Page 121 of Kentrell

“That's theonlyway I'ma get some sleep.”

My heart leaped as we stepped into the living room.

Stacia was perched like royalty in the accent chair. Ayesha and Mars were stretched out on the couch, separated by the coffee table, sitting directly across from theothercouch—the one they’d very obviously left empty.

For us.

“Have a seat,” Ayesha said, grinning.

I started to ease out of Kentrell’s hold, but he didn’t budge. Instead, he walked us right over to the empty couch, dropped down into it like he owned the whole damn room, and pulled me onto his lap.

My eyes flicked to my friends—each of them clocking it. The kiss at the door. The body language. The casual possession.

And considering the details Ididshare with them about our time together… I knew exactly where their minds were going.

They weren’t wrong.

The room fell into a quiet, curious pause.

Then Kentrell broke the silence.

“So, what y’all wanna know?”

“Oh,okay!” Mars giggled, throwing her head back. “You Mr.Get right to it.Shit,ourbad.”

“Yeah,” he smirked. “We gotta get in the bed.”

His tone was playful, but his eyes were still on me. And I felt it—every syllable.

The girls caught it too.

“Oh—damn!Okay, Zoe!” Ayesha whooped, slapping five with Stacia as I buried my face in my hands, laughing.

I wasn’t ready for a full-on interrogation, but watching him banter with them like he belonged here? It made me feel… safe. Seen.

He could hold his own.

Thank God.Because if they brought up even half the freaky things I told them about him?

Lord helpus both.

ELEVEN

KENTRELL

Wakingup to her lips on mine had to be the smoothest way I ever started a day.

Soft. Warm. Certain.

Not a dream, either.

I blinked against the light slipping through her bedroom curtains, arms already tightening around the body I’d chased sleep to hold. The same body I’d lost sleep craving all damn week.

“Good morning, sleepy head.” She pecked my lips again, still close enough for me to feel her breath when she smiled.

“Mmm.” I cracked a yawn and stretched beneath her. “Why you up so early?”

“I’m always up this early,” she said, beaming like the damn sun, but her eyes gave her away. That same nervous flutter I clocked last night when I sat on that couch and let her homegirls grill me like I was on trial.

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