Page 309 of Kentrell

“I know, ma… that’s why I’m here.”

“No, you don’t understand.” She shook her head, more tears spilling as her bottom lip trembled. “There’s so much you don’t understand.”

I cupped her face, thumb gliding under her eyes, catching what I could.

“So… tell me.”

Her breathing hitched. Her lashes fluttered like she didn’t know where to start.

“You called my mama… Pokie,” she finally said, voice small but steady enough to make my jaw tighten.

I didn’t say anything. Waited.

Her nostrils flared slightly as she took a deeper breath.

“I went to see your mother,” she admitted.

That made my whole face screw up.

“When?” The question shot out of me fast, confused as hell why she’d even want to.

But she didn’t answer.

Didn’t look at me.

Didn’t move.

I pulled back from her waist and before she could blink—I had her lifted in the air.

“Kentrell!” she gasped, instinctively locking her legs around my waist.

Ignoring her reaction, I walked us over to the bed, dropping onto my back with her still in my arms. Scooted us up toward the headboard, adjusting until she was still straddling me, but now with me sitting upright—back pressed against the headboard—holding her. Facing her.

So I could look her dead in her face when she told me the rest.

Zoe’s hands slid up to my diamond link chain, tugging it from underneath my shirt. The second she pulled it free… she gasped.

It was one of two new pieces I’d be wearing every day from now on.

And the name hanging from the pendant… was one I hadn’t been able to get out of my head since the day she left.

Her name.

Fat. Diamond-bezeled. Shining like it belonged there.

“You… why?” she asked, smiling down at it like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

“Whatchu mean why… why not?” My lips curled into a lazy smirk as her soft eyes flickered up, taking me in like I was something brand new.

When she bit her lip, I caught the dark flash roll across her face… and I knew exactly where her mind went.

I shook my head, smirking.

“No.”

“Kentrell…” she whined, all soft and needy.

“No,” I said again, flat and low.

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