Page 29 of Tainted

“Nonsense. You get French Toast because my picky child doesn’t like cake. Kross gets red velvet, and Dad gets carrot cake.” She said out loud because that had been her routine for years. Only now, Dad wasn’t here anymore, and that realization had her teary-eyed.

“I’m fine,” she declared before I could get close enough to hug her.

“Yes, ma’am.”

I knew better than to argue with Loriann about anything. Dad always joked that she had superpowers because she was the only person I never questioned. Even Eric Keyes wasn’t exempt, no matter how feared he was in the street.

“Looks like you had a long night. Did Sydney plan something nice for your birthday?” Mom asked.

“Something like that.”

“What y’all get into?” Kross asked, greeting Mom with a hug.

“We spent most of the night with you at the club.”

“Most but not all night. What did you and your girl get into?”

“Sydney’s not my girl, stupid.”

“You’re still humping on her, I’m sure,” Mom added.

“I’m saving myself for my wife.” My comment damn near made Kross choke while Mom glared before going back to what she was doing.

“The day you get married, none of us will be alive to see it because the rapture will have arrived, too.”

“I don’t know, Mama. Your baby boy might be changing,” Kross chimed, and Mom gave me a skeptical look.

“Kenyon, figure it out,” Was all Mom had to say to force me into submission. “The bread has to soak. Don’t either of you stick your fingers in my food,” she warned before leaving us alone in the kitchen.

It was nothing to figure out. Sydney and I were together sometimes—no expectations or rules outside of the loyalty of our friendship. I didn’t have the energy to devote to a relationship right now, and Sydney couldn’t be in the one she wanted, so it worked.

6

Zara

Iwas happy to put Keyes’ party behind me. He was pleased with my performance, and I gained a lot of new customers at the club, but it put a bigger target on my back with Phoenix. She was pissed that her plan backfired, which put me on the hot seat with Megan.

“Damn, girl!” Jewel yelped, snatching her head away, “Brush any harder, and I won’t have any hair left.”

“Sorry, my bad.”

Jewel was Brandy’s best friend, and was becoming a friend to me too. She had a date tonight and asked me to do her hair. I would’ve done it later, but we had our monthly staff meeting, and then I had work. I didn’t even have time to see Banana Girl, but Brandy promised she would.

“You can make it up to me by telling me about Keyes’ party since you couldn’t get us in,” Jewel insisted. She wasn’t as coy as Brandy, but I liked that about her.

“I wasn’t there for fun. It was work.”

“Spill it. Who was there?”

“A bunch of people I don’t know. They looked like money, though.”

“Damn, I know that shit was packed,” Jewel sulked.

It felt like Keyes' eyes were sure to follow wherever I was. Whenever he lost me in the crowd, panic shrouded his face. It became a game I got sucked into. I purposely made myself disappear a few times just to see that look again.

“Ohhhh! Can you get off next weekend?” Brandy yelped.

“Weekends are prime hours,” I replied.

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