Page 37 of Body Language
I turned back to Khloe. “Where is mama at?”
She pointed down the hallway. “In the sunroom with her tea and her plants. You already know.”
I rubbed my hands together.
“Aight,” I said, clearing my throat. “Hate to break this up, but I wanna take her to go meet Ma. I’ll bring her back.”
“Go ahead. I got a call with a client anyway.” She turned to her. “And don’t play, girl. You got my new number now. Make sure you use it. You’re family now.”
Pretty snorted.. “Girl, please. I don’t even know this man.”
Khloe pointed a finger at her, grinning. “Mhm. That’s what you say.”
I shook my head, laughing, then reached out and took her hand. “C’mon, Pretty.”
We stepped into the sunroom, and my mama was sitting in her favorite chair, sun spilling through the glass walls like God ordered the lighting just for her. Pearls on her neck, hair wrapped, flawless. She had a book in one hand, a teacup in the other, and an expression that saidI already know half the shit you gon’ say before you say it.
Her eyes cut to me first, then slid straight to Pretty. It was slow but calculated. Smile on her face, scalpel in her tone.
“Well, Kendrix,” she said, setting her cup down. “You finally decided to bring someone worth introducing. Didn’t think this day would come before I expired.”
Pretty blinked, then smirked, head tilted just enough. “Well damn. You sure know how to make a girl feel welcome.”
Ma’s lips twitched like she was trying not to laugh. “I’m just honest, sweetheart. Honesty keeps the world from wasting time.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” she said, easing into the chair across from her. “I don’t let anyone waste my time. And if they try, I charge them for it.”
Ma raised one perfect brow, clearly impressed but refusing to say it out loud.
“Well, at least you know your value,” she replied. “That’s… refreshing.”
They sat there looking at each other, energy bouncing like a tennis match I wasn’t about to referee. I leaned on the doorframe, watching, biting back a smile.
Finally, Ma folded her hands. “So. What’s your name, dear?”
Pretty glanced at me, her eyes aggravated when she caught my grin. I knew what I was doing. I didn’t even try to hide it. Hell, this was my slick way of getting what I wanted. She wasn’t about to play games with Ma.
She leaned back, smirk tugging at her lips, and said it. “Niveah. But everyone calls me Niv.”
My mama repeated it slowly, like she was tasting the sound. “Niveah. Beautiful name.”
I just smiled, sitting back like I’d won.Gotcha, Pretty Niv.
11
Niveah
Kendrix’s phone buzzed. He glanced down, sighed, and said, “Excuse me for a minute. Gotta take this call.” He kissed his mama on the cheek, then looked at me with that little grin like,You’ll be fine.
She set her tea down, folded her hands, and looked at me dead-on. “So. Niveah.” She said my name like she was testing it. “Tell me what you do.”
I leaned back, crossing my legs slow. “I communicate.”
Her brow arched. “Communicate?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said, meeting her stare head-on. “Some people use their bodies. Some use their money. I use my mouth and my mind. Done right, it’ll get you everything you want… and then some.”
Her lips curved. Not quite a smile, but more like amusement. “You sound like trouble.”
