Chapter 8

The silence that followed was thick. Tension sitting heavy in the air like the humidity outside.

Lena kept her expression cool, sipping her drink like she wasn't phased. But inside?

She felt that shit.

Keelah was messy, but Lena wasn't no fool. A woman don't pop up on a nigga this bold unless she really feel like she got one up on him.

And Von?

He wasn't denying shit.

He just stood there, jaw tight, staring at Keelah like he was trying not to react.

Ray shifted beside Lena. "Man, Keelah, go on with that shit."

Keelah folded her arms, cocking her hip out. "Nah, Ion think I will." Her eyes flicked back to Lena. "I just think shorty should know what type of nigga she dealin' with before she get too comfortable."

Lena let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "Girl, I don't deal with nobody." She looked Keelah up and down. Unimpressed. "And I damn sure don't take relationship advice from bitter exes."

Cinco hollered, damn near choking on his drink. "Damn!"

Von finally moved. His eyes cut to Lena, sharp and unreadable. But she wasn't looking at him.

She was still locked in on Keelah.

Keelah's smirk faltered just a little. "You cute," she said, trying to keep up the attitude. "But don't let that mouth get you caught up, sweetheart."

Lena stepped off the car, standing face to face with her now.

Ray grabbed her wrist. "Lena..."

Lena ignored her. "Ain't nobody worried 'bout you, love. If you gotta pull up on a nigga to get his attention, you already lost."

Keelah's jaw clenched.

Before she could say anything else, Von stepped between them, voice low and firm. "That's enough."

His tone alone made both of them stop.

Lena ain't move, but she peeped how he positioned himself—closer to her than Keelah.

Keelah sucked her teeth. "You got me fucked up, Von."

Von finally looked at her. "And you got yourself out here lookin' stupid."

Lena felt that one in her chest.

Keelah scoffed, her pride cracking. "Bet." She pointed at Lena. "You'll see." Then at Von. "And you? Don't call me when you get bored."

She turned on her heels, walking off with attitude.

Von exhaled slow, rubbing a hand over his face before turning back toward Lena. His eyes low and unreadable.

She just looked at him, shaking her head. "Yeah. That was cute."

Then she grabbed her keys, brushed past him, and got in her car.

Von ain't stop her.

But he damn sure watched her leave.

Lena pushed her Scat down the road, music blasting, windows cracked just enough to let the cool night air in. She wasn't mad.

Annoyed? Yeah.

But mad?

Over a nigga that ain't hers? Hell nah.

She tapped her nails against the steering wheel, exhaling slow. The whole situation was just messy. She ain't know what Von and Keelah had going on, and to be real?

She ain't care.

They ain't talk. They wasn't locked in.

She was just now getting cool with his people. Just now getting comfortable in Baton Rouge. And she damn sure wasn't finna let no nigga drama ruin that.

Her phone buzzed in the cupholder. A text from Ray.

Ray: You good?

Lena smirked, shaking her head before texting back.

Lena: Of course.

Ray: Girl, you handled that shit too smooth lmao.

Lena: What I'm trippin' for? That's y'all homeboy, not mine.

A minute passed before Ray texted again.

Ray: Mmhmm. He gone be on your ass now tho.

Lena rolled her eyes, tossing the phone back in the cupholder. She wasn't worried about Von.

What was he gonna say?

That he ain't mess with Keelah no more? That Keelah was lying?

She ain't need an explanation, 'cause he wasn't her nigga.

And he ain't never tried to be.

Lena turned onto her street, still shaking her head. Niggas and they bullshit. She parked, grabbed her things, and made her way inside, locking up behind her.

The night was over.

Or so she thought.

As soon as she kicked off her slides, her phone buzzed again.

Unknown Number: You made it home?

Lena frowned, unlocking her screen.

Lena: Who this?

The response came back fast.

Unknown Number: Von.

She stared at it for a second, debating. Then she smirked.

Lena: Why?

A couple minutes passed. Then—

Von: Just makin' sure.

Lena shook her head.

This nigga.

She tossed her phone on the bed and climbed under the covers.

If he wanted to check on somebody so bad, he shoulda called his ex.