Page 152 of The Ninth

My mind went numb, shutting off. There was no logic involved with me unraveling on the floor. Just emotion.

Chapter 29: DND

Devyn’s POV

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

I groaned in my sleep, “WHO IS IT?!”

“K3.”

I hopped up, thinking I was hallucinating. Then I remembered the Grim Reaper broke out of jail, and none of us knows how. I grabbed my robe, snatching it on before rushing to the door and opening it. I had to actually lean my head back to look up at him.

“Ain’t no niggas in here, right?!”

“WHAT THE HELL YOU WANT!”

“Here, take this money and go do something with your friends. Please. I’m finna spend time with my wife.”

“I don’t need you or your brother’s money.”

“It’s dumb early, foo, and you making this harder than it has to be.”

I remembered how sad Cassandra was yesterday. If this is their chance to make up, then I don’t want to be in the way. I snatched the money and folded my arms.

“Hurry up so I can walk you downstairs, Decimal.”

“DEVYN!”

****

As quickly as I denounced Cassie giving me the BMW is as quickly as I fell in love with it. The old me would have been worried sick she would change her mind and take it back. The me now who knows their cousin fully understands Cassie says things with purpose. If she don’t want shit to do with Juan, then she means that.

I drove the girls around all day. We talked, laughed, met up with Tati’s man Dean for a quick drink. It was real cute. K3 paid for us to get our nails, toes, and hair done. I finally took that fuck as sew-in out and got a rod set again. I’d say I feel like me again, but I believe I feel even better than that.

Because of me feeling so good and confident, I’m pulling into Duke’s driveway. After a few days of thinking and seeing him out a that restaurant...I would rather work through things. Having the tough talk must be better than being apart. It has to be.

I got out, grabbing only my cellphone. Music was playing from the backyard as my sandal heels clicked up the driveway. I wore baby blue capri’s that were low on my waist plus a white, cropped tee with baby blue writing. My hair back in my brown and black curls. The music was making me nervous. I know K3 isn’t here, so who is?

Instead of walking to the back and humiliating myself, I rang the doorbell a few times. The front porch light wasn’t on, so the darkness consumed me. I still felt safe in Duke’s neighborhood and at Duke’s house.

After a couple of more rings, the music paused. I hit it one last time to let his old butt know he wasn’t tripping. The backdoor opened and shut loudly as footsteps approached.

I could tell he thought it was K3. He was carrying two beers and had a playful smile on his face. When he realized it was me, he slowed down. Hesistated even. Carefully, he walked to the door, pushing it open. The smell of him mixed with a little weed and beer engulfed me. Right then I wanted to skip the talk and kiss him, but I didn’t.

“Can we talk, or do you have company?”

“It’s just me here, folks. Come on.”

I took the beer out of his hand, walking past him and into the living room.

“Let’s go out back. I was cooking for me and K3 in case he comes home from Cassandra’s.”

Instead of walking past me to lead the way, he stayed behind me. Clearly Duke wanted a show, and that’s what I gave him. I’m a great multitasker, so I was able to take in his home that I loved so much while also making sure my hips mesmerized him. There wasn’t any reason to look back to see if he was watching, I could feel where his eyes were. Once I crossed through the kitchen and to the backdoor, I tried to press down on the latch but it was hard as fuck.

His body came behind me, pressing against me. I watched his long, strong arm reach around me and grab the latch. Before opening it, his nosed dipped into my hair, taking in a long whiff of it. Finally, he pushed, holding it open for me.

Duke’s back deck was just as cozy as his house. A swinging bench with cushions, several lights, a bar, an entire living area with a table. Off to the side were built in grills and a Blackstone. It seems he was making hibachi on it, and it was done. The table in front of me had built in bottle openers on it. I reached forward, popping my bottle open as he plated food for the both of us.