Page 45 of After the Knockout
“That too.”
“This ain’t no ghetto fairy tale, Nia.” I swallowed hard. “I’m not about to imagine some happily ever after just because KO moved into my apartment and started playing daddy.”
“But he could’ve come in and taken Dakoda from you.” That made me look up because where exactly was she going with that? “You said yourself that man got money. So that means he got lawyers and resources. He didn’t go that route. Instead, he moved in with y’all.” She tilted her head. “That ain’t just about the kid, friend.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but honestly . . . I didn’t have shit to say back to that.
“See!” Nia smirked, and I rolled my eyes.
“You watch too many romance movies.”
“And you don’t watch enough. You need to be over there in this little-ass pajama set, throwing those thick thighs and ass, and getting your man back.”
My mouth dropped open. “Nia!”
“What?” She laughed loudly. “That man is fine, he loves his son, and no matter how he frontin’, he still loves you. You think he moved into your apartment to stay celibate?”
“Girl, shut up.” I glanced at the time on my phone and realized I’d been across the hall for almost two hours. That was long enough for Dakoda to probably still be awake because KO had already proven he didn’t believe in bedtime rules or reasonable amounts of snacks after eight o’clock. I pushed myself up off Nia’s couch with a tired laugh. “Let me get back over there before them two turn my apartment into damn Jurassic Park.”
“Mhmm.” Nia stood and followed me toward the door. “And before you walk across that hallway acting scary, let me remind you of something.”
I paused with my hand on the doorknob. “What now?”
“Your past mistakes don’t make you unlovable, Lyrius.” Her voice softened just enough to make my chest tighten. “You did some messed up shit, sure. But you also survived some messed up shit. Both things can be true at the same time.” I looked down for a second, because hearing her say that out loud was a lot. Somewhere along the way, I’d decided that I wasn’t the kind of woman who got happy endings. Not after the choices I’d made. Not after the damage I’d caused.
“Maybe.”
“And if that fine-ass boxer rubs on you tonight, don’t fumble the opportunity to throw that ass back.”
“Nia!”
“Goodnight, friend.” She burst out laughing while pulling the door open for me.
“You’re ridiculous.”
“And you love me anyway.”
“I do,” I said as I exited her apartment and made my way back over to mine, letting her laughter follow me all the way there. The second I stepped inside my apartment, the sound of fists hitting leather greeted me. I glanced around slightly before my eyes quickly landed on KO. He was on the other side of my living room, punching the punching bag he’d set up a few days ago. He glanced over at me briefly before throwing another combination. Sweat glistened across his chest and shoulders, and I had to damn near avert my eyes to stop staring him down.
“Dakoda sleep?” I asked.
“Been knocked out about an hour.”
“Oh, wow.” I set my purse and wine down on the counter. “Thanks. I ran over here thinking he was still awake.”
“Nah, I figured you needed a minute with yo’ girl. I’m sure y’all had a lot to talk about.” His fists kept hitting the bag. “You get her all filled in on me?”
That last comment made me smirk and roll my eyes at the same time.
“We were not talking about you.” I walked into the kitchen to grab a late snack. All that wine drinking had me hungry. I tried very hard not to stare at him, but I couldn’t help myself. The way sweat rolled down his chest while the muscles in his arms flexed every time he threw another punch had my thighs pressing together before I could stop it. And the fact that he was standing in the middle of my living room in gray sweatpants with the full outline of his big, thick dick on display definitely wasn’t helping.I was so busy staring at him, I barely noticed the punching bag chain slipping loose from the ceiling until KO threw another hard right hook. The entire thing swung sideways, and his fist went straight through the drywall behind it with a loud crack.
“Shit!” KO hissed, jerking his hand back from the wall.
“Oh my God.” I walked over immediately. “Your hand just went through my wall!”
“I’ma fix it.” He flexed his hand once. “I’m good.”
“You’re bleeding.” I glanced down at the blood leaking from his knuckles.
