Page 217 of Kentrell

“I know why you the one,” Wani added, voice dipping like he was about to drop some life-changing gem.

Her head tilted, and even though I tried to give her the look—the one that saiddon’t take the bait—I could already see the wheels turning in her head.

“Don’t listen to his shit, ma,” I warned, sliding my hand a little higher on her thigh.

“Don’t listen to what?” Wani played dumb, shrugging. “I ain’t even said nothin’… yet.”

Zoe sighed, her laugh caught somewhere between amusement and surrender. “Whatever it is… I don’t even wanna know.”

Smart girl.

Wani sucked his teeth like he was disappointed but wore it with a smile.

“She not gon’ ever listen to you over me,” I said with a lazy grin, rubbing it in just a little.

“That’s yo shorty,” Wani shot back, leaning back on the couch like he had all the time in the world. “I’on expect her to. For now.”

That earned a few more laughs from around the room, but Zoe stayed curled against me, still pink in the face, still smiling.

And I liked her just like that.

“I just know shorty got him in a chokehold,” Oshon teased, pointing right at me like he was making a closing argument. “Look at him. Arm around her. Plate shared. Whole demeanor different.”

Wani shook his head like he couldn’t believe it. “He ain’t been this soft since—wait.” He paused, locking eyes with Zoe. “Never. This nigga ain’t never been this soft.”

Zoe’s cheeks flushed pink, but she leaned into me anyway, curling tighter like she didn’t mind being the reason they were all talking shit.

I kissed the top of her head and let them have their laughs.

“Y’all act like I ain’t got range,” I said dryly, but Zoe just whispered low, for my ears only…

“You do.” She smiled, soft and sure. “And I like it.”

Across the room, Kensei watched us—quiet as ever—but when our eyes met, he gave me a small nod. Like this… all of this… had his approval too.

Yeah.

This was something.

And everybody in the room felt it.

After the plates were cleared and the noise died down to a low hum, I leaned over to Zoe, my hand still resting on her thigh, and whispered, “You good?”

She looked up at me, eyes bright and a little glossy from all the laughing. “I’m great.”

And she meant it.

The heaviness that had been weighing her down these past two weeks… the fire, the betrayal, the broken trust with her mother and Darius—all of it felt like it loosened its grip tonight. Right here, surrounded by my brothers, eating greasy food and talking shit, she’d finally let herself breathe. That light inside her I’d been trying so hard to protect—it was back.

I kissed her forehead, lingering just long enough to feel her smile against my skin.

Out the corner of my eye, I saw Oshon stroll past us, headed toward the hallway bathroom, Wani trailing behind him like a kid that couldn’t sit still.

“Excuse me, cakeman,” Wani tossed at me, giving me a wide grin as he passed, but right before he disappeared down the hall, he doubled back, snatched Zoe’s hand, and tugged her up from my lap like she was a doll.

“Come on, you back in rotation,” he announced. “We ‘bout to run spades.”

Zoe laughed as she stumbled to her feet. “I don’t know if I’m ready for y’all version,” she teased, letting him lead her back toward the couch like she’d known him forever.

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