Page 4 of Protégé King

“Out,” I command, offering them the space it requires for them to pop to their feet and exit the closet.

Alana chews her bottom lip, an un-ladylike habit I’ve tried to wean her off of, but it’s almost as ingrained in her as her love of bargain box mac n cheese. I waggle my finger between them. “Why didn’t you answer me? I was worried. I thought someone grabbed you. You scared me to death. What were both of you thinking?”

“We were copying you and Mr. Blue,” Damion blurts.

My brows shoot up. “What does that mean?”

“Alana said I’m supposed to stick my tongue down her throat. That is what boys do to girls, but her gum got in my mouth and it was gross.”

Alana elbows him. “My gum is not gross, Damion.”

“It’s gross. Jeez, Alana. How do you not know that’s gross?”

Oh my God, is all I can think. They’re seven and already sticking their tongues in each other’s mouths. I point at Damion. “Go home.”

He tucks his chin, eyes Alana, and then darts from the room.

My hands plant on my hips. “What was that?”

“Damion and I are going to grow up and be like you and Daddy. We’re getting married.”

***

Alana

Nine years later—age sixteen

“I’m not going to prom.” I sip my chocolate shake. We’re at Shake Shack, which used to be our favorite place to spend Friday nights, back before he was always on a date, and I was always studying.

“Why not?” Damion asks.

“I don’t like the pressure.”

He laughs. “Pressure. What pressure? It’s a stupid school dance.”

“Who’s with who and all that stuff.”

“You’re with me. Problem solved. No pressure at all.”

My heart does this fluttery little thing. “You’re going with Stephanie.”

“No,” he says. “We should go together.”

“I’m not keeping you from being with the prom queen.”

“I need to be prom king like a need a hole in the head. I thought Jeffery asked you to go? He’s captain of the football team.”

I fiddle with my straw. “He keeps pressuring me.”

His brow arches. “Like he wants between your legs?”

“Jeez. You’re such a guy. Yes. He wants to have sex. Doesn’t every guy?”

“Yes,” he says. “I’m taking you to prom.”

“You have a date.”

“With you.”

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