Page 56 of A Toxic Redemption

As I watched Khalil interact with my dad, I thought about what she was saying. Could he really have those feelings for me? Feeling eyes on him, Khalil looked around until his eyes lockedwith mine. He held my stare, and that was when I knew. He did love me, and I'll be damned if I didn't think I felt the same way.

"Cousin, I love you, and you know that. I would hate to have to explain to your father how you ended up in a casket."

Rolling my eyes at Kira's comment, I continued to apply my makeup as I got ready for my date tonight. Khalil had me fucked if he thought he was going to put me on the back burner and handle me like I'm some simp ass bitch. When I agreed to be with him, I made it clear not to play with me, but here we are.

I know all about the fight he and Bino had because Lori made sure to call me. I played clueless when she asked me what it could possibly be about. If Bino didn't tell her, it wasn't my place to do it. When Khalil popped up on me last weekend at my father's, he really thought spending a bag on me and dropping off some dick was going to fix everything, but it wasn't. We got back home, and he was back in the streets. He had too much going on, and I refused to be second. I hated Sasha had brought the possibility of love to my attention because it was all I'd been thinking about. Tonight was the first step I would take to get back to my old self.

"I could care less about the things you're saying, Kira." I popped my lips and was pleased with the slight shine from the gloss. "I'm about to go out tonight and have some fun. I thought you were going to be my wingman."

"I am." She sighed as she stood from the edge of my bed. "I'll be downstairs waiting on you and thinking about the speech I'm going to give at your homegoing service. A sad day it will be."

Giggling at her dramatics, I walked to my closet and retrieved my favorite pair of denim ripped jeans I purchased from FashionNova. The way they cuffed and lifted my ass should be a crime, but I knew for a fact I was turning heads to night. Since it was chilly outside, I paired it with a long-sleeved body shirt with a deep V in the front that had the girls up top playing peek-a-boo. I brought out a pair of thigh high leather black boots to complete the outfit. My face was beat, my curls were popping, and a bitch smelled like heaven. With a simple pair of diamond studs and the cute Cartier watch that Khalil purchased on our first vacation, I looked and felt like that bitch.

"Alright, let's go," I called out to her as I made my way into the living room. I was ready to get the night started, and since Kira was with child, I had a designated driver. "I can't believe you let that nigga knock you up." I giggled and palmed her small belly. "I just knew we were going to be lit this summer."

"Dee, we have been lit for the past two summers, love." Kira chuckled as she made her way to the door with me behind her. "It was time for me to sit my ass down. Plus, I'm happy to be having a baby with my man. Maybe if you and Loon get y'all shit together—"

"Girl, fuck Khalil." I frowned as we made our way to her car. "I will never let that nigga sit me down, or any nigga for that matter."

He couldn't even be a decent boyfriend, so the thought of having a child with him was wild. Plus, he had enough going on with Mia, and she seemed real territorial over a nigga she cheated on. I'd hate to murder that bitch.

"So you say." Kira side-eyed me, and we headed through town. "I think Loon really likes you, boo, and the last thing you should want to do is play with his feelings." She looked from me to the road as she headed to a nearby lounge. Although I wanted to go out and shake my ass tonight, I decided to keep it simple. Plus, I don't want any issues with Jake. He was a little on the quiet side, but that nigga was crazy. "Give him a chance."

"I'm all chanced out." I sighed as I silenced my phone for the hundredth time. "Khalil doesn't respect me or my feelings, Kira. You know how I feel about relationships, and I feel like he played me. Before I get caught up in my feelings about a nigga, I will leave him where I found him and go on about my business. I don't need the heartbreak.

"You fell for him, didn't you?" she asked as she came to a stop at the light. "You have real feelings for that crazy ass nigga."

"It doesn't matter." I shrugged as my phone rang once more. "I'm back outside and on my bullshit. Fuck whatever feelings I may or may not have. Matter of fact," I answered my phone this time, "bullshit is calling me right now."

"A sad day it will be," she mumbled as I answered my phone.

"Hello?" I spoke through my receiver. "Why are you calling me Monty?"

"I miss you," his raspy voice flowed. "Pull up on me."

I haven't seen or heard from Montel since the night he left me at the restaurant. That shit was embarrassing, and I wanted nothing to do with him. His calling tonight was just the sign I needed to get back to the Devyn that didn't give a fuck about these niggas.

"Are you home?" I asked as I felt Kira's eyes on me. "I'm with someone, but I can get dropped off."

"Bet." He disconnected the call.

I know I was playing games at this point, but it is what it is.

"Take me to Monty's," I informed Kira as I glanced at her. "You know the way."

Nothing was said as Kira made the drive to Monty's home. I know she probably disagreed with what I was doing, but I don't care. I'm single, and I will do single shit.

"Enjoy your night," she spoke as she pulled up to his home. "Call me if you need me."

Kira didn't even give me time to get out of the car good before she was pulling off. Shrugging her off, I made the short walk to his front door and knocked.

"Damn," Monty groaned as he stepped to the side and allowed me in. "You look good as fuck." He pulled me into a hug, which I returned. "You missed a nigga?"

"Not really," I honestly spoke as I took a seat on his sofa. "I wasn't fucking with you after you left me by myself when it was supposed to be a date."

"My bad, man." he apologized as he took a seat beside me. "A nigga had business and shit."

"Well, I'm here now so—"

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