Page 105 of Kentrell

“Supportive,bitch!” Wani fired back, not missing a beat. “You know she raised yo ungrateful ass, too.”

“Why is you crying?”

I could hearWaveandOshoncracking up in the background, which told me they were listening in—and definitely instigating.

“I got they gifts, man,” I said, rubbing a hand down my face. The scent of Zoe lingered on my fingers—warm, sweet, vanilla and sin.Put me in a better mood instantly. “Why y’all can’t do some regular shit?”

“What’s regular?” Wani asked, feigning innocence.

“Definitely not watching yo mama shake her ass next to some strippers.”

“Shit, she wanna do this.”

“Yeah, Iknow.” I shook my head.

Velvet was turning 41, but you couldn’t tell her shit. Folks often mistook her for being in her twenties—not just ‘cause shebarely aged, but ‘cause she acted like she never grew up. Tight-ass jeans, belly shirts, talking slick to women half her age, and always ready to square up at the slightest side-eye.

“Yo bitch ass don’t never wanna do shit!” Wani snapped, sounding like the same whiny little brother he’d been since he came into this world.

“I’ma bring her a cake tomorrow.”

“You weak as hell,” he grumbled, still salty.

“Call it what you want. I ain’t tryna see Velvet throw that ass in a circle next to a nigga namedCrave.”

Wave hollered in the background.

“Man, fuck you—Wave,shut the fuck up,” Wani cracked up as he snapped.

“I’ll drop they shit off later,” I added, trying to wrap it up.

“You better,” Wani huffed. “Uncle Yam said he gon’ be there.”

“Word?” I tensed, the humor draining a little from my face.

“Yeah,” Wani said, still unaware of the switch in my tone. “He got a section.”

“Right.” My jaw locked up.

I glanced at Zoe, who was sipping her coffee like she couldn’t hear the change in me. But I knew she noticed.

“Let me hit you back,” I said quickly.

“Aight.”

I ended the call and slipped my phone into my pocket.

Zoe looked up, head tilted slightly. “Everything good?”

“Yeah,” I lied, brushing a thumb across her jaw, needing the feel of her skin to ground me. “Just family.”

“Do you have the gifts here?” Zoe asked, side-eyeing me gently.

“Nah.”

She looked confused. “I thought you said?—”

“We finna go get ’em.”

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