The Key To His Soul (The Sullivan Family #4)

1. She Waits For No Man

She Waits For No Man

KYIRIS

Flo Milli’s Never Lose Me remix played on my TV, while I applied another coat of Fenty Gloss Bomb to my lips.

I was dressed for my date before time and feeling just the way I looked, good as fuck.

My hair was laid, and my face was beat so good, one would’ve thought I had it professionally done.

I kept it casual but sexy on the fit with Chanel barrel jeans and a denim top that tied in the front.

I was braless underneath, and the Vaseline shimmering body oil had my titties looking edible.

Turning slightly to the side, I checked myself out one last time in the floor length mirror.

“And once again, they ain’t fuckin’ witchu, Kyiris Sullivan,” I muttered, smirking at my reflection.

Standing at 5’6” and 160 pounds that was well distributed between my hips and ass, I loved every bit of my shape.

That face though. That face was perfectly carved by angels assigned by God.

It left niggas eating out of the palm of my hand.

And this mouthpiece that said whatever it wanted to say, whenever it wanted to say it, kept them eating my ass.

If feeling myself was a person, I was her in the flesh.

Blowing my reflection a kiss, I grabbed my purse from the dresser, along with my phone.

Before I could take a step, it rang in my hand.

Glancing down at the screen, I saw my date’s name dancing across it.

Well, the name I’d stored him under — Potential.

Connecting my AirPods, I answered the call.

“Hey.”

“What’s good, baby? You left the crib yet?” he asked, sounding like he was moving around.

“Why?” I questioned instead of confirming.

“Shit, I’m running behind schedule,” he said. “I’m at the stu, and the session ran over. I likely won’t get to the restaurant for another ho…”

“Don’t worry ‘bout it.” I cut him off. Turning off the light in my bedroom, I made my way downstairs.

The call went silent for a few seconds before he spoke again. “What you mean?”

“I mean, don’t worry ‘bout it. As in, don’t rush. Plans are canceled. It’s a wrap. Date is canceled,” I replied in the same tone.

Again, the call went silent. I assumed he was trying to process what I said, so I gave him a few seconds to do so.

“Damn, it’s like that? It’s just an hour, boo. I ain’t even know it was gon’ take this long to lay this track.”

Potential, real name Tobias, was in A&R Director for a credited record label. We’d crossed paths for the first time a few months ago.

I was at the barbershop with Jay’s son, Baby Jay, getting him a haircut.

It wasn’t usually the role I played, but I was helping Jay out.

I loved kids, and my house was the place most of them usually congregated.

I had no problem watching them for a few hours or a couple days and sending them home all unruly and hyped up on sugar, as per their parents.

Baby Jay was special to me though. Having been diagnosed with autism, I liked to spend one on one time with him whenever I could.

Jay always said I was one of the people he was the calmest with.

I figured it was because I had patience.

That mother of his didn’t know her head from her ass at times.

But that wasn’t my business unless my cousin made it my business.

And by the time it became my business, I was usually at a bitch’s front door.

That day, Baby Jay seemed to be a little antsy as we waited his turn to get his haircut. It took a few breathing exercises and redirecting to get him settled, but we made it through. As we walked out to my car, I could hear someone behind me.

“He’s blessed to have you as a mother.”

I glanced over my shoulder, and there was a tall, light skinned guy dressed in a Nike short set, a pair of Jordan 4s, and a fresh cut.

I shot him a smile and kept it moving. Securing Baby Jay in his car seat, I closed the back door.

As I went to walk around the car to the driver’s side, the stranger made his way over to the car, stopping a few feet from the sidewalk.

Sliding my hand into my YSL crossbody bag, I rested it on the . 22 I kept close for emergencies.

“I’m usually not this upfront,” he said, “but you bad, shorty. Would it be too much to ask for your number?”

“If you gotta lead like that, then you already know the answer,” I replied with a smirk.

He chuckled with his hands up. “Heard. Well, you have a good day.” He went to turn away, and I called my number out.

“If you can remember it, it’ll let me know how bad you wanted it.” Winking, I got in my car and pulled off.

By the time I dropped Baby Jay off, he was texting my phone with his name.

“Hello?” His voice pulled my attention.

“Yeah. I’m here. And I hear you, but that’s an hour too long for me. And you’re calling thirty minutes before the meet up.”

“Damn. I feel bad as fuck. Can we rain check at least? I hate to ruin your night.”

I chuckled lightly. He just didn’t know, but I had no problem enlightening him. “My night ain’t nowhere near ruined, babes. I’m dressed, looking good as fuck, smelling even better. Somebody gon’ see me. Hate that it couldn’t be you. You have a great night though.”

I ended the call with no hard feelings. I meant everything I said. One monkey didn’t stop no show. And I wasn’t about to over explain myself to a nigga who wasn’t mine. My night was just beginning. Clicking on my text app, I opened my group chat with my girls.

Me: Where all my scamming ass bitches at?? (Yung Miami voice)

Ebone was the first to type back, like she was waiting by the phone.

EB: Bitch, you got the wrong chat. I make too much money to scam, bookie.

Nae: why I was about to say the same thing? Cause bitch, who?

I laughed at Danae’s reply.

Me: Yung Miami did a thing wit’ that one. But forreal, what y’all doing tonight? Y’all wanna come outside for a lil’ bit?

Milz: Yes! This was just the text I needed. I’m on a date, and this nigga talkin’ too much. Just smiling and talkin’. Irritating me.

Nae: Damn, Amil. Ain’t that what people do on a date? Lol.

Milz: Bitch, all I’ve been able to ask was how his day was. This man done ran down his whole damn week. Please provide the plans and location. ASAP!

Thyri: Lmao. Count me in too. I wanna hang out.

Me: Okay, cool. I’m already dressed. How long y’all think it’s gonna take y’all? Dai, you coming out?

Adai hadn’t responded yet, but I wasn’t surprised. She was likely laid up under Pryce with the baby close by. They’d been in their own little bubble since she’d moved back home. Pryce was too geeked. And dare I say he was a tad bit nicer these days too.

Dai: Dai ‘bout to be good and fucked. She ain’t coming out tonight. I’m ‘bout to mute y’all too.

It was just like Pryce’s intrusive ass to be in her phone. By the way everyone responded with the crying laughing emoji, they were used to his antics.

Me: TMI, Mr. Grinch. Get out of our messages and you better not scroll up. Ladies, I’ll text the location separately. Thyri, if you’re at Enzo’s, we can ride together if you want.

Nae: Now you know that’s exactly where she is.

Thyri: gimme about a half hour, Key. I’m already showered. Lemme throw something on.

Me: Bet!

Milz: Wait! That’s too long. I need rescue now.

Me: Girl, just leave. Scary ass ho

I closed out of the chat and continued toward the front door. And just like that, plans were made.

We ended up at Harbor NYC Rooftop in Hell’s Kitchen.

From the moment we walked in and the beat to Chris Brown’s It Depends dropped, I knew the night would be memorable.

Not one to be amongst the crowd, I made a call to get us a section beforehand.

Of course, they said they were sold out.

It was a Saturday night, but when you had the last name Sullivan, accommodations were made.

Amil and Ebone were already in the section when we arrived. Ebone lived near Hell’s Kitchen, and Amil’s date wasn’t too far from the club.

“Heyy,” Thyri, Danae, and I greeted, giving hugs and kisses to the girls.

Danae had pulled up at the same time as us with Aura in the driver’s seat.

After laying down rules that went in one ear and out the other, he let her out the car with a warning that he would shoot the place up the moment she didn’t answer her phone.

Whatever was wrong with the men in my family, their women seemed to love it.

“Took y’all long enough,” Ebone said.

I flashed a smirk and looked back at Thyri. “We would’ve been here sooner, but somebody needed to talk to their man before they left the house. Had me sitting outside for twenty minutes waiting on her.”

“I said I was sorry.” Thyri spoke up with a sly grin on her face. “I had to tell him something.”

“Don’t worry, cousin,” Danae said. “I had to rock the mic before I left Aura too.” She winked, and we all cracked up laughing.

We weren’t in the section long before a few bottles were delivered to our table.

I didn’t party often outside of the events that I put on for the family, and even then, I was so busy making sure things went off without a hitch and everyone else was enjoying themselves that I couldn’t fully enjoy the festivities.

So tonight, I planned to be on my worst behavior and let my bitches take care of me.

There would be no sitting. I would be standing on couches with my bottle of Reposado in hand, feeling myself.

We were an hour in, and I’d had two mixed drinks and was on my fourth shot.

I was feeling it too, but I kept it cute.

I’d learned how to hold my liquor long ago.

As teenagers, me and my cousins would sneak drinks at the family events.

Aura would threaten to beat our ass if any of us told, while Jay coached us on how to move if we drank too much.

The boys were such a bad influence. It was the very reason I always wanted to hang with them.