Chapter 66
Zay
“We Not Kids No More”
Dinner was over. Plates were cleared. The faint smell of fried food still lingered in the air. Emily and Yuna had already disappeared down the hall, laughing about something and talking about getting in the jacuzzi.
Lil Zay was knocked out on the couch in the den.
They turned the whole space into his. Toys lined up, little blankets, cartoons playing 24/7. He was stretched out like he paid bills in here.
I glanced at him once on my way past.
Made sure he was straight, and then kept moving.
I walked into the kitchen.
Ares was already there with the lights low, leaning back against the counter, rolling up like he had been waiting for me.
He looked up when I walked in.
Gave me that slight nod.
“You good?” he asked.
I shrugged, adjusting my sling a little. “I’m better.”
That was enough for him.
He sparked the blunt, took a pull, then handed it to me.
I took it, inhaled slowly, letting it sit in my chest before letting it go.
Silence sat between us for a second.
Not awkward.
Just… understood.
He tapped the counter lightly.
“Proud of you, my nigga.”
I looked over at him. “For what?”
“Locking it in.”
His tone was calm.
Real.
“Emily deserved that.”
I nodded once. “She did.”
Took another pull.
Exhaled slow.
We stood there for a minute, just passing it back and forth.
“You ain’t gotta act like you only looking out for my sister for me no more.”
Ares didn’t react right away.
Just watched me.
“I know y’all locked in,” I continued. “Been knew.”
A small smirk pulled at my mouth.
“Y’all wasn’t hiding Vegas like y’all thought y’all was.”
He huffed a quiet laugh.
Shook his head once.
“Back then…” he started, then paused, choosing his words. “I wasn’t trying to disrespect you.”
He looked at me straight. “I was gon’ marry her then, if she let me.”
I held his gaze for a second. “I know.”
I took another pull.
“I ain’t tripping,” I added. “Just don’t end up with six females again when the smoke clears.”
That made him laugh.
For real this time.
Low, but genuine.
“I’m working on committing to her,” he assured me.
I glanced at him sideways.
“You better be.”
He took the blunt back, shaking his head.
“We not kids no more, bro,” I said after a moment.
He nodded slowly. “Yeah. This shit real now.”
I leaned back against the counter, eyes drifting toward the hallway where the girls disappeared.
“Real when you got something to lose.”
Ares followed my line of sight.
“If something happens to me…”
I cut him off. “Nothing happening to you.”
He looked back at me.
I held his stare.
“But if it do,” I added, voice steady, “I got everything.”
He nodded once. “And if something happens to you, I’ll return the energy.”
“I ain’t in a rush to go to war,” I said after a minute.
He raised a brow slightly.
“I just got here,” I continued. “Just seen my son. Just locked in my family.”
I took another slow pull.
“Let niggas think we hiding.”
Ares watched me closely now.
“Devon gon’ show his hand,” I added. “He can’t sit still forever.”
That made him smirk. “You right.” He pushed off the counter slightly. “We stay in France then.”
I nodded. “Let it come to us.”
He took one last pull, then rinsed the roach of the blunt down the sink.
From down the hall, I heard Emily’s faint voice call out.
Something about me taking too long.
I smirked.
Ares shook his head slightly. “Go ahead.”
I started toward the hallway, then paused for a second.
Looked back at him.
“Hey.”
He looked up.
“We gon’ be straight, bro.”
He didn’t answer right away.
Just held my gaze.
I left him in the kitchen.
I wasn’t thinking about war.
Just her.