Chapter 16 Kennedy
“Look, there’s Savvy walking over here, and I think that’s Nubia pulling in.”
Kennedy peered across the parking lot, checking for her girls from where she and Lexi were waiting in front of an exclusive establishment with rich greenery and a white exterior that mirrored a historical building more than its actual purpose. The country club screamed wealth and old privilege.
Since the day the detectives had shown their faces at the salon, Kennedy had snooped on Logan’s social media page for insight on where she could accidentally bump into the girl and inquire about reaching out to Tolliver.
Luckily for her, she’d come across an image of Logan eating lunch with a man whose face was hidden, but their menus were front and center.
A brief online search guided her straight to the restaurant inside a country club where she figured Tolliver used the cash he made off Relic to join and golf to his heart’s content. Kennedy wasn’t mad at that.
She was taking a long shot with popping up in hopes of running into him, but it was safer than trusting Logan. That girl was so desperate, she’d probably snitch to Relic, believing it’d earn her a spot so far out of her reach, she’d have to turn into Elastigirl to touch it.
“That’s them. We need to hurry up because it’s set tee times, and we don’t want to miss ours,” she stated, eyeing Savvy who was scurrying across the parking lot.
“I’m so sorry, I’m late!” Savvy slowed her stride and fixed her sleeveless polo skirt set with a cream leather belt bag around her slim waist. Her sandy brown curls blew in the wind as she neared them.
“Shabu was supposed to get the kids, but he was handling something at the studio for Relic, so I had to wait for Toot to get there.”
“Yea, Relic is hanging with Jah today, and you know they have the no kids rule. What’s going on at the studio that they’d need him, though?”
“No idea.”
Lexi toggled with her phone before saying, “I’ll check out Aura’s close friends to see. She posts everything.”
“She better stop!” Savvy stressed like the mention of it frustrated her. “That girl acts like she wasn’t kidnapped and held hostage for days. I wouldn’t post shit. She hasn’t even gone home because the people were inside her place, so she has to find a new spot.”
“That’s tea for me. Where has she been staying?”
Savvy’s face fell before she glanced at Kennedy, who shot up a brow. Her arms crossed as she glared at Savvy.
“Yea, Savvy. Where has Aura been staying?”
“First of all, my husband told me this info, so I wasn’t supposed to repeat it.
Second, she’s been staying at Relic’s condo, and you better not tell him I told you.
She was with Saucy but kept complaining about her being too sloppy, so Relic moved her,” she explained.
Her stare softened as she asked, “Are you upset?”
“Nope. Relic just did the quickest thing to get her out of his hair without thinking if it’d rub me wrong. I’m not tripping about it.”
“Damn, you really make me look childish. I’d already be in the car on the way to his condo to beat her ass,” Lexi admitted.
Kennedy would rather beat Relic’s ass for taking care of a bitch who was overstaying her fake ass welcome, but since that was a losing battle, she fanned Lexi off and then flagged a hand for Nubia to hurry up as she ran across the lot toward them.
As soon as Nubia reached the sidewalk, she stopped and planted her hands on her knees, gasping for air.
“Y’all know I have to get fifty bodies ready, shit. Who the hell told me to have four kids?”
“Damn sure not us,” Kennedy uttered as they strolled toward the entrance. Nubia smacked her lips, tugging her beige shorts down before adjusting the white sweater tied around her neck.
“Don’t start with me, and why the hell are we golfing instead of drinking, eating, and shaking ass at someone’s brunch?”
“Hello! Same shit I said,” Lexi co-signed.
Kennedy shook her head at their unwillingness to try new things and seize the opportunities their men’s money afforded them by the fucking horns. Her girls had no clue about the caliber of money inside the building.
“Just give it a chance. Y’all may like it.” Kennedy led them through the glass doors that parted once they neared it. “If it makes you feel better, I’ll treat everyone to the fee the club is charging.”
Nubia smirked. “You’re treating or Relic?”
“Same difference. Su money is mi money, or however they say it. Don’t worry about whose pocket it comes out of as long as it gets paid.”
“Pop your shit then! I ain’t complaining as long as it’s not coming out of mine,” Lexi said, and Nubia high fived her in agreement.
Kennedy shook her head at the two shifting back into their usual antics as if they weren’t just beefing about Lexi running her mouth.
When she stole a look at Savvy, it took everything in her not to cackle at the dry facial expression her girl wore.
She could tell Savvy wasn’t beat for making amends with Nubia quite yet.
With a smirk, she scanned the main area, spotting a caramel woman in brown slacks with a clipboard pressed against her quarter zip sweater. Once noticing them, the lady brushed a hand across her slick bun, and put on her best smile as she met up with them.
“Kennedy?” she confirmed. Kennedy nodded with a smile, and she replied, “Great! I’m Taylor, and I’ll be your club host. Thank you for taking advantage of our member for a day membership.
Hopefully, you’ll enjoy your time here. First, let’s head to the main desk to check in.
Then, I will take you to our pro shop where you’ll check in for tee time and pay the fees for that and anything else you may need. ”
Taylor got straight to it, and Kennedy appreciated her host not doing too much talking or asking questions since she was anxious to get on the course.
Her eyes went to the windows that gave a perfect view of the luxurious turf as they toured the club, and she half-listened to the thorough instructions while trying to spot Tolliver in a sea of white faces that told her, her people didn’t frequent their private establishment often.
Kennedy was surprised that a black woman was their host.
Once they made it to the pro shop, she let Taylor give suggestions on what they’d require and then grabbed it all without debate since it was going on Relic’s card.
She had started to use her own, but after that tidbit of information Savvy gave her, she decided Relic’s would better suffice.
It didn’t take him out of the hot seat, but it placated her for the moment.
“They’re expensive as hell,” Nubia whispered as they tossed their golf balls, tees, and gloves onto the counter. “I could’ve spent two hundred at brunch and been straight.”
“Stop it.” Kennedy laughed. She signaled for Lexi and Savvy to add their items and told them, “It’s on me.”
“You already paid for our day pass,” Savvy reminded her as Kennedy pulled out her credit card.
“Actually, your brother-in-law paid for it, and his ass is about to pay for this, too.”
“Relic is going to fuck you up.” Lexi shook her head before glancing at the total as it tallied up. She had to do a double take before snapping, “Bitch, it better be a fucking period between those four digits! How the hell did it jump that high?”
“I had to rent the clubs, bags, our carts, and pay for a round of golf each, Lexi. We can’t hit the balls in the air.”
“I would’ve played air ball today ‘cause damn!”
“Stop cursing and lower your voice,” Savvy chided, smacking her arm while holding in her laugh because she agreed.
“First time?” the blonde cashier playfully asked, and the derisive snort that followed from nearby had Kennedy snapping her head toward Taylor.
Their once friendly host had her nose in the air like a foul odor had breezed past, while she sized them up as if she were seeing them for the first time. Kennedy frowned as Taylor’s judgmental gaze sailed to her and stayed put.
“Is there a problem?” Kennedy kept it cute and subtly checked the bitch’s temperature.
“Not at all. Ashley, did you get her ID with the credit card to verify?”
Kennedy laughed under her breath while fishing out her identification to pass Ashley. The cashier placed both side by side before handing them back with an apologetic smile.
“Thank you. Taylor, the names match on it. She’s an authorized user for the card.”
Nubia burst into laughter at that information before clapping her hands like a proud parent. Kennedy giggled after the dramatic hoe pretended to wipe her eyes.
“Bravo, Kennedy. Let me know when the masterclass is, so I can sign up.”
“Hello! I’ve clearly been doing it wrong,” Lexi stated, grabbing their items. “I gave mine a baby, and all I got out of the deal was a prepaid Visa I thought was an AMEX, let Savvy tell it.”
“Nooo! Don’t do that!”
Savvy poked out her bottom lip and threw her arms around Lexi’s neck as they fell into laughter since it was in the past. Kennedy joined in, but her attention went to their host who rolled her eyes before ushering them outside to a four-seat golf cart with their bags already attached.
Taylor handed the key to Nubia as if Kennedy hadn’t paid the tab and then gave a fake ass smile before she trekked off on a mission to get the hell away from them.
“That bitch is rude as fuck,” Nubia spat as soon as she was out of earshot. Savvy swiped the key out of her hand.
“She was, but she was nice at first, so either Lexi and her loudmouth made her see us as ghetto, or she was just hating that Kennedy had a man cashing out. Either way, fuck her. I’m driving!”
She hopped into the driver’s seat, while Kennedy got in beside her. Nubia and Lexi claimed the back. Before the girls had a chance to hold on or prepare, Savvy started the cart and bolted down the path, making them scream.