas was a six-week ultrasound photo and a pregnancy test.

"How are you shocked?" I asked as I pulled my red velvet cupcakes out of the oven. "Those two are attached to each other at the hip, so it's bound to happen."

"Okay, ladies, get off me." Kira frowned as she looked back and forth between the two of us. "Leave my man and me alone. The way you and Khalil are acting, you two aren't too far behind."

Now it was my turn to frown. Granted, we have been spending more time together since he popped up on me Christmas night, but things remained the same on my end. Well, at least that's what I kept telling myself.

I'm somewhat in a state of delusion when it comes to Khalil. I like him more than I let on, but there really isn't anything thatcan be done about it. He has his harem, baby mama, and brother he needs to deal with. I don't want any part of that.

"Get that look off your face, Dee," Lori snapped me out of my thoughts.

I glanced over my shoulders, and she was headed to the nearby sink to wash her hands. I don't know if it was to help me set up for the day or to sample all my treats.

"You know what she is saying is true. I'm happy for you because it's about time you let someone love you. I just never thought it would be that nigga."

"First of all, it's not like that with us." I wiped my hands on my apron, and they looked at me as if I were the biggest liar they'd ever seen. "We're just having fun. Khalil has too much on his plate as is, and you both know I'm not one for the games."

"Girl, please." Kira waved me off. She, too, was supposed to come by the bakery to help me today, but she has been in the same spot with a napkin or bowl in front of her since she arrived. "Loon's crazy ass is smitten, and that's not good for any of us. Trust me, sis, he's on you bad. I don't know what you've done to him, but when he locks you down, the Three Stooges are going to lose their shit."

"And that," I pointed my mixing spoon at her, "is why I don't want that nigga. Now get y'all asses out of the way so I can work."

For the next hour, we talked shit about our plans for the new year as I set the bakery up for the day. Jake and Kira made plans to bring the year in together, as did Bino and Lori. The latter kind of shocked me because Bino always tried to downplay how he felt about my friend. It just goes to show these niggas be lying to the public but acting like lovesick puppies in private.

"Okay, ladies, I have to get to class. Kira, I will see you later because if I can't find my man after I get out of school, I will be popping up at your shit because I know that's where he will be." We shared a laugh as they embraced because that was a fact.When they detached, Lori made her way over to me and kissed my cheek. "I love you, best friend, and I will call you later. Tell your man I said I hate him."

Waving her off, I chose not to respond. Khalil is not my man, and I won't be telling him anything. When those two get started, there is no stopping them. They argue like fucking siblings.

"Now that Lori's gone," Kira glanced over her shoulder before smirking and turning back to me, "tell me the real. You know just as well as I do that as soon as you tell her anything about Loon, she is going to run back and tell Bino." Kira twisted on her bar stool and continued to eat her breakfast croissant. "What's been going on?"

I continued icing my cupcakes and pondered on what I wanted to say. Telling her Khalil's issues wasn't my story to tell so I could only speak on what I knew and felt about him.

"If we're being honest," I wiped my forehead slightly as I sprinkled the pecans on top of the red velvet cake, "I like him," I admitted but avoided eye contact. "I like him more than I should. Khalil and I can't take it there, though. He has a lot going on."

"How do you know if he has anything going on or not if he hasn't confided in you?"

"We've talked about some personal things that are going on with him." I kept it simple. "He has things coming to him back-to-back and—"

"He's found a sense of peace in you, cousin." I paused my movements and looked at her. Kira had a smirk on her face, and if she weren't pregnant, I'd knock it off. "When his life is in disarray, you're the one who seems to get his mind together. That says a lot. Loon trusts you, and the aura you have lets him know that when things get crazy in his world, he can trust and count on you to make things better."

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