Page 61 of You Make Me Feel

“He can’t have his way, and that shit is driving him crazy. He’s doing everything he can to break her. When he sees that shit ain’t working, it pisses him off more and makes him try something else. He gon’ fuck up, though, and go too far, and he won’t be able to come back from the consequences.”

Lazarus glanced at me as I drove like a bat out of hell. “I don’t like the look on your face, man. That nigga ain’t worth you losing your life. I’m not talking about you dying. I’m talking about you getting locked up and leaving your family out here alone. As far as I’m concerned, that’s your son or daughter that Kinisha is carrying. Is he worth you not being here when that baby is born? Is he worth your child not knowing who you are?”

I sat with his words as I drove, not offering him a response right away. When we reached Tia Juanita’s and parked, I turned to him. “You right, bruh. But keep that nigga out my fucking face, and we won’t have any problems.”

He slowly shook his head as I called Kinisha.

“Hello?”

“Hey, baby. Y’all got room for five niggas to sit by y’all?”

“Huh?”

“We’re here. Is there somewhere for us to sit?”

“Umm . . . yeah. Why are you here?”

“Why wouldn’t I be after that text you sent? I don’t trust that dude. My boys wouldn’t let me go alone, so we’re all here.”

“That’s so sweet, Oliver. I’ll tell our waitress.”

I ended the call as Devin, Corey, and WJ approached, and then we walked inside. When we did, I immediately saw Robert and Jarod off to my right. Neither of them saw us because they were too busy ogling Kinisha, Kiana, and Ramsey. We continued to their table, and my baby stood and greeted me. I kissed her lips, subtly sliding my tongue to hers. I did that shit because I knew he was watching. He needed to see that he would never have her again. I couldn’t believe he was still trying to pursue her after what he got at the doctor’s office last Thursday.

When she pulled away from me, she smirked. After speaking to the fellas, she gave her attention back to me. “Was that show for me or Jarod?”

“Both. I have more in store for you, though. That was just a warmup.”

“Come on now. You know I never need to be warmed up when you’re around. Your presence alone does that. Shit, just the thought of you already has me hot and ready.”

“Mm. That’s good to know. Don’t make me take you to that restroom. I’m not beneath fucking in a restaurant restroom.”

“Neither am I, so make sure you mean what you say, Oliver Andrews.”

“Mm-hmm. Let me show and prove then.”

“After I finish my bisque because your baby is tripping.”

I laughed and glanced behind me to see Jarod and Robert were gone.

* * *

When we walked into church, it seemed all eyes were on us. We were a little late, so we drew attention when we walked all the way to the front where Kinisha usually sat. Had she not wanted to fuck this morning, we would have been on time. After we left Tia Juanita’s last night, she came home with me and stayed the night. We woke up early so I could take her home to get ready for church, but she incited a whole freak nasty love session. That shit lasted for almost an hour.

She plopped next to Kiana, and they hugged and kissed each other’s cheeks as I scanned the crowd. I wanted to be sure I saw where Jarod was seated so I could keep tabs on him. When my eyes landed on him, he stared at us despite the woman on his arm. This nigga was crazy as hell.

Just as I was getting comfortable in my seat and had put my arm around Kiana, Brooklyn appeared at my side. She handled the Ambassador TV show, a church news segment she was an anchor of. “Oliver, I hate to bother you in church, but there’s been some kind of glitch in the computer. Can you come take a look at it for me?”

“Yeah, sure.”

I leaned over to Kinisha and told her where I was going, then followed Brooklyn to the balcony from the lower-level part of the sanctuary. I could see Jarod and his lady talking as we headed to the stairs. They looked to be arguing. I didn’t even know why she was still with his ass. He seemed to be a narcissist. If she was the one he’d talked to on the phone at the doctor’s office, she clearly needed someone to help her understand how a man should speak to a woman.

There wasn’t an ounce of respect in his tone or his words. That didn’t surprise me, but it did surprise me that some women allowed that shit. She seemed educated from how Reverend Speights introduced her to the congregation when he announced their engagement. He said she was an alumna of Xavier University in Louisiana. He didn’t say what her degree was, but surely she didn’t need a degree in trifling niggas to recognize one.

When I got to the balcony and went to where the media team had the main computer located, she showed me what it was doing, and I realized it would be an easy fix.

“Are you and Kinisha dating?”

I glanced up at her and smiled slightly. “Yes, ma’am.”

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