Page 110 of The Sweetest Devotion

I sat up and took another pull from my cigar, needing that rush of nicotine in my veins.

All eyes were on me, the music in The Cigar Room all but forgotten as well as the scene around us.

Blowing out some smoke, I nodded. “She’s spoken for.”

Gavin snorted and shook his head. “Even better.”

“She’s not happy,” I went on.

Gav was doubtful. “You fumblin’ the play, man.” He faced our friends in disappointment. “Next thing you know he gon’ be listenin’ to that moody, depressed R&B shit. Be out here singin’ side-nigga blues,” he joked, causing the table to roar with laughter.“Sick Wit’ it Records.”

Even I could laugh at myself with how pathetic I sounded moping over Kennedy. Still, something bitter lingered at the back of my throat, not going away the more I spoke these words out loud.

“Whatchu think, Von?” Makai asked, noting that Savon hadn’t said much since the topic had switched to my love life.

Savon knew me most, was my closest friend. If anyone needed info on me, they’d hit him up first.

Savon shrugged, tossing back the rest of his D’Ussé. “He ain’t even tell you the killin’ part.”

Both Makai and Gavin faced me, wanting to know the missing piece to the puzzle.

I sat back and rolled my eyes. “Her dad’s got a lot of money. He set her up with this guy and once they get married, they’ll probably be the blogs’ new favorite power couple or some shit.”

Makai’s brows furrowed in confusion. “What’s her name?”

I shook my head, not wanting to expose Kennedy.

“She’s got abigname,” Savon added.

Intrigue covered Gavin’s face. “So, you can Google her?”

I nodded.Though, I hadn’t done so. Wasn’t sure I wanted to see the face of the guy she was tethered to. Didn’t want to make it realer than it already was.

“How big we talking?” Makai asked next.

I kept my face even, not wanting to react to the facts as they were highlighted before me. “A billionaire’s daughter.”

Makai and Gavin made matching stank faces as they whistled. In Bedford Heights, situations like this never happened. Not everyone was poor or struggling, but no one was a millionaire, let alonebillionaire.

“So, she’s legit, and all she wants from you is to pipe her down?” Gavin grabbed his snifter and raised it in appreciation. “Shit, that’s the goal.”

Again, maybe when I was younger. Now, I didn’t think with my dick so much.

Makai yawned and checked his smartwatch. “I need to head in. It’s past my bedtime.”

“You mean it’s past yourcurfew,” Gavin teased as he downed the rest of his liquor. “You know April don’t let you out after the streetlights turn on.”

At that we were laughing once more.

I dapped up Gav and Kai and promised to link up again with them sometime in the future. In the parking lot, I saw them off as they climbed into their separate rides and pulled out of The Cigar Room’s lot.

I hung back with Savon as he stood at his Bronco. Unlike Gavin and Makai, he wasn’t about to mock me. As he studied me from behind his lens, I saw nothing but sympathy and understanding.

“Do you think you’re fucked?” Von wanted to know sincerely.

Oh, I was, but I wasn’t ready to admit it just yet.

I’d wanted to kiss her—not because she was half naked on my bathroom counter, not because she’d owned me when she went down on me, not because she rode me slow and stole my soul—but because of that fucking hat.

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