Chapter 15 - Kennedy #3
“My nephew’s concert is next Saturday, and I have a bridal shower the following one, so maybe the week after that? We can do it on either day, and if it’s Sunday, I’ll go to church with you all.”
“I’d love that, and I’m sure Jahleel would, too.”
“Great! If I can get Relic to come—”
“Just you!” Neffie asserted, her words firm and set in stone. “Like you said, start small. I’d like to talk to you.”
“That works for me.” Kennedy agreed before Neffie changed her mind.
After Jahleel hugged his grandmother and little sister goodbye, she tossed an arm over his shoulders before they ambled toward the parking lot.
She couldn’t help the huge smile that made its way onto her face as his mouth started going about his school day and excitement about their ice cream date with his sister soon.
Kennedy had worried that Relic had bought them a home for nothing, and she’d have to fight to see Jahleel once he was arrested. She should’ve known better.
Just like everything else; Relic had meticulously laid a piece and planned ahead. Kennedy’s smile faded after she contemplated what the hell else he’d planned for where it concerned her.
“Bishop to F5.”
Kennedy glanced up from the chessboard at Jahleel and smirked after her move.
She watched his face pinch as he propped both forearms on the island and squinted like he was moving the pieces in his head before taking a turn.
His defensive tactics were improving a lot, but his thought process was slow, and Kennedy knew that could lead him to a loss.
She wanted to rush him because time wasn’t on his side in chess or real-life situations where he’d have to act fast but still make the best move or end up a loser.
She added a chess clock to her list of things to buy, along with Jasmine’s cute two-piece sets.
“Knight to F3.” Jahleel pushed his horse shaped piece upward two squares and one to the left. She nodded and moved her pawn.
“E6.”
“Bishop to E2.”
As soon as Jahleel made his move, her eyes rounded and then scanned her pieces, before lifting to his face. The smug grin he wore was like looking at a younger version of Relic, if she’d ever seen one.
“I can start castling my king already. You’re nowhere near it.”
“True, but rule number one... never get too cocky or comfortable. We just started, so there’s always a chance I can make a comeback. The game isn’t over until it’s over.”
“Well, can it be over until we eat? I’m starving, and Relic isn’t coming home anytime soon.”
Kennedy picked up her phone, checked the time, and then sighed after seeing it was well after eight o’clock.
She had sent Jahleel to shower as soon as they got in while she started dinner since he loved homecooked meals.
So did his dad. Relic was still withholding dick from her, albeit it had been days since their minor argument, so she figured she’d make a heavy meal to butter him up and then top it off with the gifts she’d purchased him out of her pockets instead of using his money.
She had texted Relic hours ago to bring his ass home, and stalled Jahleel with a chess match, but knew he was famished after being at school and then football practice most of the day.
“Yea, we can eat. It’s no telling when your dad will walk through that door.”
“Can I open my gifts, too?”
Kennedy stood and glanced at their gifts, that she had gotten boxed and labeled, stacked neatly on the island for them to open after dinner. Her eyes rolled as she stomped toward the stove to plate Jahleel’s meal since her appetite was lost.
“Go ahead. At least someone appreciates my effort.”
“Yes!”
She could hear him grabbing and shaking boxes that probably weren’t his as she popped open the oven, sliding out the slabs of ribeye steak she’d seared on the stove and set inside it to rest while keeping warm.
Kennedy plopped the tray on the stove top and kicked shut the over door as she reached for two plates, deciding to make Relic’s so he wouldn’t have to once he got in, even though he’d pissed her off by ignoring her message to do whatever the hell he was doing.
She doubted he was at his studio as often as he claimed, but unlike him, she didn’t stalk his moves when one call to Tekken could clear up his whereabouts.
If she was being honest; she didn’t care to know what Relic did while out of her sight.
The adage that said out of sight, out of mind rang true for Kennedy, and what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her rang truer. It was the beast unleashed once she found shit out that was her problem.
“Ms. Kennedy, these gloves and cleats are dope! And my chain is like Relic’s eyes! Did you get him one, too?”
“I did,” she answered, scooping a spoonful of loaded mash potatoes to put on his plate.
After adding a small side of broccoli, she grabbed his utensils and took it all to him like the junior king he swore he was since his dad was rubbing off on him. She laughed at him swiping his gifts aside before ogling the plate with hungry eyes.
“That looks so good. My granny never made us steak, but she eats it. Relic let me eat lamb chops with him once, but he cooked it, so it wasn’t that good.”
“Yea, he made me a steak once, and it was bland. We have to show him how it’s done. Can you cut a steak?”
“Yes, but can you do it for me and then help me put on my chain?”
Kennedy stared at him before shaking her head at the same boy, she knew ran around their huge house doing everything for himself, playing helpless.
She found it cute. Jahleel made her feel needed, and she hadn’t experienced that since Tekken decided to just grow up one day and not call on her even half as much as he used to.
As she cut his steak, she pondered on if having a child was equivalent to experiencing that tenfold.
Kennedy shook that thought off with a quickness before helping to put on his necklace.
“So, me and Relic will match, right?” Jahleel verified, stabbing a piece of steak. He paused and then lowered his head, and Kennedy waited until he lifted it and stuffed the steak in his mouth before she spoke since she knew he was praying.
“You will. Relic had one already, but it broke. When I got it fixed, I saw a smaller one and thought about you. If you haven’t noticed, you might not have his eyes, but you and him have a lot of similarities.”
“Grann Judy said the same thing.”
Kennedy moved from behind him so she could see his face. “Oh, did she? How does she think y’all are alike?”
“She said I’m headstrong like him sometimes, and too smart for my own good. Oh, and that I have the same look in my eyes when I get upset but don’t say nothing. Grann asked me if I’m thinking bad stuff ‘bout her when I do it.”
“Are you?”
Jahleel picked at his broccoli before he nodded. “But I didn’t tell her that ‘cause it’d hurt her feelings. My granny told me if I don’t have nothing nice to say, don’t talk, so I stay quiet when Grann Judy makes me mad. Is that bad?”
“No, not at all. We all have bad thoughts when we get upset, but it’s if we act on them that matters. You said you didn’t tell Judith that because you don’t want to hurt her. I think that’s sweet of you, Jah. I can tell you love both your grandmas very much.”
“I do, but I don’t like it when granny says stuff about Relic or Grann Judy isn’t nice to you. We should invite her with us, so you can talk to her, too.”
“Don’t let your food get cold, Jah. Eat.” She switched the subject fast as hell to avoid admitting she was cool on giving Judith a chance.
As if someone knew she needed an escape from their discussion, her purse vibrated on the island.
Kennedy was hesitant, stealing a glance at her regular phone, before she headed to grab her prepaid one to power down, assuming it was Sonny.
Her gut pitted at seeing his brother’s name instead when she pulled it out.
After her talk with Sonny about Ezekiel going missing in action, and him interrogating Sonny about the story she told him, curiosity made her decide to pick up. She had to figure out if the nigga was coming for her before she could send for him.
“Jah, I’m going to the bathroom. I’ll be right back,” she rushed out, catching his quick hand wave as he kept scarfing down his food. She dashed past the living room and headed toward the hall where Relic’s office was.
She answered so that Sarge wouldn’t hang up on her and then slipped inside the half-bathroom, flicking on the light while taking a deep breath, preparing for whatever he could drop on her next.
When she put the phone to her hear, nothing could have prepared her for the instant rage that knotted her insides and ignited a heat in her chest far worse than any that Relic had ever incited.
“Why in the fuck are you on my phone?” she seethed after hearing Ezekiel call her name since she didn’t greet him.
“Kennedy, why do you want to play fucking games with me? I don’t know if that nigga you’re dealing with has you smelling yourself or what but—”
“Smelling myself?” A maniacal cackle erupted from her. “Ezekiel, do us a favor and stop while you’re ahead. I promise, this isn’t what you want. I am not the same naive girl you used to fuck with, but I’m still that bitch who shot your ass. Don’t call me again.”
“What the hell is your problem, Kennedy?! We talked, and shit was straight. Is it about our kiss? Did it bring up old feelings, so now you have to act like you hate a nigga again.”
“Nobody gives a damn about a kiss that you initiated, Zeke! You kissed me, and I pushed you away. Don’t forget that part.”
“Look.” He sighed into the receiver, and she clenched the phone tighter. “I didn’t call to argue. I wanted to check in on you and Tek, but you’re treating me like an enemy.”
“Because that’s what you are! The enemy. A fucking opp who let my—”