Page 147 of Own It

“Exactly. I never got the feeling that he intentionally wanted to deceive me; he’s just an immature fuck-boy and can’t help it. And that may be fine for Tarin or whomever, but not for me.” She shook her head, drinking some of her original mimosa.

“True.”

“So has he been with her?”

“Who?” I stalled for time. I knew she wanted to know if Josias had still been messing around with Tarin, and I didn’t know how to answer that.

I was new to the group, but I had a sense of loyalty to Kasia because we were growing closer and she was a woman. I would want her to tell me if she saw Rakim up to no good, even if she only knew me for an hour.

“Tarin, Daylin. You know what I’m asking you.”

“He has,” I revealed begrudgingly. I felt terrible for being truthful for a multitude of reasons. For starters, I could see how my words hurt Kasia, and I also knew they’d hurt trifling ass Josias, too, because though he was trash to Kasia, he loved her, and my revelation only put him further steps behind.

“I knew it.” She shook her head, visibly aggravated as she sat back some so the waitress could set our plates and condiments down. “But I need to hear shit like to be steadfast in what I’m doing. Some days it’s easy for me to move on, and others, it’s hard, but the more I witness his shenanigans, the easier it becomes.”

“That makes sense.” I bobbed my head, eyeing her for a minute as she focused on her food intently. “So Darron is fine, and you and him are fine?”

“We are. I thought he would cut me off because of something he divulged to me about his former entanglements, but he was very understanding. He recognized that Josias was just envious and upset.”

“Damn,” I said, making us both chortle. “He’s a good man because if a nigga had an ex that beat me unconscious, he would never hear from me again. And I’m a fighter.”

“As hypocritical as it sounds, I’m right there with you ’cause ain’t no fucking way.”

We guffawed a little too loudly but quickly let it cease, exchanging humor filled smiles in its place.

“Are you coming to Josias’s birthday party though?”

“He invited me and I was gonna come, but after what he did to Darron, I decided against it. Plus, the more I thought about that shit, the more I realized he probably invited Tarin or whomever his flavor of the month is.”

“Yeah.”

I just hoped Tarin wasn’t gonna attempt to start any shit, because I had no problem knocking out more of her fucking teeth.

* * *

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOSIAS GODFREY . . .

“Cash Shit” by Megan Thee Stallion blared from the speakers of the medium-sized club out in West Hollywood. There were strobe lights, sparklers being carried by scantily clad women, and plenty of patrons in attendance to celebrate Josias and what would’ve also been Zaire’s thirty-first birthday.

“You better chill out.” Rakim bent down to speak in my ear since I’d rotated my ass against his crotch to the song as we slowly made our way to the family’s section.

“Happy birthday!” I grinned up at Josias who approached Rakim and me as soon as we stepped past the bouncer and red rope.

“Thanks, sis.” He embraced me, his cologne quite pleasant.

As he dapped up his big brother, I felt Tarin watching me, so I stared back at the bitch until she looked away, lip folded up like she was repulsed just at the sight of me. I would keep it cute so long as she didn’t get in my face again. I didn’t want Rakim thinking I was some hood bitch possessing no decorum of any kind, especially since that wasn’t me.

“It’s live as fuck in here. Ain’t no way you know all these fucking people,” Rakim said, guiding me by the small of my back to the couch, speaking to Mylo in the process.

“Nah. I invited my people and some of Zaire’s that I knew, then charged one hundred dollars for anyone else wanting to come. You know I’m about my fucking money,” Josias explained as the brothers laughed.

I took in my surroundings while descending into Rakim’s lap and was flabbergasted at the sight of Morgin cozied up with Ayan, his big, long arm thrown across her shoulders as he chatted with some other nigga I didn’t recognize. Was this who she was pregnant by? I was so floored that I couldn’t turn away and was therefore caught by Morgin.

I could only shake my head at her, seeing that our little conversation outside of my warehouse went in one ear and out of the other. But at least she got the Godfrey she’d been gunning for after realizing she couldn’t keep Josias’s attention.

Knowing how jealous Ayan was, I wondered if that little bit of information would bother him. Then again, from what I knew, Ayan was only envious of his twin.

“You want something from the bar or this shit cool?” Rakim queried, palming my stomach as I sat in his lap.