Page 41 of The Sweetest Return

I turned, and Malcolm came striding toward me in a black velvet blazer, dressed like he had every intention of being seen from the parking lot. Tall and broad through the shoulders, with smooth peanut-butter brown skin, a close beard, and the same troublemaking grin he’d had since freshman year, he looked entirely too pleased with himself.

“Yeah,” he said. “You thought you was gon’ come in here humble tonight.”

“I am humble.”

“Mmmmm.” He took a sip of his drink. “Sure.”

Tee came up a few seconds later in a dark navy suit that looked expensive without needing to announce itself. He hugged me once and leaned back.

“You good?”

I knew what he meant.

That was why I liked Tee. He could ask one question and still leave a man somewhere private to stand while answering it.

“Yeah,” I said.

Tee watched my face for half a second longer than I liked, then nodded once.

Malcolm, of course, had no interest in subtlety.

“You all right tonight?”

I looked at him over the rim of my glass. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Malcolm grinned. “Man, please.”

“What?”

“You been watching that door since we got here.”

“I have not.”

Tee took a drink and suddenly became real interested in whatever was happening across the room.

Malcolm looked me over slowly. “Jaw tight. Shoulders all stiff. Every time somebody in a dress comes through that door, your eyes go over there first.”

“You studying me now?”

“Hard not to. Big-ass nigga standing over here looking like a panther waiting on something to wander into the wrong part of the jungle.”

Tee coughed into his glass.

I looked at him.

“Don’t involve me,” he said.

Malcolm’s grin widened. “I already knew Bennett had you fucked up when you hit me with that from who? before I finished sending the damn text. This right here is confirmation.”

“Camille told you she was coming. That’s all you know.”

“Mmhmm.”

“What?”

“Nothing.” He adjusted his jacket, entirely too pleased with himself. “Just wondering how long you plan to stand here pretending you not waiting on that woman.”

I took another drink because hitting him inside Royal House would have been bad alumni etiquette.