Page 57 of The Prodigy 2: Rise of a Queen

21

Malika

Jakaristompedintothekitchen, interrupting me while I was chopping celery.

“You know what this nigga Nay just told me?”

“What?”

“This fool got another fuckin’ baby on the way.”

I stopped chopping and looked at Jakari. “Shit. How many is that?”

“That’ll be number four. I swear, this nigga needs professional help.”

“No he doesn’t. He might need a vasectomy, though.”

Kari’s anger left at my words. He laughed and wrapped his arms around me. “Yo, speaking of babies.”

“No.”

“I’m sayin’. Your ass getting fatter. Titties getting bigger. At first I thought it was all the fuckin’ we doin’, but now I’m wondering.”

“There’s nothing to wonder. I got on the pill a while back. That’s probably why I’m gaining weight.”

He kissed my neck, then grabbed my ass with both hands. “It looks good on you. Feels good too, goddamn.”

“Stop,” I whined. “We’re hosting a party.”

“We can go to the room and have a private party right now.”

“Kari. Stop. We have shit to do, remember? You gotta keep your head in the game.”

“Fuck. You right.” He backed up off me, putting space between us. “Later, though.”

“I promise. And I’ma putmyhead in the game, too. I’ve never done that before, did you notice that?”

“Fuck yeah, I noticed. I just thought you didn’t wanna do it.”

“Well now you know. I wanna do it. Ireallywanna do it.”

“Man, lemme get the fuck out this kitchen.”

He said that, but two minutes later, he was right back in my face again. Without looking up, I smiled. “Jakari. I told you no.”

“Nah. It ain’t that. My mama just walked in.”

“Okay.” I stopped chopping again and looked up at his handsome face. “I’m fine.”

“I know you fine, but are you good?”

“Yep. Do me a favor and carry this tray into the living room.”

“Yes ma’am.”

I watched him leave, gathering my courage from somewhere deep down inside. I also called upon my compassion and empathy—what was left of it—and squared my shoulders, preparing to do battle with a woman I hated and also needed to find common ground with.

But it’s funny how it worked out. The first face I saw when I walked out of the kitchen was Gray Hightower’s. I gasped and put a hand over my chest just as his eyes roamed my body and his lips curved into a smug smile.

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