Page 69 of Own It

Still, that was no excuse for how I’d been carrying on with Rakim, even though I felt a connection with him far greater than I ever had with Shaun, and the former and I had only recently met.

“I’m gonna break up with him,” I admitted.

That had been the plan long before I got kidnapped, but I never got the chance to fully talk with Shaun.

“When?”

“Soon as I’m free, . . . assuming you’re gonna free me no matter what now that you like me.”

“We’ll see.” Rakim smirked when my jaw fell.

“Anyway, I don’t think I should call him from being held in captivity to break up with him. That would seem like some Patty Hearst type shit.”

“A nigga may have broken up with him for you,” he finally admitted.

“What? How? When?” I was shocked but not as bothered as I probably should’ve been.

“Night I saw him out and he tried to make an offer for you.”

We both tried to hide our smiles, but they burst through.

“What did he say in response?”

“Couldn’t really talk, but I feel like he agreed.”

I was scared to ask why he couldn’t talk, so I didn’t.

“Well, thank you, but I would still owe him a conversation.”

“I feel that. Was just letting you know you been single and free to do what you want for a lil minute now.” He winked, making me press my forehead to his before we kissed lightly.

We continued to kiss until a bit of ruckus broke up the moment. Tilting our heads back in sync, we both got up once Rakim groaned.

“Do your brothers not have their own spaces?” I chuckled, admiring his tall stature as he ascended.

“They do, but they like to be up under a nigga. Tonight though, I agreed that they could have a lil kickback here.” He looked upward again as if he could visualize all the voices that began to drift around the home.

“Oh, okay. That’s cute they like to be up under you. Are they the same with Ayan?”

“Nah, not to my knowledge, but we don’t really discuss one another. At least I don’t discuss that nigga.” He checked his phone as he spoke, and it was crazy to me how he didn’t realize how odd that sounded. To have a sibling that you somewhat acted like they didn’t exist. He and Ayan were in a bad way, but rightfully so.

“Hmm, so aren’t you doing to Shaun what your brother did to you?” I smirked, and he mirrored my expression.

“Nah, I ain’t never been against taking a nigga’s woman, especially if she ain’t being handled right by her nigga.” He eyed me momentarily, and I picked up on his dig at Shaun. “But that’s my brother. I would never, even now after what he did, snatch a woman he was in a relationship with or had children with. Jojo fucks over his baby mamas constantly, and I ain’t never thought to push up on one of ’em. Just some shit you don’t do as a brother. My issue will always be with him. LaMia is an outsider, and that was on me for not seeing her true colors before I made her mine.”

“I understand,” I nodded, because I did. I still didn’t like LaMia nor Ayan’s ass.

“You wanna come up? Them niggas brought food and shit.”

“You sure?”

“I am.” He smiled.

“Okay.” I hopped up and went to spruce up my appearance a bit, changing into one of the racerback ribbed dresses Cynthia had given me along with more undergarments and things from the superstore.

After taking my Dutch braids down to rock waves, I spritzed on the Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet perfume that I’d gotten with Rakim’s credit card, and then came out. The function seemed to be a relaxed thing, so makeup wasn’t gonna happen.

“Pretty girl,” Rakim commented, taking my hand in his to lead me out of the room and upstairs.