Page 324 of Kentrell

Literally froze.

“Shut up,” I whispered, turning fifty shades of red as I clutched the front of Kentrell’s shirt tighter.

Mars smirked, lifting her brow like she was the ringleader of a circus she built just for me. “Didn’t Itellyou it was straight beast mode?” she said to Ayesha, like I wasn’t standing dead in the middle of the hall, mortified and half-dressed.

Ayesha’s eyes went wide. “All night long!” she gasped, then broke into giggles like she was thirteen again, clowning right along with Mars.

“I’m kinda impressed,” Ayesha added, still laughing.

“Impressed?Bitch, I’m jealous!” Mars was on a roll, bright and early, with no shame in sight. “My headboard ain’t never smacked against the wall that many times in one night since I moved in here!” She threw her head back, letting out a series of fake, dramatic sobs like she was mourning her own dry spell.

“Well… you’ve only been here for a year, and you ain’t exactly invited a man up in here?—”

“Kentrell is aman,” Mars cut in quick, flipping her hair like she made a point that needed applause.

Ayesha snorted. “He’s notyourman!”

Both of them kept right on going like I wasn’t standing there… like I was some commercial break in their girl chat.

“Oh, Zoe… you’re still here?” Mars finally broke character just long enough to send Ayesha into a fresh fit of laughter.

I rolled my eyes so hard I swore I saw my ancestors.

“I hope with all that ‘talking’ last night… you told him he’s gonna be?—”

“She already told me,” came that low, sleep-rough voice from behind me.

I froze.

Slowly turned…

And there he stood.

Kentrell.

Leaning in the doorway, shirtless… tattoos on full display… chain still around his neck… and that lazy, cocky smirk on his face like he owned the whole damn condo—including me.

“Go ‘head… use the bathroom, baby.” He tilted his head toward the hallway like that was my cue.

I didn’t need to be told twice.

Skipping back in that direction, cheeks burning, heart racing… I could still hear the cackling hens going off behind me.

“Oh… to have dick that takes charge… I miss it,” Mars mused loud enough for Ayesha to lose it all over again.

I slammed the bathroom door shut, locked it fast, and leaned against it with both hands… my heart still thudding in my chest.

And as embarrassing as it was…

I was still smiling.

Pushing myself off the door before my bladder burst, I hurried to pee. Washed my hands. Then stood there… staring at my reflection in the mirror.

This time yesterday… I was a wreck.

I’d just taken a pregnancy test and was waiting for results I wasn’t even sure I was ready to face. My face had been washed out… my skin dull… my whole energy just dim and depleted.

But now?

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