Chapter 14 - Relic #3
She pushed open the door with a strained smile that didn’t distract him from peeping her puppy dog gaze as it pinged from him to Kennedy with questions she knew not to press him about.
Relic laid a hand on Kennedy’s back to chaperone her past his realtor who was making him out as a liar.
He assumed Milan would play her part since she’d never given him trouble, but their roles seemed to reverse.
Kennedy was on her game, while Milan slowly unraveled at the seams from seeing him courting another woman.
“This room has a private balcony,” Kennedy gushed, outwardly displaying her excitement for the first time. “I can already see how I’d hook it up. Me and Jah could play chess out there, or I can go there for peace when you piss me—”
The imagery she was painting of their future stopped mid-stroke after she realized Relic wouldn’t end up in the picture. She glanced at him, detecting the downturn of his mouth before he tossed his head toward the balcony.
“Let’s step out.”
Her nod was subtle before she strode to the door and swung it open, stepping out onto the wooden deck as her mouth hung from the unexpected but gorgeous scenery.
A grand smile spread across her face as her stare went to the trail of pebbles in the backyard that led to a gate.
The man made lake beyond it stretched further than Kennedy could see, and she envisioned Jahleel showing her how to fish at the small pier at the shore of it.
If she knew Relic, and she was certain she did; she’d bet he made being near water a non-negotiable requirement for the house.
“This is beautiful, Relic. I really like it a lot,” Kennedy told him, feeling his energy as soon as he stepped outside.
“You think Jah will like it?”
“He’ll love it. It’s spacious but not too big to where he will feel my room is far. The yard is big enough for him to throw the football around. We can sit at the lake, and he’s close to the neighbors to meet friends. This is a home.”
“I thought so. This is for you and him only, Kennedy. No one will know about it, not even Shabu. Like I said, Jah deserves a normal childhood without my past or mistakes affecting it any more than it already has. Can you do that? Can you separate the two?”
“The streets and this life? Of course.”
“No, whatever I’ve done to hurt you and the love you have for my son. Jah adores the ground you walk on, and I don’t want you to break his heart. If this is too much—”
“It’s not.” She peered over her shoulder at him. “Like I told you, I got him. I did the same for my nephew, so this is light work for me.”
Kennedy put her eyes back on the pond after she gave that comparison she hadn’t noticed until that moment.
She wondered if she would’ve become so attached to Jahleel if he didn’t remind her of Tekken.
So smart, inquisitive, and on the path to being without both parents since life didn’t give a damn about how good of a person someone was.
It stole joy, broke hearts, and caused the most traumatic and irreparable damage when least expected.
If she was being honest, she’d let Relic know that he could try until his last breath but couldn’t prevent life from happening to Jahleel.
Kennedy didn’t have the heart to tell him that.
“It’s still you.” Relic’s voice broke her train of thought and put flutters in her stomach.
He snaked an arm around her to plant his hand there as if he knew it.
“I don’t care if you’re not ready for a child, Kennedy.
You fuck with mine heavy, and that’s what matters most. I hate your smart ass mouth, but I know it’s your defense mechanism like I have mine because we’re used to people hurting us.
I get it, and it’s still you. No other woman can fill your shoes or do for me what you can on the level you do it.
I chose you, and I stand on that. Konprann? ”
Kennedy turned to face him and removed her shades. “I hear all that, but are we in a relationship or nah?”
“Are we what?”
Relic heard her but needed a moment to regroup from some shit he didn’t see coming. He scrubbed a hand down his waves, blowing out a sharp breath as she mugged him and propped a hand on her hip, waiting for him to give up the final title he’d been avoiding handing out for dear life.
“You were talking a lot of good shit while we were on vacation, Relic. Remember, you’re too selfish to share and need me to be only for you.
Well, I need the same. Are you my man or not?
Think about your answer because if not, it means I’m single, and I plan to act single from here on out.
I’ll play my part as usual, but I’m also going to do me. ”
Her second threat of the day sent Relic backpedaling, his mouth fixing into a line at her arm-twisting, he wasn’t certain whether he was pissed about or proud of.
Kennedy was still a scholar of his tutelage—learning, studying, and reenacting his moves like a student on track to surpassing the teacher.
He weighed the pros and cons of allowing her to get the one up on him, and he fucking loathed she came out on top.
She was like an incurable disease to his fucking body.
Impossible to flush out and invasive to the point he didn’t feel like the same person he was before he met her, and he hadn’t decided whether the changes were for the better or worse.
He snorted a breath and glared down at her pouty lips curled into the sexiest smirk while she batted her lust-filled eyes up at him.
“You know what you’re doing is coercion, right?”
“Be that as it may, I learned from the best. So, are you my man, or am I about to do bald head, hoe shit with my girls? What are we doing, baby?”
“Stop stealing my steez,” he grumbled and clenched a hand at the nape of her neck. Relic hovered his lips above hers and warned, “Be careful what you ask for. If we’re in a relationship, that means you can’t hate me, Larenn. Give me a fighting chance.”
“Done.” She pecked his lips and commanded, “Now, go tell your little friend, and take that damn charm back.”
“Nobody gives a damn about that charm.”
“I do. It’s you branding women as yours, but none of them belong to you now. Only me, right?”
Her stare, that held a look between a dare and a need for confirmation, sent his head shaking before he turned to reenter the bedroom where Milan stood near the doorway.
He read the hurt in her expression like she’d watched their exchange the entire time, torturing herself with an answer she craved to know but couldn’t accept.
“Are you two dating?” she asked as if it wasn’t clear. “Is this house for her?”
“We are, and it is.”
“Why her?” she pressed, stuttering a breath through the tightness in her chest. Her eyes went to Kennedy, and she tried to find the reason Relic would choose the facially scarred woman over her.
“I thought we had a good thing going, Relic. I do whatever you ask, and I never fall short. I’m smart and established, so I take care of myself.
Plus, I look good on your arm. We complement one another. ”
“So, I’m dumb, broke, and not pretty enough is what you’re implying?” Kennedy pressed, catching the shade.
Milan gave a vehement shake of her head after noting Kennedy’s harsh tone. She was hurt but wouldn’t fight for Relic because she’d never been in a physical altercation in her life.
“No offense to you, but I assumed Relic likes a certain type of woman since he dealt with me. We’re... different.”
Kennedy laughed before taking a step forward with a clasp of her hands. She was hoping they’d get through the viewing without having to read the poor woman for filth.
“Milan, you are beautiful, and there’s no denying that fact, but so am I, even with a half-scarred face.
As far as us being different, you’re right, and that difference is the very reason he’s here with me.
Woman to woman, learn to stop acting like you need this nigga.
You’re pleading your case when he’s already chosen me.
You’re listing what you can bring to the table, but your actions don’t match your high qualifications.
What you’re doing is showing us, you need a man for validation, and I hate that for you.
“Don’t ever beg him, or any other man, to choose you because if they wanted to, they would. They see what you can offer, but you give it so freely, they take it for granted. If you don’t walk around this muthafucka like you are the prize, they won’t see you as one.”
“I just—” Milan choked on her words, allowing what Kennedy told her to settle in as she sighed. “I thought that if I treated him well, and did as he asked, he’d see that I’m a good woman because I am.”
“That’s where you fucked up,” Kennedy pointed out. “You treat the nigga like he’s special, while I treat him like the dog that he is, boo.”
“Woof.” Relic barked before saying, “Now, let’s wrap this women’s empowerment meeting up. Let me see your purse, Milan.”
She backpedaled, her head tossing as she pressed the gift against her chest like it was all she had left of him and refused to part with it.
Her voice came out squeaky and helpless as she told him, “It’s mine.”
“He’s not taking it,” Kennedy assured her, resting her hand on Relic’s arm the moment she noted the vein in his forehead protruding. She shot him a look to calm him and then strolled to Milan. “I just need to check one thing, and that’s it.”
Milan gave her a skeptical stare but loosened her hold on her bag while Kennedy toggled with the charms. When it dawned on Milan what was going on, she tried to snatch it away but was too slow. Kennedy popped the ‘B’ charm off its link as Milan gasped at the callous act.
“I’ll be taking this, and the house as well. Look at the commission as my apology and Relic’s parting gift to you. My man will converse with you about the paperwork and whatever else the purchase entails. Right, daddy?”