Page 18 of Disrespectfully, Relic
“Not a damn thing, Tekken.”
“That ain’t what it’s looking like. He pulled you out of the studio last week, and you wouldn’t tell nobody what it was about. Titan said the nigga was putting his bid in. Now, P’s bitch ass is rubbing it in my face that y’all are probably fucking.”
Kennedy rolled her eyes at so many noses sniffing in shit that didn’t pertain to anyone but her and Relic. Her ego had taken a hit when he agreed to their partnership over a date without fuss, and not hearing a word from him since then only worsened matters. She didn’t need an audience speculating about their inconsistent interactions that made it arduous for her to figure out his true intent.
“If you must know, Relic offered me a partner position to help with running his businesses. That’s what we were talking about. He needs additional hands since Savvy has a lot on her plate.”
“Damn! Why the hell does he keep trying to give you shit, and how you gon’ work at the salon and do that?”
“I don’t know, Tek! I still haven’t gotten paperwork for the offer, so he might’ve been bullshitting me. Either way, it was business. Tell Pierre to stop being so messy.”
Tekken sat up and pulled out his phone with a smirk. “You still don’t like him, huh?”
“Hell, no! Upping a fucking gun on you like he lost his mind. You shouldn’t like him either after he beat yo ass like that, but that’s on you.”
“For real, Kenn? I didn’t get my ass beat.”
“Okay, nephew. If that’s the lie that helps you sleep at night.” She patted his leg, and he slapped her hand away before standing as she squealed a laugh. “Wait, Tek! Why you trying to leave already? Aight, he only beat you up a little bit. Is that better?”
“Ha, ha. I ain’t tripping ‘bout that shit. I told you, I was ‘pose to be at the studio, and Calm just hit me, asking where I’m at. If you ain’t got nothing going on today, you can roll with me. I’ll wait.”
Kennedy pouted. “Treasure is coming to get her hair done in an hour. I wish I could.”
“It’s always all work and no play with you, big dog. Come and lock up behind me.”
She nodded and tossed her cover aside, flinging her braids over a shoulder as she stood from the warmth of her couch to follow him. Tekken made it to the door and opened it before he stalled, spinning to face her with maturing features that held a child-like innocence that life hadn’t stripped him of like it’d done her. Her eyes rolled before a playful smile teased her lips as she pulled him in for a hug. She knew it was what her nephew was waiting for.
“Be safe, and text me as soon as you get to the studio, okay?”
He beamed as she released him. “Aight. Be easy, big dog. I love you.”
Kennedy’s throat closed around her words, but she managed a soft, “I love you, too. Now bye, with all that mushy shit.”
His laughter resonated in her chest cavity and wrangled her heart as she shoved him outside, rushing to shut the door behind him just as a tear tried conning its way out of her ducts. Another thing she abhorred—crying.
Her shoulder braced against the door as she shut her eyes, inhaled a breath, and then swept away her stray tear with the back of a scathed hand that made her face ball. She pushed her tongue against clenched teeth.
Each reminder of her ailments enraged her to her core because it was easier than feeling sorry for herself. Pity parties wouldn’t help a damn thing. Locking herself in her apartment and crawling into a ball beneath the covers to decay wouldn’t make her less bitter with the world, nor would it help her understand the cryptic thoughts muddying the positive ones she clung onto for dear life.
The only thing that blocked out the self-deprecating noise in Kennedy’s head was getting to a bag. She’d rather cure bad days with money than drown her sorrows with worse habits.
“Treasure, don’t bring your ass back here to get your hair braided again. Go to one of those college girls that need the extra money for books and tuition.”
“I’m not letting them play in my head!”
Kennedy laughed while brushing the soft edges of Treasure’s hair into tiny swirls before tacking them down with edge control. Her friend’s sister had so much hair that it’d taken her longer than usual to finish the intricate style. She turned on her blow dryer and moved aside, drying the baby hairs in place while letting Treasure examine it in the wall mirror directly across from them. Her customer combed her fingers through the small, waist length plaits with a cheesy grin.
“I love it! The straight hair was cute and all, but braids are easier, and I feel like myself again. Now, I can just roll out of bed and not have to do much before class.”
“Are you excited to go back?”
Treasure rolled her eyes, and Kennedy cracked up while grabbing a few wrap strips. She tied them around the perimeter of Treasure’s hair before grabbing her foam bottle from the stand beside her.
“I’ll take that as a no. I thought you liked the college life. What happened?”
“Pierre being here without me is what happened. I’m glad he gets to see his kids and family, but he always ends up in some dang mess. Savvy didn’t tell you about the drama that went down at the studio?”
“Girl, I have so much going on, I forgot to tell you about that.” Savvy joined the conversation from where she sat adjacent to them on the mauve love seat. She adjusted Indigo’s slumped body in her arms and relayed, “So, apparently, the chick you heard singing the night we went to the studio has a controlling boyfriend. He came up there on some rah rah shit, and Pierre pistol whipped him. Now, Relic has Saucy tucked off at a spot where her dude can’t find her. On top of that, P had Promise with him that day, so now none of the kids are allowed in the studio. It’s a mess.”
