Page 60 of The Ninth

“Don’t answer that...” I breathed out against his lips.

“That’s your second iPhone, shorty.”

My head snapped to the side, seeing my phone just for K3 ringing back to back. And it was a FaceTime. I grabbed the flip phone, calling him from that instead. At first he was declining, continuing to FaceTime me. Eventually he called me on the flip phone.

Me: Kenzo, what’s wrong?

I tried to get off Juan’s lap, but he trapped me.

K3: Cassandra do not piss me off. Why you ain’t answering that FaceTime and where the fuck you at?

Me: K3, you tweakin. My iPhone is finna die. What’s the matter! Why are you calling this late?

K3: Check it out, why the fuck you ain’t tell me about the shit that popped off at that block party or that you went to a block party at all?

That caught Juan’s attention. He grabbed my wrist, trying to bring my hand closer so he could hear. I smacked his chest and whispered to him to mind his fucking business.

“Put it on speaker or I’ma yell!” he whispered.

I got off his lap, putting it on speaker so I wouldn’t get this crazy ass nigga killed.

Me: It just happened last night, Papa. I didn’t tell you earlier because we only had a little time together. And I was...me and you were....you know.

K3: That’s some shit you call me about the moment it happens, Cassandra. I’m not out there with you, you gotta put me on! I keep hearing mixed shit, what the fuck went down?

Me: We stopped out west after the game. Tati went to see her nigga, so the girls and I stood at the truck until she got done.

I sighed, long and hard. Because now this nigga looking at me crazy too. Both they goofy asses sat silently, waiting for me to continue.

Me: Some nigga came up to me and put his fucking dick on my ass while I was dancing. G, you know I don’t be on no coo shit and I don’t let niggas down easily. I treated his ass. We were both drunk and got into it. That therm ass nigga pulled a gun out on me...

CLICK!

“Aye, folks! What the fuck is wrong with you? I told yo ass to call me if you needed me. Why the fuck you wait so long to say something? Why you telling this nigga when he can’t—”

“STOP, JUAN!”

“Nah, I’m upset, Cassie. You bogus as hell thinking I’m finna let any nigga walk around with breath in his body after pulling a gun out on you. I’ll die before that happens, on my granny.”

He hopped up, rushing into his room with me following him quickly. My dumb ass fell on the stairs coming out of the living room. Moments later, he came back out with his gun. I grabbed onto his shirt, but he just started dragging me with him.

“JUAN!”

“Quit playing with me, foe.”

“JUAN, STOP! STOP! YOU GON GET CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT SHIT! IF YOU TOUCH HIM FIRST, HE’S GON ASK WHO DID IT. DON’T DO THAT TO ME!”

Finally, he stopped in his tracks. We were halfway to the elevator and this nigga was walking me like I’m a yorkie. I’m irruhtated and should be cussing his big ass out! But I couldn’t ignore the panic in my chest. If someone handles that before K3, he’s going to find out who. Then he’s going to wanna know why. And everything leads back to my goofy ass cheating.

He sighed deeply. No part of me doubted he was pissed. Not even at the situation, but the whole K3 of it all. He was tired of sharing me. Of playing his role. It was obvious.

I kissed his palm as he cupped my face. A thousand emotions were all over his. Instead of leaving, he bent down, kissing my lips. I sighed relieved, pulling myself into his body.

“I’m sorry...”

“Don’t be. He got twenty-four hours, on my granny. If he ain’t dead by then or if I see him out before then, he’s mine.”

“Okay.”