Page 35 of Body Language
“Say what you want, Pretty.”
“Don’t test me,” I warned. “I’ll call you the wrong name on purpose in front of your mama.”
“You crazy as hell.”
I smirked, but deep down, my chest was tight. Talking to niggas is easy. Playing in their pockets is like second nature. But families and meeting mamas was territory I didn’t touch. Ever.
Maybe he caught the hesitation in my face, because he leaned over, voice low and certain. “Get your ass out the car, Pretty. Come on.”
I blinked and he smirked. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she likes you.”
“And if she doesn't?”
He grinned. “Then she’s wrong. But that has never happened before.”
I sucked my teeth and grabbed my bag, mumbling under my breath, “This nigga got me out here breaking all my damn rules.”
The second my shoes hit the marble, I realized I had underestimated the hell out of Kendrix Givelle. I knew he had money. You could see it in the way he dressed. But that house was next-level. It was obvious that he was born into money. The kind of money that didn’t ask for a receipt and sure as hell didn’t check the price tag.
The foyer alone looked like the kind of shit you only see in movies. Ceiling so high and paintings on the wall that probably cost more than my entire house. My mind wanted to slide mypussy across his face right after he slid his card through every register at Saks, Neiman’s, and Chanel for me.
“Damn,” I whispered under my breath.
He smirked, holding the door for me like he ain’t just walked me into the Black Excellence version of Hogwarts.
We made it to the kitchen, and I saw a lady sitting at the table, posture straight, eyes sharp but warm. Next to her, a girl that looked about fifteen, but sitting there with an attitude like the world owed her something.
I blinked, biting back a laugh. I didn’t even know her, but the way she was rolling her eyes at the woman made me wanna slap her ass on the spot. Reminded me of my brother when he thought he was too grown for his own good.
I leaned closer to Kendrix and whispered, “You better tell me she’s not one of yours, because if she roll her eyes at me like that, we gone have our first family feud.”
He chuckled under his breath, shaking his head. “Chill, Pretty. That’s my niece.”
“Mhm.” I narrowed my eyes, crossing my arms. “Better tell lil’ mama I fight kids too.”
That earned me the deepest laugh out of him, one hand coming up to rub his beard as he tried to hide his grin.
“You wild,” he said.
“Wild enough to keep her in check,” I shot back, giving the girl one of them auntie stares that saiddon’t play with me today.
The girl blinked, sat up a little straighter, and turned her eyes back to the table.
Yeah. That’s what I thought.
The woman at the table hadn’t even turned around when we walked in. She was too busy fussing at the girl like she’d said the same thing three times already.
Kendrix leaned down, grinning, and kissed the girl on the cheek. “What you in here getting in trouble about now?”
She rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. “You know Mama is extra.”
I almost laughed right there. Same tone Hux hit me with every damn time I told him about some dumbass shit he thought made sense.
The woman huffed, still not turning toward us. “She acts just like your brother. You can’t tell her nothing. I swear, I’m sick of it.”
Kendrix rubbed his niece’s shoulder. “Well… I want y’all to meet someone.”
That made the woman finally glance over her shoulder. “Who you got up in here, Kendrix?”
