Page 243 of Kentrell

Without thinking, my hand moved to my chest—right over the spot where her name sat now, inked permanent in my skin.

After handling that little domestic drama at my Avalon Park property on Stony, I’d swung by Rook’s spot off 35th and State and had him throw this quick lil’ piece together.

Semi-bold, clean script:

Zoe LaShay

She told me exactly where to put it—on her knees back at the cabin, acting like she was playing around… but I took that shit to heart.

So I tatted her name right over my heart.

She mentioned later that it looked like it sat a little too far to the right, but she didn’t know it wasn’t finished. Her first and middle name was just the start.

I’d get the rest done when I handled all these loose ends.

Either way… she loved it when she saw it.

And she loved me.

And even though that wasn’t thereasonI got it… it damn sure felt like confirmation I’d made the right choice.

“Mr. Caldwell still yo nigga… so what that mean?” I tossed back, watching her fold her arms across her chest with that little pout I couldn’t ever resist.

“I just really wanna try it,” she whined again, bottom lip poked out for dramatic effect.

My jaw clenched.

Already knowing… I was gonna give in.

“So you can be face down in the toilet blowin’ chunks… or worse… shittin’ out onions all night, cryin’?”

“I won’t!” she laughed, not even offended at the visual I painted for her.

“It’s onions—they have medicinal properties!”

I shook my head again, already picturing myself at Jewel or Mariano’s later… buying a five-pound bag of damn onions.

All because she asked.

“A’ight, Zoe… damn.” I finally conceded, grinning despite myself at the way her whole face lit up on my screen.

“I want you to try it with me,” she urged, all sweet and persuasive like she didn’t already know she had me wrapped.

I nodded, clenching my jaw, already knowing this was gon’ end with me regretting it.

“Don’t be like that, baby… if it’s nasty, I’ll do something nasty to you to make it up.”

Those last words rolled off her tongue slow… soft… like she already knew the kind of switch it flipped in me.

My eyes lit up. “What’s nasty to you?”

I wanted details. Full description.

But she just laughed and shook her head like she was innocent.

“That’s only if it’s nasty. You can find out.”

She had conditions now. Cute.

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