Page 101 of The Prodigy

I chuckled awkwardly and pulled away. As he swaggered off, I wondered where the cousins were.

Bo and Will nodded at me as I passed. When I walked back into Jakari’s room, Gab was sitting in my chair. I didn’t say anything, I just walked to the other side of the bed and sat against the window sill.

“They only had tap, so I sent Eris out for some bottles.”

Jakari looked over at me and smiled. “Okay. Thank you, baby.”

Warm tingles shot through me as his words echoed in my head.

“You’re welcome.”

Next to him, Gab rolled her eyes. “So anyway, I brought my overnight bag with me. I’m okay to sleep on the chair. I’ll probably hurt in the morning, but that’s okay.”

“Actually, you can go on home, Mama. No sense in you sitting up uncomfortable all night.”

“Uh uh, you ain’t gettin' rid of me that easy. Somebody’s gotta watch over you. I know the doctor said you’re fine, but you never know.”

“It’s okay, Gab. I was gonna stay with him.”

You could have heard a pin drop.

Gab cut her eyes at me, but when she spoke, her words were sickly sweet.

“Malika, bless your heart. I think we’ll be okay. I’m sure you’re tired from working all day. You should go on back to the house and get some rest. You can come back in the morning.”

I smiled back. I wasn’t gonna argue with her about it. If Kari wanted me to go, I’d go. And given their relationship, I was pretty sure that was how this was gonna play out. So I stood and reached for my purse.

“Hold up, Mal. Mama, Malika’s staying with me.”

I froze where I was and waited.

“Are you sure?” Her voice was laced with disbelief.

“I’m positive,” he said. “I love you. I’ll call you before I go to sleep.”

“I don’t wanna leave you.”

I rolled my eyes. This whole conversation sounded like she was dropping her little boy off at summer camp or something.

I set my purse back in its spot. She stood and stretched, giving me another glare before she bent down to hug and kiss Jakari.

“Bye, Gab,” I said. “Drive safely.”

Bitch.

She flashed me a fake smile and blew Jakari a kiss on her way out the door.

Kari looked at me and shook his head. “What am I gon do with y’all?”

“What do you mean?”

“You think I can’t feel that tension?”

“She holds onto you extra tight. She thinks I’m taking her place. It’s not rocket science.”

He sighed. “She can be a little possessive, I guess.”

“Yeah, I bet. Was she like that with your dad?”

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