Page 169 of When a Soul Cries

Rome’s eyes opened immediately.

“Your girl?”

“Yeah.”

A slow, disbelieving look crossed his face. “You met that woman twice.”

“Three times if we counting destiny.”

Rome stared at me.

“That is quite literally not how counting works.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but the woman spoke again.

Clearer this time.

My whole body went still.

I knew that voice.

I’d heard it at the gas station when she’d been rushing to get that baby to the doctor. I’d heard it again at the lounge while she sat there pretending my jokes weren’t funny until I finally got her ass laughing. I’d heard it when she gave me her number and acted like doing it was some kind of favor.

My head whipped toward the kitchen.

Then I looked at Rome.

“Is that her in the motherfucking kitchen?”

“Kai, chill.”

Too late.

I was already walking.

Rome muttered something behind me before standing. I could hear his footsteps following, slower than mine because he still had the baby in his arms.

“Nah,” I said as I headed toward the kitchen. “I got questions now.”

“You always got questions.”

“Because apparently everybody in this damn city got secrets.”

“You’re being dramatic.”

“I ain’t even started being dramatic.”

I rounded the corner into the kitchen at the exact same moment Zari stepped toward the doorway.

We nearly ran into each other.

Both of us stopped.

Her eyes widened first.

Mine probably did the same.

For two full seconds we just stared at each other.