Page 27 of Lyric Squared
“Laike hates him.”
“Laike hates everybody.”
“Luca is still observant.”
“And Ken?”
“He said I don’t like this nigga before we could even sit down.”
There was silence on the line before Ever burst into a fit of giggles. As upset as I wanted to be, I couldn’t help but join in. I had to laugh to keep from crying because seeing Ken made me want to. My emotions were getting the best of me, but I didn’t have the courage to display them. He didn’t deserve that.
“I’m so sorry, Lyric. I don’t mean to make a mockery of your situation but Ken has no filter. Whatever comes to that head of his comes straight out of his mouth.”
“And to think that’s one of the things I love about his black ass the most. UGH!” I groaned. Why is he here?”
“Maybe to celebrate his release? He did get out today.”
“I knooooooow,” whining, I agreed, “but, why here? They could’ve taken him somewhere else.”
“Oat + Olive is kind of a ritual now. Face it.”
“I’m falling in the same boat as you,” I joked.
“You kind of are, though. The love of your life was just released, you two met up at Oat + Olive, and now you’re in the bathroom. Maybe he will come snatch you up like Luca did me.”
“Can you believe that when I told them I needed to come to the restroom, they all stood up at once? What kind of fuckery is this? And, that’s not the love of my life. I gave him a chance and he blew it.”
“Then, why are you in the restroom whispering on the phone to me instead of standing your ground out there? It’s Ken. A family friend. You’ve been around him all your life. Why are you bothered, suddenly?”
“Shut up.”
“I’m just pointing out the facts, Lyric. It’s okay. Feelings don’t just dissolve because you don’t get a reply to a message. They sit and they fester, and they build even more. When it’s time, you’ll know exactly where to place them.”
“He doesn’t want me,” I reminded her.
“Has he told you that?”
“He didn’t have to. His silence did.”
“You’re reading too much into it.”
“He didn’t give me anything else to read, so he left me no choice but to draw my own conclusion.”
“That’s fair, but I think it’s the wrong conclusion.”
“Well, it’s too late for all of that. Collin has been hinting at us making things official.”
“It’s only been what… a month?”
“Ma’am, let’s not talk about timelines. If fate would’ve had it, you would’ve been pregnant with Luca’s kid after the first time you two fucked. A month is enough time to decide if you want to make things official with someone you’ve been seeing consistently.”
“So, yeah. You got me there.”
“Mrs. Two years, two children.”
“Be quiet!”
“I’m just saying. Anyway, I need to get back out there before they come looking for Collin thinking he’s kidnapped me.”
