Page 362 of Kentrell

Right across the mantel in my study.

“Okay, Kentrell.”

Shelby’s voice cut through my thoughts, snapping me back to the moment. I glanced down at her, standing there like a little general with her headset, clipboard, and too much attitude for somebody barely pushing five feet tall.

“You ready?”

“Been waiting for this shit to start,” I muttered, rolling my neck to ease the tension building up.

“Good… now, you’re coming inafter?—”

“After the Rev—I know, Shelby. Pipe the fuck down and cue the music.” I groaned, already hearing my brothers snickering behind me.

“Okay,” she exhaled like I was her biggest headache today… which I probably was. She yanked the mic on her headset closer to her lips like she was about to spill state secrets—except we could all hear her.

“Cue the music.”

“I know that muhfucka stank,” Wani cracked, talking about her breathing straight into the mic like it was a hot comb. That set off Kensei and Lex, both of them stifling laughs behind me.

The music kicked on… K-Ci & JoJo’sAll My Lifefilling the hall like it was 1998 all over again.

The grand oak doors eased open slow… deliberate…

Guests turned in their seats… the cream-colored floor runner stretched long and clean down the aisle… leading to the floral arch set up at the altar.

Pillar candles burned low and amber… softening the air with that warm, holy glow Markeisha bragged about during rehearsal.

“‘S’cuse us…”

Wave squeezed past me with my mama hooked on his arm, making my jaw twitch at the sight of her in that damn dress Zoe insisted she wear.

I’ma fuck both of them up for this.

“Don’t look like that,” my mama snapped over her shoulder, twisting her neck just enough to catch the scowl on my face.

Wave? Grinning like an alley cat with cream on his chin.

“Yo mama look good,” she added, rolling her eyes with that little smirk she knew would set me off even more.

“Okay, mom number one…” Shelby motioned for Wave to start escorting her down the aisle.

“You look so handsome, Kentrell.”

Zora eased in next, all smiles on Oshon’s arm. I returned the gesture, but yeah… my eyes still drifted down to her backside before I could catch myself.

“Yeah, I saw that,” Wani swiped the back of my head, catching me red-handed.

Both mamas in here… tweaking. Zoe gon’ get it for this.

“Rev, go!”

Shelby’s loud whisper cut through the room like a fire alarm. Reverend Keys jerked like he’d been jolted out of a nap, then hustled down the aisle in a slow, steady stride.

Behind me, Wani, Kensei, and Lex were trying to hold in their laughs.

“Now we know why that nigga was ducked off in that office…” Wani fake-sipped from an invisible flask, making Kensei snort and Lex shake his head, grinning.

“Play too much,” I said under my breath, but yeah… I was smiling too.

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