Page 55 of The Prodigy

“The fact that you’re about to get cussed out? Yeah. I hope she rips you a new asshole. Leave your plate.”

When I got to my room, Malika was on her knees in her bra and panties, fumbling through her gym bag. She must have been real pissed, because she didn’t even cover up when she saw me.

“What happened?”

“I told you what happened.” She found what she was looking for. A shirt, which she angrily pulled down over her head.

“That was probably Kittora. She had red hair?”

“A Kool-Aid red weave, yeah.”

“That was Kittora.”

“Great.” Malika stood and looked me dead in my eyes. “She said to tell you her pussy is off limits. You been fucking her?”

“Nah. I…okay, one time right after we got married, I let her dome me up. But it didn’t mean shit, and I ain’t seen her since. It wasn’t a real marriage then. You know that.”

Why the fuck was I explaining myself? I couldn’t figure it out fast enough to stop.

“So you haven’t seen her. Have youtalkedto her?”

“Today.”

“Why?”

“Shit, I don’t know. She called me, and then she texted me a picture of her pussy. I told her ass to chill cuz I’m married.”

Malika shook her head like she didn’t believe a word out my mouth. “Do me a favor and put all your hoes on notice. I’m not trying to get shot behind your dirty community dick.”

“Hold up. You talkin’ real reckless right now.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “It ain’t no other hoes. And I just told you, she ain’t a factor. I told her I was married.”

“After you let her suck your dick.”

I threw my hands up. “What you want me to say? I’m not bout to apologize when I ain’t do shit. I did the right thing when I didn’t have to. I would think that would mean something to you. Give a nigga some credit.”

“What, you want a cookie?” she taunted. “Nigga, you better carry your ass down to that bakery y’all own. I ain’t the one.”

I raised my eyebrows. “It’s like that?”

“Yes it fucking is.” Her little neck roll was adorable. So was her mad face. I’d seen her scared and shy, but I hadn’t seen this Malika. She had a little bit of firecracker inside.

I laughed. “I ain’t know you had it in you. I guess you can take the girl outta Hightower but you can’t take—”

“Shut the fuck up.”

“Wait, hold on. You ain’t finna be disrespecting me in my house.”

“It ain’t your house, it’s ya mammy’s house.”

My eyes narrowed. “Watch your fucking mouth.”

“Fuck you, Jakari.”

I stared down into her eyes and mentally cursed my dick for rocking up.

“You want to.”

She stared right back without blinking. “Listen to me. Shut, thefuck—”

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