Page 10 of Lily In The Valley
I didn’t blink.
“What’s happening,” I said, letting my gaze stay locked with hers. “What y’all doing here?”
She was radiant, confident, her usual sly smirk playing on her soft, glossed lips. Lynn stood beside her, grinning like she already knew the chaos brewing. She sipped the drink in her hand, biting the black straw as she looked between Kelly and me.
“Khalil, stop being rude and introduce your friends,” Kelly said sweetly, using the charming mask she’d perfected over her lifetime. Only now, in this moment, her tone was challenge wrapped in cotton candy.
I hesitated, my brain stalling.
She arched a brow, smile still in place, already clocking my fumble. “You know what, excuse him. I’m Kelly, and this is Lynn.” She leaned over me, extending her hand to the women between Maverick and me. Her essence stole the little bit of resolve I had left, rendering me speechless.
“Courtney,” the football sister piped up. “And this is my sister, Tasha?”
“Courtney and Tasha. How cute. Is Tasha short for something?”
The women engaged in their own conversation. Maverick raised an eyebrow at me, silently mouthing,You good?
I nodded, but barely.
As Kelly and Lynn sat at the table, Kelly took a seat opposite me, crossing her legs with deliberate ease. Tasha reached for my arm again, but I shifted just enough for her to miss without bringing attention to the movement.
Why?
I was single. Yeah, Kelly and I had an understanding. Part of that understanding was that neither of us belonged to each other. And still, sitting here with Tasha trying to stake her claim, Kelly looking smug, catching everything. You’d think I was a child being caught red-handed. As if the teacher invited my mother to observe me in class, waiting for me to continue being the class clown. I shook my head, ridding myself of the unnecessary guilt clawing away inside of my chest.
I looked around the table, settling on the beauty before me. I couldn’t take my eyes off Kelly. The way she laughed with Lynn, Tasha, and Courtney. The way she embraced both women, genuinely interested in having a good time with them. The way she ignored me on purpose, I was sure. The curve of her neck when she tossed her hair over her shoulder.
She was magnetic.
She knew it.
I knew it.
An hour passed like minutes with her in my space. Eventually, she and Lynn left our booth, taking to the dancefloor with Tasha and Courtney. She danced with strangers, hips swaying, ass bouncing, her eyes catching mine across the floor. Every look she threw me was gasoline on fire.
“So that’s Dr. Kelly Reid?” Maverick mused beside me. “I see why you ain’t been able to lock that one down.”
I smacked my lips, taking a sip of the fresh glass of whiskey. “The fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“This little back and forth thing,” Maverick started. “I see why Zay says he stays out of it.”
“We don’t have a back and forth thing. What’s understood doesn’t need to be explained.”
He chuckled, choking on his drink. “Okay. When she end up with somebody who done playing games, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Like I told Zay a few months back, I’m done playing games. I’m waiting for her now.”
“Nah. If you see something you want, you better get it before it’s gone.”
I looked back at the dancefloor, my eyes finding the tall beauty among the crowd. When Kelly walked toward the restroom, I followed.
The hallway was narrow, dimly lit. She turned the corner and paused, sensing me behind her.
“Khalil.” Her voice was velvety smooth and held a tinge of warning.
“Why you keep playing with me like I won’t remind you what the deal is,” I said, stepping into her space.
“Remind me of what?” She tilted her chin, giving me a full view of her delicate features. Almond-shaped brown eyes ablaze with mischief, framed with thick lashes fanning her cheekbones. Her button nose was punctuated with full, soft lips. Skin as smooth as petals. But her mouth, sharp as thorns.
